A few weeks ago, I heard somebody saying that the new American dream is earning a U.S salary while living in Latin America. Not only is there a high number of digital Nomads traveling again after the pandemic, but this has also helped companies speed up the process of offering remote jobs for people which who can be based anywhere in the world and if you work for a company in North America, live in the Latin America is a greater option because you’re basically, kind of in the same time zone. So, after doing some research online, I’m going to tell you my top 10 picks in South America for remote workers and digital Nomads all over the world.
The best south American cities for digital nomads we’ve listed are:
- Santiago
- Córdoba
- Sucre
- Quito
- Rio de Janeiro
- Bogotá
- Cuenca
- Lima
- Medellin
- Buenos Aires
1. Santiago
Santiago is known for being safe for digital Nomads and travelers. It’s actually considered one of the safest countries in South America. However, of course when traveling to any big city you got to be careful especially when using public transportation. The cost of living for a digital Nomad in Santiago is around $1.600 a month. A one-bedroom Studio rent in the city center is about 450 dollars and you should expect to pay 130 dollars with utilities per month. Since about, Santiago is a relatively a safe city and you can travel to most places by foot or you can use the Metro which costs around 1 dollar per single ticket. However, some Nomads in Santiago said that the city is a bit more expensive than other major South American cities and that living there can be a bit boring because of their nightlife and options of activities to do.
2. Córdoba
Cordoba is on our list. Córdoba is the second largest city in Argentina, it’s located in the country’s Center. Cordoba is known for its beautiful architecture, vibrant nightlife and delicious food. The city is home to many universities so you’ll find a young and lively atmosphere. There are also plenty of places to work, including co-working spaces, cafes and even a few libraries.
For a one-bedroom studio in the city center be ready to pay around 250 dollars and your cost per month is going to be around 850 US dollars per month. Some of the pros include that it’s pretty safe, affordable to live in and not very crowded. On the downside some Nomads have complained about the internet speed in Cordoba and also the lack of activities to do in your free.
3. Sucre
Bolivia is an underdog when it comes to countries to live in South America, it’s not as popular as say Argentina or Colombia, but on our list is Sucre, in Bolivia. Sucre is arguably the prettiest City in Bolivia, it’s the country’s constitutional Capital, La Paz is the city of the government, and has some of Bolivia’s best preserved colonial architecture. Apart from that there are many cozy bars and restaurants in the center. A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $400 dollars and you can expect to pay about $25 dollars with utilities. So, it’s very affordable compared to other big South American cities. Overall, Sucre is the most pleasant and relaxing City to base yourself in as a remote worker in Bolivia. Due to its small size, however, it may become a bit boring over time.
4. Quito
The capital of Ecuador, Quito, is a narrow and long-shaped city with colorful houses, colonial buildings, parks and squares in the old town and skyscrapers in the new city.
A one-bedroom apartment in the city center is around 450 US Dollars and utilities can add up to 50 US Dollars per month, so it’s an affordable City overall. However, some Nomads living in Quito have mentioned that it’s not that safe compared to other cities and that even though there are many cafes and co-working spaces to work from, it could be a bit dangerous to walk around with your laptop in your bag.
5. Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is one of the most charming cities on the planet and in its Brazil’s top tourist destination, but aside from that it has also attracted many remote workers due to its natural beauty, attractions and nightlife. Rio is a culture and Industrial powerhouse home to over 12 million people in its metropolitan area, but also an accumulation of extreme contracts. You’ll find incredible wealth as well as staggering poverty here. As a digital Nomad you can expect to pay around $1.500 Dollars a month in Rio, and that includes rent, food utilities and stuff, you should also expect to pay about $500 dollars for a one-bedroom apartment and a $100 for utilities. Obviously if you’re planning to go to Rio between December and February, expect to pay double or three times that, this is because not only it’s summer in Brazil but the city gets packed with tourists from all over the world who visit Rio for its carnival party which usually happens in February. However, one of the most common complaints shared by foreigners that living in Rio is not that safe, they say that it’s not a city where you can walk at night and that even the day should really be careful in the area where you’re walking.
6. Bogotá
What I love about Bogota is that you’ll never run out of new experiences. There are many things we can do in the city. The Nightlife is fantastic and it’s the biggest Hub in Colombia to visit other parts of the country flying from El Dorado Airport. A one-bedroom apartment costs around 350 dollars but if you’re expecting to look for it on Airbnb, well expect to pay a bit more than that, and for utilities you could just pay a little less than 100 dollars per month.
One of the things that surprised me about Bogota is its size, it’s a huge City, however, traffic is a big problem. For that reason, I highly recommend using the TransMilenio, which is a bus rapid transit system covering most of the city. Unlike Medellin, Bogota still doesn’t have a Metro System.
7. Cuenca
Cuenca is a generally small beautiful city in the center of Ecuador and it has been attracting a lot of foreigners and equatorians at the same time. It is an excellent option for those who want a nearly perfect climate in a more relaxed atmosphere than you might find in Quito. Cuenca has a smaller digital Nomad Community than Quito, but it is growing. There are a lot of expats in retirees living Cuenca attracted to the city’s perfect climate and lower living costs, relative to the United States and European. For a one-bedroom studio in Cuenca is around 450 dollars and expect to pay around $35 for utilities every month. However, one of the downsides of living in Cuenca is the high number of foreigners living there, especially retirees. Well, this could be at an advantage but it’s also a disadvantage because of the high price of things in general, especially housing when compared to cities like Quito, for example.
8. Lima
Lima is one of the largest cities in South America with an incredible history behind it. The city has architecture like no other, some churches are of Baroque Renaissance or neoclassical style and several were built between 1535 and 1700. Due to security concerns, most expats end up choosing safest neighborhoods in Lima and one of them is it is strategically located near the sea and it has attracted a lot of foreigners who live in Lima.
A one-bedroom studio in Lima can cost around $500 to $550 dollars per month and utilities can add up to $75 dollars. Of course, we’re talking about Peru, so I need to mention Peruvian cuisine. Peru is home to dishes and flavors you won’t find anywhere else. While this is hardly a secret since there are more Peruvian restaurants outside Peru than ever before, it’s one we might not give enough credit to.
9. Medellin
Medellin is quickly becoming a digital Nomad hotspot similar to the likes of Chiang Mai in Bali. The weather is also pretty good. Medellin isn’t known as the city of Eternal spring for nothing, it’s sunny almost every day and other than two rainy seasons, it’s a pretty perfect climate to live in. Community is also a big attraction for digital Nomads, there’s a vast highly active expat community in the Pisa people are warm, welcoming and fun. We have to agree with the weather it’s amazing, especially compared here to Bogota, but also make sure you like reggaeton or at least you’re open to listen to it because you’re going to listen reggaeton everywhere in the city.
A one-bedroom apartment in Medellin costs around $400 dollars and be ready to pay around 60 to 70 dollars on utilities every month. However, this price can go up if you’re looking for some specific neighborhoods like El Poblado. Medellin was awarded in 2013 with the title Innovative city of the year but Wall Street Journal. It has a lot of co-working spaces with free Wi-Fi in common areas and a wide range of cafes and restaurants which allows you to work comfortably in a pleasant environment.
10. Buenos Aires
The number one city on our list is Buenos Aires in Argentina. Many digital Nomads are drawn to Buenos Aires by its lighting flavor, uninhibited landlife, low living cost and immersive local culture. You will never remember getting bored living there, so it’s no surprise that it’s number one on our list.
A one-bedroom apartment in the center costs around $320 dollars and utilities are around 50 dollars, however, stay in neighborhoods like Palermo, Recolleta and Belgrano is highly recommended. The city center is great for spending the day as a tourist rather than for living. Moreover, Buenos Aires has a scattering of co-living spaces that are great for new arrivals, but longer-term residents tend to look for rooms to rent. Unfortunately, there’s a culture of overcharging, so it’s a good idea to check Facebook groups of expats living in Buenos Aires. All in all, Buenos Aires is a great City for its culture, nightlife, low cost of living, expat lifestyle and cheap public transport, however, it is not so great for traffic noise, urban sprawl, petty crime, crowds and currency fluctuations.
