Yes

Selina is basically targeting this hypothetical niche. Occupancy rates around 50%. Dead money.

Save for Singapore, which I personally find to be one of the most boring and artificial places in the world, you might as well rule out SE Asia.

The infrastructure on the whole is not “developed”, visa/permanent residency options aren’t great and the ones that exist are in countries that aren’t exactly stable in terms of immigration policy, and you have limited options for actually owning property (a lot of leasehold nonsense with few decent freehold options).

This isn’t rocket science. You can lock and unlock your debit card.

1. Lock card when not needed.
2. Go to ATM.
3. Unlock card.
4. Withdraw money.
5. Lock card.

Rinse, repeat.

Sounds more like an issue with the people in your social circle than anything else.

Lifetime access…for the lifetime of the service.

Hint: a lot of these “software tools” are web-based and don’t last very long.

You could try to trade your body for free or discounted room and board.

It’s not a digital nomad visa per se but Taiwan’s Gold Card has an online application. I believe Malaysia’s DE Rantau scheme also has an online application.

The internet in Taiwan is fast, reliable and cheap. The internet in Philippines isn’t “expensive” but it’s not fast nor reliable. Indonesia is a step up from the Philippines, but not at Taiwan’s level.

Taiwan is a high-income, developed country with the infrastructure and quality of life to show for it. The Philippines and Indonesia are beautiful and have a lot to offer but they’re middle-income, developing countries and you’ll feel that when it comes to infrastructure and quality of life.

You can certainly live in Taiwan on $3,500/month. You won’t be in the lap of luxury but you won’t be destitute either. $3,500 goes a lot farther in the Philippines and Indonesia on paper but there are things money simply can’t make up for when you’re in the developing world.

As an alternative to the Philippines and Indonesia, you could consider Thailand or Malaysia. They’re less wealthy and developed than Taiwan (and Japan, Singapore and South Korea) but more wealthy and developed than the Philippines and Indonesia.

Malaysia is a lot less seedy than Thailand.

But since I have this Vietnam apartment, I could keep most of my suitcases here, and just travel light with a small bookbag somewhere. Then before my apartment runs out, come back, take all my stuff and fly back to New York.

Never leave anything you aren’t comfortable losing in a country where you are only a tourist and where law enforcement is not reliable.

Vietnam has many great aspects and is generally safe but property crime does happen and if your stuff disappears, don’t expect any help getting it back.