10 Best South American Cities for Digital Nomads

A few weeks ago, I saw this quote on LinkedIn: The new "American Dream" is earning a US Salary while living in Latin America.
Not only is there a high number of digital nomads traveling again after the pandemic, but many companies have also sped up the process of offering remote working positions and are open to hiring freelancers. And if you work for a company in North America, living in Latin America is an excellent choice due to the time zone.
And after doing some research, I came up with my top 10 destinations in South America for remote workers and digital nomads.
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😎 About me: I was born in Brazil, but I have lived in Argentina, China, and Colombia. I've been living in Bogota, Colombia since October 2021. I work fully remote as an English teacher, and I moved to Colombia because I wanted to explore this beautiful country and improve my Spanish. So far, I've been having a great time here and I wish to stay in Colombia for a very long time.
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[@nomadinvester]

Cordoba is not a boring city bro. Is a college town with endless nightlife. As a matter of fact I don’t libe there because I want more peace and quiet.

[@bizsite6970]

Santiago is a beautiful city, but cos of living is really high. Love Argentina, but politics desroying the country.Brazil..too expensive and not safe at all (I`m Brazilian). Bogotá is great!

[@ReadyGoExpat]

I agree with you about Brazil. Love it, but not safe at all. And Argentina is kind of complicated at the moment. Love it here in Bogotá for now. 😍

[@boni5276]

The problem of Argentina is for argentinians not for digital nomads as they live in BA like kings with a salary in dollars! BA is safe and is the capital with the best quality of life in latin america

[@italomatheus8615]

Bogotá não tem nem metrô, onde que uma cidade que preste não tem metro quando se tem mais de 9 milhões de pessoas? A Colômbia é tão perigosa quanto o Brasil e possui mais homicídios do que aqui. Great lol

[@directrue1742]

Bogota is dangerous.

[@JarrettHolmes]

Add Timestamps on the video for each city please.

[@ReadyGoExpat]

sure

[@estudiantes68]

Mar del Plata should have been considered. It's not a big city (just 650,000) but it's quite safe, it has the beach and a very European feel.

[@igormaravalhas8840]

where´s São Paulo in this list?? the most bustling city in the americas

[@ReadyGoExpat]

It should've been here in this list. It's definitely one of my favorite cities in South America for sure.

[@eugeniovazquez1483]

😮😮😮on the list

[@maartendegoede9335]

Great video, thanks. Im surprised though about the cost of living of €1500 in Rio. My experience is that a mediocre apartment (not via Airbnb) in a good location (Ipanema) costs already at least €1200 (rs 6000).

[@directrue1742]

I love the ocean in Sucre..

[@abrahamovicovski]

Uruguay and paraguay are usually forgotten. I wonder why

[@S5Dic09]

underrated, unlike "Buenos" Aires, Montevideo is not full of racism (if you don't look white of course)

[@fastneataverage]

Excellent list. I am considering moving to South America and know very little about it. There are several cities here I had not considered. Very helpful info!

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Hey Josh! Good to know that. I love it here in Bogotá, but I understand that it really depends on someone's priorities. I'm glad it was helpful 😊

[@fastneataverage]

@@ReadyGoExpat I'm an American, digital nomad, but I don't speak any Spanish. I should probably start learning some Spanish as well as look for a place where I can get by with beginner Spanish and mostly English for now! (if that exists).

[@ReadyGoExpat]

@@fastneataverage Yes, it would be ideal to learn a bit of Spanish before coming over. I actually found a teacher on italki.com (I can give you his contact if you want). I studied for 4 months before moving to Colombia, but I wasn't beginner level when I started. I guess Argentina has the "highest level" of English speakers in Latin America. Still, it's easier if you pick a metropolitan area in any country you choose here if you want to find English speakers. Good luck!

[@fastneataverage]

@@ReadyGoExpat That is great advice thank you. It makes sense there would be more English available in larger cities. Yes I would love to have the info from the Spanish teacher you used.

[@nomadinvester]

Congrats on the video! Just one constructive criticism I noticed when you talked about Cuenca. You referred to 1 bedroom studios. If it is a studio it doesn’t have a bedroom. And if it has a bedroom it isn’t a studio 😅

[@DanBallzerian]

Studios are different in different countries

[@Kristoferwitha_k]

2 things.....1. Remote jobs are becoming super difficult to get now and 2. Many companies do not allow you two being in other countries long-term. They say it's something to do with taxes because if they don't have an established presence in that country that you're in they are liable for you and thus on the hook in that country for any liabilities that you incur as well as taxes so if they catch you they will fire you immediately

[@bluebottlecoffeeaddict6529]

Man, SA is so dangerous. I live in East Asia and SE Asia and there are young women walking around at 2AM in big cities without worry or issue. Latinos need to improve their societies in terms of safety.

[@charlesjames4956]

I am really surprised that you as a Brasileiro did not mention any of the other cities in Brasil that are excellent for digital nomads. Sao Paulo is better than Rio, it is safer, costs less, and is the most convenient location in all the country for travelling. Florianopolis is a good option, although it is more expensive because of being such a touristy location. Belo Horizonte is a good option. In the northeast Fortaleza and Jao Pessoa are good options. Any of those cities are better than quito, or Lima, or Santiago.

[@sparrow9982]

Bruh u mean to tell me it’s good to work from a place, where the most common scam is befriending and DRUGGING foreigners and then cleaning out their apartments? U srs?

[@mel_class]

Sao Paulo é mt mais caro que Rio, eu sou do Rio e vou a SP sempre e a diferença é gritante, do valor do aluguel a estacionamento, cinema e comida

[@rawclavdia6349]

Serio?Eu achaba que Rio e mais caro.​@@mel_class

[@ciromarcos5226]

No city of Uruguai, why?

[@bunkerbz]

That's probably due to the high cost of living in Montevideo and Punta, especially rent.

[@buffalotraffic]

Yeah my bro always says Bolivia is under rated

[@italomatheus8615]

kkkkkkk não colocaram São Paulo, o lar do metrô, cafés, studios e empresas? Rio de nojeira é passado. Ps. Sou de teresina, mas nem nomade digital brasileiro iria pro rio, quanto mais gringo.

[@jamesb4702]

Great video! I'm surprised at some of the cities on the list, thought they were too dangerous to be a destination for expats/digital nomads. What do you think about Montevideo in Uruguay or Asuncion in Paraguay?

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Hey James! I think that safety is a major concern in Latin America. Being from Brazil and living in Bogotá, I kind of feel the "same vibe" when it comes to safety. I have visited Montevideo twice and Asuncion once. Honestly, Asuncion is a city I wouldn't consider going back. And from the lists I've checked, I didn't see Asunción in any of them. Montevideo is a great city. It's definitely somewhere I'd consider working for some time. It's safer than other capitals in South America but not that cheap when it comes to housing.

[@jamesb4702]

@@ReadyGoExpat Thanks for the reply. Will definitely have to consider safety when in Brazil or Colombia. As for Asuncion, I was wondering what things you didn't like about the city? As I was considering it as a destination. I agree with you on Montevideo, I heard Uruguay in general is much more expensive than most other places in South America.

[@ReadyGoExpat]

@@jamesb4702 Hey James! Well.. There wasn't much to do or see in Asuncion to be honest. I didn't feel the same vibe that I felt in other capitals in South America. It's not as modern or developed. I personally like big cities with a quiet vibe at the same time. That's why I would much rather live in Montevideo.

[@jamesb4702]

@@ReadyGoExpat Good to know, thanks for your insight!

[@divinaflamingarrow9556]

Any of these areas have hiking and nature

[@nitrotembo6431]

Is medellin safe?

[@joshua-nf3rx]

My man $400 dollar apartment for an expat is not possible or it’s a total dump

[@Crypto_Jefe]

dumb comment, clearly u dont travel

[@GringoNation]

Well look who's back! Thanks for the list, Edu! Cuenca in Ecuador ticks a lot of the boxes for me and it's a beautiful city, so I'm headed there in a few months! I love Argentina but it's become so incredibly difficult with anything related to money, so that throws me off a bit. Still hope to go back one day though, since it's been decades! Cheers. 🙂

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Hey Art! Thanks for the comment. Yeah, I'm looking forward to visiting Cuenca. Hopefully I'll be able to meet you there. I agree with you about Argentina. 😊😊

[@joshua-nf3rx]

The dollar is so strong in Argentina , what’s the problem?

[@GringoNation]

you have to send yourself money through western union all the time. it's a huge pain. plus you can rarely use a credit card and even making bank transfers can be difficult depending on where in the country you are. I don't like jumping through hoops to touch my own money. That said, if you go for a short period of time with some dollars in your bag, of course it's a great bang for buck@@joshua-nf3rx

[@ANTHONYBECK-w3r]

@@joshua-nf3rx The problem is that it's so difficult and expensive to send and get money from the U.S. I had a friend that had to go to 8 different Western Unions in one day just to get the money that she transferred to herself via WU. 14 hours!!! Some of the WU had no money and some had "part" of transfer. And it costs $26 per $500, so if you live there and you're living off investments and savings back in the states, it's just like what "GringoNation" said, "...anything related to money is incredibly difficult."

[@hyaaclea6008]

Hi I don't like Humidity or slot of rain which of the cities you mentioned are less humid and drier also would love to be surrounded by mountain any suggestions Thanks

[@ReadyGoExpat]

I don't know

[@AdamKruse-yc3kv]

Southern Peru low humidity no rain.

[@AdamKruse-yc3kv]

Southern Peru low humidity no rain.

[@seamusp5991]

Great info. Thanks! :)

[@ReadyGoExpat]

my pleasure. thanks for watching it 🥰

[@isaiasmulatinho]

Great list. Thank you.

[@RafaelDiFuria]

I’ve been hearing some interesting things from friends who have lived in South America as digital nomads, interesting to hear some more details about various locations around the continent.

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Hey Rafael, thanks for the comment. The funny thing is that my initial plan after leaving China was to move to Portugal. But you know... the pandemic happened and I decided to come to Colombia, improve my Spanish, and now it's been over a year here. No idea what I'll do in 2023. I follow your channel, and I've been following your first year in Braga and your experience there in Portugal. Would love to share my thoughts and mixed feelings about South America. Mexico and Chile are probably going to be my next destinations here in Latam, at least for a couple of weeks or something. What's your plan for 2023? (too soon to ask that?) =]

[@kinkypinkymusic]

You were right about "boring" when it comes to Santiago. Nearly everything closes early, tons of businesses are closed on the weekends, and there really aren't that many nightclubs. I have been here for two months and it has been the worst city in my travels. Also, it's not really that safe. And it's not kind of or a little bit expensive... it is very expensive. In nearly all categories, it is just as expensive as the United States, which really shocked me. I will be very happy to leave here next week.

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Oh. That's interesting. I've heard some friends talking about the high cost of living there compared to other South American cities. I am planning to travel there for one or two weeks, but not to move there. I am quite happy here in Bogotá. What about you? Where are you going next? Thanks for the comment. =]

[@kinkypinkymusic]

@@ReadyGoExpat If I were you, I’d go to Valparaíso or the south of Chile. Even the locals hate Santiago and think it’s a bad representation of Chile. As for me, I just arrived in Cartagena two days ago and I’m still in the “feeling overwhelmed “ phase. 😂

[@ReadyGoExpat]

@@kinkypinkymusic that's cool! I haven't been to Cartagena yet, but I've bought tickets to fly there in October.

[@hernanruiz6683]

Try our city Medellin, Colombia 🇨🇴 we are the happiest country in Latin America. 🇨🇴✌️