Approximately 4 in 10 Americans are considering moving to another country or plan to do so and believe the move will make them happier, according to a recent Harris Poll of 6,358 U.S. adults conducted between August 2024 and February 2025.
The motivation behind this new wave of Americans who want to move abroad is tied to social and political shifts, the rise of remote work, and new pathways like digital nomad visas.
There is no official count of how many U.S. citizens currently live abroad (estimates range from 4 to 8 million). Those who have made the move report that they are tempted by such benefits as more affordable health care and an improved work-life balance. According to global employment expert Remote’s 2025 study into life-work balance worldwide, the U.S. ranks 59th out of the 60 countries analyzed.
We spoke with a handful of expats living in various parts of the world who gave us their firsthand tips on transitioning to a more permanent life overseas.
Figure out your finances
Leaving it all behind and starting anew may sound romantic, but there are several practicalities to consider. Funding your trip is probably the most important. Before you move abroad, it’s important to have a safety cushion for unexpected expenses and life in general.
“Make sure you have enough money saved to afford your trip, unexpected emergencies, and emergency flights home,” said Lola Méndez, a journalist and full-time digital nomad.
The amount each person needs to save varies depending on the circumstances. Where are you moving to? Do you already have a job lined up? What about housing? Are you planning to wing it until you find a job?
“Having some savings definitely helps, but I was surprised to find that my cost of living here in Paris is actually lower than in New York,” said Rebecca Eisenberg, founder of retreat company Thrive Collective, who relocated to Paris from New York this year. “Rent, food, and even day-to-day life feel more manageable.”
Eisenberg says that her rent in New York for a studio apartment on the Upper East Side was $2,350 a month. Her rent for a studio in Paris’s Les Marais is 1,600 euros (US$1,915).
Financial experts recommend using the 70/20/10 breakdown, which advises you to put 70 percent of your income toward household expenses, 20 percent into savings, and 10 percent into wants or additional savings. This budgeting rule can help you create a financial framework for your move abroad and determine how much you will need to earn to afford life in a foreign country. Along those lines, you should also have a general sense of the cost of living to calculate average expenses in your new home.
Consider health and travel insurance coverage
One of the benefits of ditching a U.S. address is that you can shed the financial burden of U.S. health care, which can be particularly appealing to those who are self-employed and pay out of pocket for a private insurance plan. Health insurance policies in your new country of residence will vary, but many countries outside the United States have reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for medical treatment, meaning you may not need health insurance. For instance, according to International Living, health-care costs average at least 50 percent lower in Mexico compared to the U.S. Plus, many medications are sold over the counter.
“I met my Danish partner in Bangkok and fell in love. We chose Denmark over the USA for several reasons, primarily healthcare,” said Olivia Liveng, a travel writer, publicist, and travel expert living in Copenhagen. “As a freelancer, paying for my health insurance in the USA was costly, whereas in Denmark, it’s part of being a resident, making it super cost-efficient.” Liveng doesn’t pay extra for health insurance in Denmark, where residents have public health benefits.
For those who don’t qualify for local insurance abroad, international health insurance from U.S. providers like Cigna Global or Allianz can fill the gap. While typically more expensive than local options, these plans are comprehensive and customizable, covering multiple countries and adaptable to the length of stay.
That said, no medical system is perfect, so knowing as much about your prospective new health-care system as possible ahead of time will save you a lot of stress.
“I got really sick [when I moved to Mexico]. Navigating the medical system in another country can be extremely challenging and complicated,” said Perri Goldstein, a teacher based in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. “I wish I had prepared myself for that, but as a generally healthy person, it never occurred to me.”
If you’re considering a digital nomad existence rather than going full expat, you can use a travel insurance company like SafetyWing, which offers affordable travel medical insurance. This type of insurance covers medical emergencies, hospital stays, and prescriptions. The catch, however, is that this type of travel insurance is designed for travelers who will eventually return to their home countries. It’s suitable for temporary long-term stays abroad but not for a permanent move.
When considering cost of living, one expat reveals that she pays less in rent for her apartment in Paris than she did for an apartment in New York City.
Photo by Bastien NVS/Unsplash
Research what it’s actually like to live there
There is a big difference between a vacation and permanently moving to a new country. While your day-to-day routine may include a slower-paced lifestyle and better work-life balance, moving to a new country doesn’t equate to being on a permanent vacation. It’s important to take the time to research the reality of living in a new destination as a foreigner.
“Find out about all the practicalities. Can you legally move there? What are your tax obligations? How easy is it to rent?” said Charlie Neville, marketing director at travel agency JayWay Travel and an expat currently living in Prague, Czech Republic. “Prague’s a breeze compared to Berlin, for example, where up to a hundred people show up to an open house for an apartment rental.”
Try it out for more than a few days. Try actually living there for a month. Do “normal” things like get a haircut, cook for yourself, and go to an expat meet-up group.
"[I wish I knew] just how cold and dark winter gets,” Neville added. “All my visits before moving had been in summer and autumn, and it was a magnificent autumn that year. Then I moved, and the reality of winter hit.”
Make a plan to visit family and loved ones
Just because you’re moving abroad doesn’t mean you’re disappearing from your life back home—unless, of course, that’s what you’re looking for. However, many expats who relocate find that adjustment to a new life also comes with feelings of missing friends and family back home. Having dates on the calendar to visit can often give new expats something to look forward to as they adjust to being in an entirely new place.
“My family is so important to me, and not seeing them every day is the hardest part of living in Copenhagen—more so than the harsh winters,” said Liveng.
Learn some of the local language
It may be a while before you’re fluent in the language of your new country (if you hadn’t already been prior to relocating), but until you are, learning some keywords and phrasing and practicing ahead of time can set you apart from the traditional tourist. It’s always a great way to connect with the locals who are about to become your new neighbors.
“I’m taking in-person French lessons now, and it’s been both humbling and so much fun. It helps me feel like I’m more connected to the city,” said Eisenberg.
It can be as easy as picking up a few phrases ahead of time with an app like Duolingo. Or you can dive deep into an online language-learning program like Rosetta Stone or Babbel. A 2020 Michigan State University study found that students who completed the requirements in a Babbel Spanish language course were able to improve their communication skills after 12 weeks.
Commit by settling into your home and the community
While you’re testing out neighborhoods, it is logical to stay in a short-term rental. But once you’ve decided where you feel most at home, renting (or buying) your own space and decorating it in your style can make your decision to stay feel more permanent.
“So many people I know live in Airbnbs or sublets with cheap, ugly furniture, and they tell me it never feels like their own space,” said Jenny Hart, a travel writer now living in Mexico City. “If you’re only going abroad short term, then it doesn’t make sense to sign a lease and buy furniture, but having full [creative] ownership over your space is the best way to feel at home in a new country. I brought a lot of art and sentimental items from home with me when I moved, turning my apartment into a safe, cozy, and familiar space, even amidst a different culture.”
“Community is everything,” added Eisenberg about her new life in Paris. “I had a friend who introduced me to her circle, which made the transition so much easier. If you don’t know anyone, sign up for activities you love: a language class, yoga, or a creative workshop. It’s one of the best ways to meet people.” Eisenberg takes in-person French classes, exercises in a local gym, and participates in activities like paint-and-sip champagne.
Companies that assist with moving abroad
Whether you’re winging it or hiring a full-service relocation company, there’s no shortage of help when it comes to moving abroad.
Citizen Remote
Best for digital nomads and visa requirement assistance
For digital nomads, opportunities are expanding fast. As of June 2025, 73 countries offer digital nomad visas. Industry platforms like Citizen Remote have emerged to help remote workers navigate these programs, offering guidance on visa requirements, relocation logistics, and community networks abroad.
Meanwhile, Golden Visas remain an attractive route for investors seeking long-term stability. More than 100 countries now offer these residency-by-investment programs, which grant rights to live, work, and access health care in exchange for property purchases or financial contributions.
Expatsi
Best for those just starting out
For those starting fresh, Expatsi makes it easy to find your ideal new home. Created by Jen Barnett and Brett Andrews, the platform’s Expatsi Test matches you to countries based on weather, cost of living, politics, and healthcare, then walks you through every step of the relocation process.
Navigating legal paperwork can be tedious, and one mistake can leave you stuck in consulate lines. Working with an agency can save time and frustration.
GTFO Tours
Best for those looking to relocate to the Netherlands
This relocation service that was recently featured in a New Yorker feature about Americans looking to leave the USA, is focused on helping clients navigate the Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) visa and how it can facilitate a move to the Netherlands.
An interesting component of GTFO Tours is that it offers actually week-long tours to both big cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht, and smaller towns in the Netherlands, so that those thinking of moving can experience the destinations in advance and also for a realistic look at what housing options are—one of the more challenging aspects of moving to the Netherlands, according to the company. Additional services include personal consultations on things like housing, schooling and finances.
Search Associates
Best for teachers looking to relocate abroad
Some companies are industry-specific, like Search Associates, which helps place teachers in schools around the world. Finding a job before you relocate can make the paperwork process much easier.
“I got lucky because my school in Mexico helped me figure out a lot of the paperwork, especially for work visas and insurance,” added Goldstein, the teacher in Puerto Vallarta.
The bottom line
Whatever your reasons for wanting to live in another country, there is no denying that time spent abroad can rich experiences and encounters to your life. Ultimately, after you’ve made the very big decision to leave the USA, after you’ve done your research and prepared yourself, all you have to do is trust your gut and take the leap. You’ll never know until you go.
Connections are key, said Neville, adding that “when you move abroad, you’ll probably start making expat friends, but that doesn’t just mean people from your home country. Having an international group of friends is one of the best parts of living abroad. Your friends have different perspectives, experiences, and traditions for you to learn from.”
What you find and how long you end up staying might surprise you. “Right now I don’t plan to return to New York anytime soon,” said Eisenberg. “I came here expecting to stay for three months, but within 24 hours, I just knew I wanted to build a life here. It felt like the universe was saying, ‘This is your next chapter.’”
This story was originally published in July 2024 and was updated on January 29, 2026, to include current information.
