I’m a Self-Made Millionaire and Digital Nomad: 3 Best Places for Freelancers To Live Abroad
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Gabrielle Olya
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Courtney Allen was working as a corporate manager when she decided she was ready for a big change. Allen quit her 9-to-5 and started her own business, 16×9, designing corporate decks — and traveled the world while doing it. Using the Upwork platform, she was able to land major clients including Adobe, P&G and Home Depot, and has since scaled her business to over $2 million in revenue. During that time, she has traveled all over the world and has discovered the best places for freelancers to live and work abroad.
“Fast (enough) Wi-Fi, a like-minded community and an abundance of delicious food were non-negotiables when I decided to begin traveling and living abroad while freelancing over a decade ago,” she told GOBankingRates. “Ubud [in Bali, Indonesia], Medellin, [Colombia] and Valencia, [Spain] have gained legendary status in the digital nomad community over the years, but I want to introduce some rising players in the scene.”
Here are the top destinations Allen recommended for fellow freelancers who want to live abroad.
Bangkok
Allen lived in Bangkok from 2012 to 2013 and loved it so much that she returned in 2016.
“There’s a reason why it’s usurped Chiang Mai, [Thailand] as being the No. 1 ranked city on Nomad List: It’s a frenetic place where working and playing hard is embedded in the city’s culture,” she said. “There are expansive co-working spaces in every popular expat neighborhood, which all have their own distinct vibes. Whether you enjoy Michelin-starred restaurants or kana moo krob on the roadside, luxury malls or night markets, there really is everything, everywhere, all at once.”
Merida, Mexico
Allen said there are a number of advantages to working abroad in Merida.
“For someone who wants to be away but close enough for a quick flight back to the U.S. and keep normal working hours, this is it,” she said. “The safest city in Mexico — and ranked No. 2 in North America — makes you feel welcomed with its warm people and warmer weather.
“Within three days of being there, I connected with an active community of expats as we went on a self-directed bakery tour,” Allen continued. “After staying there for two months, I was this close to purchasing a house and staying put — that’s how much I fell for its charms.”
Seoul, South Korea
Allen currently resides in Seoul and believes it’s also a great spot for digital nomads to call their (temporary) home.
“With the fastest 5G internet in the world, it is all but assured that you can hotspot into a team call wherever in the country you are — from the beaches of Busan to the traditional mountainside temples,” she said. “What makes Korea an ideal place to work for me is its cafe scene: With over 18,000 coffee shops in just Seoul alone, they have become the quintessential gathering spots for work and play. Plus with its new Digital Nomad visa pilot program, which rolled out in January 2024, you can stay for up to two years.”
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