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A weekly conversation for professionals, founders and couples weighing a move abroad or a second base. Each episode follows one decision, such as where to live, how to move legally,...
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A weekly conversation for professionals, founders and couples weighing a move abroad or a second base. Each episode follows one decision, such as where to live, how to move legally, or what daily life costs, and works through the evidence, the tradeoffs and who it suits. Researched from official sources, candid about the downsides, and never a city ranking. Companion to The Bigger Map newsletter.
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Episodes & Posts
Episodes
Posts
3 NOV 2026 · It's late, you're on your phone, and up pops a headline: the best city in the world to live in. Depending on the list, that's Copenhagen, The Hague, Zurich or Rostock. So how can the best city be four different cities?Lena and Sam open up four famous rankings to see what's inside: the EIU's Global Liveability Index (comfort and services), the European Commission's survey of residents (what people say about their own city), Numbeo (crowd-sourced numbers with money included) and Mercer (a tool for employers). Plus what you could gain from reading them properly, who it's a great fit for, and four ways to make it work: ask who a list is for, write your own top three, match the list to the question, and check the visa last.This week's next step: write down your top three, pick one city you're curious about, and look it up on two different lists. Notice what each one sees.If you made your own best-city ranking, what would count the most? Reply to The Bigger Map newsletter and tell us. We'll ask before quoting anyone.Sources (checked 2 November 2026):
- EIU Liveability Index 2026, press release: https://smb.americanpress.com/article/EIU-Liveability-Index-2026-Copenhagen-Vienna-and-Melbourne-top-annual-city-ranking-with-New-York-recording-one-of-the-largest-score-gains/6a4c7a991f33de42266d664c
- EIU category weights, Housing Japan summary: https://housingjapan.com/blog/tokyo-global-liveability-index-top-10/
- European Commission, Quality of life in European cities 2023: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/whats-new/newsroom/12-12-2023-9-out-of-10-people-satisfied-with-city-living-across-europe-according-to-new-commission-report_en
- European Commission, survey method: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/reports/qol2023/evaluation_report.pdf
- Numbeo, how the Quality of Life index works: https://www.numbeo.com/quality-of-life/indices_explained.jsp
- Numbeo, 2026 Mid-Year city ranking: https://www.numbeo.com/quality-of-life/rankings.jsp
- Mercer, Quality of Living City Ranking 2024: https://marketingpreview.mercer.com/about/newsroom/zurich-offers-highest-quality-of-living-for-international-assignees-according-to-mercers-2024-quality-of-living-city-ranking/General research. Rankings change, so check the latest edition. An immigration adviser in the destination can confirm what applies to you.
27 OCT 2026 · 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.
20 OCT 2026 · 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.
20 OCT 2026 · 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.
- Do you allow work from this country, and for how long?
- Does it affect my payroll, tax withholding or social security?
- Does it create any obligations for the company in that country?
- 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)
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-permitted-activities
- https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor
- https://exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/nuevayork/en/ServiciosConsulares/Paginas/Consular/Visado-de-teletrabajo.aspx
- https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/border-crossing_en
General research, not legal advice. An immigration adviser in the destination can confirm what applies to you.
A weekly conversation for professionals, founders and couples weighing a move abroad or a second base. Each episode follows one decision, such as where to live, how to move legally,...
show more
A weekly conversation for professionals, founders and couples weighing a move abroad or a second base. Each episode follows one decision, such as where to live, how to move legally, or what daily life costs, and works through the evidence, the tradeoffs and who it suits. Researched from official sources, candid about the downsides, and never a city ranking. Companion to The Bigger Map newsletter.
show less
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| Author | With Aim |
| Organization | withaim co |
| Categories | Society & Culture , Places & Travel , Education |
| Website | - |
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