Remote work once carried an image of sunshine, flexible schedules, and endless beaches. The world watched people head to places like Bali, Mexico City, Lisbon, and Cape Town, convinced that life abroad meant cheaper rent, healthier routines, and a better version of modern freedom.

Yet for many, that glossy dream is starting to wear off. Rising costs, isolation, burnout, and resentment from locals are shifting the narrative.

Rising Prices and a Vanishing Island Spirit

In 2014, Angie Anand visited Bali and planned to make the island her long-term base. After lockdown lifted in 2021, she finally returned and worked remotely as a virtual assistant while also running breathwork sessions. Accommodation was inexpensive, food was affordable, and she described feeling energized by a community of entrepreneurs and digital nomads.

Instagram | bridalbeautybyangie | Angie Anand has been working as a makeup artist at weddings across the UK.

By 2023, everything looked different. Anand noticed wealthy arrivals—especially Russians—paying several years of rent upfront. A four-bedroom villa that once cost £700 a month suddenly turned into a two-bedroom property going for £1,500 in a less desirable area.

“It’s impacted my finances massively; I’ve had to come back to England and make cash quickly,” she said.

Since early summer, she has been in the UK working weddings as a makeup artist, and plans to relocate again in November. Bali is no longer an option for her.

“It’s lost its essence and simply isn’t as affordable as it used to be.”

The Digital Nomad Lifestyle Isn’t Always a Vacation

For years, the image of remote life looked simple: work in cafés, surf breaks at lunch, and the ability to move whenever boredom sets in. The truth has never been that effortless.

According to Bunq, a Dutch online bank:

31% of British digital nomads are less financially stable than expected
22% feel their careers have suffered

Tom Slater, now a therapist, recognizes that pattern.

“They’re living in paradise… yet they’re profoundly unfulfilled and unhappy,” he said. Slater traveled the world as a scuba diver and filmmaker, worked in stunning locations, and still felt empty until long-term therapy helped him understand the burnout hidden beneath the picture-perfect lifestyle.

The pressure to constantly achieve, post, earn, and “never stop pushing” has created an intense hustle culture. Many remote workers describe being surrounded by beauty but feeling alone, stressed, or detached.

When Constant Movement Stops Feeling Exciting

Harry Schmidt has lived without a fixed home since 2023 while working remotely in finance. Most of his time was spent in co-living spaces—private rooms, shared work areas, and a revolving door of people. At the start, it felt exciting. New faces, new cultures, and a sense of endless options.

Eventually, the excitement faded.

He describes it this way: meeting someone, connecting, and watching them move on two weeks later. Deep friendships became rare. Decision fatigue set in. Choosing the next destination became exhausting.

A three-week rotation turned into month-long stays, and eventually a three-month living period in Valencia. He noticed the same pattern in others: the longer someone travels, the less they act like tourists. No castles. No day trips. Just a hunt for reliable Wi-Fi and a quiet coffee shop.

When he met his partner, settling down became appealing. The couple now lives in Brescia, Italy. Schmidt runs his own business and is ready to see how staying in one place feels. “Now the challenge is to commit,” he said. “It’s a rewiring of our brains.”

Guilt, Shame, and the Silent Fear of Failure

Many remote workers feel pressure to appear thrilled with their choices. Family and friends assume the lifestyle is perfect. Social media reinforces that illusion. Admitting it isn’t amazing often comes with guilt.

Slater sees that pain often.

“They look around and think everyone else is doing it really well, so why is it hard for me?” he explained. Going back home feels like defeat, and returning to traditional rent and a desk job can sting.

Local Backlash and the Feeling of Never Belonging

When digital nomads arrive in large numbers, rents jump, neighborhoods change, and locals begin to feel pushed out. That anger is turning into protests and petitions worldwide.

Examples:

Mexico City residents demanding stronger rental regulation
Cape Town residents calling for a “tourist tax” on nomads
Frustration in Bali, Barcelona, and Lisbon

For remote workers, this tension makes settling tough.

aol.com | Louison Dumont and his family spent four costly years trying to settle in Portugal, ultimately feeling like temporary outsiders.

Tech entrepreneur Louison Dumont spent four years in Portugal with his wife and young child. Renting a four-bedroom apartment in Cascais or Sintra averaged $3,000 a month. Costs rose, paperwork was draining, and the sense of belonging never arrived.

“We tried to integrate, but many locals understandably resent it,” he said. Even digital nomad meetups felt temporary. New friends left every eight weeks. When people heard the family stayed four years, they were “practically old-timers.”

Eventually, the family moved to Austin, Texas. “The beach lifestyle got old and we wanted to be near the action,” Dumont said. They still plan to travel, but the nomadic chapter has closed.

A New Phase of Digital Nomadism

Sondre Rasch, co-founder of SafetyWing, remembers when remote work abroad felt rare back in 2014. It felt like a secret. That era is gone. Digital nomad visas now exist in 80 countries, and the largest new groups are families and workers in their 50s and 60s.

Infrastructure—health systems, banking, visas—is still uneven, but rapidly improving.

For Anand, this shift creates room to start over elsewhere. She wants someplace quieter, less saturated with social-media-driven tourism. Mauritius stands out, especially since it offers remote work visas and residency options for people over 50.

“The dream is to wake up with a beach view,” she said.

What This New Reality Means

The reality of digital nomad life has shifted significantly from its once-idealized image of endless sunshine, low expenses, and complete freedom.

Today, many remote workers face higher living costs that strain budgets, fleeting friendships that make meaningful connections difficult, and constant pressure to perform and achieve. In addition, friction with local communities adds tension, while emotional burnout has become a common challenge.

While remote work can still suit some lifestyles, the notion that it is effortless, inexpensive, and glamorous no longer aligns with the experiences of many. The modern digital nomad dream is far more complex and nuanced than it once seemed.