How do digital nomads live and what do they experience on their journey?

How do digital nomads live?

How do digital nomads live, and what drives them to adopt such a unique lifestyle? How much money is needed to sustain oneself in this unusual rhythm? In our article, you will find fascinating stories about the lives of digital nomads who will share their experiences.

Previously, not much was known about people who work remotely and explore the world. However, interest in this topic is growing every year. Moreover, different countries have started to introduce special visas for such travelers, and you can find a complete list of these opportunities in our extensive text.

Amazing stories of digital nomads

In the beginning, we had the opportunity to talk to several digital nomads, each with their own unique story and experience. We asked them about their motivations for starting a life as digital nomads, their first impressions of this new lifestyle, what this life means to them, the challenges they have faced along the way, and how they manage their working hours.

The story of Ekaterina Konyukhova

One of these nomads was Ekaterina Konyukhova, who shared her captivating story.“Over the past seven years, I have visited more than 45 countries across four continents.”“— she says.”

Ekaterina is originally from Syktyvkar, and after finishing school, she moved to St. Petersburg, where she lived until 2015. However, she had always been drawn to distant countries since childhood, and she dreamed of spending winters in warm places. At 19, while she was a student, she visited Goa in India, and that adventure left a deep impression on her. However, she didn't become a digital nomad right away — it happened only six years after her first trip.

A complicated solution

In 2015, when Ekaterina was 25 years old, she faced a difficult decision and even dared to run away from her own celebration. Coincidentally, at that moment, she had just completed work on a significant project.

• Realizing that there was nowhere left for her to go in St. Petersburg,She decided to sell her car for 150,000 rubles (which was then equivalent to 2,000 dollars).
• Having bought tickets for three months in Thailand,She headed to Koh Samui, hoping that this time would allow her to sort out her future plans.
• However, it turned out that her financial cushion wouldn't last long.She only had enough money to last her three weeks.

Realizing that she needed to find a job, she confidently believed that fate would guide her in the right direction.

Unexpected meeting

During the preparation for board game tournaments, Ekaterina struck up a conversation with the event organizer, who began asking her questions about her life and professional activities. In the end, he informed her that he has a franchising business with remote employees and is currently in need of a marketing manager.

This conversation marked the beginning of her new career, and Ekaterina realized that sometimes fate itself presents the right opportunities. Thanks to this chance, she was able to elevate her life and continue her journey around the world while fulfilling her duties remotely.

The amazing possibilities of a nomadic life

The life of digital nomads offers a wonderful opportunity, opening up new horizons and fostering personal growth, despite the challenges and trials they have faced throughout their nomadic journey.

I experienced incredible emotions! When I sent my resume, successfully completed the task, and got my first position, it felt like a celebration. In my first month of work, my salary was $500, and just three months later, I was appointed as the marketing director for a company dealing with franchises in Russia and the CIS, where 90 franchises were registered.

The working conditions changed, and soon my income increased to 1000-1200 dollars. I spent time in Thailand, where my job was not tied to an office, allowing me to travel and live in the places I liked.

First experience in the mountains

A year later, I visited the mountains for the first time — upon returning to Russia, I decided to conquer the summit of Elbrus. This journey profoundly changed my outlook on life. I realized that if I have a goal, I can achieve it if I persistently move towards it, even if I take my time.

Over the next year, I continued working at my previous company while also developing a hobby — organizing mountain climbs and promoting travel.

Diving into the tourism business

In 2018, I fully immersed myself in my own business related to tourism. Over the past seven years, I have managed to visit more than 45 countries across four continents, spending anywhere from two weeks to six months in each of them.

• Nepal
• Bali
• India

These destinations have become my favorites, ones I keep returning to again and again.

The advantages of a traveler's lifestyle

The advantages of such a lifestyle are truly limitless:

• You are constantly getting to know new cultures.
• Communication with many people from around the world, many of whom become friends.
• An atmosphere of lightness is created — new acquaintances can lead to spontaneous trips.
• The feeling of freedom: you are in constant motion and are not obligated to report to anyone about your plans.

Of course, there are negative aspects as well, but during the active travel phase, they often go unnoticed. If you think back, you can highlight a few important drawbacks:

• Regular packing and moving of things can be exhausting.
• Personally, I've developed a bit of an allergy to this, especially when you have a lot of heavy gear.

Financial aspects of travel

When it comes to the financial aspects of travel, it's worth noting that there are many ways to plan your trips. You can travel on a tight budget by staying in hostels and using public transportation; however, as income increases, so do the expectations.

For example, in 2016, when I visited Singapore or Hong Kong, I had to stay in hostels because renting a separate room was too expensive. Now the situation has changed, and I can afford a room in a comfortable hotel.

If we look at the numbers, in 2016 my starting monthly income was around 1000 dollars, while now it fluctuates between 3000 and 5000 dollars.

Lifestyle can undergo changes, and I am currently experiencing this firsthand. After seven years of continuous travel, I have come to the conclusion that I need my own little corner, a place where I can feel at home. I chose Bali, which has become the perfect option for me after all my wanderings.

Searching for like-minded people

For those who have been “sick” of the nomadic lifestyle for a long time, I would recommend starting by finding like-minded travelers. A traveler with experience, who calls himself a digital nomad, shares his view:“I chose the life of a nomad many years ago.My work involves constant traveling, and I am used to spending time in different parts of the world. Now I have developed the habit of opening my laptop in any conditions, whether it's raining outside the window or deep in the night.

My experience living abroad

I only stayed in Russia for 3-4 months a year, and in the spring of 2022, I finally moved abroad. Now I am in sunny Spain, on Mallorca. The life of a digital nomad is different from the usual routine, requiring a high degree of responsibility and awareness, as success depends solely on your actions. Nevertheless, the experience of such freedom is indescribable: there are no boundaries, and you truly become the master of your life.

Difficulties and challenges

Among the challenges faced by nomads, the following can be highlighted:

• Searching for necessary resources, such as electricity and internet.
• Finding potential job opportunities.
• The need to find like-minded people.

These needs became the foundation for the creation of our international community.“Soul People”— a whole group of people choosing a life in motion. Together we explore the world and pave the way to new skills.

Co-living and savings

We are jointly addressing housing issues by renting apartments and organizing life in a co-living format. This lifestyle allows us to create a comfortable atmosphere:

• We create our own workspaces and relaxation areas.
• This approach helps to significantly reduce costs.
• We buy groceries together.
• We rent transportation as needed.
• We are joining forces for larger ventures, such as buying household appliances.

Conclusion

Therefore, for those who aspire to a nomadic lifestyle and can earn online, I advise paying attention to your surroundings.

Life as a digital nomad

Milana Prikhodko shares her unique experience of living as a digital nomad and reflects on how this lifestyle impacts parenting. It all started in 2016 when she was in her second year of university, and her friend said a phrase that significantly influenced her future life:“I look at the highway from the window, while someone sees the ocean.”This thought became an absolute revelation for Milana and led to the realization that she wants to belong to those who choose the ocean over the highway.

Over time, her dream became quite real, as she had a stable remote job and a sufficient level of English.

Steps to achieve a dream

In February 2022, Milana and her sister decided to move forward with realizing their dream by carefully organizing all the necessary details. They began:

• take on additional projects;
• to master mining;
• to make successful investments.

By the middle of summer 2022, they had already managed to save enough money to rent a place in Thailand, buy two tickets, and arrange for the transportation of their belongings in a container.

First trip to Thailand

Milan's first trip as a nomad took place in Thailand, which left her with vivid and unforgettable impressions. They quickly opened an account at a local bank, as they had thoroughly prepared for this process. However, the most challenging stage for them was:

• the procedure for obtaining a tourist visa in Moscow,
• which has turned into a real test of endurance in the face of bureaucracy.

Additionally, there were unforeseen expenses and stress, starting from finding a certified translator to endless comments regarding the wording at the visa center. Weight restrictions on luggage also became a frequent source of problems — packing my entire life into 23 kilograms turned out to be a challenging task.

However, despite all the challenges they faced, they did not regret their decision to change their lives at all.

Freelance work

Milana works as a freelancer and notes that she doesn't spend too much time on work. Her work processes have remained the same — most clients don't even suspect that she is in another country, as all communication is done through emails. At the moment, she feels much more inspired and full of energy for work, as this is truly the life she has dreamed of.

Advantages of a nomadic lifestyle

Milana enjoys a free-spirited lifestyle, discovering new places, meeting interesting people, relaxing on beaches, exploring local seas, and trying exotic fruits. For her, winter has become something completely unfamiliar — she has only one warm sweater left in her wardrobe just in case.

A clear advantage of this lifestyle is that any problems turn out to be temporary, and she understands that in a few months she will be able to leave this country. For this reason, in each new country she visits, Milana tries to focus only on the positive aspects.

The pride of a nomad and social networks

The status of a digital nomad brings her real joy and pride, and her Instagram profile has turned into a blog that she is happy to share with her friends. Thanks to this unusual lifestyle, Milana has created a Telegram channel, which has become a great platform for her to organize new knowledge and support other nomads, facilitating the exchange of useful information and experiences.

Problems associated with moving

Every time we move, we face new challenges. For us, one of the most serious issues is the need for constant changes in our place of residence.

The first two weeks after moving usually involve intense adaptation to new living conditions. This requires significant effort: finding basic necessities like food and water, as well as local SIM cards and convenient payment methods, can turn out to be quite a challenging task.

One should not underestimate the issues of interacting with local residents, as misunderstandings often arise for various reasons.

Immigration questions

Additionally, upon arriving in a new country, it's important to closely monitor your immigration status: you need to know how long you can stay, when a visa extension is required, and when you will need to purchase return tickets.

It is also not uncommon to encounter difficulties when using bank cards, especially in Asian countries, where serious disruptions can occur for technical reasons.

In some cases, the only solution to credit card issues comes down to one option — a trip to Bangkok.

Our current travels

We are just starting our journey as nomads, and so far we have only visited three countries. In the near future, we have a trip planned to Kuala Lumpur, after which we plan to return to Thailand for a short break.

Currently, there are no clear intentions regarding long-distance travel — we have decided to act based on necessity and plan our trips only a couple of countries ahead.

It's difficult to predict what will happen in six months. Right now, we are focusing on visa-free destinations. Here, the practice of extending the stay is often applied, which allows us to comfortably remain in the country.

When the need for a visa arises, we turn to the embassies of the countries — this process often turns out to be simpler and more beneficial than we expected.

In Asian countries, there is flexibility regarding visa processing, and obtaining the necessary documents can take minimal time—often less than two hours. For instance, in the Philippines, we were able to extend our visa-free stay in just half an hour.

Trip planning

A key point that requires special attention is the duration of stay in each country, as well as the organization of various excursions and trips within the country, should there be a desire to travel more.

We usually use Google for planning, although sometimes we have to gather information on-site, but such situations are rare. Generally, we have clear plans:

• we already know where and when we will go,
• and also how we will be getting around at each stage of our journey.

We explore various forums and read reviews, studying maps in detail.

Decision on changing residence

We mainly make the decision to change our place of residence after the maximum stay allowed by the visa has expired. Naturally, this is planned in advance: when we cross the border, we already have return tickets.

For example, in Bali we were given the opportunity to stay for 59 days on a visa-free stamp, and we made the most of that time.

In some cases, such as in the Philippines, it is possible to stay for three years, but we haven't found a suitable area with affordable housing prices.

Therefore, as long as we have the opportunity to rent the apartments we like, we will stay put and then prepare for our next journey.

Expenditure analysis

We also conducted a small analysis of our expenses during the relocations. In Thailand, the costs turned out to be even lower than in Moscow, although overall the level of expenses varied within the same ranges as before.

Conclusion

In concluding our journey through the world of digital nomads, I can say that this lifestyle often turns out to be not just a choice, but a true calling. The right path allows one not only to travel but also to deepen their knowledge of different cultures, make new friends, and create unique moments in each country. The story of Ekaterina Konyukhova is a vivid example of how decisive steps can change a life.

It shows that a nomadic life requires not only courage and bravery but also flexibility of thought, the ability to adapt, and to see opportunities where others do not. Ekaterina has experienced many ups and downs related to work, finances, and personal life. But it is these experiences that have shaped her as a person and a professional.

The financial aspect of the issue

It is important to note the financial aspect of the issue. Many potential digital nomads may fear that their income will not be enough for a comfortable life in different countries. However, as Kateryna's experience shows,Anything is possible.If you approach the issue thoughtfully. Starting with a budget of $1000 a month, Ekaterina gradually increased her income to $3-5 thousand, adapting her expenses to her capabilities and lifestyle. This shows that even a small start can grow into something bigger; you just need to be unafraid to seek new paths and try different things.

Advantages of the digital nomad lifestyle:

• Constant interaction with different cultures;
• Incredible connections with people from all over the world;
• Flexibility in planning and opportunities for adventure;
• Professional growth and new career opportunities.

Thus, digital nomads like Ekaterina are becoming not just travelers, but true cultural ambassadors who enrich their own lives and the lives of those around them. Their stories inspire, open new horizons, and emphasize that the world is full of opportunities for those who are willing to take risks and venture into the unknown. I hope that our article has served as a source of inspiration for you and perhaps it will make you reflect on your own path—a path that could lead you to amazing places and experiences.