For the past year I have been living in a hotel. Or in fact multiple hotels around Europe. And the longer I’m staying in hotels, the less appealing I find renting an apartment by myself. A hotel offers so much more value for money, than a simple apartment ever could.
But the reactions to me choosing to keep living in a hotel, with no plans of finding an apartment, have been rather interesting. And most of the reactions have been centered around money.
Most people find it incomprehensible that I would choose such an expensive alternative to a cost-effective option like renting or buying an apartment. Some seem to even question my intellectual prowess. I assume that’s simply because they don’t consider that my life looks very different because I’m a Digital Nomad.
Digital Nomading has exploded since 2019! For those who are unfamiliar with this title, it refers to a person who earns a living working online in various locations of their choosing. Here are some basic statistics on this newfound lifestyle:
- in 2022 there were 35 million digital nomads around the world
- the majority of digital nomads make between $50 000 to $250 000 per year
- 66% of Digital Nomads have their own business, whereas 34% are gig workers or freelancers
- the majority (44%) of Digital Nomads are Millennials, Gen X makes 23%, Gen Z 21% and Boomers 12%
- 27% of all Digital Nomads come from Europe
- 51% of Digital Nomads prefer to live in hotels, whereas only 36% choose AirBnBs.
Long story short, Digital Nomads aren’t tied to a specific place because of their work, and they can afford to live in hotels. But is living in an apartment cheaper than living in a hotel at the end of the day?
That is what I’m discussing in this article, Digital Nomad accommodation! I will provide you with cost comparisons, but more importantly, I want to look at the money we spend on housing from the perspective of non-monetary value. Let’s get to it!
Want to move abroad? Check this out!
Living in a Hotel 2026 – Money-Myths Debunked
As I mentioned, my decision to spend money on living in a hotel rather than an apartment has been met with mixed emotions. My friends and family of course love the fact that they can visit me now with added bonuses, like a spa, free breakfast, even free alcohol. But they are astounded at the amount of money I spend each month on my living quarters.
I should mention, though, that I have chosen a high-end hotel, Hilton to be exact. As an entrepreneur I was able to make a deal with them, which guarantees the best rates and extra benefits. But at the end of this article I will share some much more budget-friendly options to showcase how easy it actually is to choose to live in a hotel.
So, money is the first thing that everybody thinks about when they hear about my lifestyle. But there are couple things I wish you would consider before judging me to be completely void of any reason.
Because our learned(!) thinking patterns around money are actually questionable, even unhealthy when it comes to how much we’re willing to spend on accommodation.
Loans & debts
How many loans do you have? Mortgage, car loan, renovation loan, student debt, etc. If you count them all together, how much debt does that accumulate to? Now, add interests on the debts/loans. How much are you paying for loans and debts alone per month?
It’s a considerable amount, isn’t it? Of course those, who own a house/apartment have much more debt than someone who rents, but all of us have debts, right? NOPE!
I, for one, have 0€ worth of debt. When I started earning more than I needed, my first priority was to pay off my credit card debt and student loan. And once I got both of them paid off I promised myself to never owe money to another bank ever again! I’ve kept that promise.
Now, look at the debt calculations you just did. Can you see how much more money I have in my use every month because I don’t have such monthly payments at all?
Owning things
We were all taught at school or by our families that buying a house/apartment is the only way to go, right? I remember a time when renting was even looked at as something only “poor people” did. Which obviously was never the case.
Owning things is an aspect of Western culture that we’re all very familiar with. And it’s all rooted in capitalism, and capitalism’s existence depends on greed.
For me this obsession on owning shiz always felt like an ideology that was forcibly stuffed down our throats. So, I never bought it. Once I got rid of my debts, I was completely FREE. The only things I owned were the furniture in my rental apartment. Which I donated to Ukrainian refugees when I moved out.
At the moment the only things I own are my clothes, jewellery, bags, and a couple pieces of furniture (which now reside in a warehouse). For someone living the way I do, owning stuff can be a major restriction and a barrier in life. As such it’s something that I don’t need to worry about while living in a hotel.
Read also: 40 Simple Everyday Tips to Fight Capitalism
Entrepreneur’s taxation looks different than yours
Okay, I must point out, this depends completely on where one’s company is registered! For example, if my business was registered in Finland, I probably wouldn’t be able to live like this, thanks to very high taxes. But I’ve chosen to register my company in Estonia.
My taxation as an entrepreneur in Estonia works like this:
- all the money that I invoice from my clients to my business account is tax free UNTIL
- I pay myself salary (tax 22% + national health insurance, pension, etc. = altogether approx. 50%)
- I pay myself dividends (tax 24%)
- business-related expenses, like hotel bookings, are tax free
Knowing this it’ll come as no surprise that I pay myself a very small salary every month and bigger dividends every 3 months. That’s money for my daily living; food, shopping, going out, etc.
While living in a hotel my weekly expenses are extremely low: under 150€ for food and just existing. All hotel stays are booked from my business account tax free.
Value for money: hotels vs. own accommodation
What do you deem necessary to have in order to live comfortably? What do you consider as extra on top of that to live your best life?
Am I correct if I assume that most of you considered things like roof on your head in a good area with enough space as necessary? And as extras you maybe thought about a grocery store and a gym being relatively close by. Perhaps friends and family being near as well.
If that is enough for you, and you have all that, I am so happy for you! ♥ Would you be surprised, though, when I say that all of that was never enough for me?
To be honest, even I was so conditioned into living ‘the basic life’ that I never considered how much more value I could get for my money. I had to actually move into a hotel to realize this. And now that I’ve lived like this for almost a year, here is all the value for money that I get:
- big bedroom with amazing views equipped with a work space
- massive office/living room: the hotel lounge equipped with a couch, arm chairs and work-appropriate tables and chairs
- services: cleaning, breakfast, spa with saunas and a sundeck, gym, happy hour in the lounge, which means free snacks and drinks
- company: I’ve become very friendly with the staff and those guests that are staying in the hotel for longer or frequently. A hotel is the best place to meet the most interesting people!
And the things that I DON’T need to pay for when living in a hotel: utility bills, gas/electricity, internet, etc. A free VPN can add a layer of security when using shared hotel networks. When the hotel is centrally located I also save plenty of money in public transportation: I don’t need it! I can walk everywhere.
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Now you probably have a pretty good picture of why I don’t see living in an apartment all that appealing. Add to that the fact that I don’t cook or clean, and there should be no question marks left.
Also, you can probably see how differently I look at money and the value it brings. Which means that in my world, living in a hotel actually isn’t as expensive as many of you might think. It comes down to one’s perspective and values.
Did you start thinking that living in a hotel isn’t necessarily such a bad idea after all? Well, I’ve got good news for you! Hotels come in all shapes and sizes, which also means all price ranges. So, even if I’ve chosen a luxury option, there are plenty of options for a smaller budget too:
How to choose the best hotel for you?
With Digital Nomading and remote work increasing all the time, the hotel industry is already catching up with new consumer demands. When living the travel lifestyle one still needs a roof on their head, and below are some popular and budget-friendly options.
The perks in all of these options, especially when compared to booking an AirBnB, are:
- you don’t need to clean, but you have the option to cook, which saves money
- longer stays usually get a lower rate
- free towels, toiletries, etc.
- free work-spaces, even private offices for hotel residents
- meeting other residents; making friends, networking, maybe even finding clients
- the sustainability aspect: hotels don’t disrupt the local housing market like AirBnB does.
Serviced Apartment Hotels
More and more hotels offer apartments equipped with basic furniture and a kitchenette. These apartments reside in a hotel building, which then brings you all sorts of extra amenities. Depending on the apartment hotel these can be things like a gym, restaurant, common area with games, self-service laundry room, etc.
As examples of what these kinds of hotels can be like, check out these two places:
Hotel tax reductions for extended stays
Longer staying guests can be very beneficial to a hotel in more ways than just financially. For example, when their family and friends visit, they get a free tour of the hotel and the services. The long-staying guest probably also posts content from the hotel on their social media channels. It’s all free marketing!
And to encourage this, some hotels have taken steps into making longer stays more profitable for guests. For example, in Texas, US it is possible to stay in a hotel tax free if you stay longer than 30 days. This is still quite rare in Europe, but I will keep you posted if/when I find hotels that offer this!
So, to finish things off, has your opinion on living in a hotel changed after reading this?
- Are you more clear on how much value you get for the money you pay per month for accommodation?
- Could you get more value for all that money?
- Would you even want more value, or are you happy as you are?
