Digital nomads face rising costs, visa hurdles, and global uncertainty
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS — The digital nomad lifestyle, once a symbol of freedom and adventure, is increasingly haunted by rising costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and geopolitical instability.
As more people embrace remote work, the realities of life on the move are catching up, forcing many to reconsider their choices or adapt to new challenges.
Rising costs and hidden expenses
Sophie Rucker left London for Bali in 2020, drawn by the promise of sun, sea, and a slower pace of life. Yet, even as she found solace and creative energy in Indonesia, she faced unexpected obstacles.
“I couldn’t make sense of it — it felt so stupid,” Sophie says, recalling how potential clients dismissed her simply because she was based in Bali. “When people assume I’m not doing ‘serious work’ out here, it grinds my gears.”
Many digital nomads now pay as much for accommodation in popular hubs as they would back home. Sophie’s cabin in Bali costs £750 (approximately US$1,000) a month—only £70 (US$94) less than her London room.
“The only thing that means I can make it work is the culture and lifestyle,” she explains. “I work when my clients are sleeping, because of the different time zones. It eases my anxiety and enables me to solve problems more creatively.”
Financial pressures are widespread. According to Bunq, a Dutch neobank, only one in five digital nomads report a positive career impact from working internationally, while a quarter of Britons say their career has suffered. Medical expenses, local taxes, and visa costs add up quickly, with 17% feeling less financially secure and 14% spending more than expected.
Visa woes and geographic limits
Visa regulations and geopolitical realities are complicating the nomadic dream. Some nomads spend more time arranging visas and travel logistics than working.
Kach Umandap, a Filipino digital nomad, describes the exhausting process: “I had to be really strategic about planning and already figure out where I would go afterwards, which is perhaps not the carefree image you have of digital nomad life.”
New digital nomad visas are being introduced—such as in Taiwan and the Philippines—but eligibility criteria and high minimum income requirements deter many.
Iceland, for example, requires a monthly salary of $7,763 for its digital nomad visa. “We have the best lifestyle in the world, yet the worst ecosystem,” says Gonçalo Hall, CEO of NomadX, a global platform for digital nomads, and president of the Digital Nomad Association Portugal. “Nomads have the numbers, energy, and economic force, but the cohesion is missing.”
Adapting to a new reality
Despite the challenges, the digital nomad lifestyle remains appealing to millions. For some, it is a necessity—a way to keep working amid war, climate disasters, or persecution. Others adapt by traveling less, embedding themselves in communities, or finding creative solutions like housesitting or e-residency.
But for many, the dream is fading. “It’s not for everyone, and although many people experiment with the lifestyle, they discover the real struggle a few months to a year in,” says David Cook, an anthropologist at University College London. “They tend to start hyper mobile, but end up craving place and being embedded in communities, which is not easy to sustain while living on the move.”
As costs rise and rules tighten, digital nomads must weigh the allure of freedom against the mounting pressures of life on the road.
