At Teknomadic, we define a digital nomad as:
"Someone with the ability to conduct their work over the internet, while changing their geo-physical location semi-regularly."
This definition has two distinct components. To be a digital nomad, you must first have the ability to work remotely online - thats the "digital” part. The second part of this definition requires that you travel at least some what regularly - that would be the “nomad” part.
In other words, a digital nomad is simply someone who needs only a computer and an internet connection to get their daily work done, while being location independent. However, they should move around at least somewhat frequently to fulfill the nomad part of the equation.
This means that digital nomad is not a job or career in-and-of itself... it's more about achieving location independence through remote work. The good news is this means that a digital nomad may have any number of different jobs or careers.
In fact, there’s a very good chance that if you rely on a computer to do your job day-in and day-out, you may already be halfway to becoming a digital nomad.
In order to fine tune our definition of a digital nomad, we need to also look at some other lifestyles that are similar, but not quite the same as the digital nomad lifestyle.
At first glance, there may not seem to be too much difference between the two terms, but once you dig in a little deeper the difference becomes apparent.
Generally speaking, backpackers are traveling through a specific country, region, or continent on a fixed budget, typically without working while on their journey. The average age of backpackers tends to be fairly young, typically in the late teens to mid-20's, while the age of digital nomads may often trend in the 30's or even a little older.
Being on a budget, backpackers tend to save money by staying in hostels or other low priced, shared accommodations. Contrary to that, being a digital nomad implies that work is being done while on the journey, so there is often more flexibility in the budget for accommodations. However, many nomads opt to stay at hostels as well... it's a sure fire way to meet other travelers and engage in social activities. Plus, it never hurts to save a bit of money!
Now the question may spring to mind, how is a digital nomad different from an expatriate (otherwise known as an expat)?
An expat is defined simply as someone who lives outside of their country of birth. Of course, people have been venturing beyond their homelands for generations. But if you leave your country of birth, only to setup a permanent residence in another country, are you truly nomadic?
In our definition, to be considered nomadic means that you change your location at least somewhat regularly. If you remain in a given city for years at a time, then you may be considered an expat, but not a nomad.
Which brings us to our next qualification…
Here is where we start to get into the intricacies of what exactly a digital nomad is.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, a large number of people have been required or encouraged to work from home. Suddenly, millions of people who previously made a daily commute from their homes to their place of business, now became remote workers. Zoom, Slack, and other tools became an integral (and oft-times hated) part of many people’s daily lives.
So does that mean that remote workers are automatically considered digital nomads? Well, not exactly.
If you are a remote worker, currently working from your home, but are not actively traveling outside of your own home area, you have not fulfilled the nomad requirement of our definition. And that is just fine.
Many, many people are still more than content to skip their daily commute, the awkward office banter, and all the other things we typically dislike about the office environment and work from the comfort of their own homes (often in their pajamas).
For many others, this newfound liberation from the physical office now provides the chance to do something extraordinary - the chance to finally live their dream of traveling the world.
When it comes to defining the “nomad”, in digital nomad, things tend to become highly subjective. Most can agree that to be nomadic you must change locations often, but at what frequency? Is someone who changes locations every 6 months any less of a nomad than someone who changes locations every 2 weeks?
In reality, it’s up to you as a digital nomad to determine how often you would like to change your location. In fact, that is the beauty of being a digital nomad. It is entirely up to you to determine where you go, and how long you will stay there.
Personally, I like to stay 1 to 2 weeks in a given city. I feel this gives me enough time to get to know a place, see the sights, get some work done, and then move on to the next adventure. If I particularly love a place, I can always choose to stay longer.
However, it is perfectly acceptable to stay in one place for 1-6 months at a time and still be considered a nomad. Some may even choose to stay a year in a specific place before moving on. There are many reasons, both personal and economic, that one may use to determine how long to stay somewhere.
Generally, we consider anything less than a year in one specific location to qualify as being nomadic. Anything beyond one year, and you’re venturing into expat territory.
Ultimately, determining how long to stay in a city or even a country will always come down to your own personal preference. Its entirely possible (and likely) that you may travel to a new place and find that you simply do not enjoy it. Maybe the vibe is not exactly what you are looking for. Maybe its too touristy, or maybe its too far off the beaten path... or maybe you just don’t like the food!
As a digital nomad, you can easily say “adios”, and move onto another city or country. That is the beauty of the DN lifestyle!
Judging from Instagram and other social media channels, you’d think that all digital nomads are world travelers. However, you can certainly be a digital nomad in your home country as well.
Of course, depending on your country of origin, being a nomad in your own country can become quite expensive. One of the biggest appeals of the digital nomad lifestyle is making your budget stretch further in a less expensive country, while still getting paid your domestic wages.
The moral implications of this are beyond the scope of this site, but it is important to note that the average cost of accommodations is likely to be a key factor in your planning where to go as a DN. The cost of accommodations in countries like the United States and Europe can be astronomical.
In the United States for example, digital nomads are much more likely to travel with an RV, trailer, or converted van, rather than staying in Airbnbs and hotels.
With that said, you can absolutely be a digital nomad in your own country and still maintain the lifestyle, changing locations as you see fit.
Does becoming a digital nomad mean you have to sell your home, liquidate your possessions and waive goodbye to your family and friends for good? Of course not!
As we’ve said previously, the beauty of being a digital nomad is that there are no hard and fast rules. Many nomads ease into the lifestyle first, by taking a one or two month trip to a destination or region they’ve always wanted to visit, but never had the chance to until now. Going on a short nomad trip is a great way to test the waters, and see if this life is something that you’d like to do long term.
The reality is, you can absolutely keep your life intact and still plan “nomad trips” throughout the year to as many destinations as you want. This is especially attractive if you already own a home that you are rather fond of, and would prefer to keep. Many nomads leave their home base in the winter months to enjoy sunny weather and beach life in a tropical paradise.
Likewise, as a nomad you can work one or two months abroad, and return home for a month or two, before embarking on another nomadic jaunt. The key to being a nomad is the ability to work remotely, and embracing the freedom this gives you to travel in any way you see fit.
In my own personal case, before I became a full time nomad, I lived in an overpriced studio apartment in San Francisco, California, one of the most expensive cities in the world.
At a certain point, I decided that the money I was paying for this apartment would better serve me going towards travel around the world. Because I did not have a home mortgage or even a great deal on an apartment in the city to keep me tied there, it became an easy decision to cut ties and hit the road.
Whether you want to ease slowly into the nomad lifestyle, or jump straight into the deep end, it is entirely up to you.
Now we come to a very common question: what sort of work does a digital nomad actually do?
Remember, there is no one specific job title called “digital nomad”. Rather, a wide variety of jobs can be adapted to the digital nomad lifestyle.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you must be a computer programmer, engineer or other tech oriented professional to become a digital nomad, but that isn't entirely true. The fact is, if you use a computer in your daily work, there is a high likelihood that you can perform this work remotely, and location independently.
Some common DN friendly jobs and careers are:
Perhaps the ultimate digital nomad career move is going into business for yourself. Many digital nomads own and operate their own businesses, which often create greater income opportunities than a salaried job at a big corporation or a startup.
Operating an online e-commerce store, or selling goods through sites like Etsy, Amazon, and others, offer would-be nomads a great way to create passive income that is location independent.
Freelance work as a writer, web developer, social media marketer or other skilled service provider is another plausible way to become a digital nomad.
Of course, entrepreneurship requires a great deal of commitment and self discipline, so it’s always best to already have some level of success in this realm before embarking on a digital nomad lifestyle.
Many ask this question, and in all truthfulness, bad things can happen anywhere, in any part of the world, whether you are in your home country or abroad.
It is my belief that you are unlikely to experience any serious issues while traveling if you keep your wits about you and always treat people with courtesy and respect. Most people that you encounter in foreign countries will be friendly and happy to see someone from another part of the world enjoying their homeland.
It should go without saying, but I'll mention it anyway: no matter where you go, you should always treat locals with respect.
Remember, you are a guest in their city or country, and you should respect their laws, traditions and customs. Not only that, but you are also an ambassador for your native land when you travel abroad. It is never wise to act with an air of superiority or talk down to anyone, whether they are local or not. Treating people with kindness and respect will get you farther in any country than acting like an entitled jerk!
And while a big focus at Teknomadic is about nightlife, parties, and socializing, I cannot stress enough that you should never let yourself get too intoxicated in public, especially in a foreign country. You can become an easy target for thieves or other types of unsavory characters.
While solo travel can be absolutely amazing, one of the reasons why I emphasize the importance socializing and making friends along your travels is that it never hurts to have a friendly person or group with you to maximize your safety.
Another common question about the digital nomad lifestyle: is it legal?
I'll preface this by stating that I am not a lawyer, nor an accountant, nor am I in any way shape or form giving legal advice. I'm simply providing my thoughts on this question.
Please consult with one of the aforementioned professionals if you have serious questions about your specific situation.
With that said, if you have a job in your home country that allows you to work location independently, generally speaking, there is nothing illegal about traveling to different countries (we'll call them host countries), and performing your job remotely.
However, if you plan to work for a local company in your host country (for example, as a freelancer), or do business with a local entity while on your trip, then you should probably look into getting a work/business visa.
The idea here is that the host country does not want foreigners unlawfully coming in and taking work away from the local population. And rightfully so.
However if you are simply doing your existing job, for a company based in your home country, paying taxes to your home country as you typically would, while legally visiting the host country, there should not be any problem.
And those pesky immigration officers at the airport? If they ask you the purpose of your visit to their country, keep it simple and just tell them you are there strictly for tourism purposes. Don't open up a can of worms and say that you're going to be working while in country... unless you plan on doing real business there, and have a business visa lined up.
As you can see, the digital nomad lifestyle offers a great deal of flexibility. There are really no hard and fast rules on what makes a digital nomad, so you are free to craft the exact lifestyle that suites you best.
With those two caveats in mind, it’s entirely up to you where to travel, when to travel, and how long to stay in any one place. The freedom this provides the digital nomad is priceless, and is exactly why the lifestyle has become such a hot topic of late.
At its core, to be a digital nomad you need to be able to work remotely, independent of any physical location, as well as change locations at least semi-regularly.
With those two caveats in mind, it’s entirely up to you where to travel, when to travel, and how long to stay in any one place. The freedom this provides the digital nomad is priceless, and is exactly why the lifestyle has become so popular.
In part 2 of our guide, we’ll take a look at what it takes to actually plan a nomad trip. From deciding where to go, to choosing your accommodations, and examining travel options, theres a lot to unpack... before you ever start to pack!
