新一代职场人士正在开创一种“两全其美”的生活方式：一边保留美国国内的远程工作岗位，一边环游世界。对于许多早已渴望离开美国、寻找更宜居之地的人来说，这无疑是理想选择。一位Z世代年轻人便在风景秀丽的安第斯山脉环抱下的繁华都市中，找到了新家。
莉娅·德雷农考特是一位24岁的数字游民，在美国出生，目前在智利首都圣地亚哥为美国公司远程工作。其实，早在移居南美之前，她就已经周游列国。由于父母从事国际公共卫生工作，她童年时期便随家人辗转于海地、坦桑尼亚、赞比亚和菲律宾等地，最终在10岁时回到马里兰州定居。这段成长经历为她日后探索世界埋下了种子：2022年12月从爱默生学院 (Emerson College) 获得公共关系学士学位后，她便收拾行囊，踏上了新的旅程。
“大学刚毕业时，我四处游历了一番。我在哥伦比亚待了一个月，当时就想：‘我能去哪儿？哪里生活成本不太高？’去了之后，我爱上了那里的文化，”德雷农考特告诉《财富》杂志，“那里是开启旅居生活的绝佳起点。”
德雷农考特职业生涯起步于自由职业，为一家专注于Z世代的美国公关公司担任公关专员，后来加入了远程工作者健康保险公司SafetyWing。但在整个数字游民生涯中，她一直保持着美国居民身份，这使她能够一边为美国公司工作，一边在全球旅行。她曾凭借哥伦比亚的数字游民签证在麦德林生活了一年，并入职了一家完全远程办公的美国传媒公司。但德雷农考特渴望开启新的旅程，于是她移居智利，与伴侣在一间单身公寓安顿下来。截至目前，她已在那里生活了几个月，得益于较低的生活成本，她得以储蓄资金，为未来的冒险——研究生院——做准备。
作为一名已体验数字游民生活数年的Z世代，她承认这种生活方式有其好处，但也有其弊端。不过，她表示相信每个人都应该在年轻时满足内心对旅行的渴望。
“我坚信，二十岁出头的年轻人应该去旅行。我也很清楚，有时唯一能实现旅行的方法就是边工作边旅行，”德雷农考特说，“但要非常清楚自己在做什么，要去哪里。”
数字游民生活方式的好处：“为生活而工作”的理念与更低的房租
离开美国最明显的好处之一就是摆脱了内卷心态——美国人长期以来一直渴望体验慢生活。尽管德雷农考特在美国本土几乎没有全职工作经验，并且从技术上讲仍保有一份美国工作，但她依然能感受到工作与生活平衡方面的差异。
“这里的人工作也很努力，但有种'工作是为了生活'的观念，”她说，“相比之下，我觉得在美国时，我下班后和朋友聊天，他们会问‘今天工作怎么样？’而我只会说‘别提了’。”
那里的业余生活也截然不同。德雷农考特说，国外有着更浓厚的社区文化：她和朋友们经常在公园聚会，一起外出。与那些她认为在国家间频繁穿梭的其他数字游民不同，这位24岁的年轻人更喜欢扎根一地，在她所在的城市建立本地联系。
“数字游民，尤其是在科技圈的，可能把其他国家当作他们的游乐场。他们会想‘看我的美元，在这里这么经花’，”德雷农考特解释道，并补充说自己的收入高于大多数当地人，这让她有些愧疚。但她认为，自己还很年轻，赚的是在美国也算普通的薪水，积极融入社区，并且正在和当地人约会。“想到这些，我的愧疚感就少了一些。但我确实认为很多数字游民不会考虑这些。他们只会觉得‘哇，这对我来说太棒了’。”
话虽如此，智利较低的生活成本是一大优势；这甚至让她能够为读研储蓄。在哥伦比亚时，她的单身公寓月租仅为650美元，而且德雷农考特承认即便如此她还是被多收了钱——这与在华盛顿特区租类似房子需支付1,836美元相去甚远。她说，如果留在美国，她可能被迫与好几个室友合租。这位Z世代表示，智利的生活成本仍高于哥伦比亚，但足以让她每月存下一千多美元。
靠节省生活成本储蓄，为最终攻读硕士学位铺路
尽管德雷农考特很喜欢目前传播领域的工作，但她希望有朝一日能重返校园，攻读艺术与文化管理硕士学位。不过，她并不打算回美国支付高昂的学费，而是计划最终在欧洲的大学学习。那里的教育费用更可负担，她的钱也更经花。到目前为止，她每月为下一个学位储蓄1,200美元。
“我已经存了几年钱了，”德雷农考特说，“即使我存这么长时间的钱，也付不起美国硕士学费的一个零头。”
此外，智利较低的生活成本让这位Z世代存下了相当于四个月生活费的积蓄。她每月还预留100美元作为“机票基金”，以备美国发生紧急情况时需要迅速回家。在规划下一段冒险之际，德雷农考特的经历表明，海外工作不仅仅是一个阶段——它是一条通往自由、成长与新天地的道路。（*）
译者：刘进龙
审校：汪皓
新一代职场人士正在开创一种“两全其美”的生活方式：一边保留美国国内的远程工作岗位，一边环游世界。对于许多早已渴望离开美国、寻找更宜居之地的人来说，这无疑是理想选择。一位Z世代年轻人便在风景秀丽的安第斯山脉环抱下的繁华都市中，找到了新家。
莉娅·德雷农考特是一位24岁的数字游民，在美国出生，目前在智利首都圣地亚哥为美国公司远程工作。其实，早在移居南美之前，她就已经周游列国。由于父母从事国际公共卫生工作，她童年时期便随家人辗转于海地、坦桑尼亚、赞比亚和菲律宾等地，最终在10岁时回到马里兰州定居。这段成长经历为她日后探索世界埋下了种子：2022年12月从爱默生学院 (Emerson College) 获得公共关系学士学位后，她便收拾行囊，踏上了新的旅程。
“大学刚毕业时，我四处游历了一番。我在哥伦比亚待了一个月，当时就想：‘我能去哪儿？哪里生活成本不太高？’去了之后，我爱上了那里的文化，”德雷农考特告诉《财富》杂志，“那里是开启旅居生活的绝佳起点。”
德雷农考特职业生涯起步于自由职业，为一家专注于Z世代的美国公关公司担任公关专员，后来加入了远程工作者健康保险公司SafetyWing。但在整个数字游民生涯中，她一直保持着美国居民身份，这使她能够一边为美国公司工作，一边在全球旅行。她曾凭借哥伦比亚的数字游民签证在麦德林生活了一年，并入职了一家完全远程办公的美国传媒公司。但德雷农考特渴望开启新的旅程，于是她移居智利，与伴侣在一间单身公寓安顿下来。截至目前，她已在那里生活了几个月，得益于较低的生活成本，她得以储蓄资金，为未来的冒险——研究生院——做准备。
作为一名已体验数字游民生活数年的Z世代，她承认这种生活方式有其好处，但也有其弊端。不过，她表示相信每个人都应该在年轻时满足内心对旅行的渴望。
“我坚信，二十岁出头的年轻人应该去旅行。我也很清楚，有时唯一能实现旅行的方法就是边工作边旅行，”德雷农考特说，“但要非常清楚自己在做什么，要去哪里。”
数字游民生活方式的好处：“为生活而工作”的理念与更低的房租
离开美国最明显的好处之一就是摆脱了内卷心态——美国人长期以来一直渴望体验慢生活。尽管德雷农考特在美国本土几乎没有全职工作经验，并且从技术上讲仍保有一份美国工作，但她依然能感受到工作与生活平衡方面的差异。
“这里的人工作也很努力，但有种'工作是为了生活'的观念，”她说，“相比之下，我觉得在美国时，我下班后和朋友聊天，他们会问‘今天工作怎么样？’而我只会说‘别提了’。”
那里的业余生活也截然不同。德雷农考特说，国外有着更浓厚的社区文化：她和朋友们经常在公园聚会，一起外出。与那些她认为在国家间频繁穿梭的其他数字游民不同，这位24岁的年轻人更喜欢扎根一地，在她所在的城市建立本地联系。
“数字游民，尤其是在科技圈的，可能把其他国家当作他们的游乐场。他们会想‘看我的美元，在这里这么经花’，”德雷农考特解释道，并补充说自己的收入高于大多数当地人，这让她有些愧疚。但她认为，自己还很年轻，赚的是在美国也算普通的薪水，积极融入社区，并且正在和当地人约会。“想到这些，我的愧疚感就少了一些。但我确实认为很多数字游民不会考虑这些。他们只会觉得‘哇，这对我来说太棒了’。”
话虽如此，智利较低的生活成本是一大优势；这甚至让她能够为读研储蓄。在哥伦比亚时，她的单身公寓月租仅为650美元，而且德雷农考特承认即便如此她还是被多收了钱——这与在华盛顿特区租类似房子需支付1,836美元相去甚远。她说，如果留在美国，她可能被迫与好几个室友合租。这位Z世代表示，智利的生活成本仍高于哥伦比亚，但足以让她每月存下一千多美元。
靠节省生活成本储蓄，为最终攻读硕士学位铺路
尽管德雷农考特很喜欢目前传播领域的工作，但她希望有朝一日能重返校园，攻读艺术与文化管理硕士学位。不过，她并不打算回美国支付高昂的学费，而是计划最终在欧洲的大学学习。那里的教育费用更可负担，她的钱也更经花。到目前为止，她每月为下一个学位储蓄1,200美元。
“我已经存了几年钱了，”德雷农考特说，“即使我存这么长时间的钱，也付不起美国硕士学费的一个零头。”
此外，智利较低的生活成本让这位Z世代存下了相当于四个月生活费的积蓄。她每月还预留100美元作为“机票基金”，以备美国发生紧急情况时需要迅速回家。在规划下一段冒险之际，德雷农考特的经历表明，海外工作不仅仅是一个阶段——它是一条通往自由、成长与新天地的道路。（*）
译者：刘进龙
审校：汪皓
There's a new class of workers taking advantage of the best-of-both worlds: holding down a fully remote U.S. job, while still being able to travel the world. It's a dream that's enticed many Americans already looking to ditch the U.S. for greener pastures—and one Gen Zer has found a new home in a sprawling urban city nestled by the scenic Andes mountains.
Leeah Derenoncourt is a 24-year-old digital nomad born in the U.S. currently working out of Chile's capital, Santiago, but she was jet-setting long before relocating to South America. Her parents' jobs in international public health took her around the world from Haiti, Tanzania, Zambia, and the Philippines, eventually settling back in Maryland when she was 10 years old. Her childhood planted the seed for even more adventures later in life: After receiving her bachelor's degree in public relations from Emerson College in December 2022, she packed her bags and headed for the airport.
“When I first graduated college, I was bopping around a little bit. I spent a month in Colombia, just because I was like, 'Where can I go [that's] not that expensive?' I went there, and I loved the culture,” Derenoncourt tells Fortune. “It was a great place to start the living abroad journey.”
Derenoncourt started her career by freelancing as a publicist for a Gen Z-focused PR company in the U.S., later working at SafetyWing, a health insurance company for remote workers. But throughout this digital nomad journey, she's maintained her residency in the U.S., allowing her to travel internationally while working for American companies. She wound up living in Medellín on Colombia's digital nomad visa for one year, landing a job at a fully remote U.S. communications company. But Derenoncourt was ready for a new journey, so she moved to Chile, settling in a studio apartment with her partner. She's been living there for a few months so far, and thanks to its lower cost-of-living, is able to save up for future adventure: graduate school.
Having lived the digital nomad life for several years now, the Gen Zer admits it has its perks—but also its downsides. However, she says she believes every person should get the travel bug out of their system when they're young.
“I strongly believe that people in their early 20s should travel. And I am very aware that sometimes the only way you can is if you're working and traveling at the same time,” Derenoncourt says. “But just be very intentional about what you're doing, where you're going.”
The perks of the digital nomad lifestyle: 'work to live' lifestyle and cheaper rent
One of the most obvious benefits of stepping outside of the U.S. is also getting away from the grindset—and Americans have long been craving a slice of the slow life. Despite having little full-time work experience back home, and technically holding down a U.S. job, Derenoncourt still feels the difference in work-life balance.
“People work very hard, but there is this sense of 'you work to live' type of thing,” she says. “Versus I feel like when I'm in the U.S., I would log off from work, and then I would go talk to my friends, and they'd be like, 'Oh, so how was work?' and I was like, 'Don't talk about it.'”
People spend their time off the clock differently there, too. Derenoncourt says there's a bigger culture of community abroad: She and her friends would gather in parks and go out together all the time. Unlike other digital nomads—who she says can flit quickly from country to country—the 24-year-old prefers to stay rooted and builds local connections in her city.
“Digital nomads, especially [in] the tech world, can think of other countries [as] their playground. They're like, 'Look at my U.S. dollar, it goes so far,'” Derenoncourt explains, adding she feels some guilt in earning more than most locals. But she reasons she's very young, makes a modest U.S. salary, connects with her community, and is dating someone from the area. “Seeing that, I feel less guilt. But I do think a lot of people who are digital nomads don't think about that. They just go, 'Wow, this is so great for me.'”
That being said, Chile's lower cost-of-living is a major perk; it's even enabled her to save up for graduate school. In Colombia, her studio apartment rent was only $650, and even then Derenoncourt admits she was overcharged—a far cry from the $1,836 she'd have to cough up for a similar place in D.C. If she stayed behind in the U.S., she says she'd probably be forced to live with several roommates. The Gen Zer says Chile is still more expensive than Colombia, but it's affordable enough to set aside more than a thousand dollars each month.
Saving enough on cost-of-living to eventually pursue a master's degree
While Derenoncourt enjoys her current job in communications, she one day hopes to return to school and pursue a master's in arts and cultural management. But instead of heading back to the U.S. to pay sky-high tuition costs, she's opting to eventually study at a European university. The education is more affordable, and she can make her money stretch further. So far, she's been saving $1,200 a month for her next degree.
“I've been saving for a couple years now,” Derenoncourt says. “I could save for this amount of time, and I wouldn't be able to pay a fraction of what that master's would cost in the U.S.”
On top of that, Chile's lower cost-of-living has enabled the Gen Zer to save up four months worth of expenses. She also sets aside $100 a month for a “flight fund” in case there's an emergency back in the U.S. and needs to get home quickly. As she maps out her next adventure, Derenoncourt shows how working abroad isn't just a phase—it's a path to freedom, growth, and new horizons.