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>It turns out that the labor costs in Romania are similar to those in the Philippines, but internet speeds are much better and there are no typhoons. I keep wo

by Aqwis 12y ago

>It turns out that the labor costs in Romania are similar to those in the Philippines, but internet speeds are much better and there are no typhoons. I keep wondering why so-called "digital nomads" keep moving to south-east Asia over Eastern Europe. The latter has similarly low prices, much less crime (unless you go too far east), better Internet access, much less likelihood for coups, less disease, easier access to typical Western food & goods, cheaper access to whatever country the "digital nomad" is originally from... I could go on. Does the temperature difference between Thailand and Eastern Europe really make the entire difference? (Even then, Albania or Montenegro aren't that cold.)

ForHackernews 12y ago
I suspect that many of the "digital nomads" who move to Asia are attracted by stereotypes about Asian culture and Asian women.
- SN76477 12y ago
  Don't forget the lady boys.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
toomuchtodo 12y ago
> I keep wondering why so-called "digital nomads" keep moving to south-east Asia over Eastern Europe. SEA is more amiable to digital nomads from a visa perspective.
- Aqwis 12y ago
  You're right, I didn't think of that. I wonder why at least one country in Eastern Europe that doesn't have to adhere to EU/Schengen immigration regulations hasn't opened up for long-term work visas. I imagine that some US freelancer living in, say, Albania could contribute significantly to that country's economy if only by consuming considerably more than an average Albanian. On the other hand, isn't a lot of the remote working in Thailand also "technically" illegal?
  - toomuchtodo 12y ago
    > I wonder why at least one country in Eastern Europe that doesn't have to adhere to EU/Schengen immigration regulations hasn't opened up for long-term work visas. I imagine that some US freelancer living in, say, Albania could contribute significantly to that country's economy if only by consuming considerably more than an average Albanian. I belive Estonia is at the forefront of this: https://e-estonia.com/e-residents/about/ https://e-estonia.com/e-residents/about/ > On the other hand, isn't a lot of the remote working in Thailand also "technically" illegal? Technically? Yes. You'll hear a lot about visa runs where you hop over the border for an hour or two, and then come back to Thailand for another 6 months. My guess is that you're following the spirit of the law, as Thailand hasn't really thought out how they want remote workers to be handled locally, but they're enjoying the economic benefits of them being there.
    - seanmcdirmid 12y ago
      My guess is that you aren't really following the letter of the law, and the Thai authorities could throw you in jail if they wanted to (granted, they could find other reasons just as well, but Thailand is a relatively decent country). You are also probably not playing well with taxes (you are supposed to pay first in the country where the value is added, but most just pay in the country where the work is sourced). This is actually a bigger concern, especially if American.
      - toomuchtodo 12y ago
        > You are also probably not playing well with taxes (you are supposed to pay first in the country where the value is added, but most just pay in the country where the work is sourced). This is actually a bigger concern, especially if American. I'm paid as a resident of Florida (US citizen), and pay the required amount of US federal tax. I currently reside in the US, but if Thailand (or any other country) would like to update their tax code to make it friendly to digital nomads, I would be more than happy to contribute to their tax base if the requirement was reasonable. TL;DR I like taxes; with them, I buy civilization.

by Aqwis 12y ago

ForHackernews 12y ago

I suspect that many of the "digital nomads" who move to Asia are attracted by stereotypes about Asian culture and Asian women.

SN76477 12y ago
Don't forget the lady boys.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]

toomuchtodo 12y ago

> I keep wondering why so-called "digital nomads" keep moving to south-east Asia over Eastern Europe. SEA is more amiable to digital nomads from a visa perspective.

Aqwis 12y ago
You're right, I didn't think of that. I wonder why at least one country in Eastern Europe that doesn't have to adhere to EU/Schengen immigration regulations hasn't opened up for long-term work visas. I imagine that some US freelancer living in, say, Albania could contribute significantly to that country's economy if only by consuming considerably more than an average Albanian. On the other hand, isn't a lot of the remote working in Thailand also "technically" illegal?
- toomuchtodo 12y ago
  > I wonder why at least one country in Eastern Europe that doesn't have to adhere to EU/Schengen immigration regulations hasn't opened up for long-term work visas. I imagine that some US freelancer living in, say, Albania could contribute significantly to that country's economy if only by consuming considerably more than an average Albanian. I belive Estonia is at the forefront of this: https://e-estonia.com/e-residents/about/ https://e-estonia.com/e-residents/about/ > On the other hand, isn't a lot of the remote working in Thailand also "technically" illegal? Technically? Yes. You'll hear a lot about visa runs where you hop over the border for an hour or two, and then come back to Thailand for another 6 months. My guess is that you're following the spirit of the law, as Thailand hasn't really thought out how they want remote workers to be handled locally, but they're enjoying the economic benefits of them being there.
  - seanmcdirmid 12y ago
    My guess is that you aren't really following the letter of the law, and the Thai authorities could throw you in jail if they wanted to (granted, they could find other reasons just as well, but Thailand is a relatively decent country). You are also probably not playing well with taxes (you are supposed to pay first in the country where the value is added, but most just pay in the country where the work is sourced). This is actually a bigger concern, especially if American.
    - toomuchtodo 12y ago
      > You are also probably not playing well with taxes (you are supposed to pay first in the country where the value is added, but most just pay in the country where the work is sourced). This is actually a bigger concern, especially if American. I'm paid as a resident of Florida (US citizen), and pay the required amount of US federal tax. I currently reside in the US, but if Thailand (or any other country) would like to update their tax code to make it friendly to digital nomads, I would be more than happy to contribute to their tax base if the requirement was reasonable. TL;DR I like taxes; with them, I buy civilization.