img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-5::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-5{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-6::before{padding-top:100%; }img#mv-trellis-img-6{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-7::before{padding-top:46.97265625%; }img#mv-trellis-img-7{display:block;}Last Updated 6 mins agoIf you’re a digital nomad who loves culture and year-round sunny temps, but Southern Europe’s surging crowds, Latin America’s less-than-impressive safety levels, and the Caribbean’s shockingly high prices put you off relocating, Asia is the next best thing:
Not only is it home to bustling cities that never sleep and magnificent nature, unlike anything you’ve ever seen, but it is also probably the most budget-friendly continent to travel as a remote worker, owing to the low cost of living and lower consumer prices.
If your current budget is under $1,100 a month, or you’re trying to live frugally as you scale up your online business, here are 5 of the cheapest digital nomad hotspots in Asia to consider for 2025:
Chiang Mai, Thailand
The second largest city in Thailand, Chiang Mai is famous for its lively night markets, where you can find anything from tailored clothing to edible insects, UNESCO-listed Old Town, surrounded by medieval walls and a moat, and plethora of temples, over 300 to be somewhat precise.
All of this to say you can easily stay a whole month and still barely scratch the surface, but as a digital nomad, you have yet another reason to make Chiang Mai your next temporary base, if not a permanent one: it is dirt cheap, even by Asian standards.
If you don’t care for luxuries, you can easily spend under $20 a day on food here, eating lavishly at that, and monthly rent and utilities are just as inexpensive: according to Numbeo, the average price of a one-bedroom apartment outside the center is $243.84 per month.
Hoi An, Vietnam
The ‘Yellow City’ of Vietnam, where many of the buildings in its landmark-packed historic center are of a distinct ocher color, Hoi An is somewhere you go for the laid-back, laptop-friendly cafes, cultural wealth, and escaping the hustle and bustle of the country’s bigger cities.
Out with the buzzing traffic and the glass-clad skyscrapers, in with the picturesque Japanese pagodas, ornate Chinese temples, and French-era civic buildings that wouldn’t look out of place in Europe––a testament to Hoi An’s thriving multiculturalism.
All of this for only $909 a month, as per Nomad List estimates: grabbing takeout food from a street vendor? That’s roughly $1.48. Dinner in a mid-range restaurant by the scenic riverfront? $14.75 tops. Renting a flat for a month? You might find it for as cheap as $249.12 in some areas.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The inland capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, combines native Indochina charm and French colonial heritage with a walkable riverfront lined with beautiful pagodas and a busy downtown traversed with French-style wide avenues and filled with casual eateries.
If you feel easily overwhelmed by big cities, this is a great alternative to Asia’s megalopolises, as it’s much smaller, with a population of around 2.5 million, and there are plenty of verdant urban parks offering some respite from the fast-paced lifestyle.
In terms of affordability, Phnom Penh is in the same price range as Bangkok or Hanoi: $5 bucks will get you a hearty meal in a centrally-located restaurant, and a fully furnished rental apartment starts at $589 on Airbnb.
Da Nang, Vietnam
It’s a running theme at this point, but trendy Da Nang is also characterized by its French-style buildings, owing it to the period European traders controlled its strategic port, though if you love nature, you might prefer it over the other options listed here:
It’s the popular starting point for accessing the Bà Nà Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty full of unique geological formations, nature trails, and limestone outcrops crowned with ancient pagodas, not to mention it’s fringed by pristine beaches.
As is the case with most cities in Vietnam, a bowl of pho in a family-run eatery can cost as little as $1.58, and on special dinner occasions, $24.62 would be a reasonable ask for a three-course menu in one of those fancy harbor-side restaurants––as for rent? How does $355.33-a-month sound?
Makassar, Indonesia
Don’t worry, the French haven’t left their mark on this one, instead, it’s the Dutch that have left 17th-century forts, a European-coded City Hall, and a shop-lined Market Street: welcome to Makassar, the cultural and financial heart of Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island.
Boasting a high concentration of museums, seafood restaurants, and crowd-free beaches the Bali nomads are yet to ruin, this is an up-and-coming ‘workcation’ hub made for those who are looking for something out of the ordinary.
A simple meal? Those can cost as little as $1.89 in the right places. Dinner in a mid-range restaurant with AC, English-speaking staff, and all the good stuff? $9.46 is a safe bet. Staying in town for a month? $199.74 is how much you’ll be paying on average for one-bedroom rental in the center.
Vinicius CostaVini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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