Does money really equal freedom for digital nomads?

I'm back in London, the city I called home for almost nine years. Amidst the towering skyscrapers and non-stop hustling crowds, I was surprised to notice the many digital nomads working from cafés and coworking spaces here.

Now, I know how expensive this city can be. Trust me, it's definitely not cheap and I'm lucky to have family here for the occasional stay.

So, naturally, this got me thinking about one of the most asked questions on the internet when it comes to digital nomads: How much do digital nomads make?

Honestly, I could just throw some stats at you, tell you how much the average digital nomad makes (and you can find out for yourself here if you really want to know it). But that to me seems to miss the bigger picture, doesn't it?

Is this all about becoming mega-rich, or is there more to it?

The answer, at least for me, is a resounding "no". I didn't embark on this journey to buy a private island in the Bahamas (though, hey, if that happens, I won't complain 😛).

Jokes aside, I personally chose this lifestyle for the freedom. The ability to ditch the routine, to stop living on autopilot, and to follow my passions around the world.

Money is crucial to everyone, no doubt. I want every single one of you to achieve financial stability and live the life you dream of. But treating money as the end goal feels... empty.

It risks to transform this amazing lifestyle into just another rat race.

To me, being a digital nomad is about having enough money to live comfortably and to keep exploring. It's about knowing that I won't wake up tomorrow drowning in debt or having to compromise on my freedom and flexibility.

Of course, I recognize my privilege in even being able to think this way. Coming from a less privileged background, these might seem like trivial concerns to some, and that's precisely why we're on this journey. To confront our biases, to challenge our perspectives, and to connect with different cultures and experiences.

So here's the takeaway: while our income matters, I urge you to keep focusing on your own journey.

When focusing on self-development, you might realize that you have found the true wealth: a lifestyle that gives you the freedom to explore and the ability to design a life on your own terms. All while making connections along the way.

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Written by Luca Mussari

Digital nomad and co-founder of Freaking Nomads. After leaving a corporate job in London, I co-created Freaking Nomads to inspire others to embrace remote work and find happiness wherever they go.

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