Tom, Author at Expatify

Do some of us become expats because it’s like being a minor celebrity?

Tom — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 19:39:42 +0000

Obviously there are many expats who move abroad primarily for economic reasons, and there are those who move for a better climate or lifestyle. But there are also many expats who seem to be more comfortable or just happier living in a culture and country outside their own. I think I put myself into this […]

The post Do some of us become expats because it’s like being a minor celebrity? appeared first on Expatify.

The cheapest country to buy electronics is the United States

Tom — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 19:35:24 +0000

As a lover of electronics and other gadgets, I’m always on the lookout for bargains. And as someone who has visited over 70 countries, I’ve actually spent quite a bit of time checking to see if things are cheaper in one place and another. It started when I looked for MP3 players in Hong Kong, […]

The post The cheapest country to buy electronics is the United States appeared first on Expatify.

When do big expensive cities become not worth it for new expats?

Tom — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 20:51:42 +0000

There’s a strange phenomenon that seems to have been going on for decades in the expat world. A huge majority of those moving to a new country end up living in the most expensive city in that country. Think about London, which is famously one of the most expensive cities on earth. You can walk […]

The post When do big expensive cities become not worth it for new expats? appeared first on Expatify.

Making friends as an expat abroad is easier than at home

Tom — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 23:33:42 +0000

If you are considering moving to another country, and especially if you are single and would be going alone, the thought of making new friends there might seem daunting. It’s obviously more difficult for some people than for others, but generally speaking I’ve found that it’s actually quite a bit easier than making new friends […]

The post Making friends as an expat abroad is easier than at home appeared first on Expatify.

The 5 stages towards Costa Rica expat happiness probably apply almost anywhere

Tom — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 22:07:00 +0000

In the world of being an expat, short-term happiness and long-term happiness often seem to be quite different things. Unless you were an unwilling corporate expat, hopefully you were pretty happy about being in an exciting new country when you first arrived. However, keeping that excitement up is pretty much impossible and it’s common for […]

The post The 5 stages towards Costa Rica expat happiness probably apply almost anywhere appeared first on Expatify.

New list of world’s happiest countries proves that weather isn’t a major factor

Tom — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 23:54:00 +0000

Many of us expats consider changing countries as one way to increase overall happiness. Now, I don’t think many people assume that moving on its own will make them happier, but rather it’s one element in an overall strategy that might also include being able to spend more time outdoors and hopefully also living a […]

The post New list of world’s happiest countries proves that weather isn’t a major factor appeared first on Expatify.

Monday Escape: Reykjavik, Iceland

Tom — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:27:00 +0000

One of the most obvious features of Reykjavik is that it’s a city that no one reaches by accident. Being alone out in the northern mid Atlantic, you really have to want to get there in order to get there, so everything about it is quite deliberate. These days it’s especially popular as the launching […]

The post Monday Escape: Reykjavik, Iceland appeared first on Expatify.

Monday Escape: LLandudno, Wales

Tom — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 14:46:00 +0000

Beach resort towns tend to be internationally famous because so many people are willing to travel long distances to visit them. Many exceptions, however, are in northern Europe, where good beach resort weather is rare enough that no one in their right mind would come from another country. Britain has quite a few beach towns […]

The post Monday Escape: LLandudno, Wales appeared first on Expatify.

Want to be an expat? The first question is: why?

Tom — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 10:01:00 +0000

It seems that the vast majority of people in the Western world are happy living in their home country, but of course there are smaller groups of us who are motivated to live elsewhere. In my own experience of talking to those who’ve moved abroad, it seems that there is a vast array of reasons […]

The post Want to be an expat? The first question is: why? appeared first on Expatify.

Britain outside of London is cheap, friendly, and relaxing

Tom — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 16:20:00 +0000

As someone who has spent much of his adult life going from one big city to another, it’s a welcome reminder that the largest cities in each country tend to be poor representatives of the rest of the place. Whether it’s Bangkok, New York City, Kuala Lumpor, or London, these places often have more in […]

The post Britain outside of London is cheap, friendly, and relaxing appeared first on Expatify.