Many people who like to travel may dream about the life of a digital nomad, such as working in a cottage next to a pristine beach, having incredible dinners in local restaurants far from tourist eateries, and exploring the nearby exciting city or natural park during rest days before moving on to a next destination. Dream on, but reality isn’t quite that rosy. Today, digital nomads recognize the benefits but also risks of their lifestyle. An extensive study among traveling workers reveals the highs and lows of the nomad life.

The results of the study Global Living Report 2025: Hidden Costs of the Digital Nomad Lifestyle that was conducted by the Dutch bank Bunq indicates that many of the challenges digital nomads face are very difficult to foresee. For instance, I didn’t know when I planned my three-month long nomad test trip to France years ago that it happened to be a perfect way to try out if the lifestyle would be suitable for me. Turned out that it was, but after the test trip it took a long time to change my approach to working while traveling, and to adjust my work setup to match with the requirements of the new lifestyle.

In any case, here are the key conclusions from the Bunq study. 4,729 people whose home country is France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, or UK who identified themselves as digital nomads or are living overseas participated in the survey.

What has been the biggest challenge?

• 15% of digital nomads regarded work-life balance the number one challenge.
• 12% language barriers.
• 11% finances and also 11% mentioned healthcare.

Usually without an office shared with colleagues, without face to face real life meetings with clients and other work related parties, and potential time zone differences the question is: are digital nomads always working or having an exceptionally long holiday? Everyone has to solve that problem for themselves, but it is obvious that a burn out or addictions won’t solve the problem.

How has this lifestyle impacted your work?

• 21% of digital nomads reported a positive impact on their work.
• 19% have an employer who supports remote work.
• 18% don’t consider themselves as digital nomads.

Nomads who do remote work for an employer may pay attention to their career options along with the actual daily work, but freelancers have to make sure they can constantly make deals for new projects. Fifth of nomads regard their lifestyle has positive impact on their work, although one might think that the long term benefits of the lifestyle would come from other things like learning more about oneself and the world.

Mental health can be a serious issue:

• 38% of nomads agreed that they struggle with their mental health.
• 36% didn’t have problems with mental health.

Especially freelancers who have to rely on themselves in every problem and new situation that comes up along the way may occasionally feel a lot of pressure. Also social life can’t be the same as it was back in the home country. Finding a way to test yourself how you cope, for instance, a period of few weeks in foreign environment before taking the decision to get a one-way ticket can help to focus on the important things that help balancing work, adventure and health.

How has the culture of a country impacted your values?

• 29% of nomads responded that their values haven’t been impacted.
• 20% said their values have changed.
• 17% have stronger values.

Here is one of the biggest benefits of getting to know other cultures and learning from other people who see the world in a different way: a fifth of digital nomads believe their values have changed. Remarkable. Along with memories, and learning a vast amount of practical things, understanding other cultures is something to value for the rest of life.

The Next Web reported. A popular resource for planning where you might want to stay is Nomad List, and travel guides for European destinations are available here.