We get it…foreign exchange rates aren’t the most riveting topic. But if you want to save those Benjamins, it helps to know where the USD holds the most power.

Let’s dive into forex (the non-scammy variety, that is).

This Week in Nomad Deals

• Fall Currency Trends Report: Here’s how the U.S. dollar has been performing vs. foreign currencies in nomad hotspots.

• Where are all the Nomads? An Instagram analysis uncovers the most popular digital nomad destinations.

US Dollar vs. Foreign Currencies: Fall 2023 Report

Last we saw the USD, it was losing ground against all but a handful of currencies. Those trends have reversed over the last few months. Now, the dollar has roared back into the green vs. most foreign currencies in 2023.

USD Gains

• Argentina: the USD is now up 100% vs. the peso for the year, compared 50% during the summer. On the black market — a rate known as the “blue dollar” — you can make your dollars go even further. See July’s Nomad Deals currency report for more info.

• Japan: The Land of the Rising Sun or the Land of the Falling Yen? Either way, Japan has become a historic bargain. The dollar is up 14% on the yen in 2023, compared to just 6% a few months ago.

• Chile: The dollar has rebounded from being down 5% over the summer to being up 7% vs. the Chilean peso

USD Losses

• Colombia: The Colombian peso ranks among the best-performing currencies in 2023. That’s bad news for travelers, though. The dollar is down 16% vs. the COP — a figure that remains unchanged since the summer.

• Mexico: The dollar has strengthened a bit against the Mexican peso over the last few months, but it remains down 10% for the year.

• Sri Lanka: The USD has edged down further against the Sri Lanka rupee, losing 13% so far in 2023. However, Sri Lanka remains one of the cheapest digital nomad hotspots.

The Most Popular Places for Digital Nomads

What is the most popular country for digital nomads? Thailand? Spain?

Surprise…it’s actually the United States.

A report from Resume.io analyzed the #digitalnomad hashtag on Instagram for posts that featured a geolocation. In first place was the U.S. with over 200,000 mentions, followed by Spain and Thailand.

#1 City for Digital Nomads: New York City

#2 City for Digital Nomads: Bangkok, Thailand

Most Popular Spot for Nomads in Latin America: Playa del Carmen, MX

Most Popular Spot for Nomads in South America: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Most Popular Spot for Nomads in Europe: London