Top 3 SE Asia Destinations for Digital Nomads in 2025

Top 3 SE Asia Destinations for Digital Nomads in 2025

✈️ Thinking of Relocating to Vietnam or Southeast Asia?
Start here → https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/southeastasia
— visas, budget templates, digital income, and more.

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Video Description:

I Quit My Dream Job to Be a Digital Nomad (A Year in Asia Cost Me $34,000)

Vietnam, Thailand, Bali — the dream of working remotely across Southeast Asia isn’t as easy or glamorous as it looks. Here’s the real story.

In this interview on The Cost of Living Abroad Pod, we break down exactly how much @helenjzhao spent ($34K total), what she learned, and why Bali still beat Da Nang—for digital nomads. From the breathtaking beauty of Sapa and Ubud to getting chased by dogs and robbed in Cambodia, this is what digital nomad life actually looks like when you’re not faking it for Instagram.

FULL Podcast interview w @helenjzhao https://youtu.be/AoK0w44GQNQ
Helen in Da Nang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjlSVPpYlS0
Helen in Bali https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_uXRKQfS7A

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro & recap
1:00 Cost of living in Southeast Asia as a digital nomad
3:00 Ubud, Bali — still my favorite place in the world
7:00 Why Da Nang is Cheaper but Bali is better
11:45 Safety concerns as solo female traveler
14:15 The hidden sacrifices of being a digital nomad
18:24 My phone was stolen in Cambodia!
19:45 How much money do you need to live in SE Asia?
23:30 In the USA, I couldn’t afford life anymore — rent, house, nothing

🎧 Prefer to Listen?
Subscribe to the podcast version on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5ZEKcjfJp6sgYfjKhS97I5
Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cost-of-living-abroad-pod/id1813502388
Leave a review — it helps more than you think.

💼 Tools & Services I Actually Use (Affiliate Links):

Travel & Health Insurance for Nomads & Expats
SafetyWing: https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26268054&utm_source=26268054&utm_medium=Ambassador

Transfer & Manage Money Internationally
Wise (formerly TransferWise): https://shorturl.at/Bvowz

Protect Your Privacy Abroad
NordVPN: https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=122487&url_id=902

Book Hotels in Vietnam
Expedia Vietnam: https://shorturl.at/WKzk2
Trip.com: https://trip.prf.hn/click/camref:1011l4hHv9/creativeref:1101l133638

Get TEFL Certified to Teach English
Online TEFL Course (Ninja Teacher): https://academy.ninjateacher.com/p/online-tesol-tefl-course?affcode=217387_moopg3vo
In-Person Course in Ho Chi Minh City: https://academy.ninjateacher.com/p/vietnam-tesol-tefl-course?affcode=217387_moopg3vo

Find the Cheapest Flights
Skyscanner: https://skyscanner.pxf.io/GKQJzV
AirAsia Move App: https://airasia.prf.hn/click/camref:1101l575Cq/creativeref:1100l135049

Supplements I Use Abroad
Performance Lab: https://shorturl.at/Bvowz

Meet Someone Abroad
VietnamCupid: https://www.vietnamcupid.com

📬 Questions about moving abroad? Drop them in the comments or book a private consult with me @evan_eh

If you’re serious about living abroad, check out my full course: https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/southeastasia
— visas, budget templates, digital income, and more.

📰 Join my newsletter for expat tips, travel hacks, and relocation advice:
https://costoflivingabroad.com/newsletter

🎧 Prefer to Listen?
Subscribe to the podcast version on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5ZEKcjfJp6sgYfjKhS97I5
Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cost-of-living-abroad-pod/id1813502388
Leave a review — it helps more than you think.

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