We present you with a detailed breakdown of the best places in the world for remote work, as well as information on a freelance visa.
Germany
The main advantages
Berlin has fairly low prices for products and services. In the west and south of Germany, everything is much more expensive.
- Central location. You can get to another country in a couple of hours.
- Developed social and transport infrastructure.
- A real paradise for active people: Berlin is the capital of parties.
The main cons
- Expensive rental housing.
- Problems with opening a bank account and SIM card (only residents of the country can do this).
- the cost of living
Everything will strongly depend on the region of Germany. Take Berlin, the most popular German city among remote workers, for example.
- The average cost of renting a one-room apartment is € 600- € 800 per month;
- Insurance – from € 100 per month;
- One way public transport – from € 2.7;
- Grocery basket for one person per month – € 250- € 350;
- Home Internet – € 20- € 25 per month;
- Entertainment and leisure: cinema ticket – € 8- € 10, gym membership – € 30, average bill in a cafe for one person – € 15- € 20, in a middle-class restaurant – € 25- € 35, a cup of coffee – € 2.5.
Freelance visa for work in Germany
Freelancers can live and work on a Schengen visa (look carefully at the number of days allowed in your particular case). There is also a special German visa for freelance work, which gives the right to reside for at least a year.
Portugal
The main advantages
- Lisbon is a very friendly city for freelancers and remote workers. There is a huge number of coworking spaces and freelance cafes with inexpensive internet and comfortable working conditions.
- Affordable cost of living, affordable housing to rent.
- Good infrastructure, rich cultural life.
- A chance to surf all year round.
The main cons
- Not the best medical field.
- Expensive life and health insurance.
- the cost of living
Take Lisbon as an example, the most popular city in Portugal among remote workers.
- The average cost of renting a one-room apartment is € 500- € 700 per month;
- Insurance – from € 80 per month;
- One way public transport – from € 1.5;
- Grocery basket for one person per month – € 200- € 300;
- Home Internet – € 25- € 30 per month;
- Entertainment and leisure: a ticket to the cinema – € 6- € 8, a gym membership – € 30, an average bill in a cafe for one person – € 10- € 15, in a middle-class restaurant – € 20- € 30, a cup of coffee – € 1.5.
Portugal Freelance visa
You can live in Portugal on a tourist visa for a maximum of 9 months (each time the stay is extended by 3 months). There is a special visa for freelancers – type D2, which is issued for at least six months, allows you to pay taxes, receive social benefits, etc.
Bulgaria
The main advantages
- An excellent location in the south of Europe with very low prices for housing and food.
- A large number of coworking spaces and good internet coverage in the country.
- Safe capital Sofia and friendly locals.
- A chance to go skiing.
The main cons
- The infrastructure of this Eastern European country is still developing in many ways, so many areas leave much to be desired: transport, bureaucratic issues, medicine.
- Not the best ecological situation.
The cost of living
For example, let’s take the capital of Bulgaria – Sofia.
- The average cost of renting a one-room apartment is € 200- € 400 per month;
- Insurance – from € 80 per month;
- One way public transport – from € 0.8;
- Grocery basket for one person per month – € 150- € 200;
- Home Internet – € 10- € 15 per month;
- Entertainment and leisure: a ticket to the cinema – € 6- € 8, a gym membership – € 20, an average bill in a cafe for one person – € 8- € 12, in a middle-class restaurant – € 15- € 20, a cup of coffee – € one.
Freelance visa in Bulgaria
Freelancers can live and work on a Schengen visa (look carefully at the number of days allowed in your particular case). In Bulgaria, freelancers have the opportunity to obtain a D-type visa or a residence permit under the Free Practice program, issued for at least a year.
Cyprus
The main advantages
- A wonderful mild southern climate.
- A large community of entrepreneurs, startups, freelancers.
- High level of medicine and safety.
- The widespread use of the English language.
The main cons
- Poor transport infrastructure: it is advisable to have a personal car.
- Quite a high cost of living.
- Not the most eventful cultural life.
- the cost of living
For analysis, let’s take the average prices in Paphos and Larnaca.
- The average cost of renting a one-room apartment is € 400- € 600 per month;
- Insurance – from € 60 per month;
- One way public transport – from € 1.5;
- Grocery basket for one person per month – € 200- € 300;
- Home Internet – € 30 per month;
- Entertainment and leisure: a ticket to the cinema – € 8- € 10, a gym membership – € 30, an average bill in a cafe for one person – € 10- € 15, in a middle-class restaurant – € 20- € 25, a cup of coffee – € 2.5.
Freelance visa to Cyprus
Freelancers can live and work on a Cypriot single-entry pro-visa (issued online and given the right to stay for no more than 90 days), for other conditions, a Schengen is required. Cyprus has a special immigration program for freelancers, issued for at least a year.
Estonia
The main advantages
- A comfortable country in the north of Europe, where you can live without problems with English.
- A large community of entrepreneurs, startups, freelancers.
- One of the best systems for managing taxes, accounts, and other bureaucratic things.
- A huge number of workspaces, high-speed Internet even in the forest.
The main cons
- Not the most pleasant climate.
- the cost of living
For analysis, let’s look at prices in the capital of Estonia – Tallinn.
- The average cost of renting a one-room apartment is € 300- € 500 per month;
- Insurance – from € 40 per month;
- One way public transport – from € 1.5;
- Grocery basket for one person per month – € 200- € 300;
- Home Internet – € 25 per month;
- Entertainment and leisure: a ticket to the cinema – € 8- € 10, a gym membership – € 30, an average bill in a cafe for one person – € 10- € 15, in a middle-class restaurant – € 20- € 25, a cup of coffee – € 2.
Estonian Freelance Visa
Freelancers can live and work on a Schengen visa (look carefully at the number of days allowed in your particular case). Special visa program for “digital nomads” (freelancers).
Czech Republic
The main advantages
- Historically and culturally rich state in the very center of Europe.
- Low cost of living compared to western neighbors.
- A large number of coworking spaces and cafes, good internet coverage.
The main cons
- Quite expensive rental housing.
- The locals don’t speak English very well.
- the cost of living
For analysis, let’s look at prices in the capital of the Czech Republic – Prague.
- The average cost of renting a one-room apartment is € 400- € 600 per month;
- Insurance – from € 50 per month;
- One way public transport – from € 1;
- Grocery basket for one person per month – € 150- € 250;
- Home Internet – € 20 per month;
- Entertainment and leisure: cinema ticket – € 6- € 8, gym membership – € 25, average bill in a cafe for one person – € 8- € 10, in a middle-class restaurant – € 15- € 20, a cup of coffee – € 2.
Visa for freelancer in Prague
Freelancers can live and work on a Schengen visa (look carefully at the number of days allowed in your particular case). A special program for freelancers in the form of a business visa.
Spain
The main advantages
- A large and beautiful country in the south of Europe with a mild climate throughout the year.
- One of the European cultural and historical centers.
- Lots of opportunities for remote workers: good coworking spaces and dedicated freelance centers.
- Excellent internet coverage.
The main cons
- The high cost of living: expensive housing, food, services.
- Poor English skills among locals.
- the cost of living
Let’s take a look at prices in Barcelona for analysis.
- The average cost of renting a one-room apartment is € 600- € 800 per month;
- Insurance – from € 50 per month;
- One way public transport – from € 2;
- Grocery basket for one person per month – € 200- € 300;
- Home Internet – € 35 per month;
- Entertainment and leisure: cinema ticket – € 8- € 10, gym membership – € 40, average bill in a cafe for one person – € 10- € 15, in a middle-class restaurant – € 25- € 35, a cup of coffee – € 2.
Spain Freelance Visa
Freelancers can live and work on a Schengen visa (look carefully at the number of days allowed in your particular case). You can get a special work visa for 1 year (type D).