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Living the Digital Nomad Dream in Greece

Escaping the Hustle Culture

Caris Ces West, a luxury travel concierge and travel content creator, never felt truly at home in the United States. The relentless hustle culture, where worth is tied to productivity, left her yearning for a different way of life. After moving to Greece, she discovered a European mindset that values rest, transforming her family’s life. “Being in the United States, it’s all about hustle culture,” Caris explains. “Here in Greece, rest is really valued, and it’s made a huge difference in our lives.”

A New Beginning Abroad

Caris’s journey to becoming a digital nomad began after the birth of her daughter. Working as a contractor for a German company in the U.S., she was ineligible for maternity leave. Exposure to social media platforms like TikTok, where content creators highlighted better support for families abroad, sparked a realization: life might be better elsewhere. Her husband, a former restaurant manager, was initially hesitant about leaving Texas. However, a pivotal moment during a train ride from Central Portugal to Lisbon—just a month into their trial abroad—changed everything. “I said, ‘I really love our life here,’ and he said, ‘Me too.’” Caris recalls. They decided to sell everything and fully embrace the nomadic lifestyle.

The Digital Nomad Visa and Life in Greece

The decision to settle in Greece was driven by practical and personal reasons. Greece’s digital nomad visa process allowed Caris and her family to apply for residency from within the country, granting them two years of stay while their paperwork was processed. Hiring an attorney to handle translations ensured a smooth application, despite additional costs. The island of Siros offered a safe environment for raising their daughter, a priority for Caris after unsettling news in Texas underscored the need to prioritize her daughter’s safety. “It was absolutely devastating to hear that news,” she says, “but it wasn’t surprising. I knew I needed to get my daughter out of the U.S. for her safety.”

The lower cost of living in Greece has been transformative. In the U.S., Caris and her husband worked opposite shifts to manage childcare costs, rarely seeing each other. Now, living on one income, they enjoy a slower pace of life and more family time. “We spend so much time together now,” Caris says. “It’s amazing for my daughter to have so much time with her father, which most dads don’t get.”

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Financial Freedom and Paying Down Debt

Leaving the U.S. with $72,000 in debt, Caris and her husband partnered with a financial advisor to strategize repayment. The ability to bring her job abroad has been crucial, allowing her to earn a salary while traveling. By the end of the year, they will have paid down over $20,000, with plans to continue chipping away. “My debt is going to be the same whether I’m in Greece or the U.S.,” Caris says. “So, I might as well pay it down with a good view.”

The affordability of life abroad also allows for small luxuries—strolling for gelato, sipping coffee at a café, or taking an inexpensive ferry to another island for a day trip. These experiences, unattainable while living paycheck to paycheck in the U.S., have enriched their lives.

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A Liberating Experience as a Black Woman

As a Black woman, Caris finds living in Europe liberating. “I feel so free here,” she says. “I just get to exist in peace, without someone following me around a store or treating me differently because of my skin color. I’m just seen as an American.” This sense of freedom has been a significant factor in their decision to stay abroad.

Adventures as a Nomadic Family

By the end of the year, Caris and her family will have visited 14 countries together, including Portugal, Greece, Albania, and Mexico. These extended stays have allowed them to immerse themselves in local cultures, languages, and traditions—experiences Caris feels are underexplored in the U.S. “The experiences we’ve had as a family, meeting new people and learning new cultures, are so special,” she says.

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Looking Ahead

Caris is excited about growing her family in Greece, anticipating an even better birthing experience abroad than her positive experience in the U.S. While they miss big family moments like birthdays and holidays, the trade-off is worth it. “I would give everything to live this lifestyle,” she says. With no plans to return to the U.S. permanently, Caris believes their home lies abroad. “While we won’t be nomadic forever,” she reflects, “I know our home is outside of the U.S.”

For Caris, her husband, and their daughter, the digital nomad life in Greece has offered not just financial and personal freedom but a richer, more fulfilling way to live—one filled with connection, adventure, and the simple joys of a slower pace.