When it comes to living cheap as a digital nomad, exposing yourself to different, unique cultures, and enjoying a higher quality of life, South America’s where it’s at:
From Medellin and Buenos Aires, the nether hemisphere is teeming with nomad activity right now.
We all know where’s popular and where remote workers are heading en masse already, but what about those lesser-known destinations that are just starting to gain traction, are not as crowded yet, and are just as incredible as the tried-and-true spots?
For 2025, these are four of the fastest-rising digital nomad destinations in South America, as assessed by Nomad List in their latest ranking:
Arequipa, Peru
Peru may be best known among nomads for its historical Cusco, seen by many as a gateway to the Incan heartland, but little is said of equally-charming Arequipa, and how it ticks all the necessary boxes without the latter’s added mass tourism.
Like Cusco, Arequipa is modeled after European settlements, centered around a Spanish-built Plaza de Armas, where a monumental, 17th-century neoclassical basilica stands and criss-crossed by winding, pedestrian-friendly streets.
Other than its obvious architectural value, Arequipa is currently trending at number 15 on Nomad List’s Latin chart for its high concentration of cafes, with two of the top laptop-friendly picks being Kafi Wasi Coffee House and Puku Puku, and overall affordability.
Peru is already pretty cheap for living as a dollar-earner, in general, but Arequipa is even cheaper: we’re talking tortillas for less than a dollar, homemade lomo saltado in family-owned restaurants for as cheap as $4, and month-long flat rentals starting from a cheap $281 on Airbnb.
Pipa, Brazil
Forget Rio! Brazil’s next workcation hub is a laid-back coastal town in the country’s vast Northeast, where white-sand beaches run along turquoise Atlantic waters for what seems like endless miles, the tallest structures around are palm trees, not skyscrapers, and crime levels are lower.
Sharing a History similar to that of Tulum in Mexico, Pipa was but a quaint fishing village up until the 70s, when it was discovered by foreigners, and now it boasts a thriving surfing and backpacker scene; more recently, nomads have started flocking here as well.
Pipa plays host to Brazil’s first and so-far only Nomad Village, a tropical retreat where you can co-live with likeminded individuals and be closer to nature, as well as a plethora of beach clubs––epic nights out await at BarGunca De Vicente––and secluded coves and beaches.
This laid-back town is currently the 13th highest-charting destination on Nomad List, the largest database for tracking digital nomad trends worldwide, and based on its overall affordability (it costs $1,078 per month to live in), and stunning nature, we suspect it might climb a few more slots.
Cordoba, Argentina
Buenos Aires may steal the spotlight, but it’s far from being its parent country’s only nomad hub worth keeping an eye on: presently ranking at number 21 on the Latin charts, after peaking at 15 last summer, Cordoba is BA’s strongest rival right now.
A city in central Argentina dominated by a colonial core, filled with Belle époque buildings, Baroque churches, and housing one of South America’s oldest universities, which still includes a perfectly preserved 17th-century cloister, it’s nothing short of an unsung cultural gem.
On the nomad front, it’s pioneered a project called Digital Nomads Cordoba Capital, aimed at wooing remote workers from the U.S. and long-term travelers from other key markets with a series of benefits, including Tarjeta Activa, a discount card for restaurants and accommodation.
With the average cost of living capping at $1,408, as stated on Nomad List, Cordoba is also incredible for budget-friendly nomads who are not yet affluent enough to set up base in the Mexican Caribbean and join the white-on-white Tuluminatti cult.
Asunción, Paraguay
The highest-charting ‘rising’ star on Nomad List right now, peaking so far at number 2, Asunción is the bustling capital city of Paraguay, backed by the fast-flowing Paraguay River, and distinguished by its unique blend of European colonial architecture and post-20th century modernism.
It plays host to the Paraguayan Pantheon of Heroes, a replica of the one over in Paris, a Spanish-built cathedral, and a bar-lined Paseo Carmelitas, a hippy area tourists and nomads alike love for the wide variety of bars and restaurants.
Though it doesn’t border the ocean, nor is it that big of a metropolis––its population currently stands at just over half a million––Asunción is stealing the hearts of nomads primarily for its friendly locals, cheaper-than-average prices, and higher levels of safety for South American standards.
Alongside Argentina, Paraguay is one of only two countries in this part of the Western Hemisphere to be considered ‘low risk’ by the State Department, and the fact monthly expenses total $1,286 is an even bigger incentive for nomads relocating there in 2025.
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