The Top 20 Digital Nomad Destinations for U.S. Citizens in 2023
Digital nomadism: the lifestyle of slow traveling while working remotely has continued to grow and demonstrate that it’s more than just a niche experience or a passing fad.
According to a 2022 research report from MBO partners, 16.9 Million U.S. Citizens described themselves as digital nomads, increasing 9% from 2021 and a staggering 131% from the pre-pandemic year 2019. As a result, Americans make up the majority of the 35 Million digital nomads worldwide today.
The reasons why people choose to digital nomad often boil down to being able to experience a more meaningful work-life integration and sense of adventure - particularly for busy professionals who dream of more inspiring and exciting surroundings.
While many “top 10” or “top 20” digital nomad lists from media publications often cover a general list of top places around the world to work remotely, we noticed an often blind-sided (and at this point, cringe) habit from several publications outside the U.S. that completely disregard destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean as destinations for digital nomads despite Latin America and the Caribbean representing the majority of the most traveled to destinations in the world all around, and despite the majority of digital nomads worldwide (U.S. Citizens) often traveling to Latin America and the Caribbean to work remotely there with aligned U.S. time zones.
Taking into account that different digital nomads originating from different countries around the world will often gravitate toward nomad destinations closer to home, we thought it would only be fair for our top list to specify that it’s our top 20 Digital Nomad Destinations for U.S. Citizens (specifically) in 2023.
Our decision making factors for this list include a mix (in this order) of considering
Ease of travel to arrive to the destinations from the U.S. (flight length + direct flight availability)
Ease of visa issues for U.S. Citizens
Closely aligned time zones to the U.S.
Wifi reliability
Availability of coworking spaces
Community events/programming connecting digital nomads & remote workers with each other & locals
Cultural, food and tourism experiences
Safety
We used this order of importance to rank digital nomad destinations, because in contrast to vacation and leisure tourism, digital nomad tourism has way more practical logistics involved - namely being able to arrive, settle in, and guarantee as much as possible that your work will transition as smoothly as possible remotely in the new destination.
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Mexico City, Mexico
There’s a reason why we launched Adventurely’s month long Welcome Meetups for digital nomads and remote workers in Mexico with Mexico City being one of our featured cities!
With direct flights from multiple states in the US lasting only 1.5-4 hours depending on your departure city and easy visa entry for US Citizens, Mexico City offers one of the worlds most vibrant cities with incredible culture, arts, food, design, architecture and entertainment. If you like dining out, you’ll have an endless supply of innovative restaurants and some of the most delicious food you’ll ever eat. Bonus points to Mexico City also for being one of the most stylish cities in Latin America, and one of the biggest Tech/Innovation hubs for startups in Latin America as well.
Check out this great guide to Mexico City’s Tech Scene by Investor Lolita Taub to learn more about the tech buzz there.
Beyond ease of arrival and visa issues for U.S. digital nomads and remote workers to get settled there, the prime compelling reason why Mexico City is our number 1 destination for U.S. digital nomads in 2023 is because in addition to the amazing dining and tourism experiences that Mexico City offers, Mexico City also has over 200 coworking spaces to work from (according to coworker.com); and a well-developed sense of community for digital nomads who arrive there between each other and locals.
In your free time you’ll be able to enjoy endless incredible things to do in Mexico City as a digital nomad like taking the Xochimilco Canal Tour (our favorite experience there! Referred by some as the “Venice” of Mexico City) , visiting the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacan, and easy access to exciting side/weekend road trips like visiting the nearby cities of San Miguel de Allende or Puebla which are both only a few short hours away by car/bus.
In short- Mexico City offers a top of the line experience for digital nomads and remote workers in terms of ease to arrive, reliability to get work done, community, and experiences.
If you’re a digital nomad or remote worker thinking of working remotely in Mexico City in 2023, we invite you to join a month-long Adventurely “Welcome Meetup” (our group remote work and travel program) to give you a mix of community connections, concierge support, organized group excursions, and guidance on how to approach digital nomading in Mexico City with thoughtfulness around sustainability and local impact.
Each Adventurely month long Welcome Meetup includes an optional workshop you can attend on responsible approaches to digital nomading, and Adventurely personally donates 5% of proceeds from our Welcome Meetups to local charities in the destinations we host them in.
2. Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
For U.S. digital nomads and remote workers looking for the easiest destination abroad to settle into where they can experience the “coconut drink next to your laptop on a desk with a view of the beach” while working remotely - look no further than Playa Del Carmen, Mexico - which is another featured destination for Adventurely’s month-long Welcome Meetups.
Before you say that we’re being self-serving by choosing Mexico City and Playa Del Carmen as destinations one and two for our list- we chose to launch our Welcome Meetups in these destinations for the very reason that we found them to be such top viable destinations for digital nomads and remote workers in the first place.
While Tulum and Cancun are close by to this area of Mexico (referred to as Rivera Maya Mexico), Playa Del Carmen we have always felt is the best beach destination for U.S. digital nomads and remote workers because it’s a nearly seamless experience to get settled; access to the beach is easy and borders the main walkable avenue of the city (easier by leaps and bounds to access then the beach in Tulum, which is a bit of a production to get to); the wifi in Playa Del Carmen is also vastly more reliable than Tulum, and there’s a vibrant digital nomad community and ample coworking spaces to choose from in Playa Del Carmen as well.
Another bonus about digital nomading in Playa Del Carmen, is that it’s a short ride to Cancun international airport (about a40 minute drive), and there’s a large amount of weekend side trips to explore in close proximity from 30 minutes to 3 hours away by car/bus/ferry such as Cozumel, Holbox, Bacalar, Isla Mujers, Merida, and more.
3. Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon Portugal is probably the most popular destination in Europe for U.S. digital nomads. Lisbon ranks #3 in our list for its strong nomad/expat community, variety of coworking spaces, good weather and cultural richness.
Top experiences in Lisbon to do include visiting Castelo de São Jorge; enjoying the cafes and restaurants in Chiado and Bairro Alto; visiting Praça do Comércio; and visiting Lisbon beaches.
4. Medellin, Colombia
Known as the city of “Eternal Spring,” Medellin Colombia is often considered one of the biggest hubs for U.S. digital nomads and remote workers in Latin America. With a pleasant climate year round, soaring mountains that surround the city, a short flight from the U.S., and a wide range of coworking spaces, Medellin makes for a comfortable transition for remote workers that equally offers an exciting cultural immersion.
Some of the top experiences to do in Medellin include visiting Pueblita Paisa: a small replica of a traditional Antioquian village, located on the top of a hill in Medellín offering panoramic views of the city; hiking; visiting the nearby city of Guatape; salsa dancing; and sampling the local cuisine, most notably: Colombian empanadas; arepas; and bandeja paisa.
5. Split, Croatia
This beautiful walkable city located on the Adriatic Coast is known for its gorgeous beaches with the most unique bright blue waters; ancient ruins of Diocletian's Palace, and charming historic city center. While Croatia in general has grown to become an extremely popular country for digital nomads (we’re excited to see how Central Istria continues to grow especially!), Split Croatia offers a great combination of an existing strong digital nomad community, great wifi, and a vibrant beach vibe to work remotely from.
6. Oaxaca, Mexico
For digital nomads and remote workers seeking one of the the most authentic glimpses of indigenous Mexican Culture, Oaxaca delivers. Oaxaca Mexico is home to a number of indigenous groups, each with its own distinct language, traditions, and way of life. Handcrafts including textiles, pottery and woodcarving are especially important to Oaxaca’s indigenous culture, and you’ll have an opportunity to learn more about them in depth if you choose to work remotely here.
Oaxaca is also great for remote workers and nomads who are passionate about hiking and food. You’ll have some of the best mole and Mezcal of your life here.
7. Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
If you’re a digital nomad from the U.S. who enjoys surfing, Santa Teresa Costa Rica is a great choice. This beach town located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica has a big surf community and a growing amount of coworking spaces. It’s also a great destination for digital nomads and remote workers who are yoga enthusiasts.
8. Barbados
Barbados entered the digital nomad scene with a bold splash at the height of the pandemic by making available the World’s First Digital Nomad Visa in Summer 2020. Barbados offers an extremely safe and family-friendly experience for digital nomads and remote workers, and Americans can apply for a 1 year visa to work and live there remotely.
9. Miami, USA
Once revered primarily as a beach-vacation and nightlife destination, Miami U.S.A has emerged as a new tech and innovation hub in the U.S. driven largely by events such as Miami Tech Week, Miami Tech Summit, eMerge Americas and Art Basel. For U.S. digital nomads looking to try nomading on U.S. soil - Miami might be a great solution.
10. Bali, Indonesia
Bali Indonesia remains one of the most O.G. digital nomad destinations in the world for its natural beauty with breathtaking beaches, rice terraces, and temples set against a backdrop of mountains and forests. Bali also offers great adventure sports, good weather, and great food. There is a strong nomad and expat community in Bali as well which is key for remote workers.
The challenge for U.S. digital nomads and remote workers heading to Bali to work remotely there is managing the extensive time zone gap. Having said that, we ultimately feel that Bali is best suited for U.S. digital nomads and remote workers that can work asynch and don’t need to work “in real time” with their remote clients and teams back in the USA.
11. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Spain is a lively, cosmopolitan city located on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, known for its unique architecture, rich culture, and fun nightlife. Top experiences include sampling local tapas and paella in the cuisine; attending a flamenco performance; and visiting Barcelona’s local beach.
12. Porto, Portugal
Digital nomads and remote workers who spend time in Lisbon and crave seeing more of Portugal often consider Porto Portugal as the next top city to visit there. You’ll enjoy Porto’s architecture including the medieval Ribeira district and the Clérigos Tower; and if you’re a wine lover, the city is particularly famous for its port wine, which can be sampled at a number of local wineries.
13. Valencia, Spain
Valencia Spain is a stand out city for digital nomads for it’s huge community of expats and nomads, and large amount of community driven events. You’ll also enjoy the convenience of having a nearby beach and several coworking spaces available.
14. Buenos Aires, Argentina
While the flight to Buenos Aires Argentina is quite long from the U.S., it’s still a great destination for U.S. digital nomads because once you get settled you’ll be in a relatively close time zone (2 hours ahead of ET) to work remotely in close alignment with U.S. coworkers, staff and clients. Buenos Aires also has good internet connectivity and a well-developed transportation system, which are both important considerations for digital nomads. Top experiences to enjoy in Buenos Aires include tango dancing, attending football games; and enjoying the local cuisine -famous for steak, wine, and empanadas.
15. Belize
Being a roughly 2 hour flight from Miami with an aligned time zone to the U.S., Belize offers a unique cultural mix of Caribbean and Latin America. Belize is home to the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere, known as the Belize Barrier Reef and is a great beach/warm weather destination for U.S. digital nomads who especially love scuba diving and snorkeling.
16. Quito, Ecuador
We’re excited to see Ecuador in general emerge as a purposeful digital nomad hub, and recommend Quito Ecuador as the top destination there to digital nomad in. Earlier this year Ecuador’s tourism board launched a 2 year digital nomad visa which you can learn more about here. Unique experiences in Quite include visiting Quito's Old Town- a UNESCO World Heritage Site; visiting Pichincha Volcano; and visiting the middle of the world monument - the spot where the equator passes through Ecuador
17. Antigua, Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala is a charming cobblestone city with an aligned U.S. time zone that offers reliable wifi and a growing number of coworking spaces for remote workers and digital nomads. Top experiences in Antigua include visiting Santo Domingo Museum; Strolling through Central Park; visiting Cerro de la Cruz (a hill that offers panoramic views of Antigua and the surrounding volcanoes); and taking a weekend trip to nearby Lake Atitlan.
18. Tirana, Albania
Tirana Albania made it’s mark on the digital nomad scene earlier this year with the launch of the Tirana Digital Nomad Festival. With a growing digital nomad community and easy access to the nearby beach city of Durress Albania, Tirana makes for an attractive nomad destination off the beaten path in Europe for U.S. digital nomads.
19. Maderia, Portugal
Madeira Portugal, a Portuguese Island located in the Atlantic Ocean launched the worlds first Digital Nomad village, and offers a growing digital nomad community, some of the most beautiful nature views in the world, hiking, scenic beaches, and more. There’s also a recently launched direct flight to get there from New York which makes it easier for U.S. digital nomads to arrive there.
20. Capetown, South Africa
For U.S. digital nomads and remote workers looking to experience remote working in Africa, we’re excited for the promise that Africa has in general has to emerge with several new digital nomad hubs in upcoming years. While the groundwork for many digital nomad hubs in Africa are still in the seed-stage, Capetown has emerged as one of the most popular digital nomad hubs in Africa thus far. This dynamic city features multiple coworking spaces (including WeWork), with top experiences including exploring Capetown beaches, wineries, and mountain views.
About us: Adventurely is a travel club for digital nomads & remote workers. Join us for a month-long Welcome Meetup in Mexico City, Oaxaca or Playa Del Carmen Mexico to connect with a group of like-minded remote workers for an incredible month of experiences blending work, adventure & play.