Choosing a base as a digital nomad: what really matters

"Where should I live as a digital nomad?" It is one of the questions I hear most from students and friends who are starting to work remotely. Lists of "the best cities for nomads" are everywhere online, but they rarely explain how to choose for your own situation. The perfect base for a twenty-five-year-old developer who loves nightlife is not the perfect base for a fifty-year-old teacher who loves mountains and calm. In this guide, I share the criteria that really matter, explain how to weigh them, and describe the kinds of places I know well, from big cities to small mountain towns, including Manizales, where I have lived for the past year.

If you are new to remote work, start with remote work: advantages and job options and the digital nomad life.

The ten criteria that matter

Give each criterion a score from one to five according to your priorities. A city with excellent nightlife but a terrible time zone for your clients may score lower than a quiet town with a perfect overlap.

Criterion 1: internet

For most remote workers, internet is non-negotiable. Look beyond average speeds: stability matters more. A connection that drops every afternoon is worse than a slower one that never fails. As an online teacher, I need reliable video for hours every day, so I always:

• Ask the host for a recent speed test before booking.
• Check whether the building has fiber optic.
• Buy a local mobile data plan as backup on day one.
• Locate the nearest coworking space or reliable café.
• Keep a power bank and know whether power cuts are common.

Criterion 2: time zone

Time zones shape your daily life more than any other factor. If your clients are in North America, Latin American cities are ideal because the overlap covers most of the day. If your clients are in Europe, Latin America works with early mornings, while places like Egypt or Eastern Europe offer more overlap. If you work with Asia, Southeast Asian bases make sense. Read working across time zones for strategies.

Criterion 3: cost of living

Lower costs can let you save, work fewer hours or enjoy more. But "cheap" is relative and changes over time; popular nomad cities often become more expensive as demand grows. Make a realistic monthly budget including rent, utilities, coworking, food, transport, insurance, phone, leisure and savings. Always keep an emergency fund. Remember that living like a local, cooking at home and shopping at markets, is both cheaper and more rewarding.

Criterion 4: legal stay and visas

Many nomads begin with tourist entries, but tourist status often has time limits and may not cover work, even for foreign employers. A growing number of countries offer digital nomad or remote worker visas. Typically, they ask for proof of remote work or a digital business with foreign clients, a minimum income, health insurance valid in the country and a clean criminal record. Colombia is one of the Latin American countries with a visa of this kind. Requirements change, so always consult official sources or a qualified advisor. Tax obligations can also change if you stay long enough to become a tax resident; get professional advice.

Criterion 5: safety

Every city has safer and less safe areas. Use official travel advice, ask locals and long-term residents, and choose your neighborhood carefully. Safety is also about your habits: being discreet with valuables, using registered transport at night and staying aware. A place where you feel relaxed walking home is worth more than many other advantages.

Criterion 6: health care

Find out where the nearest good clinic and hospital are, and make sure your insurance covers you there. Large cities usually have better facilities; small towns may require travel for specialist care. If you have a health condition, this criterion moves to the top of your list. See planning long-term travel for insurance tips.

Criterion 7: climate

Climate affects your mood, energy and health. Some people thrive in tropical heat; others prefer cool mountain air. Research the whole year: rainy seasons, heat waves, humidity and air quality. In Colombia, for example, climate depends on altitude, so you can choose between hot coastal cities and spring-like or cool mountain cities. I explain this in Colombia, a beautiful country.

Criterion 8: community

A strong community makes everything easier: friends, advice, professional opportunities and support on difficult days. Large nomad hubs offer many events and coworking spaces. Smaller places may have a tiny international community but stronger local connections. Think about what kind of community you need, and remember that language exchanges and local clubs are wonderful ways to make friends beyond the foreigner bubble.

Criterion 9: connectivity

How easily can you fly home, or to your next destination? A city with an international airport and direct flights saves time and money. If family emergencies are a concern, this criterion matters a lot.

Criterion 10: lifestyle fit

Finally, the most personal criterion: does this place make you happy? Do you love mountains or beaches, museums or hiking, nightlife or quiet evenings, big-city energy or small-town calm? The best base is one where your free time feels as good as your work time.

Types of bases: which one fits you?

The big nomad hub

Large cities with many remote workers, coworking spaces and events. Examples include Medellín, which I describe in my Medellín guide, and major capitals in many regions. Pros: community, infrastructure, variety. Cons: higher costs, tourist bubble, more noise.

The cultural capital

Cities like Bogotá, Montréal or Stockholm offer museums, theaters and universities. Pros: culture, professional opportunities, good services. Cons: can be expensive or have challenging weather. See my Bogotá and Québec guides.

The calm mid-sized city

Cities like Manizales offer good services, universities and internet with a slower pace and lower costs. Pros: authenticity, nature, affordability, local friendships. Cons: smaller international community, fewer flights. This is my personal favorite type. Read my Coffee Region guide.

The beach town

Places like Dahab on the Red Sea, or Caribbean towns, offer sun, sea and a relaxed lifestyle. Pros: nature, health, slow rhythm. Cons: internet can be less reliable, seasonal crowds, limited health care. See Dahab and the Red Sea.

The capital of calm

Cities like Montevideo combine a capital's services with a peaceful atmosphere. See my Uruguay guide.

Why I chose Manizales

When I chose Manizales, I applied these same criteria. The internet is good, with fiber optic in many areas. The time zone works for my students in the Americas and, with early mornings, in Europe. The cost of living is lower than in the largest Colombian cities. The climate is cool and spring-like, which I prefer to tropical heat. It is a university city with culture and services. Nature is at the door, with coffee farms, hot springs and mountains. And above all, the people are wonderfully welcoming. The international community is small, which some people might see as a disadvantage, but for me it means my friends are mostly Colombians, and my daily life is genuinely local.

It is not perfect: it rains often, the streets are steep, and flights are fewer than from Bogotá or Medellín. But for my lifestyle and my work, it scores very high. That is the point: the best base is the one that fits you.

A step-by-step decision process

1. Write your non-negotiables: for example, internet above a certain stability, overlap with clients, safety, a specific climate.
2. List five candidate places that meet them.
3. Score each place on the ten criteria, weighted by your priorities.
4. Research deeply: forums, videos, conversations with people who live there.
5. Test before committing: stay one month before signing a long lease.
6. Review after three months: are you happy, productive and healthy? Adjust if needed.

Red flags when choosing a base

• You cannot find recent, reliable information about internet quality.
• Your working hours would fall mostly in the middle of the night.
• The legal stay options do not match your plans.
• The only community is in one tourist neighborhood with prices far above local levels.
• Health care is very far away, and you have medical needs.
• You are choosing only because of social media photos.

Being a good neighbor

Wherever you choose, remember that you are a guest. Popular nomad destinations sometimes see rising rents and changes in neighborhoods. Support local businesses, learn the language, respect local rules and customs, and build relationships with residents. A responsible nomad contributes to the community rather than only consuming it.

English for choosing and settling in a base

• "What's the internet like in this apartment? Could you send me a speed test?"
• "Is there a coworking space nearby with day passes?"
• "Which neighborhoods would you recommend for a long stay?"
• "Do you offer a discount for a three-month rental?"
• "Are there meetups or language exchanges for newcomers?"

English is the common language in most nomad communities, so confident English helps you negotiate rentals, network and make friends. Read English for remote work and small talk in English.

Questions to ask people who live there

Before choosing a base, talk to people who already live there, both locals and foreigners. Online communities, professional networks and friends of friends are good sources. Ask specific questions:

• "What's the internet really like during the rainy season?"
• "Which neighborhoods would you choose for a calm, safe life?"
• "What do you wish you had known before moving here?"
• "How easy is it to make local friends?"
• "What are the hidden costs?"
• "Where do you go when you need a doctor?"

Honest answers to these questions are worth more than any ranking. Most people are happy to share their experience, especially if you are polite and specific.

Take notes during these conversations and compare the answers from several people before deciding.

Final thoughts

There is no single best destination for digital nomads. There is only the best destination for you, right now, considering your work, your budget, your health, your personality and your dreams. Choose thoughtfully, stay long enough to know the place, and let yourself be surprised. Sometimes the place you never considered becomes the place you call home, as happened to me in the green mountains of Colombia.

One last piece of advice: do not treat your choice as permanent. The beauty of remote work is that you can change. If a place does not feel right after a few months, move on with gratitude for what it taught you. If it feels like home, stay as long as you like. Many of the happiest remote workers I know did not find their ideal base on the first try. They experimented, listened to themselves and kept the places, people and routines that made them feel well. Your perfect base may be waiting in a city you have never heard of.