Can I work remotely in Nicaragua?

Because of the current COVID 19 lockdown regulations, many people – including us, Residencial Malibu from beautiful Nicaragua – have found that we can accomplish most of their work from home or anyplace else.

Many occupations in our digital era merely require a computer, a strong internet connection, a peaceful area to work, and, if possible, pleasant co-workers. Why not work from a tropical beach setting if you’re working from home on your computer?

Nicaragua might be the next location on your list if you’re thinking about jumping on a plane as soon as possible and travelling the world with your computer and smartphone. Nicaragua, located north of Costa Rica, is Central America’s hidden treasure, offering a low-cost lifestyle, a remote/tropical ambience, fantastic food, a diverse range of hotels, friendly people, and excellent surfing opportunities.

It’s no surprise that remote workers, digital nomads, and freelancers from all over the world are moving to Nicaragua for a few months or longer. When making a move, here’s what to expect, with plenty of real estate options, affordable living, and everything you’ll need to live and remote working in Nicaragua.

The Benefits of Choosing to Live and Remote working in Nicaragua

Many people have understood that they can handle all of their work remotely as a result of the present “lockdown” restrictions. It doesn’t have to be in a small apartment in a deserted city or a family house with expensive bills and housing payments.

Nicaragua provides everything you could possibly need to live a happy lifestyle, which is why so many people are coming here and working from their new homes.

The continental United States and Canada are in the same time zone.

Working remotely from Nicaragua puts you in the same time zone as the continental United States and Canada. This is a significant benefit in terms of saving time while communicating with clients, co-workers, friends, and family on a regular basis.

If your client works from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., feel confident that you will be working during those hours, allowing you to maintain a regular work and sleep routine.

Internet that is reliable and fast

The consistent high-speed internet is a major reason why so many people are relocating to Nicaragua. Fibre-optic internet, which is exactly as powerful as what you’re used to in North America, is available depending on where you live. Another popular alternative is satellite fibre.

There is LTE coverage for your phone, with a weekly plan costing around $3 for 600 MB of internet, 25 minutes of calling, and 25 text messages, plus free usage of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Twitter.

You have a number of reliable phone and internet services to pick from, depending on your specific needs.

The Dollar’s Power

The power of the U.S. dollar is one of the most persuasive reasons to consider living in Nicaragua as an emigrant. You may have a pretty sizeable savings account, but you’re concerned that you won’t be able to maintain a lifestyle that includes great food, housing, and outings. If this is your issue, go no farther than Nicaragua, where you can easily enjoy the natural beauty and standard features at a more than affordable price. Consider the cost of a gourmet three-course meal for two at $20 or the average apartment in the city centre at $337.50 per square meter.

Imagine no longer because these are some of Nicaragua’s most recent prices. It’s a country where you can still enjoy a luxurious lifestyle at a low cost. Not only will your dollar be worth more, but the friendly people of Nicaragua will also provide you with benefits that will make your transition easier.

A View from Your “Office

Winters in North America and Europe are long and cold, making people tired and worried. But not in this case! Instead, you’ll be remote working from Nicaragua, feeling calm and relaxed as you work while overlooking the ocean.

Do you need to take a quick break from your work? Go for a walk down to the beach and relax. Dip your toes into the warm water. Alternatively, head to the nearest trail for a hike with the most breathtaking views. Come back to your desk to complete the rest of your work time.

Your productivity and overall health will improve as a result of the beautiful weather, lush biodiversity, and breathtaking scenery. How could it not be with the warm sun and cool breeze all year?

Ultimately, Nicaragua is the destination if you want to work in a quiet, “off the beaten path” environment with few distractions.

Nicaraguan health services

Following the receipt of your residency visa, you will be eligible for the Nicaraguan government’s free and universal healthcare system, which is said to be on par with the American system in terms of quality – particularly in larger cities. If an ex-pat finds the public system inadequate, a private hospital in one of the bigger cities with a high level of quality is easy to find.

When choosing private hospitals, keep in mind that healthcare prices in Nicaragua are far lower than in the United States. Many doctors were trained outside of Nicaragua, in countries such as the United States, and thus bring developed-country medical skills and equipment at a fraction of the cost.

Investing in Real Estate to Earn Additional Income

Who says that you can’t bake and eat your cake?

You can enjoy a variety of advantages while working remotely from your new home in the Tola and San Juan del Sur areas.

Don’t intend to spend the entire year in Nicaragua? Nicaraguan property and rental management companies are incredibly cost-effective. They not only look after your property, but they also advertise and rent it out, allowing you to earn some extra money without having to worry about it. This generates a monthly rental income stream and increases the value of your property.

Renting is an excellent alternative if you aren’t ready to buy yet. You may rent a villa in San Juan del Sur with a stunning ocean view with a pool for the price of a small apartment in any large city, making any of your co-workers envious!

Low-cost flights from the United States and Canada

Flights to Nicaragua are pretty inexpensive from the United States or Canada. You won’t pay more than USD 700 for a two-way ticket if you aren’t particular about flight times. Direct flights are available from Montreal, Miami, and Houston.

With a valid tourist visa for three months and easy to renew, you can easily enter the country.

Safety

Ex-pats considering buying property or shifting to Nicaragua need not be concerned about the violent crime that plagues other countries in the region. Nicaragua, in reality, has a considerably lower violent crime rate than the United States, according to The Global Peace Index.

Whether you live in your own home or a gated community, you will never be in danger in Nicaragua, where you are more likely to see pleasant faces than anything else.

A Remote Worker Community

On any given day, your laptop might not be the only one in the cafe or co-working area.

The number of remote employees in Nicaragua is increasing. Many towns, particularly those with a large number of ex-pats, such as San Juan del Sur and Tola, offer networking possibilities and a collaborative environment.

Even those of us who like face-to-face conversations will realize that remote working makes sense in this situation.

It’s simple to work and move about!

The excellent news is Nicaragua is a tiny and safe country with good roads and an outstanding transportation infrastructure.

You can simply ride the bus from one city to the next and see most of the country in a few weeks if you want to.

The quality of internet connections frequently amazes remote workers. The WIFI in most hostels, resorts, and villas that you might rent is excellent. You can also buy data from a local provider and use your phone as a hotspot with your smartphone.

So, how is living in Nicaragua on a daily basis?

Make sure you have a stress-free zone in your home. You can plan your property with Residencial Malibu in Sen Juan Del Sur.

Browse Rentals

Find out where you may work from a variety of locations.

Remote working implies finding the perfect balance between putting in long hours in front of a computer and learning about a country’s culture and people. Nicaragua provides digital nomads with a fantastic option to customize their journey.

Managua has exceptionally well-equipped co-working facilities if you need to be truly linked to the rest of the world.

They have day passes available and are conveniently located near shops, hotels, bars, and restaurants. It’s a co-working place similar to those found in New York City, Paris, or London.

Nicaragua Offers a Wide Range of Living Options

Nicaragua’s retirement options have been approved and suggested by such renowned news sources as U.S. News & World Report and NBC News, which should not surprise those already in the country. At present, Nicaragua is one of the easiest and most rewarding countries to retire as an American ex-pat. Affordable real estate investments, cheap taxes, and a low cost of living, along with a sustainable, high quality of life, are driving these options. However, living in Nicaragua has a lot more to offer.

Natural wonders and historical treasures

Nicaragua, with its abundance of natural beauty, has become a popular destination for ecotourism. Apoyo Lagoon is one of the most stunning sceneries. The lagoon is the crater of an ancient volcano, but don’t worry, the pure, geothermally heated waters are perfectly safe to swim in. Another magnificent volcanic site is the Masaya Volcano National Park, where you might witness the unusual tropical birds living in its semi-active crater.

Beautiful jungle excursions and unspoiled beaches will delight your senses, while the history and culture of Nicaragua’s buildings and architecture will amaze you. Your visit to Granada and its majestic colonial architecture will be well-rewarded if you want to look back in time and immerse yourself in the Americas’ past. It’s a city so perfectly maintained from its colonialera that, while providing an authentic Nicaraguan experience, it could almost trick you into thinking you’re in southern Spain.

Granada has many options for remote workers. Selina, an international brand, moved here a few years ago, transforming an old house into a bustling hostel and co-working space. If you fall in love with the city, they offer long-term rates.

Leon, a colonial jewel with modern conveniences, museums, and political intellectualism, will entice you to stay in Nicaragua.

Retirement Benefits for Nicaraguan Retirees

The Nicaraguan people and administration are always friendly and welcoming to visitors. They do this through the several benefits granted by the Nicaraguan government to retired ex-pats to aid you with your transfer to Nicaragua. Permanent residency is simple to obtain; all you need are certain medical and criminal records, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a list of the household items you want to bring into the country.

After that, as long as you can show that you have a monthly income of $600 or more, you will be eligible for perks such as duty-free imports of home items and autos worth up to $20,000 and $25,000, respectively. When building your own home or importing more cars, you will also be eligible for tax breaks. Most crucially, you will not be required to pay taxes on any money earned outside the country. Technically, the age restriction for these benefits is 45; however, there are exceptions if you show that you have a constant income.

Things To Think About:

Power

In recent years, Nicaragua’s electrical system has vastly improved. Long power outages used to happen on a regular basis. It now takes only a few hours per month on average. You’ll need a solution for those periods if you operate remotely.

We suggest using a battery backup system to run your router, charge your P.C., and possibly run a USB fan to provide some ventilation.

The systems can be purchased in Nicaragua from hardware retailers. You can use a battery backup and surge protector combo that costs around $135 in the United States. If the electricity goes off, it will keep your router running for 4-5 hours.

Though, at $300-$400, we recommend a more durable one that will keep the router and a USB fan running all day.

Access to the internet

You’ll want to choose the best supplier for the area of the country where you’ll be living. Nicaragua’s internet connections have also improved substantially in recent years.

If you are nearby a town or city, there are numerous high-speed choices. If you opt to live in a remote location, it will be more difficult. So, if this is something you’re thinking about, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.

As has been said, downtime between power and internet providers is vital to consider. In Nicaragua, there is greater downtime than in Canada or the United States. If your work is “mission-vital” and you can’t take any time off, you have two options.

The simplest option is a data plan with a hotspot on your phone, but if your work requires more data or you want a more reliable backup, you can choose between two internet service providers.

Uncertainty on the political and international levels

For remote workers, this isn’t as big of a problem. Suppose you run a brick-and-mortar business in San Juan Del Sur. In that case, you are more vulnerable to tourism variations caused by international difficulties such as Covid 19 travel restrictions.

However, if your online work or firm is headquartered in North America, it makes no difference. During our political unrest in 2018, digital workers living here were largely untouched.

Money transfer/Banking

Nicaragua has an excellent ATM network. Withdrawal fees from overseas banks are reasonable. If you’re an American, you might want to look into the Charles Schwab account, which has no fees for overseas ATM withdrawals.

If you buy property in Nica, opening a bank account is rather simple. You don’t have to be a resident or a citizen to participate. When you first arrive in Nica, you can purchase real estate and open a bank account. The account will take roughly a week to open and two weeks for your debit card to arrive.

However, if you don’t own property in Nica, opening a bank account can be difficult. If you desire a bank account in the country but don’t own any property, we recommend forming a corporation. Depending on your type of business, a Nica subsidiary may potentially provide tax benefits. If you’re looking into it, we might be able to help with our services.

Conclusion

Nicaragua is an excellent place for a digital remote worker or businessman searching for a base. It’s perfect because of its low cost of living, North American time zone, good internet connections, ease of residency, lovely tropical setting, and convenient aircraft connections to the U.S.

Are you looking for more information on remote working from Nicaragua or key facts on living and investing in the country? Contact us in Residencial Malibu for assistance in determining and achieving your real estate objectives.

Keep visiting for additional information, and as usual, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.