How to Become a Digital Nomad in the U.S. (Step-by-Step Guide)
When thinking of digital nomads, many think of globetrotting types, switching countries every month. Or people living in southeast Asia or another budget-friendly digital nomad hub. But honestly, you don’t have to leave your home country to become a digital nomad. I’ve been a digital nomad in the U.S. for four years, and in this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you exactly how to do the same, including finding remote, choosing housing, budgeting, and everything in between.
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Why Did I Decide to Become a Digital Nomad in the U.S.?
A few reasons:
-I have a dog who’s too big to fly in the cabin.
-I do have a remote job, but international travel while working is complicated.
-I had a car and didn’t want that much of a change.
I can always travel internationally, but as for where to live? I found it best to stay closer to home, and four years later, I’m still a digital nomad in the U.S.
10 Steps to Becoming a Digital Nomad in the U.S.
1. Get a Remote Job
Having a remote job is your ticket to location independence. Luckily, post-Covid, they are more plentiful these days than before. Here are some popular resources:
Flexjobs
Working Nomads
We Work Remotely
Another option is to become a freelancer. If you have a skill that can be done regardless of where you are, this could work. Freelancing could be your main income source or a side job to fund your new nomadic lifestyle. Resources:
Some folks get by with working odd jobs wherever they are. If you’re the adventurous type, this could work for you. Me, though, I prefer a little more stability. But whatever floats your boat.
2. Decide How You’ll Get Around and Your Type of Accommodations
I prefer to drive my own car and lease short-term rentals. However, you could fly from place to place or rent a car and do the same.
There’s also co-living spaces, where you could meet other nomads doing the same thing as you.
Van life and RV life have always intrigued me, but I personally don’t think I’m cut out for either. It just seems like a large vehicle would be an albatross. But. It works for many.
3. Figure Out Where “Home” Is
The easiest solution is to use a friend or family member’s address.
You could also get a Private Mail Box in your state and use that as your address. This is another minimal friction solution, especially if you plan to return to your state after your nomadic adventures. A PMB is different from a P.O. Box in that you actually get a street address.
Another good option is to “relocate” to a no-income tax state because why pay taxes where you don’t live? There are 9 states within the U.S. that don’t have state income tax:
Texas
South Dakota
Nevada
Florida
Tennessee
Alaska
Washington
Wyoming
New Hampshire
Each state has its own rules for establishing residency. South Dakota is generally considered to be the nomad-friendliest state and is the preferred state where full-time RVers “live.” All you have to do is spend one night in a hotel, take the receipt to the DMV, and you’ve just moved to South Dakota.
4. Deal With Your Mail
I recommend getting a PMB. They’re only about 10 bucks a month to rent with additional fees for scanning your mail or forwarding it. Personally, I get very little mail, so it’s really no hassle to deal with.
5. Decide What to Pack
My rule of thumb: less is more. If you truly need something and don’t have it, you can always buy it later. You need less stuff than you think.
6. Decide What to Do With the Rest of Your Stuff
My advice? Sell as much as you can.
I decided to pack what would fit in my car and put the rest in a storage unit. Big mistake. I’ve lost count of how many times my storage unit rent has increased. And now, almost 4 years later, I just finished moving it all. I wish I’d sold at least the furniture and gotten a smaller unit to store things I wanted to keep.
A benefit of not selling it all, though, is that you could go back home and resume life as before, and clearly, that’s what I thought I would do when I saved soap and k-cups. Never again.
7. Locate All Important Paperwork
Think birth certificate, social security card, etc. If you’re traveling with a pet, make sure you have their vet and vaccine paperwork if you’ll be boarding them at any time during your travels.
8. Decide on a Budget and Research Destinations Within It
You’ll be surprised at how many locations fit within your budget if you make adjustments–for example, if you have a car, you can stay a little further out and save money. Remember, your day-to-day for the most part will look like it does now with your adventures taking place mainly on weekends, especially if you work full-time. So it’s not as important to be in the middle of it all like it would be if you were vacationing.
9. Make a Bucket List
Make a list of places where you’d like to live and pick your first spot. Start thinking about your second and third spots as well, but I wouldn’t recommend reserving those just yet. You’ll want to leave yourself a little leeway should you decide to stay longer.
10. Do the Dang Thing
Once you’ve got your first spot picked out, lock it down and hit the road!
How to Find Housing as a Digital Nomad in the. U.S.
My go-to is Furnished Finder, and I’ve used Zillow before as well. Some folks use AirBnB, but I find their fees are too high.
Budgeting Tips
Not gonna lie, it can be hard to balance out the FOMO with the budget. Here are a few tips:
Stay farther out. If you have a car, this is easier to do than if not–otherwise, you’ll nickel and dime yourself on Lyfts.
Pick a monthly “fun money” number you’re comfortable spending. It’s best to be honest with yourself–you’re going to be getting takeout and going to coffee shops. Make sure to budget accordingly.
Alternate between more expensive months and cheaper months. For example, you could stay in Denver one month and Albuquerque the next so that they balance each other out.
Stay longer. If you’re traveling less, you will save money. I find that 3-4 months in a place is a good balance for me. You may be able to find more affordable places to live as well since certain spots may require a 90-day stay.
FAQ: Becoming a Digital Nomad in the U.S.
How do you meet people as a digital nomad?
Meetups, fitness classes, going to fun events. I wrote a post about it here.
How do you decide on a place to live?
If I’m curious about a place, I research the city and find the best neighborhoods. My top priority is safety–everything else comes second. If you need a little inspiration, I have a list of the best places for digital nomads to live in the U.S.
Can you be a digital nomad with a dog?
Absolutely, yes, you can!
Is being a digital nomad in the U.S. expensive?
The U.S. is not the cheapest country to live in. With that being said, if you set a budget, you can usually make most places work, even if that means you have to stay a little farther out.
Is it better to slow travel or hop from place to place?
Slow travel, for sure. It’s more affordable and less hectic than constantly moving around. I used to stay in a place a month at a time, but for me, personally, that wasn’t long enough. 3-4 months is the sweet spot for me.
Miscellaneous Tips
Don’t plan too far ahead. Leave yourself some room for potentially staying longer in a place than you planned.
Accept that there will be good and bad days. A bad day doesn’t mean you’re a failure or that you should just pack up and go home–digital nomad life is like anything else, there will be bad with the good.
Slow down. Moving too often is a good way to burn yourself out. Slower travel is less hectic.
Is Being a Digital Nomad in the U.S. Worth It?
- Yes, if you want location flexibility without the international logistics
- Yes, if you have a U.S.-based remote job or a pet that can’t fly
- No, if you want super cheap living
- No, if you hate routine or slow travel
If you want change without completely uprooting your life, U.S.-based digital nomadism is one of the most sustainable ways to do it.
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