Housing & Long-Stay Rankings

How to Find Housing as a Digital Nomad

Most nomads book a short Airbnb or Booking.com stay (1–2 weeks) on arrival, then switch to a cheaper long-term option once they've scouted neighborhoods in person. Airbnb and Booking.com both discount monthly stays 20–40% off nightly rates — message the host directly for a further discount on stays over a month, since platform fees eat into their payout. For the cheapest true local rate, join the destination's digital-nomad or expat Facebook group (nearly every one of Get ZEN's covered destinations has one) and ask for direct-from-landlord listings, which typically run 15–30% below what platforms show because they skip the booking-fee markup.

Co-Living: What It Is and Who It's For

Co-living is a furnished, all-inclusive rental model — private or shared bedroom, shared kitchen/common areas, wifi and utilities bundled into one price, often with a built-in coworking space and community events. It runs a 10–30% premium over a comparable solo apartment rental, and that premium buys instant community and zero setup friction (no utility accounts, no furniture to buy). It suits nomads on their first stop in a new country, solo travelers who want a ready-made social circle, and shorter stays (under 3 months) where the setup cost of a bare apartment wouldn't pay off. Nomads settling in for 6+ months, couples, or anyone wanting more privacy typically save money going the solo-apartment-plus-Facebook-group route instead.

Housing costs by region

See the cost of living rankings for full monthly budgets including food, coworking, and health insurance, or browse a destination above for city-level rent figures.