I’ve been lucky enough to travel around Asia with my digital nomad family for almost all of my adult life. One of the things I love to discover is great places for digital nomad families. Using my own experience and asking other nomadic families I’ve created this ultimate resource – The Best Destinations In Asia For Digital Nomad Families.
If you want to jump straight to a certain country, use the links below!
Table of Contents
- What Makes A Great Destination For Digital Nomad Families?
- Cambodia
- China
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Japan
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nepal
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Vietnam
What Makes A Great Destination For Digital Nomad Families?
The best locations for digital nomad families in Asia need to be somewhere the whole family can enjoy. Not only do they need to be a suitbale place for you to work but also somewhere the kids will be happy too.
A great location for a digital nomad family also needs to be cost effective, traveling around the world can be expensive so finding those awesome places that don’t cost the world is always a bonus.
I’ve analysed these locations based on
Expense – How Much Does It Cost?
Of course we need to choose a location we can afford. Becoming a digital nomad with a family can be expensive. There is the constant cost of accommodation, visas, travel and childcare to factor in.
I’ve used the data collected by numbeo for the most accurate numbers possible to give you the best idea possible of the prices of each destination.
- Accommodation expense/month (based on a 3 bedroom apartment outside of the city center)
- Living expenses for a family of 4/month (not including accommodation)
- Cost of preschool private childcare per month
Safety – An Important Factor For Digital Nomad Families
The safety factor is one that digital nomads without kids rarely think about but being a parent changes you. Price is no longer the only factor that matters.
Travel Safe Abroad ranks cities and countries by their safety index, a number derived from these factors
- Transport Safety
- Pickpockets
- Natural Disaster
- Mugging
- Terrorism
- Scams
- Women Travellers
I’ve color coded the safety index using their traffic light system. For context Detroit is 56, Toronto is 81 and Mexico city is 45. The US average is 68, while Canada and Mexico are 88 and 65 respectively.
Things To Do For Children and families
If you’re taking the kids, there’s got to be things for the whole family to do! While listing too many attractions would make this post far too long, I did want to give you a good idea of what to expect with a few typical attractions.
Digital Nomad Visa With Family – What Visa Can You Get
Unfortunately not many countries in Asia have digital nomad with family visas…yet. But there are a few countries with them in the pipeline. For now though, I have listed the visas that digital nomads with family are most likely to get.
I’ll update when a digital nomad visa with family becomes available in the future for any country.
Cambodia
Visas
Cambodia doesn’t have a specific digital nomad visa so each person in your family will need to apply for either:
- Tourist Visa 30 days + extendable 30 days
- Business Visa 30 days + extendable indefinitely
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siem Reap | 2,228 | 331 | 450 | 63 |
| Phnom Penh | 2,248.46 | 8,357.14 | 726.67 | 61 |
Things To Do For Families in Siem Reap
- Explore Angkor Watt
- Boat Ride on the Tonle Sap
- Angkor zipline
China
Visas for China
China doesn’t have a digital nomad visa. Tourist visas are easy to get (though pricey) and only last 30 days. There is no obvious visa option for staying in China as a digital nomad family and with the pandemic restrictions still in place I recommend holding off on traveling to China.
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 2,640.46 | 1,148.59 | 1,664.85 | 65 |
| Shenzhen | 2,497.55 | 522.93 | 1,058.32 | 64 |
Things To Do For Families in Beijing
- The Great Wall
- Many soft play areas in malls such as Joy City
- Spend a Day walking around Tan Zhe Temple
Indonesia
Visas
There are plans for an Indonesian 5 year digital nomad visa but until that is released, these are your options
- Tourist visa on arrival 30 days (extendable 30 days)
- Single Entry Visa 60 days (extendable 4×30 days)
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bali | 1,856.92 | 98.82 | 761.63 | 58 |
| Jakarta | 1,777.72 | 153.35 | 550.92 | 54 |
Things To Do For Families in Bali
- Bali Zoo
- Tamora Gallery
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Israel
Visas
- Visa Waiver Program – 90 days
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tel Aviv | 4,059.98 | 1,172.66 | 2,188.57 | 64 |
| Jerusalem | 3,616.67 | 721.54 | 1,626.55 | 61 |
Things To Do For Families in Tel Aviv
- Jerusalem Beach (in Tel Aviv)
- Port of Tel Aviv
- Free play space at Dizengoff Center
Japan
Visas
If you work for a company that has offices in Japan, a transfer would probably be the easiest way to get a working visa and would allow you to stay there long term. If you’re unable to get a working visa through your current company or a company based in Japan, you will most likely be looking at a Tourist Visa of up to 90 days.
- Working Visa
- Tourist Visa 90 days
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 3,988.12 | 581.67 | 1,415.97 | 80 |
| Osaka | 3,261.73 | 459.47 | 903.73 | 79 |
| Okinawa | 3,346.46 | 311.27 | 632.18 | 83* |
Things To Do For Families In Tokyo
As you can imagine there is plenty to do for all the family in Japan
- Disneyland Tokyo
- Cat cafes
- Plenty of Parks and Malls
Laos
Visas
Despite rumors of digital nomads stayying in Laos on a 1 year business visa, most people entering Laos will get the Tourist Visa on Arrival for 30 days. It’s extendable for an additional 30 days and you can do a visa run as many times as you like to get another Visa on Arrival.
- 30 day Touris Visa on Arrival – extendable for 30 days
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luang Prabang | 100.00 | 683.33 | 51* |
Things To Do For Families Around Luang Praban
- Morning Market
- Elephant Conservation Center
- Discover the Mekong River
Malaysia
Visas
Although there are start up visas if you are creating a new app or technology and have sufficient funds, most digital nomad families will enter Malaysia with a Social Pass, a 90 day (for countries including USA & Eu countires) visa on arrival.
- 90 day Social Pass – visa on arrival
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur | 1,748.24 | 255.37 | 536.87 | 64 |
| Melaka | 255.37 | 273.41 | 69* | |
| Penang | 1,595.85 | 231.10 | 439.41 | 58 |
Things To Do For Families Around Kuala Lumpur
There is plenty to do for a digital nomad family in Kuala Lumpor. From temples and night markets to theme parks and malls. You’ll never run out of things to do here.
- Kampung Baru Night Market
- ICity Theme Park
- Batu Caves
Mongolia
Visas
Mongolia has a different categories and depending on which country you are from you may be able to get a visa on arrival, visa free entry or you may need to apply for a visa in your own country. Most nomadic families entering Mongolia do so on a travel visa for 30 days, although some countries (e.g. USA) get a 90 day visa.
- Tourist Visa 30-90 days – extendable for 30 days
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulaanbaatar | 1,778.03 | 131.62 | 432.77 | 43 |
Things To Do For Families In Mongolia
Having the right expectations is the key to enjoying family life in Mongolia. Parks, museums and spending slow days in the experiencing non-digital nomadic life grasslands can be really enjoyable days for the whole family.
- Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
- Genghis Khan Statue Complex
- The Central Museum of Mongolian Dinosaurs
Myanmar (Burma)
Visas
Unless you have a formal invitation from a business within Myanmar, you will need to apply for the Tourist eVisa online.
- Tourist eVisa 28 days
- Business eVisa 70 days
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yangon/Rangoon | 1,915.85 | 426.00 | 1,137.50 | 39* |
Things To Do For Families in Myanmar
- Shwedagon Pagoda
- Beaches at Ngapali
- Balloon Ride at Bagan
Nepal
Visas
Almost everyone that enters Nepal will need to get a visa on arrival, which makes things pretty simple, it only took me a couple of minutes to get mine. They have mulitple choices at different price points depending on how long you want to stay. All of the visas are extendable (again, just pay more to extend it for longer.)
- 15 day Visa on Arrival
- 30 day Visa on Arrival
- 90 day Visa on Arrival
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu | 1,302.48 | 87.95 | 217.40 | 64 |
| Pokhara | 24.16 | 144.94 | 59* |
Things To Do For Families Around Kathmandu
- Trek to Everest Base Camp
- Visit The Stupa At Boudhanath
- Explore Durbar Square
Philippines
Visas
- 30 Day Visa Waiver – extendable for 29 days
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manila | 1,938.53 | 253.23 | 727.38 | 40 |
| Cagayan De Oro | 105.28 | 433.87 | 47* | |
| Bataan | 253.23 | 253.83 | 47* |
Things To Do For Families In Manilla
- Greenbelt Malls
- Ace Water Spa
- La Mesa Eco Park
Singapore
Visas
Citizens of most countries are able to enter Singapore without a visa. Visa free entry to Singapore is for 30-90 days depending on your nationality and the immigration officer you have.
- 30-90 day Visa Free Entry
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 3,524.81 | 895.05 | 2,587.44 | 90 |
Things To Do For Families In Singapore
- Superpark
- Headrock VR
- Universal Studios Singapore
South Korea
Visas
Korea offers a visa waiver program to many countries including UK and USA for a 90 day visa free stay. It is also possible to get a H1 holiday working visa for certain industries which will allow you to olive and work in Korea for up to 1 year.
- Visa Waiver 30-90 days
- H1 Visa 1 year
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | 4,019.59 | 402.75 | 1,498.80 | 77 |
| Jeju Islands | 391.76 | 1,793.21 | 82* | |
| Busan | 3,189.24 | 294.41 | 706.58 | 82* |
Things To Do For Families Around Seoul
- Nami Island
- Children’s Grand park
- Lotte World Tower &Â Mall
Sri Lanka
Visas
Sri Lanka has plans to soon introduce both a new digital nomad visa and an extended tourist visa. The Digital nomad visa will be available for a duration of 1 year and the extended tourist visa, 180 days! Currently most digital nomad families will need to use the current tourist visa to enter Sri Lanka.
- 90 day Tourist Visa
- 30 day Online Tourist Visa – renewable
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombo | 1,005.72 | 33.42 | 236.42 | 70 |
Things To Do For Families In Sri Lanka
- Udawalawe National Park
- Beaches of Arugam Bay
- Explore Ancient City of Kandy
Taiwan
Visas
Taiwan is renowned as one of the best places to get a long term visa for digital nomads – The Gold Card Visa. Available for up to 3 years stay in Taiwan, providing you earn enough or work in a certain industry, this visa can is a digital slomad’s dream. US and UK citizens can also get a 90 day tourist visa which can be extended for an additional 90 days
- 1-3 year Gold Card Visa
- 90 Day Tourist Visa – Extendable for 90 days
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei | 3,039.20 | 641.87 | 1,006.53 | 61 |
| Kaohsiung | 2,548.73 | 309.04 | 542.40 | 54* |
Things To Do For Families In Taiwan
- Shin Kong Mitsukoshi MallÂ
- Daan Forest Parks
- KidsAwesome
Thailand
Visas
Though you may hear about digital nomads securing a different types of visas, there are only 4 real options for the average digital nomad family who want a Thai Visa.
- Tourist Visa – extendable to 90 days per entry
- 4 year SMART T Visa – if employed overseas
- 4 year SMART S Visa – if you want to set up a business in Thailand (Approx $18k held for 3 months)
- Thai Elite Visa – 5 year multiple Entry but costs $18,000
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | Safety Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai | 1,796 | 307 | 450 | 73 |
| Phuket | 1,804 | 435 | 798 | 45 |
| Bangkok | 2,178 | 504 | 965 | 49 |
Things To Do For Families In Chinag Mai
- Elephant Sanctuary
- Bua Tong ‘Sticky’ Waterfalls
- Indoor play areas, such as the one in Central Festival
Vietnam
Visas
Vietnam has a few different options depending on which country your family comes from. Most Western countries will be allowed entry for 90 days with a Visa on Arrival. Other countries may need to apply online for a 30 day tourist eVisa. There are also a handful of visa exempt countries which can stay in Vietnam for 14 days without a visa.
- 90 Day Visa on Arrival
- 30 Day eVisa
Cost & Safety
| Location | Cost of Living | Cost of Childcare | Apartment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | 1,572.70 | 185.71 | 516.45 | 68 |
| Ho Chi Minh CIty | 1,747.69 | 212.62 | 609.74 | 64 |
Things To Do For Families in Hanoi
- Hanoi water puppet show
- Hanoi Old Quarter
- Aeon Mall
