If you’ve ever been tempted to become a digital nomad, one global destination is officially the most affordable choice.
That honor belongs to India, according to a report from Global Citizen Solutions, a firm that specializes in residency and citizenship by investment. The company’s Global Digital Nomad Report 2025, which was shared with Travel + Leisure, looked at the cost of living, the cost of co-working, and the cost of a hot desk to determine its list. Factors taken into account included housing, groceries, transportation, and other essential living costs.
Delhi and Mumbai are popular destinations in India, renowned for their vibrant and bustling culture and affordable cost of living. Goa can also be an appealing destination thanks to its amazing beaches, UNESCO-recognized churches, and unique Portuguese-influenced cuisine.
“The digital nomad phenomenon has evolved from a niche lifestyle choice to a mainstream economic driver,” Laura Madrid Sartorett, the lead researcher at Global Citizen Solutions’ Intelligence Unit, said in a statement shared with T+L.
In fact, the report looked at digital nomad visa programs in 64 different countries and found 91 percent of nomad programs have been launched since 2020.
India was followed by Ecuador, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Colombia rounding out the top five of the most affordable destinations to live and work remotely.
On the other end of the spectrum were countries like Iceland and Norway, which ranked very high in quality of life metrics, but were expensive to live and work in.
The Netherlands actually took the top spot in quality of life, which looked at a combination of public infrastructure, safety, and cultural appeal.
Overall, the largest collection of digital nomad programs are concentrated in the Americas, accounting for 36 percent of the programs analyzed, followed by Europe, which boasts 33 percent of programs, and Asia, which has 9 percent of programs.
Many digital nomad programs encourage temporary stays, but a few offer long term opportunities to remain in the country. Of the countries analyzed, Global Citizen Solutions found 14 offer a path to permanent residency and three offer a direct path to citizenship.
“Over the past two decades, the growing availability of high-speed internet, mobile technologies, and the normalization of remote work have transformed this once niche concept into a global movement,” Patricia Casaburi, the CEO of Global Citizen Solutions, said in a statement shared with T+L, adding the “digital revolution” and the pandemic “propelled it into the mainstream.”
These are the top 10 most affordable destinations for digital nomads, according to Global Citizen Solutions.
- India
- Ecuador
- Malaysia
- Indonesia
- Colombia
- Namibia
- South Africa
- Armenia
- Mauritius
- Serbia
