10 Most Suitable Countries for American Expatriates
As much as we may aspire toward expatriatism for the exotic and venturesome, there’s no question that our exhilarating lives abroad can also bring feelings of isolation. There are times when being far away from home, and distant from family and friends, can weigh on our minds and atrophy our intrepid spirits.
That’s why for many of us it may be helpful to consider expatriating to a country that has a healthy combination of exoticism and familiarity; a place that’s compatible with where we’re from.
So in this vein, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 most suitable countries for American expatriates!
10. Costa Rica
Costa Rica has perhaps the most stable government in Central America, and since it’s been premised upon a proven democracy for at least the last 60 years, things are run there in a familiar way for Americans. That might be what makes Costa Rica one of the most popular destinations in the world for American expatriates. It doesn’t hurt that it’s not too far away from home either, not to mention the low cost of living.
In fact, if you’re ever feeling lonely, there’ll never be a shortage of Americans on vacation to remind you of home.
9. South Africa
South Africa has been steadily growing in popularity for American tourists, especially for students studying abroad. It’s far away from America, sure– but South Africa has that perfect combination of exoticism and familiarity. Of course, it helps that they speak english! You can start your day with an English breakfast and then finish it on a wildlife safari. It doesn’t get much better than that.
8. Mexico
Some might think Mexico is a little too close to home, but that’s also what makes it so convenient for Americans. In fact, Mexico undoubtedly houses more American expatriates than any other country in the world. Combined with the low cost of living and the intense familiarity of the culture to any American from the Southwestern United States, Mexico makes a cozy destination for the weary yankee.
7. Spain
Spain has a lower cost of living compared with central and northern Europe. Mix that with its dynamic location and lively culture and it’s clear why Spain has become a top destination for expats from around the world. The European culture will be familiar and accessible for Americans, and getting around speaking only english should be a breeze.
Spain also has historical and cultural wealth that’ll keep any expat’s mind afloat. Also, it’s become an extremely popular destination for college students.
6. Brazil
With Brazil’s burgeoning worldpower economy and the steady need for english teachers, it’s become a favorite location for American expats. That stable economy means jobs, and the cost of living in Brazil is still fairly low. The culture is diverse, yet remarkably friendly to Americans, and it’s another country with just the right mix of exoticism and familiarity.
Compared with most other South American countries, it’s easier to get around here speaking only english.
5. Italy
Italy’s appeal is similar to that of Spain’s on this list, but with Italy you get just a little bit more. The cultural history is magnificant here, there’s a stronger American expat presence, and in just about every city or town with a university you’ll find American college students studying abroad. And come on– it’s Italy!
4. Australia
Randy Newman once joked of Australia, “[America’s] building its own American amusement park there.” Indeed, Australian culture will easily be the most familar to the American among this list. English-speaking, BBQing, beer drinking Australia has a lot to offer the American. But with Australia you get a little more of the rugged and adventurous.
It also helps that the Australian dollar still comes at a good exchange rate. And they’ve got surfing too!
3. Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is among the cheapest places for Americans to live in Europe, and there’s always a high demand here for english teachers. Those factors alone might make it the most suitable country in Europe for American expats.
It doesn’t hurt that it’s a beautiful country with a rich cultural history. People here are particularly friendly to Americans, and positioned right in the middle of Europe, you’re just a train ride away from everything the continent has to offer.
2. Thailand
Thailand’s culture might be less familiar to Americans than any other on this list, but the country makes up for it in every other category. Thanks to the Amity Treaty of 1968, American companies have to jump through fewer hoops than any other nationality to operate here. The people are exceptionally kind and welcoming, cost of living is cheap and there’s a continuous and voracious need for english teachers. Thailand puts out a serious effort to lure the American expat. As much as you want to go there, they want you to stay even more.
It’s become one of the top places in Asia for American tourists, youth backpackers and, of course, expats. Admittedly, it also gets extra points for closest resembling paradise. You’ll instantly forget where you came from the moment you step off that plane.
1. Argentina
First and foremost, Buenos Aires made our list for one of the cheapest cities in the world for American expats to live in. That gives this beautiful, diverse, and inexorably friendly country major props on this list too. Among South American countries, getting around here speaking English is relatively simple, and the cultural wealth is the only thing that matches its landscape.
Argentina is receptive to Americans. It’s a top location for students, and the standard of living relative to the cost of living is unmatched. There’s no surprise why American expats are flocking here, and we recommend you do the same. Argentina strikes just the right balance among all the things considered among this list.
Here’s how we determined the list:
First off, we considered how receptive the locals were to Americans– is the local culture open to American values? Are they welcoming to yanks? Next, we looked at how popular the destination was for Americans who have already expatriated. Are there plenty of homegrowns who you can meet and befriend? Is there already a thriving community from the U.S. there? We also considered how easy it is to get around speaking only english, and also looked at similarities between the local culture and America. Do local customs overlap with American ones? Lastly, we considered certain practical necessities, such as how easy it would be for Americans to find jobs there, and whether the location was affordable (this is how we eliminated places like the UK, France, or Japan from the list– too expensive, despite doing well at all the other categories!). We also admit to a heavy dose of subjectivity involved in the rankings.
I have enjoyed this site and all it’s insights. I have also enjoyed, for the most part, the comments made. I had a wonderful childhood (pre middle school) that allowed me the privilege of living in Spain, England, and France. I have relatives in Europe, and I have always wanted to live in another country. I am fascinated with other cultures and look forward to the adventure. For most of my life I have been raising four wonderful children and in a marriage with a partner who really never cared if she ever left the great state of Texas! While I am fond of my home state and Country, I would love the opportunity to live abroad. Divorce and the growing up of children has left me think this dream might just be possible. I am in my fourties and would need to continue to work and earn money while abroad, If anyone has any insight into possible work opportunities abroad, I would welcome the insight. I read where “English Teachers needed” for some of the countries, however I presume that one would need to also be fluent in the home language 😉 Any insight into other possible career opportunities for Ex-Pats abroad?
Side Note: Xenia your comments November 4th encouraged me about our own country. I hope all can take your advice and rise above political polarizations. I am not fond of President Obama and the policies of a majority of the democratic party and did not vote for him, however this is not the place for political debate. If we meet abroad and share a bottle of wine, how many of us care if we are laughing and enjoying life with someone with a different political tag? I sure as hell don’t.
First, thank you for this site and for the interesting discussion about other countries. For me it is just interesting reading. I don’t think I’m going anywhere. BUT my confusion is why some people are against the Tea Party. I guess it’s because NOBODY knows what they truly are which is just a group who is justifiably outraged about BOTH Republican and Democrats SPENDING over 1,276% MORE than we take in. That’s the White House’s own figure by the way. If you ran your household that way you wouldn’t be retiring anywhere. So lay off the tea party. I’ve met a lot of them and that is the ONLY thing they are concerned about and if YOUR not concerned about it then please leave this country quickly. Personally my choice is Nicaragua or Costa Rica. Been there many times and it will work for many of you. But please visit first several times and MEET expats there on your vacation. Don’t listen to ANYONE else here including me, go to the source.
Ahem . . .
Well, if there was anything that could be said about the poll, it would be that perhaps you wouldn’t want to go where there are alot of U.S Americans- based on the 2 comments left above.
They would be better to stay at home and wallow in their vitriol . . .that would be my experience as well when I have traveled. First things first, avoid
Americans! and make attempts to communicate with
the native people whose country you are a visitor. We dont need more politics,Burger Kings and Starbucks-!
Thanks for the list- I think Thailand sounds very friendly and hopefully not too many angry Americans will make attempts at speaking or communicating with the locals. Especially politics. (Start another blog if you need)
This list is very helpful, I would like to know out of Costa Rica,Brazil,Argentina, What is the easiet kind of business for an American Expat to Own and Operate, I would serious like to know and the start up for the Business would be $30,000 or less [email protected]
Regarding Brazil, while there are still many cities in Brazil that have a lower cost of living, Sao Paulo is not one of them. Having relocated here from New York City, many of the costs of goods and services are comparable, if not higher. (Though some are lower, like the cost of household staff.) I know many expats that were very surprised when they arrived to find that things are so expensive. FYI – Rio de Janeiro is not much better. So do your research before signing a contract 🙂
Argentina is receptive to Americans?!? Have you been to Argentina recently?!? the US supported their military government during 76-82, and left among the population a deep feeling of mistrust of the US… ask them also about 9/11 and a lot a people thinks the government is behind it…
How about the worst 10 places?
1. Denmark
Any more suggestions?
OMFG !
puh-LEEEEZE do some research before printing such slop for the masses …
i mean REALLY !
Worst 10 places for every one in the world?
10- Denmark
9- Denmark
8- Denmark
…
1- Denmark!
when moving to a country, it’s important to at least learn some words of their language, because not all it’s going to be put on your plate by just speaking English, it makes moving and staying in a country much easier. overall this list was helpful, I lived in Mexico and in Spain, Argentina is gonna be my next on my checklist.
What do I need to live in the Czech Republic?
What paperwork do I need to fill or what do I have to do?
I’m kind of lost so I would really apreciatte the help.
How about Philippines? Boracay? Almost all speaks english.
@Alex, you need basically to turn over your first born. The visa process is ridiculous and unpredictable. You need to apply to a visa in your home country yet you need to get most papers from the Czech Republic.
You need: Proof of employment (work permit, which you need to apply for at the labor office in the city you’ll be living in), proof of housing (signed by the owner of wherever you’re staying), a criminal background check, proof of insurance (tricky as you can’t get insurance without a visa, you’ll need to have something that says you will have insurance once you get your visa), and probably a few other things I’m forgetting. The whole process takes about 4-5 months.
How about Belize? I have been researching countries to live outside the US and Belize is as good as it gets. They speak English (it is a British Commonwealth), they use US dollars,stable government based on English Judicial System),respect of individual property rights,cheap living,friendly people -open to Americans, near USA,sound economy.
I am wondering why it was not mentioned.
I knew about Costa Rica back from 1974 while I visited there as a kid.(12) The word got out as to how great it is to live there. But its too late. The word is out and that’s a bad thing. Now, everyone goes there, and so many backpackers from Europe, its crazy. Then the civil wars in Nicaragua in the 70’s/80’s caused alot of refugees to flood Costa Rica, now there are lots of Nicarguans and Colombians living in country. It’s become alot more complicated. But its still nice. Just not as nice as it was 30 years ago.
Just talked to a guy that was in Belize for 5 months. Here is a basic rundown. It’s another third world country, when cops come busting on your door with search warrants, trying to find something on you based on hear say, and when nothing is found, you hope to God they don’t plant something on you so that they can whisk you to jail and have to pay huge fines to get out of jail. There is Belize for you.
Argentina is one of the WORSE countries ever! I lived there for three months in 2007. NOTE: Anyone who is NOT proficient in Spanish, FORGET this country!
1.) Yes, it is affordable to live there… well relatively affordable! However, they do NOT like speaking English…
2.) They are extremely PRIMITIVE!… what do I mean? Well, they do have the BEST beef that they are unable to prepare properly because they are UNABLE to understand English.
3.) They are RACIST too!
4.) Do not expect for ANYTHING to be made well, yes, NOT anything … it is AWFUL!
5.) Uruguay is soooooooooo much better and it is right down the street.
6.) The hustle Americans because they think we have money.
7.) NO, NO, NO! This country MUST not be on this list!
The WORSE 10 places are:
1.) Argentina
2.) Denmark
3.) New Zealand (primitive and racist)
4.) Jamaica
5.) Dominican Republic (oh my God… what a disaster) i.) relatively dangerous. As Americans we are preyed upon constantly, constantly! ZERO value for money; horrible everything. OK people. There problem is they are too busy trying to hustle for money because they are sooooooooooooo poor.
6.) Egypt – DISGUSTING! They are like fleas in that country. I had to work there for almost a year. Oh God help me,,, it was AWFUL!
7.) Kuwait… yes, I made lots of money working that filthy country… but the people are extremely disrespectful. They do not respect Americans. No, even though we helped them during the Gulf War, these people show ZERO gratitude to the United States.
8.) Saudi Arabia – they are demanding sexually. If you say, “no thank you,” they take it by force and there is not anything you can do because they will spin lies… and pray to God you get pass the experience; pack your suitcase in the middle of the night and quietly take a car across the border to Bahrain and file a complaint at the US Embassy in Bahrain. The US Embassy will not do anything. The State Department does not do anything to help US citizens when they are in trouble abroad; trust me… I know.
9.) ??? Believe it or NOT… Dubai was a HUGE disappointment… yes, it was! Why? Over inflated. It was not what I had expected. I.e., too expensive, not welcoming to US citizens. Zero rights as a foreigner!
10.) Bahrain … it was not horrible but it wasn’t great either… that’s it! Hope this list helps!
11.) Singapore! It’s too tight, strict, … inflexible!
I have read a number of post from what seems to be single people. What is the best country for expats with a family?
@ IKnowBest… I am surprised you were shocked how you were treated in the Middle East as a non-native. I have never visited the Middle East, but know enough to know the US and its supporters of the Military Industrial Complex is not coveted around the world. Many travel to the Middle East for work to reap the tax advantages. I guess you get what you bargain for. I am looking at the Cz Repub as a possible option. Unfortunately, I have not ran across very many people who have actually worked and lived in the country. Most of my conversations begin with, “Well I know this guy or I heard…” I am looking to speak with someone who is actually living or has lived in the Cz Repub. Everything I have read seems to favor Americans in this country.
@expatbound
You’ll find some here: http://www.facebook.com/pragueexpats
I’m surprised Canada didn’t top the list…
Those of you complaining that certain places don’t speak English are not worth living in sound rediculous. I’ve been an expat in places where I didn’t speak the local language and they didn’t speak mine, but I had a wonderful time there. I learned the words I needed to get by, surrounded myself with expat friends and enjoyed learning about their culture. If all you want is to speak English, then either stay home or move to countries where English is the first language. But don’t bash a country because its people don’t speak your language, you are the visitor, not them 😉
I cant believe argentinas hate americans generally
LIE Argentina is NOT affordable! this info is not researched well or recently….sorry, but inflation is ridiculous and they city miserable! This seems like a link bait!
I lived in Argentina, In Ushuaia, for 8 years, I’m Italian. Around 50 % of argentinian population is originally from italy the other half is from spain. they speak spanish in argentina just because the spanish arrived first otherwise let me tell you they d speak italian. there are some cities near buenos aires where people from italian descent are around 70 per cent…so for me it was pretty easy to merge…apart from a “few” big SCAMS…well it is argentina the land of SCAMS….my overall experience was pretty good and the business i was running brought me a lot of success.
But to say that Argentina is an haven for Americans….no way!!!
Argentinians blame everything on the Americans, everything. if your dog is constipated they ll blame the United States….there are more than a few americans living in buenos aires for sure and i’m pretty sure they are treated well but if an argentinian goes out to dinner with a “Yanqui”(so they call them there) sooner or later the conversation will switch to….”The Americans cannot eat well, the americans are fat, the americans are imperialists, they are the guardians of the world, they backed the military dictatorship in the 70 s, the americans are ignorants etc etc etc and then behind the back they will make jokes about binladen etc)
I’M not that fond of the USA politics neither but i have to admit that when i was there i heard so many bad things about americans that i was so disgusted that i was almost starting to defend George Bush….well not really…..imagine LOL
I moved to BA in October. Seems i made the right choice! Working for a Spanish School in Buenos Aires called Expanish which is great because i get free spanish lessons and i get to work with a combination of expats and argentines
A couple of comments. I am Argentinian, being living in the U.S. since 1998.
Judlidow is correct that Americans don’t have a good image in Argentina these days. Most importantly of the and recent reasons Judlidow mentions is the 2001 crisis, where the American hand is seen by the IMF. The Washington Consesus has a very bad name and reputation, I would say, almost in all Latin America.
IkNowbest. The only thing I know is you barely know Argentina. Have you been out or you hang out with your other American pals over there, going to American bars, doing American things? Well, no wonder why you find the country so unfriendly! Argentina is a Spanish-speaking country. Get a grip and learn the language, it’s not that hard! Is there any place you really like, by the way?
Carol is right in relation to the price. Argentina is not cheap anymore. Inflation has been skyrocketing since 2007. Actually, some things are more expensive now than in the U.S.
For the Italian guy/woman:Argentina is not different in relation to the blaming game against Americans. I go to Europe often to supposely countries friendly to Americans, where they hate them. They say the same things about them: that they are fat, imperialists,tha 911 was an “inside job”, vulgar, arrogants (The last two I heard them in France), etc…etc…
In relation to scams, it is a cultural thing. We come from ITALIANS and Spaniards, what did you expect? To have the standards of the British or the Sweedes?
For Americans in general: My suggestion is: if you really don’t want to learn at least a bit of Spanish to be able to communicate, don’t have the stomach to listen criticism, and expect exclusively “American” standards in everything (from cleaning public bathrooms to king size bed hotels for the prize of a 2star American hotel) forget Argentina. Go Canada instead. Bless and good luck.
hELLO!
@@@@@IKNOWBEST
WHY IS NOT SAUDI AT 1 OF WORST WHAT IS THE MOST HATEFUL?
AND WHY DOES EVERY ONE HATE DENMARK?
@Maria Cristina Villegas,
I’m a guy, I’ll write in English so everyone will understand. As i said the overall experience in Argentina was good. When i decided to go and live in Argentina i was in love with the country and the people. Slowly I started getting tired of the whole system (very slow), bureucracy, SCAMS (yes, one person, that at the time i considered my best Argentinian friend,( imagine) robbed me the whole business, because i was still a tourist back then and i couldnt have the business on my name. I invested 100 % of the money and the business was on his name. he used me and kicked me out…I made the story short because i dont want to bother you with the details…..Luckily as a friend told me “Todo es posible en la Argentina” (Everything is possible in Argentina) so i went to court and to my surprise & my lawyer i won…..that felt good, yes the guy escaped to brazil with al the revenues of one season, but it doesn’t matter now….
It is true that in europe people talk bad about the United States(especially France as you say) but here we were talking about argentina so that is why the focus was on that
As a business owner in an area like tierra del fuego that has 3 % tax only and with so much tourism(i ran a hostel) business was very good. at the time of 2002 i’m almost sure i was earning more than the governor(well his official salary)(yes everything is possible in Argentina). Now inflation is rampant, it is crazy!!!! prices are very high compared to argentinian salaries. i was earning well but i was in an area with very little taxes but in the rest of argentina taxes are very high and prices are ridicouolusly high. if you don’t own your own business your conditions are pretty grim. you work just for paying your very very basic needs….
Crime in the area where i was living (the extreme south) was on the rise but it was still relatively low
while in the rest of argentina it is better you watch your back often(not as much as in other south american countries though)
So what to say? It was a nice period of my life, at the end after my 8 years stay i got the permanent residence, yes one week before leaving(bureaucracy), but at least i have got it!!!!
I agree that DENMARK is the WORST place on earth for a foreigner. I am an American and I lived there for three years and it was the worst three years of my life!
I agree with Henry, I’m not from the USA but why does everyone hate denmark? maybe because it’s expensive?
Wow, memory lane for me. I’ve been fortunate to have lived 4-5 months in each country of the Czech Republic, Italy, Thailand and Mexico. For this dicussion, because it was many years ago, I will just answer a few basic questions.
In the late 90’s it was very easy to find a job in Thailand if you had a B.A. in any subject. I don’t know how the job market is now. At the school where I taught (A.U.A., based in Bangkok) they preferred that their English teachers did not speak Thai. And they gave us an intensive course before we were hired. A wonderful school.
I meant they gave us an intensive teaching course in English as a Second Language. After being hired, they also offered free Thai language classes to us. I did not take them as I was already working 7 days a week.
It was also possible to take in private students to tutor.
I know nothing about how to get a working visa except that it is difficult. I actually worked in Thailand for 9 months totally but never was never able to obtain one. I had to go on ‘visa runs’ every three months. At least I was able to go to Japan, Cambodia and Malayasia for those brief trips. I only left after 9 months because of the Asian economic crisis. The Thai people are so fun. If you ggo you’ll learn a lot about yourself as well as them.
Why does everyone hate Denmark? I am confused?
I am a retired Canadian who has been living half the year in Canada and the other half (our winter their gorgeous summer)in Argentina.
We purchased a house and a car and live in city called Cordoba, which is in the middle of the country. We have been coming down to Argentina for five years now.
Many of the comments above are quite accurate. First of all it is clearly a Spanish speaking country and their focus on the outside world is directed toward Europe. (not the USA) I would say that their opinion of Americans is not much different than probably most countries in the world (including Canada)
We love the people and the culture, but I must admit, that the bureaucy is very frustrating and draining.
I think that if you are the type that is looking for a similar luxury lifestyle with all the JUMBO SIZE everything and expect things to be efficient and organized, than Argentina is certainly not a good choice.
But if you are the type who doesn’t mind living outside your comfort zone, and experiencing a “different” culture with all the positives and negatives, than Argentina is a great choice.
For the answer to why there is such a negative experience by expats living in Denmark, see the following. If you do a Google search, I’m sure you will find many more sources that talk about the negative experiences of expats living in Denmark
http://www.worktrotter.dk/media.html
http://www.worktrotter.dk/blog/2010/10/03/6-danesopen.html
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=da&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.information.dk%2F263997
wow i read the articles(links) that stephen above posted….oh my god. i was in denmark in 1995-96 and 97 travelling with friends with the car(even in winter) when we were 21yrs old. i was not living there of course and that must be the difference. i had a good impression back then, I’m from Italy….but i was very attracted by the almost naked girls in danish parks in summer, erotika museums and very relaxed sex attitude in the all of scandinavia. so i didn’T notice the bad sides….LOL….anyway the articles i read are really shocking. the danish seem to be the most antisocial people against foreigners etc of the whole planet!!!!WOW what a discovery
SPAIN i wouldnt say spain is one of the best i lived there 11 yearw and it is one of the most racist countries you can ever imagine hate the place
Haha
Lots of interesting comments
Actually Argentina is not all italian and spanish
It’s got 2 million Irish and Germans and Japanese too
They speak welsh In Patagonia too
Denmark is a shock too! Didn’t know my Danish cousins weren’t so nice
That’s too bad
I’m going there for summe
You forgot to include medical care, a major concern no matter where you live.
@ Patrick i lived in tierra del fuego, argentina(south of patagonia) for 8 years and as i told in my previous post italians and spanish are the majority. of course there are welsh colonies,(a few thousand people maybe more in chubut province) and maybe a million of people of german descent in the north close to uruguay & paraguay but they are a minority. Irish? I didnt know and i didnt notice. That says a lot….
One good reason for ex-patriot preparation is the rapidly growing totalitarian nature in the U.S. Of course, both political parties are bribed and paid for by globalist and corporate interests, and the voting process is finally compromised by electronic voting machines.
When choosing a new place to live, it may be wise to live at least 100 miles inland, as the planet may very soon experience ocean flooding changes.
I haven’t lived in Denmark, but I loved it when I traveled there a few years ago. If you’re into bicycles, it can’t be beat. Very smart transportation policy.
Like most Americans do in taking their northern neighbour for granted, you forgot the most obvious choice of all – Canada. Whether you realize it or not, in the world in which we live in today, America has no better friend and partner than Canada.
Furthermore, you forgot to consider one of the most important concerns in compiling your list – CRIME! To ignore this and say that life’s a beach in Mexico is rather naive. I recently travelled to Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. Language is a problem in Brazil. I came across very few people who spoke English there, outside of major hotels. Rio was the most beautiful place in the world – while standing on top of SugarLoaf mountain. But back on ground level, I learned what true fear was on a few occasions – it can be very dangerous. Buenos Aires is much more cultural and bilingual, with most people speaking some English. As for Australia, after having backpacked downunder, don’t expect a red carpet to be rolled out if you’re a Yank. Better to put a red maple leaf on and practice saying “eh!”
I lived in Argentina for a couple of years. About a year and a half in BA, and another 6 months or so in Rio Gallegos (down south, near Ushuaia).
I felt it was a pretty nice place to live for an American. My only other point of reference is Italy, so I’m by no means an expert, but the cost of living is good (about 1/3 of US costs), the standard of living is good (not quite up to US standards, but close enough for me).
As far as anti-American sentiment, you’ll get that everywhere. In general, Americans are perceived by other countries as being jerks, a stigma that we’ve earned for the most part. In Argentina, I felt the population was about 50/50 for hating/being neutral towards Americans, but for those that hate Americans, the hate runs deep. President Bush visited while I was down there, and there were riots in the street. They burned down a bank. Seriously.
Anyway, plenty of stuff to do in Argentina. Don’t miss Glacier National Park, or the Iguazu Falls, among many other things. Culturally, there’s plenty to do in BA, and famous historical sites like El Teatro Colon.
The food is good, more European than American, but that’s ok with me. You’ll miss American pizza, and peanut butter, but other than that, you’ll be alright.
Most of the population are European immigrants, so they are white like most Americans. I don’t say this to be racist, but if you invest a little time to learn Castellano (the dialect of Spanish spoken in Argentina), no one ever need know you’re American in the first place (Disclaimer: I’m more or less fluent in Castellano, so very little anti-American hate was directed towards me).
In BA, there are large populations of Germans, Italians, Chinese, Koreans, Japanese, Peruvians, and Bolivians (and probably some others too..), so you can find various “Little Italy” or “Chinatown” like places in you’re looking for a change up.
Teaching English only pays about $10 an hour (if you’re lucky), so don’t expect to pay the bills doing that, but it works as a supplemental income, or just to get the experience.
Getting into Argentina is a fairly easy (if long) process, and you can gain citizenship without renouncing a former one (they permit dual-citizenship), so you can become a citizen without giving up any of your US rights. The travel restrictions on Argentine citizens are quite a bit more lenient than the US, which is nice.
All-in-all I’d say Argentina is a great choice, as long as you’re not expecting mini-America. I don’t know that it deserves the number one spot on the list, but that’s simply because I don’t have enough ex-pat experience to compare to anything else, but it’s a good choice nonetheless.
My wife and I are starting to research places to call home in another 5 years. The Corporate States of America is starting to implode with stupidity and horrid politicians enacting horrid policies/laws. It is time to get out now before it totally implodes.
I found the comments on this site interesting and fairly insightful. As with everything else on the planet, you really can’t take any single person’s assessment as truth, but they do provide a glimpse into what happens in foreign countries. We started off in Costa Rica and thumbs up for most of it! Tamarindo was fairly lame – too many surfer dudes (both young and old), over priced food that was not all that spectacular. We had a rental car and bopped around to several places and loved it. It certainly stays on our possible list.
As for everybody hating Americans – doesn’t surprise me!!! We are dicks and have been bullying a lot of countries, especially under W, and acting like arrogant jackasses. Frankly, I’m beginning to hate the average American! They are ignorant, arrogant, and drunken with the entitlement attitude. It is half the reason we’re leaving!
Denmark has the highest ratio of Arrogance in the locals so it is almost unbearable
@d can you send me links or info…I’m researching similar things rdhippenstiel at hotmail….thanks bro
“Jackson,” Your experience about Brazil is remarkably similar to mine. I didn’t find many English speakers at all either. Having been stationed in Europe, I suppose I was naive. I figured “all” European and European expat cultures (Brazil) would be similar. They are in some ways, but not all. Regardless, in Sao Paulo, on Paulista Avenue (near banks and travel agencies) was about the only place I found high concentrations of English Speakers. In Rio de Janeiro, there were sections, but the ‘average’ street walker didn’t speak English at all. I must say, however, I loved Brazil. There was obvious poverty (on the street, favelas, etc.) The people are gorgeous and I would consider living there, especially with the ’emerging’ status of the economy and the thought of being near a rainforest. Good post Jackson! email is m e 2 0 0 3 j o n e s at y*a*h*o*o dot com. (no spaces)
If you are american educated with degrees in finance, management or Engineering I’ll suggest Luxembourg/Germany/Netherlands. We have been living in Lux for 3 years now and truth is that at the beginning we just wanted to come here because of high salary however the level of healthcare (my wife gave birth here and it cost us Zero, with 5 days in luxury room at the hospital) They do not hate american actually they are just not that friendly if they don’t know you (but her we are from the big apple).
Considering that my education cost me almost a 100 grands in the us and that my son can get the same level of education and further for nearly nothing here, we are seriously thinking of switching passports…
Needless to say that you are only few hours away by car from the most exotic places on earth (les ardennes, the Pyrenees, the alps, and holland if you know what I mean)
DENMARK is the WORST country in the world, it´s a communistic shithole full of retardish sheeple. I would advice ANY foreigner to stay the helle away unless they want their lives ruined and live in total depression. I am counting the SECONDS till I can get thew f… out of this hellhole.
What about Canada? Every time I go to English-speaking Canada I basically feel like I never left my home country. The cultures are identical. Most of the movies, tv shows, music, food, infrastructure, and people in Canada are the same as with the USA. I also know many Americans who now live there or own summer homes there.
why would anyone move to Canada? the weather mostly sucks and it’s pretty much just as expensive as living in the US. The point is to move somewhere nice enough but cheap enough too to make our dollars go further.
South Africa is extremely beautiful, but stick to the Cape Town area (less crime, plenty of amazing wildlife and backdrops). The country does have some ethnic and political tensions at the moment, so you do need to keep up with the news while you’re here. My family’s favorite spot has been Oudtshorn, but you can’t go wrong traveling the garden route.
What about the philippines. The dollar goes far. It almost became an american state, th people are friendly, and everyone speaks English.
philippines is the best..that’s all i can say haha:)
Peru should be in this list!!!
We have the best cuisine in the world
I think it’s incredibly arrogant for any U.S. American to move to another country where the language is other than English and speak only English, not learning the native language. Stay in the States or move to a primarily-English-speaking country if you can’t be bothered to learn the language of the people in your new country.
What you didn’t seem to consider is whether the country has immigration laws that will allow Americans to move there! Most countries will not accept foreign residents. If they do, they expect a minimum investment (often $500,000 US or more) or a guarantee of a minimum amount being direct-deposited into a local bank account monthly. Also, most countries that have socialized medicine do not extend that coverage to expatriates who are admitted as residents. In Australia, for instance, even if you invest enough, you will have to provide your own health care coverage. Why do Americans seem to think they have the right to go anywhere they want and do anything they want? Other countries are becoming as restrictive as America is about immigration (and I am talking about LEGAL immigration).
@Dansktex- My husband and I want to leave because we are just as tired of the American ego know as entitlement. Not all of us want to kill ourselves for the so called American dream. I worry every day about my husband having a heart attack on the job because of the stress and constant worry of losing it. We both believe in working hard, but want a simpler life without TV, cell phones, and computers as leashes. You can’t get away from it here, even if you want to. Granted our society created this hell, we just don’t want to be forced to live in it because of others past mistakes.
Sounds like exploitation to me:fix your own damn country,you greedy blokes;99% of the Earthlings on this planet are not allowed to more anywhere they might want to. . . .
I have lived in a small pueblo near Chapala-Ajijic for 17 07 the best years of my life. Mexico is your neighbor, why not look here first? Chapala has a fantastic climate, with Mexicos largest lake, for those of you wanting to check out real estate check mlsmexico.com, for another great source, check out chapala.com.
Why go any further from home, by plane its a few hours.
The president of mexico, president Calderon singed a bill that gives all foreigners the same rights as the mexican.
Don’t be gullible and believe mexico is so dangerous, who better to ask than someone living here.
Mark
What about Panama? I can’t believe it didn’t make the list.
John, Copenhagen is consistently ranked as one of the best places in the world to live. The people of Denmark, many of whom speak better and clearer English thant those in America, are lovely. Open. Intelligent. Giving. Maybe it is better that you stay at home? We are getting on just fine without you… 🙂 Jason
I agree that it is an arrogant American trait to go to another country and expect them to speak English to cater to your needs. I am an American and have visited many nations and I have always taken the time to learn at a minimum how to ask directions, how to order food or talk to people at the hotel or bank and how to ask for medical/police assistance, etc…..the basics. I have found my experiences to be much better and the people to be friendlier because of my effort to fit in. We are not all assholes….just MOST of us are!
I’m researching relocation to a cheaper country with great weather. I would like to be a positive and beneficial resident. I am a retired Social Worker and love working to support community based efforts to develop, operate, expand, and enhance initiatives aimed at prevention of child abuse, or child sex exploitation which is prevelant in this age. I am looking at Costa Rica and Belize. I am surprised that Belize wasn’t on the list.
I am an American that has lived abroad for several years in multiple countries. I understand that many people believe that Americans in general are arrogant and can’t be bothered to learn about other cultures.
But, I don’t really understand the, “stay in your own country” mentality. I don’t understand it when Americans say it about people of other cultures, and I don’t understand it when it’s directed at Americans.
I say, we all probably benefit from exploring other countries and learning each other’s cultures and languages.I know from my own experience, I have learned to appreciate the best in foreign cultures, as well as my own. I also hope that I contribute to every community I live in, and the world at large, through communication, appreciation, and tolerance.
Phyllis, I’d advise you to avoid Thailand and the Philippines if you want to continue that sort of activism abroad in your retirement. LOL Talk about biting off more than you can chew!
There are all kinds of Americans just like there are all kinds of people from every other country. But Americans…unlike educated people from the rest of the world…generally have poor language skills and no training a second language. If considering living abroad, it is important to be able to function WHILE you learn the local language, culture, and infrastructure. That is why articles like this for Americans interested in expatriating usually include how realistic it is to expect to function in a country without knowing the language. It is not a tacit assumption that Americans will NOT attempt to learn them.
With that said, “the ugly American” stereotype exists for a reason. We have taught our children from pre-school that the USA is the closest thing there could possibly be to Heaven on Earth, that they are divinely blessed to have been born Americans, and that ONLY those other countries that try to live up to OUR standards are OK. All the rest are something between misguided (at best) and pure evil (at worst). We were taught that any other nation that plans to compete against the USA economically or militarily was being “hostile” without provocation while we remained openly unapologetic about using our own military and economic muscle to bully anyone and everyone who didn’t do what we wanted them to. American children are still raised this way to this day with no consideration of even the possibility of changing this. Teenagers by and large enter adulthood with a worldview they were given by the society in which they grew up. It really isn’t their own faults.
Some of us DO, however, realize the insanity of it all – and that no one else is going to “fix it” for us.
I’m a 22 year old from the United States. I am considering a move to Argentina. I am fluent in Spanish. It’s strange that the son of immigrants is itching to leave the country his parent’s came to for a better life. But, that is just the reality. I had the most humble of upbringings. I grew up in the ghetto..let’s leave it at that. I am looking for a place where I can start fresh. I have about $9,000 in savings and an Associate’s degree in Information Technology..I would like to further my education in Argentina. It’s a fascinating country from what I’ve gathered but it’s also going through a rather big debt crisis. I still see a lot of potential there. They have an educated population, a lot of resources and not too many people relative to their land mass. Racism is a concern to me though as I am not white. Reading through blogs people say that I will get stares in a place like Buenos Aires which is rather disconcerting considering that it claims to be such a cosmopolitan city. I would like to feel comfortable in my new home. I would also like to contribute to the development of Latin America. As a Latino myself it would be extremely rewarding.
I honestly see no future in this country. We are plagued with debt, careless politicians and a apathetic populous. I would like to be somewhere on the rise not somewhere getting ready to implode.
Can any of you honestly recommend Argentina to me? Have any of you lived there for an extended period of time? I need a realistic picture of this place and what it would be like for a young professional eager to create a new life.
D.Acosta,
I am an American who lived in Buenos Aires for 7 months in late 2009 until early 2010. I found many aspects of living there really great, such as a rich culture with food, music, love of literature, art, and history. It is also a very walkable city and getting around by subte (the subway) or taxi is very cheap. When looking at neighborhoods to live in, look at Palermo (perhaps the barrio with the most expatriates, a fashionable place with plenty of restaurants and nightlight), adjacent is Belgrano (nice, and a little cheaper than Palermo), and Recoleta for a more upscale area.
As far as working, it is relatively difficult to find work as a non Argentinian. If you do, the wages are somewhat low, but it is possible to find work and do ok (look on craigslist).
@D.Acosta
I lived in Buenos Aires for 6 months in 2007 and though it was fun, i personally would like to offer you different advice. You are still very young and have your whole life ahead of you, you have only achieved an associates degree, and that does very little for you here in the US and does absolutely nothing for you abroad. In addition you have only saved $9,000 which might seem like a lot, but honestly most people backpacking for 6 months through South America have available at least $15,000 or more.
What I would do is take my $9,000 that I had saved and finish my last two years in college, the you at least have your bachelors and are marketable. Then I would research jobs that were available and make sure that I an employer lined up before I went. You must remember that it is not legal for employers to hire you without the proper permits, it is hard for you to get those permits, but easy for a large corporation there to get them.
Ok…these are the most common expat countries, but Im finding more and more people going to China. The city of Shenzhen has a huge expat community and most of them speak no Chinese, none….this new mmodern city can give a westerner a comfortable life. I live there and love it.
http://generationexpatblog.com/
I am an American expat living in Australia & your info is seriously out dated and mis guided. The dollar hasnt been in our favor for more than a year now. It is very, very expensive to live here. Think of what you consider to be expensive for an item, then triple it. Finding a job here isnt easy either.
That’s right Maura. It’s incredibly rude for Americans to live overseas and speak only English in non-English speaking countries… Yet Southern California is completely overrun with with immigrants who not only make no effort to learn English- they seek every opportunity to not assimilate culture here. I agree Americans should speak a foreign language when abroad… But in this day and age.. Condemning a failure to so is a double standard.
Gosh, “NO” to Canada! It’s a sh-t hole, less developed that the US for sure. Nothing special about nature. People are greedy and nasty, and if they know that you come from the US they would try to use you to the fullest. Plus it’s just cold!! 80% of population is immigrants from places like Jamaica and Dominican Republic.
Lol wow, there are some really ignorant people leaving comments here. 80% of the population, Jen? Nature is nothing special? Do realize, at least, that nobody values your skewed opinion.
I’ve spent the last 3 months (and will spend the next 9 months) in France, and I can at least safely agree that price is what keeps it off the list. It’s astoundingly great here, but WOW are things expensive. I’m thinking about SE Asia next year…so this is a good article for me. Thanks!
Wow Jen…Really? I am a Canadian and am proud of our multi-cultural identity, I am also hopeful our government upholds our canadian culture despite all the american influence in our media. I have traveled and believe we all benefit from opening our minds to each others cultures. I have also been all over the USA and appreciate that the majority of the Amercians are quite lovely, I think that the multi-culturalism that is becoming the USA is wonderful and should be embraced in stead of forced to become a melting pot. I also can’t see much of a difference between the development of Canada and the USA, in fact we just have better water!!
Wow, looks like a little more research needs to be done on a more variety of countries. I can’t believe Panama would have been overlooked as it is one of the most desireable, cheap, and American-friendly countries out there. It has a dollorized and extremely stable economy, the retirement package is unbeliveably incredible, the climate is perfect, and it’s said to become one of the first Latin American countries to become a first-world country. It is interesting that Panama wan snot on the list being that most of the facts above are common knowledge! DO YOU RESEARCH!!
live in thailand the last 2 1/2 years..with my wife.. bangkok and places like pattaya ,they speak some english ..you can teach school here and get paid around 40,000 baht per month in the bangkok area, apartments around 4,000 aircon add another 4,000baht per month..meals 20-40 baht..roadside resturants only ..but i wanted to say this when i sell here, we have a house here since 2002 and property in surin, when i sell the surin property here, i’m heading to belieze, after 6 months you can become a permanat resident..and i don’t have to have property in my wifes name only..i don’t like spending so much money and owning nothing..and something to think about, law passed by obama that takes effect 1/1/2012 that if you owe the irs..they can seize money from overseas bank accounts or the country will stop giving expats bank accounts anymore to avoid problems with the usa..and they speak english in belize
I respectfully disagree with many of the countries that were chosen. Although being very beautiful countries with large populations of expats,the almost complete lack of English speakers among the locals make most of your choices wrongheaded. I was in Thailand,Mexico,Argentina,the Czech Republic,and many others on your list and that,among the natives,about 5 percent of the locals spoke English fluently.Better choices might be countries like the UK,Ireland,Canada,Germany,and others of this type-not necessarily as inexpensive,but at least communication is assured. MR
I have to agree with many of the posters here. what’s the point of ex-patting if you’re only going to go to a country where you can find people just like yourself? As an American who loves learning new things about other peoples and their histories and cultures, a huge English-speaking population wouldn’t be that important to me.
What I’d like to know about a country is how receptive the locals are to foreigners, as this influences a number of aspects of living (ability to get a job, health care, safe housing to name a few) Not all Americans who visit/want to move to other countries are retirees or recent college graduates who “want to find themselves.” I personally wouldn’t want to simply move somewhere to use my new home for as much as I could get from it. I’d want to give back to the community if I could. Knowing the exchange rate for a new location is however, good business sense.
There are those who want to sincerely adopt another culture and make a life somewhere new. I would want to get a job and build a life with my family. I would want my children to be able to make friends with other local children. those things would be very difficult if you tried moving to a location where nobody would want you there.
I think it’s the responsibility of the traveler to learn the language of the place they are going to visit. It’s simple common courtesy. I think it’s ridiculous for most American schools to only offer foreign languages as elective courses. It wasn’t mandatory for me to have a foreign language unless I went to college. It’s really a blind a stupid mistake on America’s part.
Jessica must win the award for best comments here. If you plan to be an expat also plan to tolerate, immerse, adapt and contribute. This will enrich the experience immensely. As for the list, gosh, isn’t the best place more a state of mind? Anyway, don’t overlook Chile, Andorra, and Singapore. All worthy with different offerings. It’s a big small world so lace up the boots and get out there. Good luck to all.
I love Brazil! Ordem e Progresso. Brazil is my second home, possibly soon to be first. Brazil is on the march and it’s definitely a growing economy, I can testify to this. I lived in Brazil for a year. If I’d known the U.S. economy was broken to all hell and on its way to Third World status, literally, I’d have stayed in Brazil and pursued immigration options. I’d have never returned to the U.S. Although, I do disagree with the final sentence in the description about Brazil which states, “it’s easier to get around here speaking only english”. In fact, this only refers to São Paulo and Rio because those cities are mega-cities, international and contain the most English speaking populations in Brazil along with English schools. I prefer other regions of Brazil because, in fact, I try to avoid as many gringos as possible. I won’t say exactly where I prefer as I don’t want anyone reading this to follow me. One last thing, Brazil isn’t as familiar to the average American gringo as one may want to believe. First of all, if you’re a white Anglo bigot (regardless if you’re from the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, etc. etc.), just stay in your own country because Brazil is a real melting pot, not a fake one. Brazil’s not perfect by a longshot but it has a complex history and race relations are more complex than just Anglo defined “black (ie. darkness/evil) or white (ie. light/good)”. If you don’t like the fact that their national dish, “feijoada” is legacy of Afro-Brazilian slaves, then avoid Brazil, go to Argentina or better yet, just stay in your nation of birth. If you don’t like the fact that Samba, although born in Salvador and greatly transformed in Rio de Janeiro, has an African ancestry, then scratch Brazil off your list. Don’t export your Anglophile-thinking bigot ways to Lula da Silva’s (now Dilma Rousseff’s) beloved Brazil. Also learn Portuguese, at least the basics so that you’re not limited to speaking only to Brazilians that speak English or Anglos. If you really respect a nation, you learn their language, you don’t arrive to their nation and try to make them speak your language. You are the guest, not the other way around. Amo o Brasil e o gente! Amo toda cultura brasileira. Vou voltar ao Brasil morar no futuro. Gosto muito das praias brasileiras. Viva o Brasil!
One more thing, I can’t believe South Africa made this list. I’ve traveled a lot and all the South Africans (Anglo and African) I’ve met along the way have a anti-progressive mentality. The Afrikaans and Africans are nuts! They think about the world in Apartheid terms, in 2011.
I’m Australian and have lived in the USA. Loved it (except for a few bozos, but hey, you can find such people everywhere). Have also lived in Thailand and in Europe, as well as China.
No surprises that China isn’t on the list, because apart from Shanghai and Beijing, China is the opposite of cosmopolitan. English is hardly ever spoken or seen (except in a comical form known as Chinglish) and many locals will gawk, stare or say “hello” to foreigners in a really irritating fashion wherever you go except in upmarket shopping malls or downtown areas that may be more used to seeing foreigners. Taxis may sometimes avoid you, since there is the perception that you won’t be able to communicate with the drivers (whether true or not), sometimes overcharging happens and a small number of (mostly elderly) people will make some racist remark under their breath (despite there being very few foreigners in China in general) or push you out of the way when standing in a line to catch a bus, pay for medication at a hospital etc. Therefore, if you don’t like such attention (or lack thereof) China can be a hard place to fit in, even if the food, people (in general) and the culture can be very pleasant.
Thailand is great though. You can choose to live in an “expat bubble” in Bangkok and Pattaya (and perhaps Phuket too), frequenting restaurants that have English language menus, shopping at stores with imported produce and interacting with locals with at least passable English language skills, all the while not needing to ever say a word of Thai. However, by living this way you’ll never really experience the true Thailand and may find yourself getting ripped off at some places due to the locals forever seeing you as a “tourist”. It would definately help to learn the local language, even if it’s just enough for an enquiry, to get the shopping done or call a cab…prices for goods or services without fixed prices will go down as well.
Living in the countryside is another experience altogether, but due to the country’s generally good infrastructure, relatively small size and tourism industry, it’s hard to get off the beaten track to the point of being seen as exotic as you would be in China. More than likely you won’t even be the only foreigner living in say, Sob Prab, Lampang, or Mae Chan, Chiang Rai! Also, it’s usually only a couple of hours drive (at most) to a place cosmopolitan enough to cater for the needs of discerning American or other expats (for example, Chiang Mai in the north).
Jen: Gosh, “NO” to Canada!
OK, let’s hear your reasoning…
It’s a sh-t hole,
somewhat subjective, though vague…
less developed that the US for sure.
How?
– Economically? As your economy goes down the toilet, Canada’s is one of the most stable in the world.
– Culturally? There’s a reason that Americans put Canadian flags on their luggage when they travel.
Seriously, aside ignorance and narcissism, you lose in every category.
Nothing special about nature.
Again, subjective (I disagree BTW), but there IS civilization in Canada, believe it or not.
People are greedy and nasty,
Really? Canada? The country world-renowned for its kindness and hospitality? Really? Did you hear about the 38 planes who were forced to land in Newfoundland after the 9/11 attacks? If you can read, read this book:
http://www.amazon.ca/Day-World-Came-Town-Newfoundland/dp/product-description/0060559713
and if they know that you come from the US they would try to use you to the fullest.
You mean as a prostitute??? Did your hometown run out of crack? What are you TALKING about???
Plus it’s just cold!!
Canada, being significantly larger than the U.S., actually spans several different climatic zones. Have you ever been to Minnesota in February? Toronto regularly hits 40°C (104°F) over the summer months.
80% of population is immigrants from places like Jamaica and Dominican Republic.
I’m really beginning to think the country you’re thinking of is not Canada… Canada was founded by settlers from Western Europe (England and France, Scotland and Ireland on the Atlantic coast) and most of the recent Canadian immigrants are from Asia. VERY few carribean immigrants in Canada… we need more, now that you mention it.
I would be embarrassed to be from whatever locale (or institution) fostered your ignorance.
One last point: Canada wouldn’t be on this list for one reason alone. MONEY!!!! Higher taxes, higher gas prices (while you’re complaining about US gas prices, know that Canadians are paying double what you pay.), higher food prices… pretty much everything. It would be a rare American that could adapt to what we’re used to paying.
Interesting article. Although it is simplistic to the point of naivete. I can’t really comment on most of the countries on the list and if they should be there or not. But, I can offer a little bit of insight on number 6 on the list. I am American and my wife is Brazilian. We are living here in the states now, but often talk about moving to or retiring in Brazil.
Not sure if it is easier to get around speaking only English in Brazil as opposed to other South American countries or not. But I would sure plan on learning Portuguese before moving there. Brazilians are very friendly people and the ones that do speak English will be more than willing to help you with your Portuguese. But planning to move there and only speaking English is just asking for frustration and failure.
I actually have to agree with some here who say that it is a little arrogant to move to another country and not learn their language. Some places it may be possible though to manage that and get by. Brazil is not one of them. From someone who knows, DO NOT plan on moving to Brazil and not learning Portuguese. That notion is laughable at best.
I also need to point out that, Brazil is NOT cheap. If you live in a safe area there, it is expensive. Real estate is still cheaper than in the US, but consumer goods are very, very expensive. So if you move to Brazil and expect to live like a typical middle class American, you better be expecting to lay out the same amount of cash if not more.
My summary on this is: Brazil is a beautiful and very diverse country, full of friendly people, great food, and many other things, but if you want to make it home, learn Portuguese and do not expect to live on the cheap if you expect a middle class lifestyle complete with all the modern amenities and high tech toys.
Just to add one more thing. Number 1 on the list I cannot comment on, I have never been there and know nothing about it, but my wife confirmed with me that Argentina is a nice and beautiful country, much cheaper than Brazil, and friendly to Americans. Brazilians often vacation there and enjoy the extra buying power of their Real against the lower Argentina currency. And the Dollar is still 2 to 1 against the Brazilian Real. Gets me to thinking, but we would both have to learn Spanish as a 3rd language…
Hello!
I am English but was interested in your article.
I have lived in Thailand for 7 years and I do NOT recommend it!
With the Bank fiasco of 2 years ago the Pound ( and I believe the US$ ) dropped by 33% + they have 7% compounded Inflation too!
It’s now 70% more expensive than 7 years ago..EXPENSVE!
Also, as to the Friendiness of the people…it’s a Myth.
You do not get what you see…The culture accepts that everyone Lies and Corruption is accepted at all levels …they see nothing wrong with those 2 things.
Thai only want YOUR MONEY!!
I talk from experience.
People on holiday ( vacation) do NOT see the REAL THAILAND or see through all the ‘Sweet Mouth’ Lies….
Allan
and peru?? about 10 thousand Americans live there, it will be something ¿?
Mark…June 9, 2011 at 9:07 pm
Mark,
My name is R. Brent and I have been thinking about Chapala-Ajijic for about 3 years…we will make a trip within a year to the area….
I am 75 years old and would like to think about moving…Looking for my last stand. Worried about health care in my last years…
I have never lived in Mexico…Born in Honduras and live in all of Central America
And the U.S. Schools in U.S. , U.S. Air Force, Korea, now retired in Central Texas…
I am very comfortable with the Spanish culture….
For those of you complaining about anther countries, if you are worried about you comfort zone, STAY PUT….Go to other Countries as often as you can to learn their couture and UNTIL YOU DEVELOPE YOUR COFORT ZONE…..
You have to think outside the box….
[email protected]
I am American and I’ve been living in Thailand for 4 years. Before that I did Korea for 1 year. Having said that, a number of things need to be said about this list: first, it is quite ridiculous to think that you can just MOVE to any of these countries on a whim. Immigration regulations in most countries make it quite tedious and in some cases impossible to live and work if you aren’t a citizen. Some allow retirees over a certain age to reside in country but in Thailand, for example, it’s nearly impossible to become a Thai citizen (and even then, unless you look SE Asian, you’ll always be a “farang” or foreigner). Also, property ownership in many of these countries is severely restricted for foreigners. I know a number of former expatriates who tried South America and said that wages were so low for foreigners that starvation seemed imminent. That’s dramatic but I can think of two individuals who lived in Costa Rica, Argentina, and Honduras for years. Political situations and corruption in many of these countries also makes life quite dicey. In Thailand, if you can bear paying off the police constantly during regular traffic stops for imagined offenses then you can own a vehicle. I’ve read stories though of governments, specifically the Mexican government, claiming expatriate retirees’ property as part of an eminent domain-type exercise. They received no compensation. Also, there is often quite a lot of hostility from the local populace towards “gringos” or “farang” or whatever the locals call foreigners. I feel like this article completely glosses over the economic realities in some of these countries (Spain’s unemployment rate is around 20%, meaning 1-in-5 people cannot find any form of gainful employment; even if you’re a retiree, that could be a recipe for death from boredom). Foreigners bent on blowing years worth of hard-earned dollars on hotel rooms are always welcomed with open arms in a sort of superficial way because it’s always understood that they’ll be going home soon. Denizens of the first world popping into developing countries are often viewed with a great deal of suspicion. This can easily be seen in the immigration, healthcare, property, and business-ownership regulations in some of the countries above. Moving to another country and culture is a genuine challenge. It should be taken very seriously and it requires true commitment and a really, really open mind.
I am Austrlian. All I would say is, HEY DONT VOME HERE! You’d be going 10,000 miles and think you’re still at home – cept its better here! Actually the USA is just a copy of Australian culture, not the other way around. HA HA. TO be honest though, Australia has not copied American culture like every one says, it IS the same culture and always has been. It always has been a mirror, read some history. With Amy’s comments, what she says is true, only she is obviously finding it more difficult because she is not exploring what is obvious – many Americans have failed here, because they arrive and think it’s the same, it is, but with limitations that they dont understand. If you do stay 5 years, you wont go home.
Ilecio,
No offense, my man, but if you think that Panama is a “first world country” then you need to experience what a first world country is. That includes all possible considerations of what defines a country as such (infrastructure, government, legal system, economy, housing, industry, worker pay and class boundaries, etc). Not just some high end retail in the tourist markets. This is not to take away from the unique country that Panama is, however.
I’ll give you points for the tourism pitch, though.
If it is arrogant for an American to move abroad and continue to use their native language, why is OK for the rest of the world to do it to us?
how about the Philippines can you included to the list.
Ibe Truther:
Canada doesn’t trust anyone with firearms, except the government. Neither does Austrailia and Great Britain. Our Founding Forefathers would have said they have it exactly backward. The patriotic movement in Amerika today say the only thing preventing a fascist-totalitarian takeover is America’s constitutional right to bear arms, the 2nd Amendment and our the 9th and 10 Amendments preserving our individual and states rights. The states can back out of the Union based on the failure of the federal government to preserve those rights. Many states now are already headed in that direction. Nevertheless, the USA is the number one target for the New World Order and when it falls they feel they can easily take over the rest of the world. Very few knowledgeable on the subject would disagree. Canada would fall like a lead sinker.
1) As a Canadian gun-owner of 30+ years who is VERY knowledgeable on the subject: Your views as they pertain to the US may or may not have merit; but as for Canada, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Canada has more guns per capita than the US; and most of those are respectable citizens who know how to use them (not 15 year-old gang-bangers who couldn’t hit the side of a barn at 20 paces).
2) Nobody will be invading us anytime soon because we haven’t pissed off 90% of the world.
United States
minus chaos
minus economic disaster
minus crime
minus political insanity
equals Canada.
If these are the attributes from which you wish to flee, then Canada would love to have you, and you would probably enjoy it here (most American ex-pats that I have met all say the same thing: they wish they had have moved to Canada sooner). And regardless of what kind of lifestyle you seek, there is somewhere in Canada that will meet your needs. There is a HUGE variety of way-of-life in this country, so most of the negative comments mentioned in other posts are not universally true, if they contain any truth at all. (There are many parts of this country that I would not want to live in either (e.g., Toronto is a little to overwhelming for my tastes, moreso than New York City)). A friend of mine who moved here from Texas said that the strangest thing to get used to was that the Canadian media was a watchdog against political corruption, as opposed to a “partner in propaganda”. He’s still a proud American, but claims he would never go back.
But if your motive for leaving the US is to find somewhere that you can live like a king off of your retirement savings… look elsewhere. The culture of capitalism and greed does not have a strong following here. We’re used to having more social programs AND paying for them.
john says:
August 7, 2011 at 10:27 pm
“If it is arrogant for an American to move abroad and continue to use their native language, why is OK for the rest of the world to do it to us?”
Nice red herring…
1) It would not be arrogant “for an American to move abroad and continue to use their native language”. It IS arrogant for anyone to go to a country where they don’t speak the native language and EXPECT to be served/accommodated in their own, regardless of where they are from.
2) “why is OK for the rest of the world to do it to us?”
Really?… Really?? So when an Austrian walks into a McDonalds in Ohio, does he get served in German? Does he force you to serve his fries in German? Seriously though, I assume you’re referring to the Spanish influx in the (especially) southern US. American companies provide service in Spanish because they want to sell to Spanish-speaking customers, not because they’re being forced to by a Latino conspiracy.
I live in Costa Rica. Not loving it. Rains too much for me. It’s a lot more expensive than California when you consider how lousy salaries are. Don’t be fooled: CR is bloody expensive! I guess it’s great if you like forays into the jungle and all, but if, like me, you have a kind of American or eurocentric mindset, you’ll probably find it culturally improverished.
This is a pretty interesting string of comments. I’m always puzzled when the notion of Americans traveling or living abroad is met with hostility – given that America is still a relative infant that is itself a crucible of cultures. But I’ve traveled enough to know that Americans abroad are mostly met with the same warmth and welcoming as any other travelers – and that the hostile posters on these blogs are generally not there to meet us at the airport.
The world may be seeing something truly different now – maybe some sort of accelerated form of evolution. Aside from the well-publicized “Arab Spring”, cultures everywhere seem to be shape-shifting in efforts to smooth out the huge imbalance between the powerful and the powerless. There will be lots of pain to endure in getting there – but we may see a world ahead where people can travel and mix more freely than ever. I hope so.