As a fresh addition to the list of countries issuing the Digital Nomad Visa, Greece is definitely THE place in the sun for remote workers. Besides the 250+ sunny days a year, this Mediterranean paradise offers attractive tax conditions for foreign nomads and investors.
Those who already follow us know that we have recently launched a new Boundless Life destination in Syros. We will soon be launching our first cohort and are happily sharing the insights on the pros and cons of remote work in Greece throughout this article.
Hunting for happiness.
It is pretty hard to be unhappy when working in paradise with an island view. The laid-back pace of life washes away any stress along with the waves of the Aegean Sea.
According to a recent study, 56% of nomads rank cost of living, reliability, and accessible internet as the number one factor when choosing a destination for remote work.
Greece offers all of this along with an excellent quality of living for a reasonable price. Furthermore, it has all the components to hit the top ranks when it comes to well-being.
There is no chance of not feeling welcome here. Greek hospitality is a tradition that has been crafted over centuries. In a blink of an eye, the locals will greet you by your name in the next-door bakery, and restaurant owners will show you their family albums over the glass of ouzo. Let’s not forget the famous Greek diet with its abundance of fruits and vegetables, all rich in flavor. Local dining will definitely make even the most notorious workaholic unplug their laptop and fully embrace the Greek experience.
An office with a sea view.
Many of us have heard the remote working stories about hunting for WiFi at the top of a tree or managing zoom calls from the bathroom due to the absence of connection. In the eyes of every digital nomad, a weak internet connection could make the perfect comedy show or horror movie. The good news is that this is not the case in Greece. The average download speed on fixed connections here is around 24 mbps. It may be not the fastest internet in Europe, but it’s pretty decent!
It won’t be a problem to find a decent co-working space either, where in addition to a nice desk and liable internet, one can find a like-minded community of entrepreneurs and remote workers at our Boundless Co-Working Hub. You will also find WiFi spots in many squares, malls and cafes. When it comes to coffee shops, nobody will mind you staring at your laptop for a few hours over the cooling cup of coffee as the typical local spends the same amount of time chatting over a frappé. Another good thing for those who deal with clients in different time zones - cafes and restaurants don’t close their doors till late hours.
Making friends - Greek style.
The quality of connection is not only relevant when it comes to WiFi - many digital nomads report loneliness and isolation as the down side of full-time travelling.
It may be challenging to find new friends in some places but definitely not in Greece. As we have already mentioned, it’s easy to make friends with the locals. They are more than happy to invite you over for dinner and proudly share their insights regarding Greek culture. A Meetup for nomads can be a place to meet other remote workers living with the same passions and values.
For those who travel with kids and are looking to connect with like-minded families, the Boundless Life community is a great place to establish new meaningful connections. Besides networking and career ambitions, our communication extends to playdates with kids and family events, and our Education Centre offers an extraordinary world schooling experience, meaning friends and peers for the little ones!
Furthermore, Greece is more than kids friendly - the love for children here is boundless. You will find many kid-oriented places here - hotel pools are likely to have a shallow area, and you can find high chairs even at the local kebab. Your children will be equally welcome in traditional taberna and fancy restaurants.
Talking numbers
Besides being graciously welcomed by the local community, the government in Greece encourages the digital nomad lifestyle as well.
During the years of the debt crisis, many people migrated to wealthier countries, and now to reverse the brain-drain, Greece attracts entrepreneurs and investors with favourable tax conditions. Depending on the duration of the stay, digital nomads can benefit from many different programs.
- The Greek Digital Nomad Visa is granted for one year, and for up to 183 days in the 12-month timeframe, you can enjoy the Mediterranean sun without paying local taxes.
- If you are considering committing for 2 to 7 years, you can profit from a 50% income and social security tax reduction.
Socrates once said, “Let him that would move the world, he must first move himself”. And Greece is the perfect place to consider for a nomadic journey.
We at Boundless Life have completely fallen in love with the blue lagoons, frappé coffee breaks, greek sayings and the art of slow living over a glass of ouzo - and we know you will to. Reserve your spot now to enjoy the most of island living in Syros, Greece today!
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