Minimalist by choice, Nomad by nature & a Chartered Accountant by profession!

Nomad Finance Guide

For Bali, Malaysia, Thailand & Dubai

By a Chartered Accountant | Survive & Thrive Under $1,000/month

🌍 Introduction: Digital Nomad Life on a Budget

Living abroad doesn’t have to be expensive. As a chartered accountant and digital nomad, I’ve developed this guide to help aspiring nomads earn online, minimize expenses, and legally work remotely in some of Asia and the Middle East's most exciting destinations.

💼 How to Become a Digital Nomad

Step 1: Choose Your Skills & Services

• Freelancing: Writing, design, video editing, virtual assistant, accounting

• Online Business: Dropshipping, blogging, YouTube, digital products

• Remote Jobs: Customer support, tech support, software development

Step 2: Set Up Online Income Sources

• Create an Upwork/Fiverr profile or apply for remote jobs on platforms like We Work Remotely

• Build a simple portfolio website (use Hostinger)

• Set up PayPal, Wise, and Revolut for receiving payments globally

Step 3: Legal Setup & Banking

• Create a sole proprietorship in your home country

• Open Wise Multi-currency Account Wise

• Use Revolut or local e-wallets for spending in local currencies

📍 Destination 1: Bali, Indonesia

Monthly Budget: $750 – $1,000

• Rent: $250 (shared villa) – $500 (private studio)

• Food: $150 (local warung) – $250 (mixed)

• Coworking: $80 (Dojo, Outpost)

• Transport: $40 (scooter rental)

• SIM/Internet: $10 (Telkomsel/XL)

• Extras: $50 (trips, cafes)

Visa Options:

• 30-day Visa on Arrival + 30-day extension

• Social Visa (extendable 180 days)

Online Income Tip:

• Offer digital services to Bali-based businesses (e.g., website for yoga retreat)

📍 Destination 2: Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)

Monthly Budget: $800 – $1,000

• Rent: $300 (shared condo) – $500 (1-bedroom)

• Food: $150 (local food) – $250 (mixed)

• Coworking: $80 (Common Ground, WORQ)

• Transport: $50 (MRT, Grab)

• SIM/Internet: $10 (Hotlink, Digi)

• Extras: $50 (weekend trips)

Visa Options:

• 90-Day Tourist Visa (many nationalities)

Online Income Tip:

• Start affiliate blog for local travel using these:

  • Booking.com

  • Agoda

  • Trip.com

  • Expedia

  • Hostelworld

📍 Destination 3: Thailand (Bangkok/Chiang Mai)

Monthly Budget: $700 – $1,000

• Rent: $200 (Chiang Mai) – $400 (Bangkok)

• Food: $150 (street food) – $250 (mixed)

• Coworking: $70 (Hub53, The Hive)

• Transport: $30 (train, Grab)

• SIM/Internet: $10 (AIS, DTAC)

• Extras: $50 (trips, events)

Visa Options:

• 30-Day Visa on Arrival + extension

• 60-Day Tourist Visa + extension

• LTR Visa (for high-income nomads)

Online Income Tip:

• Teach English online or offer virtual assistant services

📍 Destination 4: Dubai, UAE

Monthly Budget: $1,000 – $1,200 (shared accommodation)

• Rent: $500 (shared) – $900 (studio)

• Food: $200 (mix of local and western)

• Coworking: $100 (Nest, Astrolabs)

• Transport: $50 (metro, Careem)

• SIM/Internet: $20 (Etisalat, Du)

• Extras: $100 (weekends, cafes)

Visa Options:

• 30/90-Day Tourist Visa

• Remote Work Visa (1 year, requires $5K/mo income proof)

Online Income Tip:

• Sell digital products or run a consulting business (Dubai is a global hub)

📊 Budget Tools & Apps

• Budget Tracker: Notion, YNAB, or Google Sheets

• Currency Conversion: XE, Wise

• Invoicing: PayPal, Wave, Revolut Business

Awara Global’s Travel Toolkit

Your Ultimate Travel Shortcut – Book Smart, Travel More, Worry Less!

✈️ Flights & Hotels – Where Will You Sleep (and Fly)?

🧳 Trip.com
Looking for one app to rule them all? Trip.com has it – flights, hotels, trains, even buses. I book my last-minute escapes here all the time.
👉 Book Now – for the spontaneous adventurer in you

🏨 Expedia
Want bundle deals and lazy booking? Expedia’s perfect – flights + hotels = one-click bliss. I use it when I’m in “I need a vacation NOW” mode.
👉 Snag Deals – save time, save money

🛏️ Agoda
Agoda is my Asia go-to. Amazing discounts, hidden deals, and they often beat other platforms.
👉 Unlock Discounts – especially awesome in Southeast Asia!

🌍 Booking.com
For reliable stays anywhere in the world. I love their flexible cancellation (perfect for us indecisive nomads).
👉 Book It – play it safe, travel free

🏕️ Hostelworld
Traveling on a budget? Or just love meeting people in hostels? Hostelworld is your jam.
👉 Find a Hostel – budget-friendly + social vibes

🗺️ Tours, Experiences & Bucket List Stuff

🧭 GetYourGuide
Ever landed in a new city and thought “now what?” GetYourGuide is your instant plan-maker. From food tours to skydiving.
👉 Book an Adventure – because YOLO

🎒 Viator
For off-the-beaten-path activities and unique local tours – Viator has options everywhere.
👉 Explore Now – say yes to weird and wonderful!

🎢 Klook
Theme parks, SIM cards, airport transfers – Klook covers your entire trip. I use them for all my Asia escapades.
👉 Grab Your Klook Pass – skip lines, live large

📸 TripAdvisor
Old but gold – check reviews, compare tours, and book with confidence.
👉 Plan Smart – when reviews matter

🚗 Get Around Like a Pro

🚆 12Go Asia
Trains, ferries, buses – Asia’s best transport booking site. It’s how I avoid dodgy travel agents.
👉 Book Transport – no scams, no stress

🚙 Discover Cars
Road trip time! I use Discover Cars to compare rentals worldwide – and score cheap wheels.
👉 Get Your Ride – freedom on four wheels

🚘 Rentalcars.com
Another solid car hire option, with global reach and solid support.
👉 Compare Rentals – drive your own adventure

🛡️ Stay Safe Out There

🏥 VisitorsCoverage
Travel insurance that’s simple, affordable, and works. I never leave home without it (especially post-pandemic).
👉 Get Covered – travel safe, stay stress-free

🌐 SafetyWing
My go-to nomad insurance. Pay monthly, pause anytime – perfect for long-term world roamers like us.
👉 Nomad Insurance – healthcare, anywhere

🔐 Keep Your Data Safe While Traveling

🔒 Surfshark VPN
Use public WiFi at cafes or airports? I do too – with Surfshark VPN running. Access Netflix globally, stay safe.
👉 Get Surfshark – secure, unlimited, essential

🕵️‍♂️ Incogni
Delete your private data from the web. Seriously. I signed up, and they scrubbed dozens of sites tracking me.
👉 Stay Private – digital peace of mind

💸 Money, Crypto & Financial Freedom

💳 Revolut
I use Revolut for currency exchange, travel payments, and budgeting on the road. Fee-free, app-based banking.
👉 Sign Up Free – money made easy

💱 Wise (ex-TransferWise)
Sending or receiving money globally? Wise is cheap, fast, and honest.
👉 Send Money – ditch the bank fees

🪙 Coinspot (AU)
Start trading crypto in Australia with Coinspot. Easy to use and safe.
👉 Join Coinspot – crypto made simple

📈 Swyftx
Crypto trading with real support and a friendly app.
👉 Trade Crypto – grow your digital wallet

📲 Crypto.com
My mobile crypto wallet – sleek app, easy access.
👉 Get App – crypto in your pocket

📊 Sharesies
Want to invest small and often? Sharesies lets you buy stocks from $5.
👉 Invest Here – build wealth your way

🌏 XE Money Transfer
Trusted currency transfers for travelers and remote workers.
👉 Transfer Money – fast, fair, global

🌐 Nomad Tools & Support

💻 Hostinger
Start your own blog, online store, or portfolio. Hostinger’s cheap and fast – where I host this site!
👉 Launch Website – build your online empire

✈️ iVisa
Need a visa? Don’t panic – iVisa helps you get it fast without embassy drama.
👉 Get Your Visa – travel ready in minutes

☕ Ko-Fi – Like my content? Fuel my next coffee stop or road trip!
👉 Support Me – thanks, you rock!

🎥 Join the Awara Global Journey

📺 YouTube – Travel vlogs, guides, and road trips
👉 Subscribe

📸 Instagram – Daily travel pics, tips & behind-the-scenes
👉 Follow Us

PS: Every time you book through these links, it helps me create more content — at no extra cost to you.
💙 Thanks for supporting Awara Global – Let’s keep exploring together! 🚐✨