Everybody needs a place to live and digital nomads aren’t any different. 

But finding a place that fits our personal needs (ahem, good wifi) might be harder than you think. This is especially true if you’re visiting a country with less developed infrastructure and a limited tourism industry. 

You can imagine how much of a pain in the ass it is to realize your new home for the month:

• Has bad/no wifi 
• Is in the middle of nowhere 
• Doesn’t have a simple desk to get some work done. 

Thankfully, finding accommodation is pretty easy if you know where to look. 

This guide will walk you through what to look out for when trying to snag a new place. I’ll also give you a detailed walkthrough of my favorite platforms and tips you can use during your search.

Let’s get started. 

What to Look Out For When Finding a New Place

There are a few bare essentials you need to make sure a place has before you book:

Reliable Internet

I know wifi’s the new cable TV nowadays. Every hotel or short-term rental in 2025 will boast about it in their top amenities. 

But once you get there, you find out their “reliable internet” only works in the lobbies. If it does work in the room, you’re lucky if it goes above 1 Mbps. 

That’s barely enough to open a webpage nowadays. 

Ask the owner for the wifi speed before you move in. Taking a few minutes to send them a message saves you the time and money of needing to find another place at the last minute because you have an important client call the next day. 

Speedtest’s Global Index gives you a rough idea of the average internet speed wherever you go next. If your destination’s connection is low, you know you’ll probably have to pay extra for a place with good internet or a large enough mobile data plan to make up for it. 

In the worst-case scenario, you might need to cut your time short and go somewhere else. 

Remember, wifi is a digital nomad’s lifeline. Don’t settle for a place that doesn’t have it. 

On the bright side, it’s really not as much of an issue anymore, at least in most major spots. Mobile data speed reached an average of 92.31 Mbps, while fixed internet speed reached a median speed of 101.37 Mbps.

Let’s hope we reach a point where we no longer have to worry about this in the future.

Convenient Location

Remote island life sounds like a dream for most of you. It was something I wanted to experience for a long time. 

But dreams and reality don’t always match up, right?

I lived in a small hut in rural Phu Quoc, Vietnam, for a month. No AC, no digital nomad or expat community. Not even a decent coffee shop to work from or a gym to get a run in. The closest thing to a town was a half-hour motorbike ride away. 

While my hut looked like a Hobbit house and the beaches were some of the best I’ve seen in Vietnam, it felt super isolating after a while. 

This brings me to my main point: always look at the location before making a reservation. I get you want a place to disconnect, but you don’t need to be in the middle of nowhere. Every country has its own towns and cities that offer a peaceful vibe while still offering work-friendly amenities and an active nomad scene to make new friends. 

Leave the remote places as weekend getaways and look for a place that’s got everything you need.

Flexible Accommodation

Unless you’re living somewhere for three months or more, you’ll need to find a property owner or landlord that’s open to short-term leases.  

Sites like Airbnb or Vrbo are more popular than ever, so finding a place to stay for a month or two should be easy. The thing is, you’ll probably be paying a lot more, especially in touristy spots. 

I’ve seen some people charge up to double or triple the average monthly rent because they know a foreigner will be willing to pay the price. 

But depending on where you go, you can test your luck by using your negotiation skills.

Book your Airbnb or homestay for a few days. Once you’re there, tell the landlord or owner you’re planning on staying in the country for a while. If they’re open to it, you can snag a month-to-month rental without paying the exorbitant fees you see on booking platforms nowadays.

Whether they accept or not depends on the region and the landlords themselves. 

To give you an example, most landlords in SE Asia were more than happy for me to pay in cash every month. But other landlords will insist on doing everything through the app, no exceptions. 

Still, test your luck and see what happens. It doesn’t hurt to ask.😄

Best Places to Find Digital Nomad Housing In 2025

Now that you’ve done your research, it’s time to find the perfect place. Here’s a list of platforms you should try to help you start your search: 

Airbnb

Airbnb is by far the biggest platform for short-term stays, and many digital nomads start their search here. 

I’ve been using it since 2015 and love how the platform’s evolved. Now you can find any type of accommodation you want there. 

Cabin in the woods? Airbnb’s got it. An 18th-century flat in the heart of a European capital? Check. 

I’m not going to sugarcoat it, though — prices have gone up in recent years. Local governments like those in Barcelona and Berlin are also taking steps to crack down or outright ban Airbnb rentals in the near future. 

But by and large, this platform remains a solid option for finding affordable short- to medium-term rentals that aren’t hotel rooms, homestays, or shared digital nomad accommodation. 

VRBO

Formerly known as HomeAway, VRBO is a booking platform specializing in long-term luxury rentals.

On the surface, it works very similar to Airbnb. You can filter through amenities like pool access, garden spaces, and kitchens. It also offers everything from bungalows near the beach to lavish villas on the Mediterranean coast.

But since its main focus is entire home rentals, the prices seem more expensive than what you’d find on other platforms. Still, it’s a great second option to have if you’re traveling with a larger group or don’t mind splurging on a larger place. 

Co-living Spaces

Co-living spaces offer you a chance to live with other fellow nomads in a shared space. These range from spacious city apartments all the way to private villas up in the hills, like this one: 

Most of them come with nomad-friendly amenities like:

• Fast internet 
• On-site coworking areas
• Social areas
• Networking events 
• A 24/7 help desk

Overall, they’re great if you’re in a city for a month or two and want to save money on accommodation. These spaces really come in handy when you’re visiting pricier hotspots where an entire home might cost you an arm and a leg. 

You also have a chance to meet people from all over the world. Think of them as a grown-up version of a college dorm where most of your friends lived a few doors down. 

That said, co-living spaces have their shitty sides too. 

They’re not the best option if you like privacy. You’ll likely be sharing spaces like the bathroom, kitchen, or common areas. And in some places, there might be quiet hours or other random rules you’d never have to worry about if you had your own apartment. 

Coworking spaces can also be a total rip-off in cheaper cities where you can find private places for less. 

Research reviews and compare prices with other accommodation types. If you find one that’s worth the money and you like the idea of communal living, give it a try for a month and see if they’re your thing. 

You could always try the other options on this list if you’re not into it. 

Anyplace

Anyplace.com is a platform focusing on offering luxury rentals to digital nomads and remote workers. It currently has places available in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and NYC. 

While the locations are a lot more limited and it’s more expensive than other platforms, your monthly rent covers features like: 

• Professional cleaning 
• Fully-stacked home offices 
• Full kitchens
• Gyms 
• Coworking areas
• Fresh linens 
• And more 

You’ll also have the chance to live in the heart of the US’s biggest cities.

Getting your apartment is relatively easy as long as you meet their requirements. Simply pay your first month, move in, and extend if you want to. 

If you make good money and want a quick place to move into, this platform’s a safe choice. 

Booking.com

Booking.com would always be my go-to whenever I’m staying somewhere for a few nights. 

Its Genius reward system offers great perks, including discounted rates, free breakfasts, and even free room upgrades if you’re lucky. 

There’s one thing to keep in mind when booking here: this site attracts all types of travelers, not just digital nomads. And even if some locations have long-term stay options, they’re usually a lot more expensive and don’t have the deals you see on platforms like Airbnb.  

Still, the platform lets you filter out places by features like wifi, price, and customer reviews, making it easy to find short-term accommodation that fits what you’re looking for. 

City Expat or Real Estate Groups

Expat and real estate groups are generally more affordable and convenient than booking through any platform. 

You’ll communicate directly with the landlord or property manager on Facebook groups or real estate sites like Flatio. You can find anything from cheap single rooms in sharehouses to luxury apartments. 

Based on what I’ve seen, pages that cater to locals tend to prefer long-term stays of at least six months or longer.

Look at expat or digital nomad groups for the country you’re visiting first. There, you’ll find property owners that are more flexible to accommodate your situation. 

You’re also more likely to find one who speaks English, making the whole process a lot easier if you don’t know the local language. 

Bonus: Home Exchange

HomeExchange helps property owners swap homes while they travel the world. 

The best part about it? You don’t pay anything except for the membership fee!

It might sound suss at first glance, but this platform is built for those who seek a more sustainable way of seeing the world and sharing their home with other travelers. 

The more you host guests, the more points you get. 

More points = more travel

Sounds like a sweet deal if you ask me. 

To give you a more specific example, say you’ve really wanted to go to Madrid for a week. 

Instead of spending hundreds on a hotel, you look for a property to rent out and send the owner an exchange request. If they accept, you can either a) offer your home in return or b) give them “points” based on how long you stay.

While this system isn’t for everyone, it’s a great way to explore new places while saving money and gaining a more authentic experience. 

Finding Housing As A Digital Nomad Is Simple

Finding digital nomad housing doesn’t need to be a stressful month-long ordeal. You have plenty of platforms and sites that fit every taste and price point.

Don’t settle for the first thing you see and stop there. Think of what type of accommodation you want and spend some time researching. 

Once you find the right place, your new “home” becomes a comfortable base to recharge, stay focused, and enjoy everything your new city has to offer.