Time to pack your bags and your laptop for a new adventure abroad as a digital nomad? Obviously, the next major step after booking your flights is to find a place to stay. There are a ton of options out there, but not all of them are suited for longer stays than just a couple of weeks. But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with the 18 best digital nomad housing sites and rental sites. Let’s get into it!
Disclaimer: This blog post includes affiliate links, which means we receive a tiny commission – at no extra cost to you. Don’t worry; this doesn’t affect our recommendations whatsoever. It just helps us keep the lights on.
1. TrustedHousesitters
We personally love to use TrustedHousesitters (Get 25% off TrustedHousesitters annual Memberships with code ALMANAC25!) when we travel as digital nomads. TrustedHousesitters connects travelers with people who need housesitting or petsitting services. While, technically, this platform caters to both house sitters and petsitters, there are generally way more petsitting gigs in which you look after a home and the pets as well.
This platform may not be free, but after paying the annual fee, you can apply to be a house or petsitter worldwide, where you can stay in a home for free! In return, all you need to do is look after their home and pets. And who doesn’t like cuddling with pets anyway? This is the perfect accommodation site for animal-loving digital nomads who want to live in an actual home and have flexible travel plans.
1. Coliving.com
Does the idea of community living appeal to you? In that case, you should check out Coliving.com, one of the best platforms for digital nomads looking for accommodation where they can both live and work. The best thing about Coliving.com is that it provides not only a roof above your head but also a close-knit community with like-minded individuals.
The living spaces are exceptionally well-designed and fully furnished, and they have everything you would need as a digital nomad, including high-speed internet and shared workspaces. In most destinations, you may find yourself looking specifically for a coworking space as well as a place to live, but with Coliving.com, you can kill two birds with one stone!
2. Selina
As a digital nomad, you have no doubt heard of Selina, one of the most popular digital nomad accommodation companies. There’s a huge network of Selinas dotted all over the world, and each property boasts communal spaces, activities, and, of course, coworking areas for digital nomads. Selina is more than just simple accommodation; it offers a community where fellow digital nomads can make friends and learn from one another while exploring a new place.
We think Selina is the perfect fit for remote workers with a slightly higher budget who want the social aspects of hostel life with a bit more comfort. So, if you’re a solo traveler, this is a great option for you to make instant friends on the go.
3. Flatio
Another great option for digital nomad housing is Flatio, a platform that is perfect for digital nomads looking for medium-term stays. Flatio offers fully furnished month-long rentals ready for you to move in immediately! Plus, all the rentals come with utilities included, including reliable internet, which is an absolute must in any digital nomad accommodation.
We believe Flatio is one of the best options for digital nomads who want to travel slowly, as they offer housing for digital nomads from 1 to 12 months. The Flatio website is also super easy to navigate, as you can filter properties with the specific amenities you want in a rental.
4. RemoteBase
Who doesn’t like a good deal? RemoteBase is a free monthly newsletter for digital nomads that provides all the hot deals on Airbnbs around the world. Yep – that means you get access to a variety of properties on Airbnb without paying the ridiculous prices! Expect massive discounts, saving you up to 76%. RemoteBase is perfect for digital nomads who can be more flexible with their location. But since they send deals a couple of months ahead of time, you’ll still have some time to plan.
If you’re so inclined, you can even pay for their premium newsletter, where you set your location and budget. Then, they’ll send you every deal they can find! No more scouring the internet for hours looking for the perfect deal on your next digital nomad accommodation.
5. AnyPlace
If you’re looking for premium accommodation in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or San Diego, AnyPlace is an excellent digital nomad rental site. This site offers housing options worldwide without the hassle of a long-term lease. Plus, all the properties are professionally managed, so you know you’re getting an amazing place to stay. What we love about AnyPlace is that there are no hidden fees like in platforms like Airbnb. That means no commission, no service fees, and no extra cleaning fees.
Keep in mind that AnyPlace is best suited for digital nomads looking for longer stays, as most properties are only available for stays over 30 days. But as long as that suits you, their rental properties have a dedicated workspace, including an adjustable standing desk, ergonomic chair, monitor, and fast wifi, of course!
7. Couchsurfing
A digital nomad housing option for the budget-conscious is Couchsurfing. Couchsurfing connects travelers with locals, so this is a great option for those who want to live as the locals do. A social media platform, Couchsurfing allows locals to open up their homes to travelers, offering them a free place to stay. And to access all of this, all you need to pay is a tiny monthly fee. So, if you’re after a budget-friendly, unique, and social experience, Couchsurfing is the way to go.
Plus, you can make instant friends by staying in their home while being exposed to how the locals live. You’ll receive all the tips you’ll never hear when simply staying in a hotel or hostel.
8. Spotahome
Spotahome offers digital nomad housing options throughout Europe. They have thousands upon thousands of rooms, studios, apartments, and more – perfect for digital nomads looking for short-term to medium-term stays. There’s no need to check out the accommodation in person, as each listing has high-quality images, videos, and accurate descriptions. The Spotahome team helps verify each property by physically visiting the properties themselves!
We love that Spotahome connects travelers with traditional landlords rather than large companies. Landlords are super quick to respond on the platform as well, as they respond to your booking request within 24 hours! Whether you are looking for a shared apartment or an entire studio, you’ll be able to find a rental that suits you and your needs.
9. Homelike
Homelike, as the platform’s name suggests, is all about making you feel at home wherever you are in the world. This platform offers a wide range of accommodation options for digital nomads. These fully furnished rentals are available for digital nomads looking to set up shop in a place for at least a month – perfect for those “slowmads” out there!
All Homelike’s apartments come with strong WiFi, a workspace, and a kitchen – a home away from home. Boasting thousands of accommodation options across Europe, you should be able to find the apartment of your dreams here without dealing with any contracts or other long-term commitments.
10. Nomad Stays
A rental platform specifically made for digital nomads is Nomad Stays. This platform is built to help digital nomads find quality accommodations around the world in over 70 countries! Offering a huge range of accommodation, you should be able to find the perfect stay for you, according to your wants and needs.
All accommodation options available on Nomad Stays have fast and reliable wifi, which is an absolute must for any digital nomad. Plus, stays range anywhere from one week to 3 months, which is the perfect amount of time for the majority of digital nomads. This platform also boasts instant booking confirmation, and accommodation descriptions will generally mention what supermarkets, cafes, and even coworking spaces are located within walking distance!
11. Housing Anywhere
Another great digital nomad housing platform in Europe is Housing Anywhere. With more than 160,000 properties listed, you should be able to find the perfect place to stay in no time! Housing Anywhere specializes in month-to-month rentals, making it a great platform for digital nomads looking for more medium-term stays. All properties come fully furnished, and the platform is incredibly intuitive to use, reminiscent of the Airbnb platform.
What we especially love about Housing Anywhere is that the monthly rent of the apartments and rooms listed on the platform are not crazy hiked up, and you should easily be able to find something suitable within your budget. The accommodation descriptions cover everything you’ll want to know about your new place before you move in as well, which is great reassurance when you book a place before getting to see the accommodation in person!
12. Booking.com
If you haven’t heard of Booking.com, you have probably been living under a rock or at least haven’t traveled a lot in the past decade. Booking is a one stop shop for all types of travel accommodation. From hotels to hostels, B&Bs, apartments, resorts, and villas… the list goes on!
Booking.com is a great place to start when looking for a place to stay as a digital nomad, especially if you are just arriving in a city or are only staying short term.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of using Booking.com is the rewards program or “Genius” tiers. There are 3 “Genius” tiers, each offering more discounts and benefits (free breakfast, airport pickup, room upgrades, etc). The more you use Booking.com, the more benefits you will receive. With the highest “Genius” level, you can receive up to 20% off accommodation, which can be a game-changer! If you use the platform enough, they may even give you rewards such as accommodation or flight credits.
13. Local Rental Listing Sites
If you plan to stay in a city for longer than at least 6 months, try your luck at local rental sites. This is generally the most affordable digital nomad housing option, but it is really only applicable if you have a long-term visa and are willing to commit to living in one place for an extended amount of time, which is not the case for most DNs. With local rental sites, you will probably be required to sign a lease for at least 6 months (though most landlords will likely prefer a 12-month commitment). That said, if you do decide to go with this option, you will likely pay a much lower rate than most other types of housing on this list.
These sites will be different depending on your destination. For example, in Portugal, you can use Olx; in New Zealand, you can use Trademe; and in Thailand, you can use DDproperty.
14. Hostelworld
All digital nomads have different accommodation preferences. Some prefer private accommodation, while others want to stay in places where they can meet other people and network. If you plan to primarily stay in hostels or coliving spaces, then Hostelworld is your best bet. This is the go-to platform for hostels and budget accommodation. Hostelworld has an excellent ranking and review system, and the site allows you to filter for places with wifi, free breakfast, swimming pools, private rooms, and more! Additionally, hostels are typically very well-located, so you’ll be able to stay in a central location without going bankrupt!
Hostels are a great way to save money, especially in more expensive digital nomad hotspots. For example, in Melbourne, Australia, a hostel bed will only set you back $30 to $50 USD per night, while a hotel or Airbnb will cost around $150 to $200 minimum.
15. Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are one of the best ways to find both long and short-term housing as a digital nomad. We recommend joining a few Facebook groups specifically for finding apartments or a general “Expats in (insert destination)” group. This is an excellent way to get some advice from fellow expats and digital nomads and network with different landlords and property owners. You can make a post on the group inquiring about an apartment or room with your specifications. You’ll then be able to negotiate prices and lease durations.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when using Facebook groups to book accommodation:
- NEVER pay any money before physically seeing the apartment and meeting the owner/property manager. There are many scams in popular digital nomad cities where people will claim they have an apartment that lines up perfectly with your travel dates. Often, the apartment will also be much cheaper than the average accommodation. But once you pay the deposit, the landlord will stop responding, and you will never hear from them again!
- Make sure the price aligns with the average monthly rental cost in the city. It is normal to pay a bit more for rent in exchange for a short-term lease, but the cost shouldn’t be astronomical. Make sure to research average rental prices so that you can negotiate the price with the landlord if needed.
16. Word of Mouth (The Old-Fashioned Way)
Sometimes, the best way to find an apartment is to talk with locals or digital nomads with experience in your destination. Call us old-fashioned, but you will definitely have a head start on finding good housing if you know someone and have connections in the city you are staying in. Contact any friends or acquaintances who are from or have spent time in the city and ask for recommendations or to put a word in with landlords or property they have in their circle.
This is a great way to find affordable and reputable accommodation and can especially be helpful if you are new to the city and do not speak the local language.
17. Airbnb
The obvious digital nomad housing site for many is Airbnb. And we don’t blame you. Airbnb is super convenient, and you can book fully furnished apartments for your specified travel dates. You can often find affordable monthly rates with Airbnb, as there is generally a discount for booking weekly or monthly. While we think Airbnb is a great tool for short-term travel, for ethical reasons, we don’t recommend it to digital nomads who plan to stay in a place for longer than a month. Here is why:
- Airbnb is generally more expensive than other types of rentals. While it used to be a budget alternative to hotels, Airbnbs are now quite expensive. In some cities, a monthly rental on Airbnb can cost 5 to 6 times the average rent cost!
- Airbnb’s elevated costs can contribute to rising rent prices in popular digital nomad and tourist hubs.
- These rising rent prices and the rapid rise of landlords converting apartments into Airbnbs have forced locals out of their communities.
You can still use Airbnb in ways that have less of an impact. Some examples are booking a room rather than an entire apartment and staying in a locally-owned guest house. It is essentially always better to stay in a place where the owner also lives on site. Check out our post on the best ethical alternatives to Airbnb for some more great accommodation options.
18. VRBO
Short for Vacation Rentals By Owner, VRBO is Airbnb’s biggest competitor. Like its more popular counterpart, VRBO acts as the middleman between vacationers and homeowners. On the platform, you can find everything from standard furnished apartments to secluded log cabins and tiny homes. Another similarity between the two platforms is that VRBO offers significant monthly and weekly discounts to long-term stayers, which is perfect for digital nomads or slowmads.
We find VRBO to be pretty comparable to Airbnb, but what sets the platform apart is the search functionality. You can filter your accommodation search much more thoroughly than on Airbnb, allowing you to really narrow down the perfect place. One downside is that you won’t generally find rooms, campsites, or other accommodation types on VRBO, as the site specializes in entire homes or apartments.
Keep in mind that a lot of the ethical concerns around Airbnb are also the case with VRBO, as it is also a website that allows landlords and companies to rent out apartments at nightly prices rather than the standard monthly rental rates.
Find Your Perfect Digital Nomad Housing!
Navigating accommodation options for digital nomads can be a major cause of a headache. From community-centric co-living spaces to flexible short-term rentals, the options and price ranges are endless. In this list, we have equipped you with the best rental sites and accommodation options out there for digital nomads!
Wondering what to pack for your nomadic journey? Check out our ultimate digital nomad packing list with 60+ items.
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