10 Best Tropical Places to Live in
Working from the beach, especially from a stunning tropical beach, is the dream life for most people. These places offer great tranquility, a fantastically laid-back lifestyle, ceaseless sunshine, world-class beaches, and delicious food and drinks.
If you’re longing for an excellent getaway from the rest of the world and to continue remote working from a place that offers a slower pace of life to relax, a tropical beach might be just the perfect destination for you.
To help you choose your next destination to live and work, we’ve gathered the 10 best tropical locations for expats and digital nomads in this post, but first, let’s make a quick list of the pros and cons of remote working from tropical places.
Here we go!
Living in a Tropical Place: The Pros and Cons
As the name suggests, tropical countries are located in the tropics around the Equator, bordered by the Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer, to the south and north, respectively. Due to their favorable climate, stunning beaches, and wondrous nature, tropical countries are incredibly popular destinations for digital nomads and remote workers.
Although living in a tropical place sounds very dreamy, it has as few downsides as well. A couple of these downsides can even box the compass for some nomads who contemplate living in a tropical place. It’s best to know the pearls and the pitfalls of a place before deciding to live there for a while.
Find below the need-to-know pros and cons of living in a tropical place:
Pros of Living in a Tropical Place
- Mild temperatures all year round
- Great fresh food and drinks
- Sandy beaches
- Warm and silky sea
- The slow pace of life
- Stunning nature
Cons of Living in a Tropical Place
- The humidity
- Insects and reptiles
- Tropical diseases such as malaria
- The potential risk of natural disasters like typhoons
10 Best Tropical Destinations for Digital Nomads
1. Barbados
2. Colombia
3. Mauritius
4. Philippines
5. Saint Lucia
6. Vietnam
7. Canary Islands
8. Bali
9. Sri Lanka
10. Koh Samui
1. Barbados
Barbados is one of the most beautiful tropical islands in the Caribbean Ocean. The island has been offering a twelve-month remote work visa since 2020 and is an excellent destination for digital nomads. The sandy beaches, mesmerizing nature, turquoise sea, and year-round sunshine are only a few of the charms of Barbados. However, the Caribbean in general is not very cheap, and Barbados is also a little costly in terms of daily expenses, whereas accommodation is relatively affordable. With solid budget planning, you can have a great time in Barbados. Bridgetown, the capital of the island, is very popular among digital nomads because it offers many amenities, a network of foreigners, and perfect restaurants. The internet speed is generally very good all around the island.Overview
- Single-person estimated monthly costs are $1,122.70, excluding rent
- Median WiFi download speed in Barbados: 81.92 Mbps
- Median WiFi upload speed in Barbados: 54.00Mbps
2. Colombia
Located in South America and having coastlines to both the Caribbean Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, Colombia is a great tropical place to live. Bogotá, Cali, Cartagena, and Medellin are all becoming popular places among digital nomads rapidly due to the increasing number of coworking spaces.
Colombia offers a diverse culture, wonderful landscapes, white-sand beaches, and a laid-back lifestyle. The cost of living in Colombia varies depending on the location and the living standard: it can be quite affordable with detailed budget planning.
Overview
- Single-person estimated monthly costs are $355, excluding rent
- Median WiFi download speed in Colombia: 87.24 Mbps
- Median WiFi upload speed in Colombia: 31.93Mbps
- Median mobile download speed in Colombia: 10.99Mbps
- Median mobile upload speed in Colombia: 8.95Mbps
3. Mauritius
Ranking as the safest country in Africa, Mauritius is a small island located east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. It’s one of the best tropical islands to live for digital nomads due to its coffee shops, and numerous coworking spaces. You can also find libraries in the major towns of Mauritius.
The island nation offers a free premium visa, which allows you to stay in Mauritius for up to twelve months. The northern part of the island is popular due to its great restaurants, bars, and shops. Daily expenses such as groceries are a little costly on the island. However, the housing is pretty affordable.
Overview
- Single-person estimated monthly costs are $550, excluding rent
- Median WiFi download speed in Mauritius: 27.23 Mbps
- Median WiFi upload speed in Mauritius: 9.85Mbps
- Median mobile download speed in Mauritius: 21.13Mbps
- Median mobile upload speed in Mauritius: 10.58Mbps
4. Philippines
The Philippines is another hot destination for digital nomads with its thousands of islands. The country’s swarming with mesmerizing tropical beaches; no need to mention the crystal clear turquoise sea. Moreover, the people of the Philippines are rather friendly.
The Philippines offers a free visa on arrival that allows you to stay in the country for up to 30 days for most Western country citizens. However, to stay longer, you need to extend your visa to up to six months by making a certain payment. Other than that, the cost of living in the Philippines is of medium amounts.
Overview
- Single-person estimated monthly costs are $485, excluding rent
- Median WiFi download speed in the Philippines: 71.70 Mbps
- Median WiFi upload speed in the Philippines: 68.98Mbps
- Median mobile download speed in the Philippines: 22.98Mbps
- Median mobile upload speed in the Philippines: 5.53Mbps
5. Saint Lucia
St. Lucia is a wonderful tropical island in the Caribbean Sea with dreamy nature and incredibly long beaches with white sand and crystal clear water, as well as black sand beaches due to the island being volcanic.
Moreover, life on St. Lucia island is safe and tax-free. Imagine working on your laptop under a gorgeous palm tree, looking at the soothing waters of the Caribbean, with wildlife stirring behind your back, awaiting you to explore itself, and also having a good internet connection: that’s St. Lucia for you!
It’s a very small place, so you shouldn’t expect constant action or some wild nightlife. However, if you seek tranquility, you’ll get the best of it.
St. Lucia also offers a citizenship program that allows you to become a citizen in return for making a specific investment. Becoming a citizen of St. Lucia is quite advantageous because the place is heaven in terms of taxes. And without heavy taxes, life’s much more affordable and enjoyable!
Overview
- Single-person estimated monthly costs are $670, excluding rent
- Median WiFi download speed in Saint Lucia: 87.67Mbps
- Median WiFi upload speed in Saint Lucia: 26.02Mbps
6. Vietnam
Vietnam offers a relatively low cost of living compared to other Southeast Asia countries. With its vast community of digital nomads, beautiful landscapes, excellent internet connection, and the abundance of coworking spaces and local cafes, Vietnam is a much-favored destination among those who work remotely.
Living in Vietnam as a digital nomad has many advantages. For instance, getting around without a car is quite effortless. You can travel around by renting a motorcycle or using the convenient public transportation networks in Vietnam. The country also offers convenient international travel facilities. You can find cheap flights from Ho Chi Minh City and other Vietnamese airports. Another advantage of living in Vietnam for digital nomads is the diverse cuisine.
Overview
- Single-person estimated monthly costs are $450, excluding rent
- Median WiFi download speed in Vietnam: 78.87Mbps
- Median WiFi upload speed in Vietnam: 78.29Mbps
- Median mobile download speed in Vietnam: 39.48Mbps
7. Canary Islands
Consisting of seven major beautiful islands that are part of the Spanish archipelago, the Canary Islands offer something for everyone. While Tenerife is a great place to get into the island culture, Fuerteventura is an excellent location for those who want to enjoy stunning beaches and constant sunshine. If you’re the outdoor sports type, on the other hand, you’d enjoy the diverse landscapes of Gran Canaria.
The Canary Islands has become a hotspot for digital nomads, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. If you’re also wondering about island life, this might be the perfect destination for you.
Overview
- Single-person estimated monthly costs are $670, excluding rent
- Median WiFi download speed in the Canary Islands: 84.28Mbps
- Median WiFi upload speed in the Canary Islands: 64.94Mbps
- Median mobile download speed in the Canary Islands: 34.96Mbps
- Median mobile upload speed in the Canary Islands: 10.33Mbps
8. Bali (Indonesia)
As part of the enormous Indonesian archipelago, Bali attracts countless digital nomads with its great tropical climate, low cost of living, spectacular mountains, beautiful beaches, and remote worker networks.
Bali is a paradise-like island that has it all: an enhancing digital infrastructure, captivating Hindu temples, stunning nature, exoticness, and crystal clear waters. If you’re going to work remotely, why not work from such a mesmerizing place? Plus, the visa processes that allow you to live and work in Bali are quite reasonable.
Overview
- Single-person estimated monthly costs are $420, excluding rent
- Median WiFi download speed in Bali: 29.46Mbps
- Median WiFi upload speed in Bali: 24.54 Mbps
- Median mobile download speed in Bali: 23.98Mbps
- Median mobile upload speed in Bali: 12.94Mbps
9. Sri Lanka
Home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sights, Sri Lanka is an Indian Ocean island nation with a highly developed capital, Colombo, which offers many amenities—such as an international airport—that other islands typically don’t.
Sri Lanka is full of mesmerizing forestlands, brilliant beaches, exciting wildlife, a prosperous culture, and friendly locals. No need to mention the delicious tea.
The cost of living varies depending on the location in Sri Lanka, where major cities are costlier while small towns are relatively affordable.
Here’s a tip for your budget planning: eating out in Sri Lanka from the local shacks may help you cut back on your expenses because it’s usually cheaper than buying groceries.
Overview
- Single-person estimated monthly costs are $310, excluding rent
- Median WiFi download speed in Sri Lanka: 19.92Mbps
- Median WiFi upload speed in Sri Lanka: 19.82Mbps
- Median mobile download speed in Sri Lanka: 14.28Mbps
- Median mobile upload speed in Sri Lanka: 5.65Mbps
10. Koh Samui (Thailand)
Thailand is another popular destination in Southeast Asia for digital nomads due to its low cost of living.
Koh Samui is a developed island that swarms with natural beauty in the Gulf of Thailand. Resting back against a coconut palm while working, with the view of the tranquil sea lying before your eyes? Who wouldn’t want such a workspace?
In addition to its natural beauty and pristine beaches, the island of Koh Samui also has a rich culture. You can visit its many awe-inspiring temples and see locals leaving offerings. The most popular among these temples is the Big Buddha Temple.
Overview
- Single-person estimated monthly costs are $540, excluding rent
- Median WiFi download speed in Koh Samui: 142.86Mbps
- Median WiFi upload speed in Koh Samui: 126.98Mbps
- Median mobile download speed in Koh Samui: 51.88Mbps
- Median mobile upload speed in Koh Samui: 11.59Mbps
Best Tropical Places To Live for Digital Nomads: The Wrap-Up
To cut the long story short, tropical places are excellent destinations for digital nomads. I mean, if you have the freedom to work from wherever you want in the world, why not pick a paradise-like island with incredible natural beauty and a turquoise sea as your next destination? Enjoying such tranquility and scenery, and getting to know the island culture will improve your living standards and productivity at work simultaneously.
It’s in your best interest to do thorough research on the internet speeds, cost of living, and the visa processes of your destination beforehand if you’re planning such a journey.
Go on, take a step toward living your best life, working from a white sand beach, enjoying the sun and the warm embrace of the clear, turquoise waters.
Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Tropical Places
What is the safest tropical destination?
St. Barts, Montserrat, Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, Saint Lucia, and the British Virgin Islands are some of the safest tropical destinations for travelers and digital nomads.
What is the cheapest tropical island?
The least expensive tropical island is Cozumel, Mexico, which is followed by the Dominican Republic and Palawan, Philippines.
What are the disadvantages of living in a tropical place?
The high humidity and related mold problems, mosquitos, tropical diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, and natural disasters like typhoons are the most significant downsides of tropical life.
What are the advantages of living in tropical places?
The most obvious benefits include great weather, gorgeous beaches, and ocean views.
What are the cons of island living?
Limited access to healthcare, amenities, and products, inadequate infrastructure, and the lack of activities to do are some of the disadvantages of living on an island.
Where is the best internet in the Caribbean?
Among the Caribbean islands, the Cayman Islands has the most reliable and fastest internet connection.