How to Make Money ONLINE While Traveling (15+ Best Ways)
Are you wondering how to make money online while traveling? I’ve got you covered!
In today’s age, there’s countless ways to make money while traveling.
I bet you’re tired of the 9-to-5 routine, dreaming of traveling the world but just never having enough time or money to do so.
That was me a few years ago, before I quit my job and decided to become a digital nomad. I travel the world and earn money at the same time, and so can you!
From freelance gigs to virtual work opportunities, I’ll show you over 15 of the best ways to make money online while traveling, as well as some money-saving hacks so you can travel more and work less. Get ready to say goodbye to boring old routines and helloooo freedom!
Jobs You Can Do Online to Earn Money While Traveling
- Freelancing
- Start a business
- Teach English online
- Sell photos or videos to stock websites
- Start a travel blog (or any blog)
- Consulting and coaching
- Sell digital products
- Create passive income streams
- Get a job with a work visa
- Surveys and market research
- Become an influencer
- Affiliate marketing
- Dropshipping
- Airbnb arbitrage
- Rent out your room
Ways to Make Money as a Digital Nomad
What’s a digital nomad, you ask?
Simply put, a digital nomad is like that one friend who somehow manages to be in every wedding photo, but doesn’t actually know the couple. In the work world, that’s us – we’re everywhere and nowhere, popping up in any timezone at any given moment, thanks to our trusty laptop and Wi-Fi.
Technically speaking, if you’ve ever checked suspiciously work-like emails between café hopping in Paris, congrats, you’re a digital nomad!
You’ve swapped out the death glare of your office clock for a backdrop of, well, anywhere you please. And yes, counting money earned while sipping a margarita under a palm tree is as satisfying as secretly wearing swimsuits during conference calls. Welcome to the club!
1. Work online as a freelancer while traveling
Personally, I think freelancing is the best gig, and an easy way to make money remotely. I’ve been doing freelance video editing for over the past two years, bringing in six figures a year.
But don’t be fooled, I’ve been crafting my video editing skills my entire life.
If you have any type of skill, you can earn a bit of money with it. After all, there’s endless demand all over the world. But if you’d rather start with a new skill you don’t have yet, you can do that too! There’s plenty of online courses for every kind of job where you can learn the basics in a few weeks and then start selling your services.
And as you start to gain more experience, you can start raising those prices. (Ka-ching!) These gigs can fill your wallet with anywhere from $15 to $50 an hour or more, depending on the job and your experience.
These are a few of the most common services for freelancers:
Virtual assistant
You can be a virtual assistant, basically someone’s personal genie – granting wishes left and right for your clients, from managing emails to organizing their digital lives. Sure, it’s not too glamorous, but I’ve seen people make a killing with their VA services.
Copywriting and proofreading services
Or maybe you’re the word wizard type, offering copywriting and proofreading services. You know, spinning straw into grammatical gold and making typos disappear.
Graphic designer
Perhaps your forte is making things pretty? Sell your graphic design skills, creating logos and websites while lounging in Lisbon.
- 💰: Varies greatly; Average of $29.95/hour in the US
Helpful resources to find freelance work
- Upwork (My personal fav!)
- Fiverr
- Freelancer
2. Start your own business
Imagine crafting a startup from your hostel bunk in Thailand or sketching out business plans while waiting for your gelato in Rome. The kind of businesses you could start are as limitless as your passport stamps.
Freelancing could even be your stepping stone to your own business. Once you’re the hot shot freelancer in town, you can upgrade to boss status – outsource your work, build a team, and voilà – you’re not just the talent, you’re the brains behind the operation too.
How much money? Let’s just say, if done right, you could be making enough dough to rival the bakery around the corner.
- 💰: Varies greatly; Can scale infinitely
3. Teaching English online
Okay, let’s talk about teaching English as a foreign language, a perfect way to work remotely from anywhere in the world. You’re basically getting paid to chat in your native language; even my grandma could do that! And no, you don’t need to be the next Shakespeare.
It’s all about helping folks get their “th”s and “ch”s straight. Plus, when you’re explaining the difference between ‘their’, ‘there’, and ‘they’re’ while chilling in your PJs, it honestly feels like the ultimate life hack. (Just make sure you know the difference yourself of course, haha)
Teaching online usually requires you to have a TEFL certification. Even if it’s not a requirement, being TEFL certified can help you boost your salary past the average $10 – $40 an hour. So it’s definitely worth looking into!
- 💰: Average of $12-$25/hour in the US
Helpful resources to find work as an online English teacher
4. Selling photos or videos to stock websites
I know you’re taking photos on your travels, so why not sell them and get paid for it? Think of it as your own personal travel job.
That’s right, stock websites are basically starving for your eye-candy content.
Who’s it for? Literally any traveler with a camera – which, last time I checked, is all of us, thanks to our smartphones.
Your memories have a forever home online where they can keep earning you money while you sleep. Sure, it might only be 25 to 50 cents each time someone makes a purchase, but with enough content out there, that could really add up over time!
- 💰: Average of $500-$1,000/month in the US
Helpful resources to stock websites you can sell to:
5. Start a travel blog (or any blog)
Travel blogging is an obvious way to make money while traveling. It’s your own slice of the internet where you can dish all about your epic adventures, the good, the bad, and the “I-can’t-believe-I-ate-that”.
What do you need to kickstart this digital diary? A sprinkle of wit, a dash of charm, and uh, a laptop? Seriously though, a catchy domain name, web hosting, and a flair for the dramatic will serve you well.
If you take it seriously and learn some SEO and marketing skills, you could earn top dollar from all the ads, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts. You could even be hired for some press trips where they’ll pay you to travel.
But it doesn’t have to be a travel blog. As long as you’re an expert in any topic, bogging can be a great source of income for you.
- 💰: Varies greatly; Average of $30/hour in the US (once you actually start making money)
6. Consulting and coaching
Let’s get real – sometimes you’re just so good at something, you can’t help but always end up talking about it. Consulting and coaching are like being the superhero sidekick to new businesses or clueless clients.
If you’ve got a skill you can talk about for hours without needing a nap, you’re in business. Literally, anyone from a knitting ninja to a marketing maestro can offer their sage wisdom for a price.
You could be sipping a margarita in Mexico while telling them, through a screen, why they need to up their social media game.
- 💰: Varies greatly; Average of $42/hour in the US
7. Sell digital products
Selling digital products is like the online version of setting up a lemonade stand, except you’re swapping sugary drinks for downloadable goodies.
We’re talking eBooks for travel guides, or maybe courses teaching the art of sales copy. You’ll need a website and a way to make your products look sexy – hello, graphic design!
I’ve seen folks rake in anything from a modest extra side hustle to a mouth-gaping “Is that even legal?” amount. So, whether it’s $5 templates or $500 courses, if you’ve got the skills, the digital world is your oyster.
- 💰: Varies greatly, Can scale infinitely
8. Create passive income streams
Passive income is earning cash while you sleep, see the world, or binge-watch your favorite series for the millionth time.
Yes, technically some of the jobs I’ve already listed could be considered passive income streams, like digital products and selling stock footage. But there’s a million other ways to generate passive income as well, like buying stocks, buying a rental property, starting a print-on-demand Amazon shop, investing in vending machines, etc.
Of course, passive income streams will rarely ever start as passive. Like anything good in life, you’ll have to put in the work upfront and watch it pay off later.
- 💰: Varies greatly; Can scale infinitely
9. Get a job with a work visa
Snagging a remote job with a work visa is like hitting the jackpot. Countries are practically rolling out the red carpet if you’ve got the right skills.
Once you find a job, you’ll get to work in their local timezone – no more waking up in the dead of night to take calls from your boss back in the US.
As a bonus, it’s a great way to earn some extra benefits like free housing and healthcare. What more could you ask for?!
The only downside is that most of these jobs are full-time positions, so you won’t have as much time flexibility in your day. Also, if you want to travel around to different countries while working abroad, then a full-time position might have some limitations with that.
- 💰: Varies greatly; Average of $4.1K-$5.5K/month in Europe
10. Surveys and market research
Ever dreamt of getting paid for your opinion? Welcome to the wonderful world of surveys and market research. Okay maybe it’ll be hard to make a living from just surveys, but still, it’s money!
These gigs are all about voicing your views on everything from new snacks to the latest app on the block, giving you a way to earn money while traveling. Earnings can be a little unpredictable – anything from 50 cents to 50 bucks per survey, depending on how much the researchers are shelling out.
Don’t expect to make a million dollars with these, but for a few minutes of clickety-clicks, it’s not a bad deal for some extra money. Plus, you can totally do it while watching TV in your PJs.
- 💰: Varies greatly; ZipRecruiter says an average of $31/hour in the US but I think that’s definitely wishful thinking
Helpful resources to find paid surveys
11. Become an influencer
Turn your #nofilter life into a cash-printing machine on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and the ever-distracting TikTok. But it’s more than just looking good – timing, originality, and a smidge of luck are your BFFs here.
However, to actually earn a living wage from being an influencer is harder than people think. It can take years of constant posting to figure out the right formula. But if you’re lucky, with just one viral hit it could come sooner than you think.
If this sounds like the dream, my advice would be to start with a more practical income source like freelancing and do social media on the side. If you stick with it long enough, eventually the social media income can replace your other income.
So pop on your ring light and start sharing those quirky tales and travel chronicles – make ’em laugh, make ’em cry, make ’em hit that like and subscribe. Engagement is key, so talk to your followers like they’re your pals.
- 💰: Varies greatly; Average of $28/hour in the US (once you start making money)
12. Affiliate marketing without a following
Who says you need a Kardashian-level following to make bank with affiliate marketing? Not me!
Dive into the affiliate pool with programs that don’t give a shit about your follower count. Case in point: TikTok Shop. This gem lets you link products in your videos and cash in on 5% to 30% of the commission.
You can even learn how to do SEO for a new blog and get thousands of people visiting your site every day from Google or Pinterest. Then, add some affiliate links to the products you mention and you’ll start seeing money flood your account in no time.
- 💰: Average of $28/hour in the US
13. Dropshipping
You set up a slick online store selling the weirdest, most wonderful gadgets that you don’t even own. A customer buys a glow-in-the-dark toaster from your site (because who doesn’t need one of those?), then your supplier ships it directly to them.
Boom! You’re the middleman who just raked in the dough without leaving your computer.
The trick is finding that sweet spot between what people want and what you can provide without turning your living room into a warehouse from Hoarders.
If you play your cards right, dropshipping can be pretty lucrative with a 15% to 20% profit margin.
- 💰: Varies greatly; Average of $20/hour in the US
14. Airbnb arbitrage
Airbnb arbitrage – sounds fancy, doesn’t it? Basically, it’s when you rent apartments or houses just so you can turn around and list them on Airbnb. I mean, it’s almost impossible to own property nowadays days, right?
You’re playing matchmaker, connecting landlords to tenants without the landlords needing to do any of the work.
You gotta have charm (negotiation skills) and the ability to spot the right prospects (prime rental properties). Convince a landlord to let you lease, furnish that pad to look like it’s straight out of a “Come Stay Here” magazine, and make sure you’ve got the cleaning schedule down pat.
I’ll admit, it’s a lot of upfront work and money that goes into it. I’ve thought about diving into this biz venture many times, and I still plan to one day. I’ve seen countless testimonials of people making six-figures off 3-5 properties they’re renting.
And once you have all the systems set in place, you can start traveling and let the systems run on autopilot.
- 💰: Varies greatly; Can scale infinitely
15. Rent out your room
If Airbnb arbitrage sounds a little too complicated for you, don’t fret! Because another great way to make money while you’re on the road is renting out your room or unit.
I actually just did this – I went on a 4-month trip and sublet my entire unit for 2x as much as I pay for rent. Because, why not?
I’m lucky enough to live alone and so I found a couple through Facebook groups that were looking for a temporary unit in my area. I saw a ton of people subletting their single rooms in a full house as well – so it’s still possible if you have roommates, as long as they’re okay with it!
If people are looking for temporary housing in a specific location, they’re usually down to pay whatever they have to. So dress up your room extra fancy and advertise it as a ‘luxury’ so you can rack up the price and start collecting while you’re gone.
- 💰: Depends on location and how nice your room is
What Are the Best Ways to Save Money While Traveling the World?
Ways to save money to travel long term
Now, I know ‘save money’ and ‘budget’ make you think of six-bed hostel dorms and living off instant noodles, but I’m here to bust that myth.
💡 It is possible to travel on a budget and still have the trip of a lifetime.
Budget apps
Let’s talk numbers – I swear by YNAB (You Need A Budget) to keep my finances in check. This app is a game-changer for tracking every penny and planning for those splurge-worthy trips. When on the road, I always make sure I’m never spending more than I’m making, and YNAB is a huge help with making sure you’re only spending money you already have in the bank.
Free accommodation
Do you remember the movie, The Holiday? Where they swap houses with a stranger from the UK and LA? Well, that inspired me to look up if that’s a real thing people do, and it is! I’ve been a member of HomeExchange for a year now and I’ve saved a lot of money swapping houses with people from Barcelona, Paris, and Seattle. From two nights in Seattle to three weeks in Paris, it was all free!
House sitting
If you don’t have your own unit to swap, that’s okay too. With TrustedHousesitters, you can stay in people’s homes for free while they’re out of town, as long as you take care of their pets or plants – whatever they need. The only limitation is that you have to work with their vacation schedule, but it’s better than paying for your own housing for two weeks!
Credit card points
I’m sure you’ve heard of this, but utilizing credit card sign-up bonuses can score major discounts on flights and hotels. When I fly, I typically use points and only pay for the taxes and fees. This free course by 10x Travel can teach you all the credit card travel hacking tips and tricks.
How to find budget-friendly travel experiences
- Travel during off-peak seasons: It’s like a backstage pass to destinations without the steep prices or the crowds photobombing your photos.
- Local restaurants: Try local joints over tourist traps, street food over pricey menus – your taste buds and savings will thank you.
- Public transportation: It may not be glamorous, but it’s definitely more cost-effective than taking Uber everywhere.
Utilizing travel insurance to save on unexpected costs
Be smart. Get covered.
I know you’re tired of hearing “better safe than sorry” – but the next time you break your ankle on the cobblestone streets of Europe, you’ll be saying it too.
I recently had a bad fall and had to get an MRI in Istanbul. Shit happens. Luckily Turkey is a cheap country, but I can only imagine how much it would’ve cost in Switzerland.
At the end of the day, it sucks to pay extra for something you might not need, but if you do end up needing it and don’t have it, that’ll be one costly mistake you’ll never make again.
Helpful resources for digital nomad travel insurance
Conclusion: How to Make Money Online While Traveling
So there you have it, fellow travelers – your not-so-secret guide to traveling the world without selling a kidney on the black market.
You don’t have to be a millionaire to explore the world. And you don’t need to wait until you’re retired.
The key is to start. There’s no magic button to start making money online in an instant – it will take a lot of work and dedication to set it all up properly.
If you’re looking for a few more entry-level positions to start a new career for your nomadic life, then check out my article on the best digital nomad jobs for beginners – very little experience needed!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do people travel and make money at the same time?
There are various ways to make a lot of money while traveling, such as freelancing, working remotely, teaching English abroad, and more. It’s all about finding the right opportunity that suits your skills and interests.
What are the best travel jobs that can help me make money while traveling?
Some popular travel jobs include working as a travel writer, photographer, tour guide, cruise ship crew member, flight attendant, travel nurse, and digital nomad. These jobs often provide opportunities to travel while making some money.
Are there easy ways to make money while traveling?
Yes, there are easy ways to make money while traveling, such as participating in seasonal work, finding freelance gigs, or finding a job that allows you to work remotely. These options let you earn money while you’re traveling.
Can I quit my job to travel and still make money?
Yes, it’s possible to quit your job to travel and still make money by freelancing, starting an online business, or taking on short-term contracts that align with your travel plans. Or you can find a new job that lets you work remotely while you travel.
