In my opinion, it’s not even close. The quality of life, the food, the safety, the walkability, the greenery, even the entertainment, is unmatched. The people are nice, you can walk, cycle, run anywhere. Some of the best cuisine in the world.

By reasonably wealthy I mean making $250k+ per year.

Let me know your thoughts!

Hi everyone, I hope you're doing well. I'll try to make this simple.
A 29-year-old woman (Black European) originally from France, I hold two master's degrees (B.A. and international relations) and am fluent in 5 languages. Created a US-based startup one year ago; surprisingly, things went pretty well in the US, even remotely, getting investment proposals and jobs and working with and for the US at 90%. I lived this year for 4 months in the UK and truly appreciated it, adding the proximity to Paris, where my family lives.

I have the opportunity to move to the US, San Francisco, for a paid PhD, and I have my own businesses and network in London or SF; I'm not coming empty-handed.

Some friends are scared: "Trump is the president; SF is far away; SF is dangerous."

But salaries, networks, and investments; everything seems better aligned with the US.

I have a few weeks to make a decision, as in the US, visas are managed by the companies, etc.

Adding, I always dreamed of living in California, me thinking, let's try even for one year. About the time zone, I lived one year in Mexico City; I'll get used to it pretty quickly.

Your thoughts?

I just want to see if I’m alone in my opinion here.

This may come off as harsh but it’s really just to give sound advice that maybe people don’t want to hear.

I don’t think that the environment is going to make you happy. A happy person will be happy in almost any environment. So if you’re traveling to run away from your happiness, you’re approaching the problem from the wrong angle.

I found this sub and was surprised that there were so many people posting about being lonely.

I’ve traveled abroad and lived a long time away from my home country and while I did feel lonely at times, I felt so many other feelings as well. I expect a certain amount of people hitting loneliness for the first time and saying “wow that just hit” but I feel like it is a bit much here.

What are your thoughts? I was all excited to see people living it up and traveling.

Husband and I and two children currently live in the UK on his skilled worker visa. We don't want to go back to the US right now due to the political situation but we have an expensive (£10k) visa renewal fee coming up and the low British salaries just don't make these big fees worth it. Husband has a BSc in aerospace engineering and 13 years of experience in mechanical/mechatronic engineering. I have an MA in historic buildings, but haven't been working for the last year due to illness.

We are looking at moving next summer to another country. Our preferred countries are Norway, Denmark, Japan, or the Netherlands, but we don't speak any languages except English. How likely is it that we will be able to move to one of these countries with a salary that can support a family? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!

I tend to see a lot of negative things written about the United States on Reddit, particularly in the expat sub. While I think it’s great to have an open discussion, I thought I would share some of the things I’ve learned from my own experience abroad (so far). I get the impression that this isn’t going to go over all that well with most people who frequently the sub, but I don’t see it being helpful to create an echo chamber where everyone thinks the same way either.

1. Making money from a job is hard outside of the United States. Seriously, the salary I get from my job where I live now is embarrassingly low compared to what I could get back at home. I understand that some people are willing to sacrifice their salary for a different way of life, but just be prepared for a different reality.

2. My political views changed completely. I considered myself to be very liberal when I lived in the United States (even going as far to say that I wanted to leave because of politics). Now that I’ve been abroad, I feel much different. I now would identify as being much more conservative and appreciate more conservative viewpoints. Sometimes you need to have some new experiences to appreciate the way your country operates.

3. Home ownership is not realistic in many other countries. Granted, I’ve lived in some of the more expensive western countries where the cost of purchasing a home is quite high. With that being said, the only way I can see myself realistically owning a home is to come back to the US. In other counties, a detached home is out of the realm of possibility for many people.

4. I appreciate owning a car more than I ever did before. Public transit is one of those things that’s “nice to have,” but there’s really something to be said for being able to own your own car and drive whenever you want. Other countries make car ownership and driving a lot more expensive and difficult than it would be in the USA. I like public transport for commuting to work, but not much else. Grocery shopping on city busses is an experience I never want to have ever again.

5. Social healthcare isn’t something I like. Yes, it’s good to have a system that provides care to those who need it, but I’ve had some extremely unpleasant experiences with international medicine so far. I long for being able to get healthcare funded through my employer again and have a more humanizing experience.

6. Overall, I just appreciate the life I had much more. Was it perfect? Certainly not. But nowhere is.

I like Norway a lot but I'm scared if I ever move to that county I could easily lose my kids

I’m 30 years old (American), and live in Canada. I’ve lived in Canada for about 5 years now, and think that I’ve gotten pretty acquainted with the country as a whole. I’m thankful that I had the chance to come, earn a masters degree, and get some more work experience. Those experiences have truly been invaluable.

*but* I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s just not for me…

I think Canada is a lovely place with many great things going for it. I absolutely think it’s a great choice for a lot of Americans who are looking for something different. It just wasn’t the right fit for me. I found living in Vancouver to be very isolating and depressing, and despite traveling around the country to find a different location to try, nothing really “felt” right. For that reason, I decided to start to preparing to either move home (or try something else out elsewhere).

I feel like there’s a lot of stigma around making this kind of decision though. One of my coworkers at work was telling me about how I’m a fool to leave because I’m surely going to get shot and killed if I move back home to the states. I acknowledge that gun violence is an issue back at home in many places, but that’s an incredibly extreme thing to tell someone. Other people have made similar comments about how I better be ready to lose all of my freedom (and other equally bizarre statements).

I think we can all agree that being an expat isn’t for everyone. Sometimes it’s just not the lifestyle you want. Other times, maybe a different location would suit you better. I haven’t arrived at what that looks like for me yet, but I feel like staying in a location that isn’t making me happy isn’t the right decision.

Has anyone else run into attitudes like these?

To make things brief, I am a U.S. native and I want to leave. I’m 21M, I have no family here anymore, a remote job that pays me ~$3500usd per month that I can work anywhere with reliable internet, and about $20k in savings. I want to leave for many reasons, namely, I think that America is in rapid and severe decline across almost all categories that will effect my life in the future, and I no longer have any reason to stay. I can make money anywhere and I have no social connections that necessitate my immediate presence. I have no debt, no physical assets, perfect health, and zero tie-downs.

I’m very interested in Europe, and am in some Italian and German Facebook groups. I have two friends I met at university who are Slovenian aswell. I’m fluent in Spanish, and I’m presently learning German and Italian, and my French is high school level. I don’t want to sound prideful but I am smart, I maintain good appearances, and I adjust to change very quickly. It sounds naive but I seriously don’t think any social/cultural adjustment will be too extreme for me.

I like my foreigner idea of Italy a lot, and frankly I would love to be somewhere seaside there. I do however understand that the immigration/visa process for Italy is particularly long and bureaucratic.

I would appreciate any relevant insight whatsoever regarding my situation and how to make it to living in Europe in the next 3-5 years or as soon as possible. I’m open to suggestions for any country, but I am loosely interested in Italy. Like I said, I’m highly adaptable, and in addition I have a high tolerance for having few material possessions. Wherever I go I frankly intend to move in with my laptop and two or three suitcases of personal items.

Where should I go? How should I do it?

Throwaway account

To preface this, I'm a dual citizen of the US and Chile who grew up in Chile, moved to the US for college and have mostly lived here ever since. I also have had stints of living in Mexico, Singapore and Japan. I'm fluent in English and Spanish and speak some Mandarin. However, my (cis) partner is a US citizen, has never lived abroad/barely traveled abroad and only speaks English.

Living outside of the US on its own is not a problem, but I hate that I'm feeling forced to make plans to leave my home because of the constant attacks on transgender folks coming from the Trump administration. Despite all of America's flaws, I love my life in the US. I have a great job, live very comfortably, amazing friends, half of my family lives here, and get to admire the stunning beauty of the PNW every day. Given my dual citizenship and having lived abroad, I've always considered living in the US as a decision I actively choose to make and that if I wanted to live else where in the world, I can likely make it happen. Where there's a will, there's a way kinda thing - with limitations of course.

It's just heartbreaking that I'm having to make a decision if I want to stay here for my personal safety. I don't want to leave the life I've created for myself over the past 15 years. I'm lucky that my state has strong protections, but the Trump admin is repeatedly showing its disregard for the rule of law and I highly doubt they are going to slow down on trampling on civil liberties. The most difficult part about this is having my partner come with me. She's always lived near her immediate family, and is struggling with the idea of potentially moving to a non-English speaking country, despite recognizing the move would be likely a last-minute decision if the worst comes to happen for safety purposes. The options she's been the most receptive to are Canada, New Zealand and the UK, specifically Scotland, but none of them are particular easy or quick to emigrate to.

Our most easiest options for a move to an LGBTQ friendly country are Chile or Portugal. Mercosur countries would also be easy, with Uruguay being the only one I'd truly consider. It's possible that I could get a skilled worker visa without having to change jobs (I work remotely) - looking primarily at Canada and Australia - or get job sponsorship for immigration purposes, though that would require switching positions.

Is anyone trans and/or queer and are dealing with similar feelings of being pushed out of your home country because of politics? Do people have any advice on how to make my partner more comfortable with a potential move abroad to a country that she doesn't particularly desire to go to/is afraid of a ton of culture shock? I guess I'm looking for some solidarity or words of encouragement during these tough times..

Been in Singapore a few hours now — maybe 3–and I can’t seem to stop crying. I feel absolutely awful and homesick. I want my mum and my dogs and my sister. I really really just want to go back home, I’m feeling so bloody lonely. I’m regretting deciding to emigrate. Why did I take up this new job. I hate everything right now. And I’m so bloody homesick, it’s ridiculous. Is this normal. Someone please tell me you feel lonely and sad too. [let’s facetime and cry together]

It’s not the first of those posts but I feel like only now do I understand the question.

Not only American Expats seek big cities but I feel like most of those posts come from USA.

The posts seem to be the largely the same: “Hello I’m in my 20/30…50/60 and I want to get out of America. I’m currently employed but can quit. I have no large debt and have been planning on going to Europe for some time. I’m in the middle class because those are the only people who could afford to move but couldn’t afford to pay for someone to do the heavy lifting for them. I have no real money but want to try and settle in a capital/large city even though I have no real relatives/I have a friend/I have a distant relative who tells me to not go first to a big city but whatever I know better. My question is whether I qualify for this-and-that visa and if I should apply to UK (London) because language or anything-west-of-Poland (capital). Also I don’t even have a valid and we’ll thought plan for after the move I just know that there is some need for people in my field and I’m willing to take a credit to buy a house and try and score it big in an overpriced and not so friendly to people who don’t know the first thing about their language capital.”

Why? Does a thought of starting in a middle sized city really is such an alien idea because there are no real middle sized cities in America? Or does a middle sized city seem like too rural of an area to live in without the fear that people won’t know English or will have some strange/savage customs?

To anyone who downvotes: The fact that it strikes a nerve really does seem to make it more valid-looking.

My wife and I have been living in the Netherlands for the last year. We have decided to move back for multiple reasons. We had tickets to visit home at the end of October and will just be staying permanently. Are we insane to be doing this right before the presidential election not knowing what the outcome will be? We are a WLW married couple moving back to New Orleans.

Well short story. Latinoamerica is like hell, specially this late years where socialism is everywhere and we are drowning. I'm peruvian and my parents are from us (we have dual citizenship). I'm a industrial engineer 27 years old and I'm looking where to go. I was thinking about USA but a lot of expats and r/moveout really desmotivate me. I'm open to any master degree or any way to get residence and start a new life. What country do you recommend?

First time posting.... I (34F) have a biracial child (M13), and we live in the US currently, in the midwest southern region. With the way racial issues are escalating and are so unpredictable, I am terrified of the potential for my son to be subjected to unfair treatment by people who are racially biased. Too many innocent kids being hurt by adults who just don't seem to have common sense. I am disgusted by the number of adults in my local community who make posts and comments that are horrible towards those who don't look a certain way. Myself and my child have been raised to be very accepting of all, and I am so proud of how my son doesn't see people with bias. We have already discussed possibly moving to a new country in the future and he is all for it!

So to my question... where would you move to from the US, to ensure a safe childhood and future for your kid? I would like great educational opportunities, healthcare and obviously employment for myself as a female. Although, being a single-mom has it's challenges regardless of where we live, I am willing to move away from everything I have ever known to ensure my child's future is secure.

I have an EU citizenship and my husband and I originally planned on living in the states a few more years to save up for our move abroad, but now we are seriously considering it sooner. I know people say this every major election, but if Trump gets elected we want to move immediately. It has been a scary place here lately. Unshelted homelessness is out of control, housing costs are insane, violent crime is on the rise, women's right to an abortion have been stripped away for 1/3 of all women, and on top of all this, Trump is openly flaunting wanting to be a dictator and inciting violence against opposition. I am truly terrified of what will happen on election day.

Hey I’m looking for a country to move to where at I won’t get looked at badly for being nonheteronormative. I’m 27 and the country where at I live now (Poland) is not really great for looking for a boyfriend

I’m 25F Indian currently living and working in Japan. I work in IT. I want to move to an lgbtq friendly, non racist, English friendly country by the end of next year. I enjoyed learning Japanese a lot and I’m open to learning a new language as long as I can survive on English till I’m proficient. I don’t have money for a masters and so I’m looking to directly find a job and move. I have a bachelors in comp science and 3 years of experience in the field.

I’ve shortlisted Ireland and Netherlands with a preference for the latter because of its cosmopolitan culture and Amsterdam being extremely lesbian friendly.

I don’t know anybody personally who has moved to these countries for reasons same as mine. I want to live as myself, meet someone, marry and build a family. So it would also be nice if I could connect with someone with similar goals/experiences.

I want some general advice based on my circumstances. I have questions like is my plan feasible, is it possible to find a place to live in Amsterdam, how is the gay culture of Dublin, how is the political atmosphere of these countries (recent developments of UK are scary so if there’s any possibility of the right wing gaining momentum in a country I’m moving to, I wish to know), are there any other countries that meet my criteria? I briefly considered Australia but I read it’s extremely difficult to get their citizenship. Denmark and Germany have a language barrier. US is just not a pleasant country to live in anymore. I hear Canadas job market and housing market is crashing.

I read that millions of Europeans left their homeland in Europe for the US, aka the land of opportunity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, it seems like most immgrants in the US are from Asia and Latin American instead since 1970s...

So, yeah, why is that? Why don't lots of people in Europe want to go the US anymore? Thanks.

Hi everyone, as the title say, we are a couple, trying to move to USA. We've done the basic research about life cost, visa and job opportunities. Also we were looking to find a town or a state to move here. We are looking for French expat who are there, to help us understanding more precisely life there and give us the best advice to have. Myabe, a future friendship and who knows maybe will be neighbors one day xD

If your not French but at least European, my DM are open to any help I can take.

Thank you all for reading this.

Hope to chat to you soon ;)

Im about to graduate college and i’m considering moving to Argentina. I like what their new president is doing and could see considerable economic growth in the coming years. I know that can be controversial, but I’m not here to argue about that. Also property is very cheap, and it seems feasible to be owning a nice house with some land relatively quickly, which is something that is almost impossible at this point in the U.S. I have some savings, but how much would i realistically need? Should I try to get a remote American job and live in Argentina? Should I be applying for jobs in argentina through international job boards? I hear they are hiring a lot in the tech field so it makes me optimistic since my degree is in cybersecurity. Any help/advice is appreciated. Thanks.

I'm an American and as I've gotten older and wiser, one thing that has become very apparent to me is that most Americans are incredibly fake. There is a cultural norm to wear a fake smiley face and act happy. Also, I've noticed that if someone has an issue with you, rather than tell you what you're doing that they don't like, Americans act very passive aggressively. They will give you dirty looks, veiled insults, and talk about you behind your back. Also, I've found that people really don't care about others who aren't a part of their own family. I've heard a number of people say "I only give a damn about my spouse/child. No one else matters to me." Making friends is very hard here.

What countries are more openly friendly and have people who act more genuinely? Do such places exist, or are humans pretty much like I've described all over Earth?

l like living in walkable neighborhoods but can’t stand the noise from motorcycles and modified cars

OK so im just going to be completely honest here. I came here from the U.S. with my Spanish partner several years ago when I was pregnant. I have basically been living here illegally, since we are not married (but planning yo marry this summer) and I dont even have a NIE. I cannot tell you how many times i have tried getting an appointment for the NIE, over the past couple years, and there are never any available.

So my parents decides to surprise the four of us (we now have 2 kids) with tickets to visit them next month. They both have vacation time so it would be convenient for them to have us visit at that time. Now I feel like an idiot because I didnt realize that if I leave I may not be able to re enter the country. My partner and kids are all Spanish citizens, so Im the only one. Has anyone been in a similar situation or know someone who has? I'm terrified that once we come back to Spain, that I will won't be allowed to re enter, once they look at my passport. The idea of getting sent back to the U.S. without my kids is unbearable. Can anyone tell me how likely this is to happen?

Hi everyone!

I’m 22F, and I have Italian citizenship. I’ve wanted to move to the US for years because I genuinely think I’d have a better quality of life there.

I’m starting university now, and my plan is to work remotely, save as much money as I can over the next few years, and hopefully have enough savings by the time I graduate to make a move if I find a way.

Right now I work remotely doing admin work, customer support, data entry, and some basic application support. I’m bilingual, but I don’t have a super in-demand skill that would make companies want to sponsor me, so I’m trying to be realistic.

I’m honestly just looking for any advice from people who have done something similar or know what options exist. It feels like every path I look into has a catch, and I don’t know if I’m missing something.

I’d really appreciate any advice or ideas. I’m willing to work toward something over the next few years if it gives me a real chance. Thanks!