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Digital nomads: More and more people are choosing to work remotely and preferably abroad. A very large proportion of these digital nomads work from the Costa del Sol, but what makes this region so attractive to telecommuters?
What are digital nomads?
Digital nomads carry out their work remotely via the Internet. More and more employers have been giving their employees more freedom in terms of how and where they do their jobs since the COVID19 pandemic. So workers are also taking this opportunity to perform their jobs abroad, which has led to a sharp increase in the number of digital nomads.
The profile of digital nomads are often young and belong to Generation Z and millennials, according to a recent study by the Junta de Andalucía. Moreover, 70% move as a couple.
What makes the Costa del Sol so attractive to digital nomads?
The Costa del Sol has long attracted numerous tourists and second-stayers. With the trend of digital nomads, new generations are now attracted to this region of southern Spain. Below we discuss the reasons why more and more digital nomads are choosing the Costa del Sol.
1. Quality of Life
The Costa del Sol offers longer light, a better work-life balance and therefore less stress. Spaniards generally choose to enjoy every day, unlike most Western and Northern Europeans who save their entertainment activities for weekends.
2. Lower cost of living
Chances are very good that it is cheaper to live in Spain than in your home country. You can get a three-course lunch menu (menu del día) from as little as €8 or €10, while a “fancy” menu still costs less than €20. Of course, there are outliers in the upscale restaurants in Marbella, for example, but in general the restaurants and bars are very affordable.
Although rent has risen recently, a single person can find shared accommodation or an apartment for a reasonable price (somewhere between €500 and €1,000 per month). Those who prefer to buy can also find apartments at reasonable prices on the Costa del Sol (although the region is more expensive than the Costa Blanca, for example).
3. Climate
The Costa del Sol has by far the best climate in all of Spain, with an average of 320 days of sunshine per year. Moreover, the region has numerous microclimates. In Malaga city, for example, it will be slightly warmer than in Marbella, where the mountains block the warm winds.
4. Infrastructure
Tourism allows the Costa del Sol to greatly expand its infrastructure (and for the same reason, there is the motivation to do so). There are plenty of restaurants, sports clubs, doctors, dentists, nightclubs, beach bars and so much more to be found on the Costa del Sol making the region ideal for the younger generation of digital nomads, as well as second-stayers who are a little older and therefore wealthy enough to have a second home there.
5. Large number of expats
While proper integration and mingling with locals is recommended, it is reassuring to know that there are plenty of expats on the Costa del Sol to socialize with as well. Especially British, Swedes and Belgians, Dutch and Russians know a large number of expats in the Costa del Sol. Often these nationalities also seek each other out and there are even associations that bring the nationalities together.
6. Accessibility
The city of Malaga is less than 15 minutes from the airport, and the long-distance “AVE” train will take you from downtown Malaga to Madrid or Barcelona in two hours and five and a half hours respectively, while Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (Spain’s fourth busiest) has direct connections to hundreds of airports worldwide.
So European digital nomads can very easily receive or visit their families thanks to these good connections.
7. Flexible legislation for digital nomads
Besides this, the visa for digital nomads and the Startup Law 028/2022 cannot be overlooked:
Digital nomad visa
The digital nomad visa, new to Spanish law, also offers workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) a legal route to reside and work in Spain for extended periods. With benefits such as faster processing and requirements tailored to the needs of remote workers, this visa positions Spain as one of the most sought-after destinations for digital nomads worldwide.
Startup Act
The Startup Law 028/2022 is a law aimed at encouraging emerging entrepreneurship by facilitating administrative procedures and providing tax incentives.
Conclusion on the Costa del Sol for digital nomads
The Costa del Sol is becoming increasingly popular with digital nomads telecommuting abroad, mainly Generation Z and Y. This increasing popularity is due to its good quality of life and low cost, combined with a pleasant climate, good infrastructure, many expats, easy accessibility and flexible legislation.
FAQs
Digital nomads are people who carry out their work remotely via the Internet. The freedom offered by employers since the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the number of digital nomads. The Costa del Sol attracts them because of its good quality of life, lower costs, pleasant climate, good infrastructure, presence of expats, easy accessibility and flexible legislation.
Digital nomads tend to be young, belonging to Generation Z and millennials, according to research by the Junta de Andalucía. About 70% of them move as a couple. The attractiveness of the Costa del Sol for them lies in the factors mentioned such as quality of life, lower cost of living, climate, infrastructure, presence of expats, accessibility, and flexible legislation.
The Costa del Sol stands out for its excellent quality of life, affordable cost of living, pleasant climate with many hours of sunshine, well-developed infrastructure, presence of a diverse expat community, good accessibility via Malaga airport, and favorable legislation such as the digital nomad visa and the Startup Law.
Digital nomads can enjoy a better work-life balance and less stress thanks to the region’s climate and lifestyle. In addition, the Costa del Sol offers affordable housing and low daily costs, making it an attractive destination for the younger generation of digital nomads.
The Costa del Sol offers supportive legislation, including the digital nomad visa and the Startup Law. The digital nomad visa allows workers from outside the European Economic Area to legally reside and work in Spain. The Startup Act encourages entrepreneurship by simplifying administrative procedures and providing tax breaks.
