คู่มือฉบับสมบูรณ์สำหรับการเป็นผู้เร่ร่อนทางดิจิทัล: วิธีจำกัดตัวเลือกของคุณลง
Becoming a digital nomad is a dream for many, offering the freedom to live and work from almost anywhere in the world. The world is full of opportunities, but deciding where to live can be overwhelming. With the sheer number of countries to choose from, the decision-making process can become paralyzing.
To help streamline your decision, it’s important to prioritize your personal goals. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to becoming a digital nomad. Instead of trying to achieve everything at once, you should focus on one or two goals that matter most to you. Your specific needs, whether they’re financial, cultural, or personal, will shape where you should live.
The following 8 goals will help you filter out options and narrow down your choice:
- Do you want or need a higher pay?
- Do you want a better standard of living?
- Do you want to lower your expenses?
- Do you want to lower your taxes?
- Do you want to improve your dating life?
- Do you want or need a political or cultural change?
- Is this a permanent or temporary move?
- What actual visas are available to you, and at what cost?
By understanding these goals and focusing on the ones that matter most to you, you’ll be able to make a much more informed decision.
1. Do You Want or Need a Higher Pay?
If you’re looking to maximize your earning potential and live in a country with high-paying job opportunities, you should focus on countries with high GDPs and strong economies. High pay countries typically have well-developed industries that support skilled professionals, including tech workers, marketers, and entrepreneurs.
Countries to Consider:
- Switzerland: Extremely high salaries in finance, technology, and healthcare.
- Qatar: No personal income tax, high-paying jobs, particularly in oil, gas, and tech.
- Luxembourg: High-paying finance and tech jobs.
- United States (certain states): High wages in cities like San Francisco, New York, and Seattle.
- Norway: High wages in energy, engineering, and tech.
- Australia: High-paying jobs in IT, healthcare, and mining, with excellent benefits.
- Germany: Excellent salaries in engineering, finance, and automotive industries.
- Sweden: High wages in technology, finance, and healthcare.
- Singapore: High salaries in tech, banking, and multinational corporations.
- United Arab Emirates (Dubai): High-paying jobs, especially for expatriates, with no personal income tax.
- Canada: High-paying jobs in tech, healthcare, and natural resources.
- United Kingdom: High-paying jobs, particularly in finance and technology sectors, especially in London and Edinburgh.
- Netherlands: Strong technology, engineering, and finance sectors with high-paying opportunities.
- Ireland: Known for a robust tech industry with high salaries, especially in cities like Dublin.
Countries to Exclude:
- Vietnam: Limited high-paying opportunities compared to more developed countries.
- Cambodia: Low average salaries.
- Indonesia: While living costs are low, salaries are typically not high.
- Philippines: Lower wages for most industries outside of call centers and customer service.
- India: Lower wages, especially in comparison to Western countries.
2. Do You Want a Better Standard of Living?
A better standard of living often includes access to excellent healthcare, high-quality infrastructure, safety, and a high Human Development Index (HDI). This goal will likely push you toward countries that offer great public services, world-class infrastructure, and higher quality of life.
Countries to Consider:
- Switzerland: Unmatched healthcare, world-class infrastructure, and overall quality of life.
- Australia: Exceptional healthcare system, beautiful landscapes, and modern cities.
- Japan: High quality of life with great healthcare, safety, and infrastructure.
- Canada: Offers great healthcare and a strong, diverse economy.
- Germany: Excellent healthcare system, safety, and cultural opportunities.
- Norway: High quality of life with a strong welfare system and breathtaking natural beauty.
- Sweden: Excellent public services, healthcare, and quality of life.
- Singapore: World-class infrastructure, cleanliness, and a highly efficient public service system.
- Finland: Ranked among the highest for happiness, healthcare, and general well-being.
- Netherlands: High quality of life with a great work-life balance and efficient public services.
- Denmark: Consistently ranked for excellent healthcare, work-life balance, and high-quality living standards.
- Austria: Offers high living standards, excellent healthcare, and a focus on environmental sustainability.
- New Zealand: Known for its outdoor lifestyle, safety, and high quality of life.
Countries to Exclude:
- Cambodia: Lower standards in healthcare, infrastructure, and safety.
- Myanmar: Limited infrastructure and healthcare.
- Ethiopia: Limited access to healthcare and general infrastructure.
- Pakistan: Lower standards of living in many areas.
- Nigeria: Limited access to quality healthcare and infrastructure.
3. Do You Want to Lower Your Expenses?
One of the biggest advantages of being a digital nomad is the ability to live in a country with a low cost of living. Countries that allow you to stretch your budget further, with cheaper food, housing, and transportation, can provide significant savings.
Countries to Consider:
- Thailand: Affordable housing, food, and lifestyle, especially in cities like Chiang Mai.
- Mexico: Great value for accommodation and food, especially in cities like Mexico City and Playa del Carmen.
- Philippines: Low-cost living, particularly in smaller cities and towns.
- Vietnam: One of the most affordable places in Southeast Asia to live.
- Indonesia: Especially Bali, offers cheap accommodation and a vibrant digital nomad community.
- Colombia: Cities like Medellín offer a low cost of living while still providing modern amenities.
- Georgia: Very affordable living with stunning natural beauty.
- Ukraine: Great cost of living in cities like Kyiv and Lviv.
- Portugal: Relatively low costs compared to other Western European countries, especially outside Lisbon.
- Bolivia: Very low cost of living, especially in cities like La Paz.
- Romania: Low cost of living, especially in cities like Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca.
Countries to Exclude:
- Singapore: Very high cost of living.
- United States: High living costs, especially in cities like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
- Australia: High cost of living, especially in Sydney and Melbourne.
- Norway: High living costs for food, accommodation, and utilities.
- Switzerland: Known for being one of the most expensive countries in the world.
4. Do You Want to Lower Your Taxes?
Taxation is a big deal when it comes to becoming a digital nomad, especially for entrepreneurs and those earning a decent income. Some countries offer low or even zero taxes, while others have complicated tax systems that may eat into your earnings.
Starter Stage (Company Setup):
- Hong Kong: Great for low corporate taxes and easy business registration.
- Singapore: Low corporate taxes and efficient business registration.
- Estonia: Estonia’s e-residency program allows you to run a business remotely with low taxes.
- United Arab Emirates (Dubai): No personal income tax and attractive business incentives.
- Delaware, USA: Offers a favorable environment for company incorporation.
Growing Stage (No Income Tax or Low Tax):
- UAE (Dubai): No income tax, favorable business environment.
- Qatar: No income tax and easy residency for entrepreneurs.
- Georgia: No tax on foreign income for digital nomads.
- Panama: No tax on foreign income and excellent tax incentives for entrepreneurs.
- Belize: Low tax rates, and foreign income is not taxed.
- Bermuda: No corporate tax and no capital gains tax.
Experienced Stage (Buying Residency):
- Vanuatu: Citizenship by investment.
- Dominica: Citizenship by investment with low tax rates.
- St. Kitts & Nevis: Citizenship by investment program offering tax benefits.
Chill Stage (Living Wherever You Want):
- Monaco: No income tax.
- Dubai: No personal income tax, no capital gains tax.
- Qatar: No income tax, no capital gains tax.
5. Do You Want to Improve Your Dating Life?
Dating is a huge factor for many digital nomads, and it comes in two major categories: serious relationships (finding a wife/husband) and casual dating. Depending on your preference, different countries will offer distinct opportunities.
Casual Dating (or “The Fun” Countries):
- Colombia: Known for vibrant nightlife and friendly people.
- Brazil: Famous for its lively culture and open approach to dating.
- Thailand: Offers a fun dating scene, especially in cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
- Mexico: Bustling dating scene, particularly in cities like Mexico City and Playa del Carmen.
- Philippines: Friendly locals, especially in cities like Manila and Cebu.
- Spain: Casual dating culture, especially in Barcelona and Madrid.
Serious Dating (Finding a Wife or Husband):
- Indonesia: Strong family values, with a rich cultural heritage.
- Malaysia: Family-oriented culture, traditional views on marriage.
- South Korea: High emphasis on family, with traditional views on marriage.
- Bangladesh: Conservative views on relationships and marriage.
- Pakistan: Traditional values and strong family structure.
- Finland: Despite its liberalism, it offers a high quality of life for families.
6. Do You Want or Need a Political or Cultural Change?
If you’re looking to experience a new culture or shift your environment due to political reasons, this could influence your decision. Some countries offer more political stability, while others have unique cultural dynamics that may align with your interests.
Conservative Change:
- Indonesia: Strong traditional values, family-oriented culture, with political stability.
- Malaysia: Known for its Islamic influence and conservative culture.
- Poland: Conservative views on family and society, along with political stability.
- Saudi Arabia: Traditional society, highly conservative, with political stability.
Liberal Change:
- Canada: A welcoming, diverse society with political stability and progressive values.
- New Zealand: Known for its relaxed and inclusive culture.
- Portugal: A great blend of European culture with a laid-back lifestyle.
- Sweden: Progressive policies, inclusive society, and focus on gender equality.
- Finland: Known for its liberal values and high quality of life.
7. Is This a Permanent or Temporary Move?
Knowing whether your move will be temporary or permanent can influence your destination choice. Some countries offer easy visa processes for short-term stays, while others may be better suited for those seeking permanent residency.
For Temporary Moves:
- Thailand: Easy to stay with tourist visas and a large expat community.
- Mexico: Offers multiple visa options for digital nomads, including temporary residence.
- Portugal: Temporary residence options and a welcoming community for foreigners.
For Permanent Moves:
- Canada: Offers pathways for permanent residency through Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs.
- Australia: Opportunities for permanent residency through skilled worker programs.
- Germany: Known for its strong work visas, allowing long-term stays and eventually citizenship.
8. What Actual Visas Are Available to You, and at What Cost?
Understanding visa options and their costs is crucial before making a decision. Some countries make it easier for digital nomads to stay long-term with special visas, while others may require a more traditional work visa.
Countries to Consider:
- Estonia:
- Estonia: Known for its e-Residency program, allowing digital nomads to establish businesses remotely and access a special visa for long-term stays.
- Portugal: Offers a specific visa for digital nomads and a popular D7 visa for retirees or individuals with passive income.
- Georgia: No visa required for most nationalities for up to 1 year, and its visa system is very straightforward for digital nomads.
- Mexico: Has a Temporary Resident Visa for digital nomads, offering a stay of up to 4 years, with a relatively simple process.
- Thailand: Tourist visa options and longer-term visas for digital nomads and remote workers, though they require renewals or extensions.
- Indonesia (Bali): Offers a special social-cultural visa, and there are other visa options for remote workers or business owners.
- Dubai (UAE): Recently introduced the “Virtual Working Program,” a special visa designed for remote workers, allowing you to live and work in the UAE for up to a year.
- Barbados: The “12-Month Barbados Welcome Stamp” allows remote workers to live and work in Barbados for up to a year.
- Germany: Offers the “Freiberufler” visa for freelancers, which can lead to permanent residency after a few years of work.
- Spain: The “Non-Lucrative Visa” is a popular option for digital nomads with enough passive income or savings to sustain themselves.
- Estonia: Known for its e-Residency program, allowing digital nomads to establish businesses remotely and access a special visa for long-term stays.
Examples Combining Multiple Goals
Here are a few examples of how combining multiple goals can help refine your destination decision:
Example 1: High Pay, Lower Expenses, and Political Change (Liberal)
- Country: Mexico
- Why? Mexico offers a relatively low cost of living, making it an affordable destination while still having good access to high-paying opportunities in digital marketing, remote tech, and freelancing. Additionally, the political environment is fairly stable, and it’s a more liberal environment compared to some conservative countries in the region.
Example 2: Higher Pay, Better Standard of Living, and Political Change (Conservative)
- Country: Switzerland
- Why? Switzerland offers some of the highest pay rates in the world, along with excellent healthcare, infrastructure, and overall quality of life. It is also a country with more conservative values in certain areas, making it ideal for those looking for political stability and a strong sense of tradition.
Example 3: Lower Expenses, Cultural Change, and a Relaxed Visa Policy
- Country: Thailand
- Why? Thailand offers a very low cost of living, especially in places like Chiang Mai, which is a popular hub for digital nomads. The visa process is flexible and straightforward, and the cultural change can be a refreshing shift, offering a unique balance of traditional and modern lifestyles in a politically stable and welcoming environment.
Example 4: Lower Taxes, Better Standard of Living, and Political Change (Liberal)
- Country: Portugal
- Why? Portugal offers lower taxes for digital nomads, particularly with its Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime. The country also boasts a high standard of living, with beautiful landscapes, great healthcare, and a relaxed pace of life. Politically, it is a liberal country with progressive values on social issues, making it ideal for those seeking both a cultural and political shift.
Example 5: High Pay, Better Dating Life, and Political Change (Conservative)
- Country: United Arab Emirates (Dubai)
- Why? Dubai offers high-paying opportunities in fields like finance, technology, and engineering, while also providing an attractive lifestyle. The dating scene in Dubai is vibrant, particularly for expatriates, and it has a conservative political environment, making it ideal for those who want the benefits of both financial growth and cultural stability.
By understanding how combining different goals can narrow your options, you can make an informed and tailored decision about where to live as a digital nomad. It’s all about prioritizing your goals and aligning them with the best countries that offer the lifestyle you desire.
