Published: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 · 5:00 AM | Updated: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 · 5:00 AM
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From tax pressures to backlash against overtourism and rising house prices, it’s become increasingly hard to be a digital nomad and successfully manage finances.
But there are ways to do it, from navigating tax residencies to wading through changing digital nomad visa requirements and spotting opportunities to reduce the cost of living.
World travellers and employment experts shared their advice on how to handle personal finances in this changing landscape.
Nora Dunn, a 49-year-old travel content creator from Toronto, Canada, has been a digital nomad since 2006. In the past year alone, she’s traveled to Peru, Montenegro, Qatar and Tanzania.
She’s found ways to make her travel and accommodations more affordable, including by housesitting and volunteering, which have allowed her to live around the world for about $17,000 per year.
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She’s done so by offering to care for pets, keep a house tidy, tutor, work a few hours a day at a hostel, a farm or a vineyard, all in exchange for free accommodation.
“In my first 10 years of full-time travel, I saved over $100,000 on accommodation expenses alone, with the added benefit of getting some truly unique culturally immersive experiences,” she said.
In terms of taxes, she decided to stay a tax resident of Canada, to make her life simple and continue to file taxes to her home country every year.
“It’s not necessarily the best strategy for somebody who wants to minimise taxes, but it suits me well,” she said.
That’s the solution Loren Ross, a 33-year-old digital marketing expert from Colorado and fellow digital nomad, opted for as well.
Ross, who’s been a full-time nomad since 2021 and traveled this past year to Mexico, Colombia, Portugal and France, says keeping his home country’s tax residency helped him find tax breaks and avoid the hassle of learning a new tax system.
“If at 40 I still don’t want to return to live long-term in the US, then I’ll find a tax haven and move my tax residency there,” he mused.
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Orlagh Malley, associate director at global human resource company Deel, said that to become a tax resident, people traveling around Europe must spend at least 183 days in one country in a year. For people moving around more often, that usually won’t be an issue.
But in terms of travel, UK residents can only move freely throughout the EU for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
“Post-Brexit, UK digital nomads need to plan their travels more carefully,” he said, “It’s important to keep clear records of travel and income.”
The UK government has provided online resources that explains in detail how to figure out your tax status and how it can affect your employment or any benefits you may be entitled to.
When it comes to visas, Dunn said that depending on how long someone plans to stay in the country, a tourist or digital nomad visa is preferred.
Digital nomad visas allow for people to stay put longer, she said, but application processes can be arduous. Still, Spain, Portugal and Greece offer programmes that have pretty straightforward income requirements and tax benefits, she added.
She’s personally opted for tourist visas instead, as they are easier to navigate and ideal for someone moving around every three months or so.
“For digital nomads who like to move around, the tourist visa [time] limits aren’t often a problem,” she said.
It’s important, though, to check that the country permits the individual to work, she explained. The UK and France allow it, but the US and Mexico don’t.
As for those looking to reduce everyday expenses when traveling, Ross points to the fact that staying in one city slightly longer, even a few more days, can save money in the long term.
“The more you move, the harder it is to budget and save money,” he said, adding that he once spent €100 on a fan in Paris before realising there was a €25 one at a hardware store nearby.
“Be patient when you land somewhere, and take some time to understand the neighbourhood,” he said.
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