With so many people shifting to expat and digital nomad lifestyles, it’s little wonder that so many Americans and leaving America. In fact, more people are leaving America than the rate of population, which means that overall, more Americans are leaving the US than are being born in the country.
That’s huge. But, the question remains why and where are they going? Let’s dive in and find out.
What’s Sparking the Big Move?
Fundamentally, the main thing that seems to be sparking the big move for Americans to leave America comes down to politics. With the huge divide in US politics, a looming election, and the specter of Trump hanging over the Oval Office, it has been a key reason why a lot of Americans have headed overseas.
There’s also been a flurry of suppression of women’s rights across the US, but especially in the southern states, which has made many women feel unsafe and unwelcome in America. Add in the gun violence, racism, and high cost of living, and a lot of Americans feel like they’re not getting value for money, especially while their safety and stability are still in question.
Also following COVID, many people realized that they could work remotely. This was massive for the expat market because, for instance, if your job in San Francisco is fully remote, where’s the rationale in spending ridiculous San Fran rental prices when you can move somewhere equally great but a lot more cost-effective? This realization was a huge turning point for many Americans leaving America.
Why are Americans Leaving America?
Okay, I’ve touched on a few of the reasons why Americans are leaving America, but the list is pretty long. Of course, some of these are bigger for certain people than others, but these are some of the main reasons why Americans are heading overseas for good.
- Work-life balance
- Healthcare
- Gun rights
- Women’s rights
- Multicultural attitudes
- LGBT+ rights
- Cost of living
- Work options
- Retirement options
- Tax purposes
- Business rates
- Education Quality
- Weather
- Quality of life
- The less divisive political landscape
- More history and culture
- Better social welfare conditions
It goes without saying that this is not a comprehensive list. There are so many reasons why Americans are leaving America and a lot of them are deeply personal. It’s also worth saying that this is not a uniquely American problem, with the UK seeing a similar shift in expat culture.
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Where are Americans Emigrating To?
According to a study by InterNations the best countries to emigrate to are:
- Mexico
- Spain
- Panama
- Malaysia
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Costa Rica
- Philippines
- Bahrain
- Portugal
A lot of these are hubs for US expats, and some of the other main nations where Americans seem to emigrating include:
- United Kingdom
- United Arab Emirates
- Canada
- Germany
- France
So, why are these countries so popular with US expats? Let’s find out.
Tax Purposes
Countries like Panama, Bahrain, UAE, and many other countries around the world have highly competitive tax rates for expats, especially if you start a business over there. So, if you’re looking to save a big amount off your tax bill each year, or you’re a high-earner who doesn’t want to lose a chunk of cash, moving to these tax havens might be a great idea for you.
Language Barriers
Countries like Canada and the UK are hardly shocking additions to the US expat list as it’s one of the easiest moves for Americans to make both in terms of culture and as there is no language barrier unless you move to Quebec or parts of Wales.
When you’re moving to a new country, being able to speak the language is a huge relief and helps you settle in and immerse yourself in the local culture. Bureaucratic processes around renting properties, opening bank accounts, and sorting out phone lines are also a lot easier if you can speak the language.
In addition to Canada and the UK, there are a few places on this list where English is widely spoken either due to the tourist trade, colonialism, or the amount of expats that are already there.
Proximity to the US
It’s also pretty common to see US expats who don’t exactly want to move very far. Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama have high percentages of American expats for a reason. You’re just one short direct flight from the US if something goes wrong or if you still have friends and family that you want to visit.
Especially if you’re nervous about moving to a new country, knowing that you’re only a short distance from the US can be reassuring. It’s also easier to deal with the FOMO of missing out on friends’ weddings or big birthdays if you can sometimes make it back for one or two from just across the border!
Cost of Living
This is a huge reason why people are moving overseas and away from America. The US as a whole is a very expensive place to live, especially in the major cities. So, having countries like Malaysia, Portugal, Spain, the Philippines, and Thailand on this list is not that shocking.
Even if you were to rent a place in the middle of Lisbon city center, Portugal’s thriving capital, full of startups and things to do, a one-bedroom apartment would cost you €1,227 per month whereas in California it rises to $2,531, Illinois is $1,866, and Massachusets is a huge $2,714 per month. That’s just the difference in rent, let alone everything else.
Notoriously, southeast Asian countries have a reputation for being super affordable, especially for expats or digital nomads who get their wages from overseas. This frees up more of your wage to either build savings, go on more trips, or do more of the things you love to do.
If you’re a remote worker or digital nomad, this goes even further. You’ll remain earning your US wage, in line with America’s higher cost of living, but you’ll be living somewhere that’s potentially much cheaper.
That’s a win-win. Of course, if you’re earning money from overseas, you’re going to need to make sure you get a Digital Nomad Visa or find another path to residency that doesn’t rely on work sponsorship!
Quality of Life
Okay, let’s be real, the US is not exactly known for its work-life balance. 80-hour weeks are not really a thing in the rest of the world even if you are a high-powered lawyer. For example, many European countries completely down tools for at least an hour if not two for a full multi-course lunch with wine. They’ll also pride themselves on going home at 5pm.
In fact, in some Scandinavian countries, like Denmark, every school and office closes at 4pm on a Friday and everyone goes to the pub for a pint or two. Some of the university departments even have their own bars for this exact purpose.
Also, with socialized medicine, cheaper or free education, subsidized travel passes, childcare, and more, the quality of life in many of these nations, especially in Europe, is a lot higher than in the US.
Work Opportunities
Another reason why people move overseas is for better job opportunities. Emerging markets like Malaysia, Taiwan, and the UAE are definitely calling for top talent to move overseas.
These are growing economies that generally speaking have a much lower cost of living than in the US, so not only are you potentially more secure in your job here, but there’s a good chance you’ll have more disposable income too.
What are the Stats on Americans Leaving America?
According to Aetna International, there are huge sweeping trends when it comes to Americans leaving America, which makes it easy to identify popular countries and regions for wannabe expats to consider.
The breakdown by continent or region of Americans leaving America is roughly as follows:
- 40% move within the Western hemisphere to places like Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
- 26% move to Europe.
- 14% move to East Asia and the Pacific Region, which includes Australia and New Zealand.
- 14% move to the Middle East.
- 3% move to Central or South Asia.
- 3% move to Africa.
As you can see, the majority of Americans leaving America tend to stay in Westernized countries and regions, like South America, North America, or Europe. This also follows quite closely where many Americans like to travel on vacation, so there is bound to be an overlap here.
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Vanessa Wachtmeister is a travel tech professional and the creator of the wealth & wanderlust platform, Wander Onwards. Vanessa is originally from Los Angeles, California, she is a proud Chicana, and she has been living abroad for the last 9 years. Today, she helps people pursue financial and location independence through her ‘Move Abroad’ Master Class, financial literacy digital products, and career workshops.