If you’ve ever traveled internationally and thought to yourself, “I could really see myself living here,” you’re certainly not alone. It’s easy to fall in love with beautiful cities and picturesque towns we come across on our adventures, and even easier to feel inspired by other cultures. Many of us may dream of spending some time living abroad, but some travelers become so entranced with a place they’ve visited that they decide to move there either temporarily or permanently.
You’ll encounter a few different types of people who choose to live abroad. Some may be retirees looking for more relaxation and a slower pace. Others may be families who decided to relocate and raise their children in a new country. Others may be working professionals who have the freedom to live and work wherever they choose. Some people who move abroad call themselves “expats” while others identify as “digital nomads” and there are a few key differences between the two.
Expat is short for expatriate, which is anyone who has left their country of origin to live in another nation around the globe. It’s another word describing someone who is an immigrant, foreign worker, or migrant. Digital nomads are people who are working remotely while traveling. They can work from anywhere and often choose to move around frequently. They may work for a specific company or rely on freelance and contract jobs. A digital nomad may be an expat, but not all expats are digital nomads.
What it means to be a digital nomad
The digital nomad lifestyle has become incredibly popular in recent years. A digital nomad can work from anywhere as long as they have their computer and a solid internet connection. During the COVID-19 pandemic many businesses closed down their offices temporarily and allowed employees work from home to help prevent the spread of the virus without shutting down the work flow entirely. Many companies discovered the cost-saving benefits of remote workers and made the changes permanent. When countries around the globe began welcoming tourists again, some remote workers decided to travel abroad.
Now more professionals are seeking job opportunities that allow them the freedom to travel the world and there are plenty of awesome destinations for remote workers. They can show up for work each day, without physically showing up at the office. Software developers, programmers, graphic designers, and virtual assistants, are a few common jobs that may offer the opportunities to work remotely. Many freelance writers, designers, and other creatives have already been living the digital nomad lifestyle for years.
Digital nomads can be expats if they choose to relocate and live in another country, but they can also be digital nomads while traveling around their country of origin. Digital nomads often move frequently and stay in short term rentals like Airbnbs or hostels. They may try to obtain digital nomad visas and stay in a certain country for a few months or a few years before moving on.
Living as an expat
