One of the most searched terms right now is “How to move out of the U.S.”. It doesn’t surprise me at all, but then again I’ve been escaping the U.S. for several years now, with no intention to live there again any time soon, because I would much rather live abroad.
According to several surveys, many Americans are seeking a better life abroad for several reasons right now. For some it’s due to politics and the threat of losing their rights, for others it’s for cheaper living options, and for most, it’s just to escape all the chaos and find a better quality of life.
As someone who has been traveling full time for over eleven years, six of which I was a nomad living in other countries, I can tell you that you will get all of the above if you move out of the United States.
I know the majority of people think the US is the best country in the World, and maybe it is for job opportunities and “freedom”. But not right now. Now people want to know how to move out of the U.S.
Right now you’re better off starting a digital business or side-hustle, and living in a country where housing is a fraction of what you pay, and so is healthcare. Taxes are also likely to be lower, and you might even find leaders who care about all the people!
I can tell you right now, living in Mexico and Italy, I pay 1/4 of what I was paying to live in the United States. If I really tried, I could get away with only spending $1500 per month to live here.
Of course there are the technicalities like visas, insurance, and tax that I’m sure are the real reasons you’re here, so lets jump into that:
Jump To:
Why I Personally Choose to Live Abroad
If you’ve followed me for a while, and have seen my transformation over the last ten years going from having never traveled, to traveling full time, you will know my feelings about the USA.
Traveling the world solo opened my eyes to how terrible a lot of things are in the US, and how much happier I could be in other countries. Don’t get me wrong, it is an extreme privilege to be a US citizen, but it’s just not for me.
I’ve been fully nomadic for 8 years now, and officially an expat (not living in USA at all) for the last 4 years.
Here’s why I personally choose to live abroad:
- Quality of life is higher
- Less hustle culture, more enjoy-your-life-culture
- A lot more affordable to live
- Cheaper healthcare
- Substantially less taxes
- Cheaper to travel
- Healthier food and lifestyles
- Less stress and anxiety
If you enjoy podcasts, check out my full episode: How to Move Abroad and Leave the U.S.
Where Can Americans Move Abroad
Thanks to the aftermath of 2020, many people are able to work remotely now, and it’s proving to be financially beneficial for many countries. This is evident because we see more and more countries offering longer term visas for remote workers or people who are self employed.
There are currently 12 European Countries offering Digital Nomad Visas, including Spain, Italy, and Greece!
If doing lengthy paperwork isn’t appealing to you, you can always do what I normally do, and visa hop with tourist visas! For example, you could spend your allowed 90 days in Europe, then head to Mexico for their 6 month tourist visa, and then back to Europe!
Getting the Courage to Move Out of the U.S.
I remember the first time I put all of my belongings in storage in California, and made the terrifying yet awesome decision to travel around Asia for a month. It was very scary, it seemed extremely risky, but it ended up being so great, that I never came back to live in the US for four years.
I quickly realized that the quality of life is much better in many other countries, and it was insanely cheaper to live in them as well if done right.
Leaving stability, familiarity, physical belongings, friends, and family can seem really scary. But just remember; you can ALWAYS just fly back! Your friends and family can always be easily contacted, and I highly doubt much will have changed when/if you go back eventually!
Figuring Out What You’ll Do for Work
Full honesty here, getting an in-person job in another country is unlikely unless you plan on teaching English or getting an unofficial serving/bartending job. Most countries, like Spain, prioritize their own citizens when it comes to the job market, so they make it very hard for anyone else to get a job.
If you have a specialty, like event planning, you can try to do research on companies looking specifically for event planners who speak native English for their English speaking clientele.
But, your best bet is remote work. And there’s a lot of it, that you can do from anywhere in the world!
Here are a few posts I’ve written about finding digital jobs:
Figure Out What Visa You’re Eligible For and Apply
This is one of the most difficult hurtles for those who want to move to another country permanently. Each country is different, but I have the information for Spain and most of Europe:
- Digital Nomad Visa: Right now this seems like the easiest option, especially since it’s new and many countries are trying to get more people to apply for it. So far I have info for 12 European countries with digital nomad visas!
- Non-Lucrative Visa: Meaning you make your own money and won’t be taking money away from the country you move to. You must be able to prove you have a solid savings, private healthcare, and a few other things.
- Work Visa: Again, super hard to get unless you find a job that specifically needs you.
- Student Visa: If you’ve ever wanted to go back to school, do it now and do it abroad! Taking courses abroad will get you a student visa which is good for 6 months at a time! You can even take a language course that qualifies, but be prepared to commit several hours per day to it.
- Find a Lover: Half joking, half not! If you happen to meet someone abroad and want to stay with them, you can get a domestic partnership visa, or what I am doing which is a “cohabitation residency”. You can also get married, which I found out the hard way, is a lot easier.
- Tourist Visas: If you don’t qualify for any of the above visas, you can go the nomad route and live in different countries depending on the length of their visa. For most of EU it’s 3 months, so you can do that, then go live somewhere like Bali or Mexico for a few months each, then head back to EU after 6 months for another 3 months!
See my full extensive guide and conversation with an Immigration Attorney Here!
Finding a Place to Live when you Move Out of the U.S
Finding places to live in other countries is honestly of the my favorite things to do. I get so excited scrolling through listings of cute properties, and even more excited when I see the cheap prices!
You’ll first want to figure out the area you want to live in — a quick google search for “best areas to live in ____” will help you out with that.
Once you find your area, I usually recommend getting a one month airbnb, even though it’s a bit more expensive than a longer term lease, just to make sure you like the area. You can also ask for a monthly discount, or try to negotiate the price with the host. (Check out my post on ways to avoid high Airbnb fees).
If you know the area, don’t want to bother with airbnb fees, and are ready to commit to a longer lease, try to find the local rental website for where you’re moving. For example, Idealista is a popular one for Spain and Italy. A quick google search can help you find it, or by joining expat groups in Facebook!
Buying Real Estate Abroad
Last year, in my 9th year of traveling full time, I finally saved up enough money, and courage, to buy my own real estate abroad! It’s located in Tulum, Mexico, and the total cost was around $130,000 including lawyer and closing costs. I paid in cash, but it’s possible to get a mortgage through the US.
Living in my own apartment in Tulum has been so refreshing, and such a calmer, happier, slower pace of life (even if I can only be there a few months per year due to my work schedule).
When I’m traveling, I can easily rent it out on Airbnb to make some passive income (check out my listing for CasitAlyssa!!), and the Mexican taxes are not bad at all.
If you’d like more information on buying real estate in Mexico, check out my guide here: How to Buy Real Estate in Mexico!
Next I plan on purchasing an investment property in Barcelona! I’ll update this when I finally find a place I love!
Getting Nomad Health Insurance or Local Coverage
While many countries offer cheap or even free (yes, FREE) healthcare, it is mostly for their citizens, so try not to take advantage of that. You can get nomad insurance (check out Safety Wing), or even really cheap private local health insurance! You may be required to show you have it for your visa anyway!
Phone Service and Your Phone Number
I was beyond excited to stop paying hefty phone bills in the US! The main downside is you will not be able to regular-text or call from your old number, but you can still use it with Whatsapp for a while. I finally got mine taken away about five years after I cancelled, which sucked because they gave it to someone else, but eventually I figured it out.
You’ll need a phone with a physical SIM card slot (newer iPhones don’t have it unless you buy them abroad) and you can easily get the SIM card from the airport. You’ll have a local number for regular texting and calling, and again, you can use Whatsapp with your old number for a while!
If your old number gets taken away and you still want a US number, here’s two things you can do:
- Use a family or friend’s US number to get yourself a Google Voice number. The app allows you to make and send US calls and texts from a US number you pick
- Use a Skype number for a small fee per year, which also lets you call and text US numbers!
Here’s more information about using physical SIM cards and eSIMS!
Downsize, Store, and Pack Your Belongings!
Another hard part about moving abroad is that you have to get rid of wherever you’re currently living. Which also means, most of your stuff. If you live in a furnished place, or your parents place, GREAT! This will be a lot easier for you!
But for those (like me) who had furniture, you’ll need to either sell, store, or give it away.
The same applies for your clothes and things you don’t want to take. I gave away most of my stuff, but I used Clutter for storage (highly recommended, click here for $100 off your first month), and Spot Hero for storing my car!
I’d highly recommend trying to only bring two big suitcases with you. Trust me when I say it’s a pain in the ass to travel with a ton of luggage. Plus you’ll want to buy new local items when you arrive!
Figuring Out Taxes When You Move Out of the U.S.
Taxes, EW. I don’t have much to say about them besides if you move out of the US, you may be eligible to owe less (if you’re a digital worker) and if you don’t live in the US for the majority of the year.
I used HR Block’s Expat Tax DIY services and they did a REALLY good job!
How to Meet New Friends in Another Country
One of the biggest misconceptions that I love to hate about how to move out of the U.S. and live abroad is that you won’t know anyone. Newsflash: A LOT of Americans live abroad. In fact, I’ve only been in Barcelona a few months and already have a girl’s group of about eight expat women who I hang out with regularly!
You can meet friends simply just by being social, or joining one of the many expat groups on Facebook and Whatsapp! Meeting locals is great too, and can easily be done through groups, or by signing up for language exchange sessions!
Here’s all of my tips for meeting people and making friends abroad:
- Join Expat Facebook and Whatsapp Groups (Google to find them)
- Use the MeetUp App
- Search the destination’s hashtag and see if other travelers are currently there
- Use dating apps! But be safe! Read my dating app safety tips!
Adjusting to Life in Another Country when you Move Out of the U.S.
Yet another misconception I love to hate is when people are scared to go abroad because they “don’t know the language” or simply because they think adjusting to another culture will be difficult.
Newsflash: the majority of the countries in the world speak English as a second or third language.
While it’s good manners and travel etiquette to at least attempt learning a little of the local language, the truth is that you will likely still speak mostly in English.
Right now I’ve learned conversational Italian by using Preply tutors online, and of course, living in an area where hardly anyone speaks English. The full immersion has really sped up my learning process, and even if people try to speak to me in English, I ask them to speak in Italian so I can practice!
Do you have any questions about moving out of the United States? Comment below and I’ll be happy to answer! Or if you’re interested in one-on-one consulting for making a plan and getting everything ready to move abroad, send an email to info@mylifesamovie.com!
Please don’t forget! I work extremely hard to produce these free travel guides and posts! If it helped you, or you enjoyed it, PLEASE give it a share on social media, and follow me to keep up with more posts! You’re two minutes of effort truly helps keep my business running! Thank ya!
xx, Alyssa
Great tips! I moved to Australia over a year ago, and it takes some time to get settled into a new place no matter where you decide to move. I do miss California though, now more than ever.
Thanks for sharing!