How to become a digital nomad
Start with work you can take with you. Then make a first move that fits your real life.
Read the guidePhoto: Matej Simko / Pexels
Become a Digital Nomad
Your next workday has coordinates.
Photos: Naimish Verma and Darren Lawrence / Pexels.
So, what the f*ck is a digital nomad, anyway?
Someone who earns a living remotely and spends time in different places. There are still deadlines, dishes and days when the Wi-Fi gives up. You just get to choose a different everyday.
Start with work you can take with you. Then figure out a first base, a decent desk and how you want your days to feel.
Start with the essentialsTwo guides for the first step.
Work, a place to start and a connection you can count on. Read these before booking anything.
Internet guide
Check the connection where you will actually work, and make a backup plan before the important call.
Read the guidePhoto: Kampus Production / Pexels
Enough dreaming.
Go get the job.
Start with work you can take with you. This search is filtered for remote jobs. Check each role’s permitted locations and working hours, then adjust the search to fit you.
Find remote jobs on LinkedInOpens LinkedIn in a new tab.
Some reading for the way.
Four pieces from the DigiTao editorial desk. These first editions are available to read as editorial previews.
Editorial preview. Draft updated
Two journeys. One island. A beginning.
Linda and Etienne left home separately at 18. Their paths met in a coworking space on Koh Tao.
By
Editorial preview. Draft updated
Plan a first week you can actually work through.
Leave room to arrive, test your setup and learn what an ordinary workday needs before filling the calendar.
By
Editorial preview. Draft updated
A work routine that travels with you.
Keep a few reliable habits while letting the rest of the day respond to the place you are in.
By
Editorial preview. Draft updated
Make room for a home base.
A few questions to help you picture everyday life in a place, beyond the appeal of a short visit.
By
Put two countries side by side.
Each country uses a named reference base, so a city budget is never presented as a national average.
Representative base: Lisbon
What works well
- Lisbon has a dense choice of fibre and coworking providers.
- A dedicated residence route exists for remote work.
- Residents can access Portugal's public health system.
- The climate is mild, with a dry summer in Lisbon.
- National travel advice focuses mainly on theft and coastal risks.
Trade-offs to plan for
- Lisbon is the most expensive reference base in this comparison.
- A central one-bedroom commonly exceeds EUR 1,250 a month.
- Tax residence can start after 183 days or with a habitual home.
- Remote-work residence applications need documentary evidence.
- Winter rain and poorly insulated housing can change the budget.
Facts and sources
Objective information behind this summary. Source scope and check dates show what each fact can, and cannot, support.
Reference budget
A Lisbon reference budget for one person combines EUR 762.80 of estimated monthly costs excluding rent with a typical EUR 1,250 to 1,450 one-bedroom. It is not a Portugal-wide average.
Scope: One person in Lisbon, private one-bedroom, before tax and immigration costs
Partial information
Entry and stay
AIMA describes a residence permit for remote work that is valid for two years and renewable for successive three-year periods. Short visits and EU free movement follow different rules.
Scope: Portugal. The correct route depends on nationality, residence and purpose.
AIMA: remote-work residence permit (opens in a new tab)Source checked
Tax residence
Portugal's tax authority says residence can arise through time spent in Portugal or from maintaining a home that shows an intention to use it as a habitual residence. Personal circumstances and treaties can change the result.
Scope: Portuguese individual tax residence, not a personal tax opinion
Remote-work setup
Lisbon has broad fixed-fibre coverage and many coworking options. Provider availability, installation and actual desk speed still need checking at the exact address.
Scope: Lisbon reference base, advertised residential plans
Partial information
Housing
This is a furnished one-bedroom reference range. Neighbourhood, lease term, deposit and guarantor requirements can materially change the offer.
Scope: Lisbon, not Portugal-wide
Partial information
Investropa: Lisbon rents in 2026 (opens in a new tab)Source checked
Healthcare
Legal residents can register for public care, while travel and private insurance remain important during arrival and for services outside entitlement. Check coverage before moving.
Scope: Portugal national health access and travel health guidance
Partial information
FCDO: Portugal health (opens in a new tab)Source checked
Safety
Travel guidance highlights pickpocketing in busy areas and risks from waves, currents and wildfires. It is not a neighbourhood score or a guarantee.
Scope: Portugal national travel guidance
FCDO: Portugal safety (opens in a new tab)Source checked
Climate
IPMA 1991 to 2020 station normals show a mild winter and dry summer. Long-term averages are not a forecast for a specific trip.
Scope: IPMA Lisbon Geophysical Institute station
IPMA: Lisbon climate normals (opens in a new tab)Source checked
Representative base: Koh Tao
What works well
- Koh Tao remains materially cheaper than the Lisbon reference base.
- The DTV can support repeated longer stays for eligible remote workers.
- Coworking with backup infrastructure is available on the island.
- Long-stay rooms exist below mainland European rent levels.
- Warm conditions support an outdoor routine for much of the year.
Trade-offs to plan for
- The 30-day exemption is now shorter than it was before September 2026.
- Tax residence can begin at 180 days in a calendar year.
- Serious medical care can require transfer off the island.
- Scooter, swimming and boat risks need active planning.
- The Gulf monsoon can disrupt ferries and outdoor plans.
Facts and sources
Objective information behind this summary. Source scope and check dates show what each fact can, and cannot, support.
Reference budget
A practical Koh Tao range for one remote worker varies sharply with room type, food habits, scooter use and high season. Treat it as a reference budget, not a national average.
Scope: One remote worker on Koh Tao
Partial information
Entry and stay
Thailand revised the exemption scheme from 15 September 2026. The DTV remains a separate five-year multiple-entry route, with 180 days per entry, for eligible applicants. Passport, residence and purpose determine the route.
Scope: Thailand national entry rules. Eligibility must be confirmed with the responsible embassy.
Tax residence
Thailand's Revenue Department defines an individual present for 180 days or more in a tax year as resident. Income source, remittance timing and treaties require individual advice.
Scope: Thai individual income tax residence, not a tax calculation
Remote-work setup
Blacktip publishes a monthly shared-space membership and lists phone booths, air conditioning and backup connectivity. Confirm current access, power and call quality.
Scope: One Koh Tao provider
Partial information
Blacktip: memberships (opens in a new tab)Source checked
Housing
Mae Haad and Chalok usually sit below Sairee, while peak season can raise prices. Deposits, electricity markups and road access need checking before signing.
Scope: Koh Tao long-stay housing
Partial information
BAANLYY: Koh Tao rental market (opens in a new tab)Source checked
Healthcare
Koh Tao has local clinics and a hospital, but complex cases can require boat or air transfer. Insurance should explicitly cover the activities and transport you plan.
Scope: Thailand travel health guidance with Koh Tao access context
Partial information
FCDO: Thailand health (opens in a new tab)Source checked
Safety
National guidance highlights motorcycle crashes, sea currents and boat safety. Local conditions, licences and insurance exclusions must be checked directly.
Scope: Thailand national guidance, applied cautiously to an island base
FCDO: Thailand safety (opens in a new tab)Source checked
Climate
South-east Thailand has a different monsoon pattern from the Andaman coast. Weather has become less predictable, and this regional guidance is not a Koh Tao station normal.
Scope: Koh Samui and south-east Thailand regional context
Partial information
FCDO: Thailand natural disasters (opens in a new tab)Source checked
Comparing Portugal and Thailand.
Use this comparison to choose what to verify next. Before acting, confirm figures and rules with the cited provider, authority or adviser. You remain responsible for the final decision.
How to read this comparison
Budgets and housing describe the named representative base. They are not country averages. No currency conversion or overall winner is calculated.
Sources were read on the date shown. A source check is not an on-site test, and prices, availability and entry rules can change. Internet advertisements are distinct from measured reliability. Climate records identify their station, region and period.
Entry and tax information are starting points, not personal advice.