Remote work is on the rise, and more people are embracing the digital nomad lifestyle than ever. Statistics show that 70% of digital nomads work 40 hours per week or less, leaving plenty of time for recreation. While tropical destinations like Costa Rica are great for those with mobile careers, many cities in the U.S. make the perfect home base. Here are four to consider.
Photo by cottonbro
1. Asheville, North Carolina
If you love the great outdoors, this town has plenty of nature to offer. Not only can you explore the surrounding mountains, but the beach is only a day trip away. You can still live here relatively affordably, with the median rent around $1,000. In addition to its beautiful scenery, Asheville has tons of other activities like live music and spirited breweries. On top of this, there are some great coworking spaces if you want to work outside your house.
For housing, take a look at downtown, Biltmore Forest, or The River Arts District.
2. Chicago, Illinois
If you don't mind spending more money for a big city experience, Chicago is a vibrant destination with endless opportunities. You can use your free time to explore museums and breathtaking historic architecture. Famous coworking spaces like The Wing and WeWork have locations here, so you're sure to locate a community of like-minded people for both work and play. Rent can fluctuate between neighborhoods, even when they are near one another, so be thorough when searching.
3. Denver, Colorado
Colorado is becoming one of the most popular destinations in the country; it's in the top 10 states with the fastest growth rates. Like Asheville, Denver has plenty of nature and may have an even bigger community for remote workers. There is a large tech community, and although the median home sale price of $615,000 is higher than in some other cities, the quality of life you receive in return makes it a reasonable tradeoff. Partnering with a local realtor will help you find the best price in the best neighborhood.
4. Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is growing rapidly, with many comparing it to Austin, Texas, due to its popularity with transplants and its live music scene. Companies like Amazon have recognized the potential and opened offices there with massive job pledges. Nashville's tax revenue from this alone will continue to grow the city into a thriving business community. Other recent developments include a new NFL stadium and a soccer team. The housing market here is very competitive, so you'll need to start looking as soon as possible to find a good deal.
Best Business Practices
In whatever city you choose, something to keep in mind is adhering to business practices that keep you thriving at work. Two important ones are budgeting and invoicing. Invoicing will ensure you get paid quickly. You can customize a template to fit your business by including your logo, colors, and information. You can find a free invoice template that will allow you to download your completed document in the format of your choice.
Budgeting will help you stay on track with monthly expenses while saving for your future. There are many free budgeting apps and some popular premium options like YNAB. Especially when traveling and freelancing, budgeting will help you gain clarity around your input and output and increase your stability.
Millions of people are moving to the cities above for a good reason. They all offer a unique culture and a high quality of life. As a digital nomad, establishing a good home base will give you somewhere comfortable to land after your travels.
Visit Your Average Nomad for more awesome travel insights!
Written by: Andrea Needham