Housing is the biggest cost of nomad life and the thing that most decides whether a month somewhere goes well. The nightly rates you see on booking sites are holiday prices; nomads who stay a month or more pay far less per night, but only if they know where to look and how to avoid the usual traps.
This guide compares the main kinds of accommodation, the best places to find each, and how to handle contracts, deposits and scams. For the short-trip view, see our travel accommodation guide. For what makes a place good to work from, see where to work.
The Options Compared#
| Airbnb and similar | Hotel or aparthotel | Serviced apartment | Coliving | Local monthly rental | House-sitting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical stay | Days to months | Days to weeks | Weeks to months | Weeks to months | One month to a year | Varies |
| Price for a month | Medium; 20 to 50% off nightly with monthly discounts | Highest | Medium to high | Medium | Lowest | Free |
| Furnished and bills included | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Often; check | Yes |
| Work setup | Varies | Usually poor | Good | Good, often with coworking | Varies | Varies |
| Community | None | None | None | Built in | None | None |
| Booking from abroad | Easy | Easy | Easy | Easy | Harder; viewing helps | Easy, but competitive |
Airbnb, Booking.com and Agoda
The easiest way to land. Monthly discounts of 20 to 50% are common, and payments, reviews and dispute processes protect you. Downsides: prices in popular cities have risen to near hotel levels, cleaning and service fees add up, and many listings are run by agencies rather than hosts. Agoda and Booking.com both have monthly apartment listings, and Agoda is strong in Asia.
Tip: message hosts before you book a long stay and ask for their best monthly rate through the platform; many will offer a custom discount, and you keep the platform’s protection.
Hotels, aparthotels and serviced apartments
Hotels make sense for the first few nights or short stays. For longer, aparthotels and serviced apartments (from chains such as Citadines, Ascott, Oakwood, Fraser and Blueground) give you a kitchen, a real desk, cleaning and fast internet, with weekly and monthly rates. They cost more than a local rental but less than a hotel, and need no deposit or contract.
Coliving
Coliving houses give you a private room, shared kitchens and living spaces, a workspace and a ready-made community. They are excellent for a first month alone in a new city, and many include coworking, events and cleaning. Operators range from international brands such as Outsite to local houses; directories like Coliving.com list them by city. Expect to pay more than a room in a shared flat, but less than your own apartment in most cities.
Local monthly rentals
The cheapest option for a month or more, and the way most long-stayers live. Furnished flats are advertised on local property portals, Facebook groups and through agents, often at half the Airbnb price. You usually pay a deposit of one or two months, sometimes an agent’s fee, and sign a short contract.
Good places to look:
- Europe: Idealista (Spain, Portugal, Italy), Spotahome, HousingAnywhere, Flatio, Uniplaces, and local Facebook groups.
- Southeast Asia: local Facebook housing groups, DDproperty and Hipflat (Thailand), PropertyGuru and iProperty (Malaysia), local agents.
- Latin America: Facebook groups, Airbnb monthly listings, Inmuebles24 (Mexico), Finca Raíz and Metrocuadrado (Colombia), Zonaprop (Argentina).
- US and Canada: Furnished Finder, Blueground, Zillow and Facebook Marketplace.
- Australia and New Zealand: Flatmates.com.au, Domain, realestate.com.au and TradeMe.
Our city guides name the main sites and neighbourhoods for each city.
House-sitting and home exchange
TrustedHousesitters, Nomador and HouseSitMatch connect you with homeowners who need someone to look after their home and pets, often for free. HomeExchange lets you swap homes, which works if you still have one. Good sits are competitive, so build up reviews with shorter sits first.
How to Book a Monthly Stay#
- Book the first week or two somewhere safe and flexible.
- Spend a few days in the neighbourhoods you are considering, at different times of day.
- View places in person before paying a deposit, or ask for a live video call walking through the flat.
- Check the work setup: desk, chair, internet speed and noise.
- Agree everything in writing: the price, what is included, the deposit, the length and the notice period.
What to Check Before You Pay#
- The total price, including cleaning fees, service fees, utilities and any building charges.
- What bills are included, especially electricity and air-conditioning, which can be expensive in hot countries.
- The internet: a speed test screenshot taken that day.
- The deposit: how much, when it comes back, and what can be deducted.
- The cancellation and notice terms.
- Local registration. In some countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam, the landlord must register your address with immigration or the police.
- The building: security, a lift, water pressure and backup power where outages are common.
Avoiding Scams#
- Never pay for a place you haven’t seen or verified, especially by bank transfer, Western Union or crypto.
- Be wary of prices far below the market, urgency (“lots of interest, pay today”), and owners who are “abroad” and can’t show the flat.
- Keep payments on the platform when you book through one.
- Search the photos with a reverse image search to see if they come from another listing.
- Get receipts for every payment, and photograph the flat when you move in.
When to Book Ahead#
- Peak season: Christmas and New Year in Bali and Thailand, summer in southern Europe, ski season in the mountains, and big festivals.
- Your first nights in any new country.
- Small places with few rentals, such as islands and mountain towns.
Elsewhere, booking a week and finding a monthly place on the ground usually gets you a better place for less.
Finding a Place to Stay FAQs#
Is Airbnb or a hotel better for digital nomads?
For a month or more, Airbnb-style apartments are usually better and cheaper, with monthly discounts, a kitchen and space to work. Hotels suit short stays. Serviced apartments sit in between.
How do digital nomads find monthly rentals?
Through Airbnb monthly listings, coliving, local property sites and Facebook housing groups in each city, and by booking a week first and looking on the ground. Local rentals are usually much cheaper than booking sites.
How much should a digital nomad spend on accommodation?
Rent is usually 35 to 50% of a nomad budget. A furnished one-bed costs about $400 to $900 a month in much of Southeast Asia and Latin America, and $1,000 to $2,500 or more in Western Europe, Australia and the US. See the cost of living guide.
Is coliving worth it?
For a first month in a new city, or if you travel alone, often yes: you get a furnished room, a workspace and people to meet from day one. For long stays, your own flat is usually cheaper.