Digital Nomadism has often been thought of as a remote work lifestyle that is based on pull factors such as beautiful locations, existing nomad communities, and office infrastructure (good internet connection, coworking spaces, etc). Not enough attention has been given to push factors, such as: life changes, high living costs in Global North cities, and piecemeal employment options. This project focuses specifically on the high cost of housing in Global North cities as a push factor. Using interviews with over 100 digital nomads from wealthy countries who have relocated to middle-income or lower-middle-income destinations, it traces rent and mortgages as an explicit reason for becoming a digital nomad. With data from online and in-person interviews, it explores digital nomads’ housing histories in expensive cities in Europe, Australasia, and North America and how previous experiences of housing precarity was a prominent factor in choosing a digital nomad lifestyle.
