The Bigger Map

Picture it: a sunny Monday, a café by the sea, your laptop open. Same job, same team, same pay. So how much would you need to earn for a country to say "come and live here"? Lena and Sam go through four countries that welcome remote workers and the monthly income each one asks for: Spain (about €2,850), Greece (€3,500), Croatia (about €3,620, or savings instead) and Costa Rica (US$3,000, or US$4,000 with family). Plus what you could gain, who it's a great fit for, and four ways to make it work: check whether the figure is before or after tax, build a track record of income, talk to your employer, and plan for tax. This week's next step: pick one country, write down your monthly income, add anyone who'd move with you, and see how close you are to the bar. If you could live anywhere on the income you have right now, where would you pick? Reply to The Bigger Map newsletter and tell us. We'll ask before quoting anyone. Sources (checked 26 October 2026):

• Consulate General of Spain in New York, Telework visa: https://exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/nuevayork/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-teletrabajo.aspx
• Spain's 2026 minimum wage, Real Decreto 126/2026 (summary): https://www.fieldfisher.com/es-es/locations/espana/actualidad/salario-minimo-interprofesional-2026
• Croatia Ministry of the Interior, Temporary stay of digital nomads: https://mup.gov.hr/aliens-281621/stay-and-work/temporary-stay-of-digital-nomads/286833
• Embassy of Greece in London, Greece welcomes digital nomads: https://www.mfa.gr/uk/en/greece-welcomes-digital-nomads/
• Visit Costa Rica (Costa Rican Tourism Board), Digital nomad requirements: https://www.visitcostarica.com/digital-nomads/requirements

Rounded figures are our own arithmetic from the official numbers. General research, not legal or tax advice. An immigration adviser in the destination can confirm what applies to you.

Ever scrolled photos of a city on the other side of the world and wondered: could I actually live there?The Bigger Map is a weekly conversation with Lena and Sam about where and how to live around the world. Each episode takes one real decision and asks two questions: what becomes possible here, and what do you give up?

• Choose: where to live, built around the life you want, not a top-ten list.
• Move: visas, work rules, first-year budgets, everything nobody puts on the postcard.
• Live: what daily life is really like once the holiday glow wears off.

Researched from official sources, honest about the tradeoffs, and yes, there will be jokes. Follow so you don't miss an episode.

Picture it: a sunny balcony, a coffee, your laptop open for the 9 a.m. call with your team back home. Then a tiny voice asks: am I actually allowed to be doing this here? Lena and Sam untangle the three checks to settle before working from another country: your immigration status, whether that status covers your kind of work, and whether your employer or contracts allow it. Along the way: why Schengen's 90/180 rule isn't a work permit, the UK's "side dish, not main course" rule for remote work, and what Spain's telework visa asks for. This week's next step: take four questions to your manager or HR before you book anything longer than a holiday.

1. Do you allow work from this country, and for how long?
2. Does it affect my payroll, tax withholding or social security?
3. Does it create any obligations for the company in that country?
4. Does my health or travel insurance cover me while working there?

Have you worked from another country, legally or in the grey zone? Reply to The Bigger Map newsletter and tell us what you had to figure out. We'll ask before quoting anyone. Sources (checked 20 October 2026)

• GOV.UK: Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor, Permitted Activities (PA 4(h))
• GOV.UK: Standard Visitor
• Consulate General of Spain in New York: Telework visa
• European Commission: Schengen short stays (90/180)

General research, not legal advice. An immigration adviser in the destination can confirm what applies to you.