7 of the Best (and easiest) Countries to Move to as an American
So you’re thinking about relocating and wondering what the best countries to move to are from the good ole’ USA?
Maybe you’re super serious and your bags are basically packed, or maybe you’re just curious about what else is out there.
Well, I’m here to give you some options, and highlight for you some of the best and easiest countries to relocate to from the United States.
1. Portugal: “Come for the weather, stay for the wine.”
First up, let’s talk about Portugal:
“It’s not a boring place, and with the wonderful food, wine, nature, historic castles and neighborhoods; I think it’s a fantastic place to live.” -Expat
This is a popular destination for American expats, particularly in cities like Lisbon and Porto. Here you’ll get a relaxed lifestyle, beautiful beaches, and a community focused culture culture.
Weather: One of the biggest perks of Portugal is the weather. The climate is Mediterranean, meaning they have long warm summers with mild winters. You will get a fair amount of rain if you live in the north and central parts of the country.
But, If you live in the South, We’re talking 300 days of sunshine. Think Los Angeles, but without the price tag. And, we’re in heaven.
Cost: Speaking of cost, Portugal is 40% cheaper to live than the United States on average.
Safety: The crime rates here are low, and Portugal ranks as the 7th safest country in the world.
The Drawbacks:
• Now for some of the cons. In Portugal, it can be difficult to find a well-paying job. Though not impossible. But, many of those moving to Portugal are retirees, or digital nomads, making this not really a problem at all.
• There is a bit of a housing shortage in major cities like Lisbon. The housing prices have gone up in Portugal and the market is more difficult in recent years.
• English is widely spoken in Portugal, especially in major cities. However, if you are thinking about living in Portugal long term, you are going to want to learn the language, and it is a hard one unfortunately.
Visa Options for Portugal:
As an American, you are allowed to stay in Portugal for 90 days. After that you need to get a residency permit by getting a job, enrolling in school, marrying a Portuguese citizen, or investing in the economy.
Which brings me to something called the Golden Visa Program. This is going to come up a lot, so remember this term. A Golden Visa means that investors can obtain residency through various investment options, like real estate and business investments.
You can also get a retirement or digital nomad visa, with a requirement that you have a steady income from remote work, pensions, or savings.
Things have changed in recent years, and continue to change constantly with visas, and residency requirements, so make sure to do all your homework before you pack your bags.
More Info Here
2. Canada “Great White North”
“Most American Expats in Canada agree that the biggest benefit they’ve experienced moving to Canada is not having to worry about healthcare.”
Canada is an obvious top option for Americans, and I probably don’t even need to go over the reasons why, but here’s a short list:
• Close proximity to the US (which could be a pro or a con for you.)
• They speak relatively the exact same language (just kidding), and have similar culture.
• Not to mention universal healthcare, work life balance, and lower crime rates.
And the good news is once you’ve gone through the necessary steps to become a Canadian citizen, you are able to maintain your American citizenship as well.
Weather: Just so you know, you aren’t going to be getting the same weather as Portugal. Prepare for the bitter cold. If you’re from a northern US state, like Alaska or Minnesota, and you don’t hate your life you will do just fine in Canada.
Safety: Canada should be a top consideration for you, if you’re prioritizing safety. Canada scored 96.7 out of 100 for safety according to U.S. News Best Countries. For reference, the United States comes in at 46 out of the total 87 countries ranked.
The Drawbacks
• Cost: The cost of living is more or less similar, but you will pay more for some things: Your taxes might be higher, And items like apparel and accessories tend to cost about 11% more than in the U.S.
• Canada is rather large, and you’ve got a ton of options here. One of the hardest things about moving to Canada is deciding which Province.
Top Canadian Provinces for Expats:
Alberta: This province is located in Western Canada, and is known for its sunshine and Rocky Mountains. There is tons to do in Alberta for outdoor enthusiast, and those that love a good festival.
Popular industries include: Energy (especially oil sands, natural gas, and coal), agriculture, forestry, machinery, plumbing, and metal work.
British Columbia: This is the second most popular province for Expats. If you are looking for outdoor adventure, with mild temperatures this one might be for you. The coastal regions of British Columbia have the mildest winters, rarely dropping below freezing.
Popular industries include: Forestry, fishing, mining, film and television, tourism, and entrepreneurial activity.
Ontario: This is by far the most popular province for immigrants new to Canada. This is where you’ll find Toronto, the largest city in all of Canada. If you’re thinking about Ontario, you’re in for some cold winters.
Popular industries include: Manufacturing, information and technology, forestry, journalism, financial services, and the arts.
Quebec: If you’re hoping to learn French while you live in Canada, this might be the province for you. French is the official language of Quebec, and this province is famous for their rich culture.
Popular industries include: Tourism, design, software development, commerce, aerospace, mining, forestry, and hydroelectric power.
Visa Options for Canada:
But, as much as we talk about moving to Canada, is it really that easy? Canada doesn’t just take anyone, but it is possible.
To visit Canada as an American, you can stay up to six months, but you can’t work.
However, to move permanently to Canada the easiest way is through the Express Entry system. This is an immigration program targeting highly skilled workers that can benefit three major economic fields in Canada.
3. Australia: “The Land Down Under”
“Things I’ve loved have been the ability to be outside year-round, lots of good Asian food, relaxed working culture, lack of politics in everyday life, and really accessible sports. Biggest silly annoyance has been bad Mexican food.” – Expat
Here’s what you’ll get if you move to Australia: Good weather, incredible surfing, and 16,000 miles of beautiful coastline, paired with major cities vibes like Sydney and Melbourne.
The culture in Australia is laid-back, relaxed and outdoorsy. They believe in having a good work-life balance, and often say that they live their lives outdoors, and can you blame them?
And Australians are known to be very kind and welcoming to Expats.
Weather: You will get quite a variety of weather depending on where you decide to live in Australia. In Sydney you will get warm partial cloudy summers, and short cool winters. The seasons are going to be opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. For example, summer in Australia is from December – February.
Safety: Australia has less crime than the U.S. Better healthcare, and better education systems overall. Australia has an incredible quality of living ranking as the 12th happiest country globally. Putting it ahead of Canada at 13 and the U.S. at 15.
The Drawbacks:
• Cost: The cost of living is higher than in the U.S. One reason is that being an island makes it more expensive to ship things into the country.
• It’s also not the best choice if you want to be conveniently located. If you’re looking for a place to live where you can just hop on a short flight and be in Europe, this might not be your best option.
Visa Options for Australia:
There are a wide variety of visa options available for Australia. Financial investment, work and student visa are all options.
More Info Here
4. Thailand “Land of Smiles”
For years Thailand has been an extremely popular tourist destination, and for good reason. The Thai people are extremely friendly and welcoming. They are famous for their inviting and warm nature, and many foreigners find the culture very inviting.
Thailand’s thriving economy, beautiful landscapes, and rich culture have attracted a large expat community.
Because Thailand is basically a hub for expats and tourism, English is a commonly spoken language in major cities. In fact, one of the biggest opportunities for Expats is to get a job teaching English while they live in Thailand.
Weather: This is going to be your best option if you are looking for a tropical climate (hello monsoon season) that offers a very affordable cost of living.
Cost: The cost of living in Thailand is 60.4% lower than in the United States for an individual. You can live a very comfortable life here even on a minimum wage salary.
Safety: While Thailand is one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia, tourists, and expats can be subject to more financial crime and pickpocketing. There are great cities in Thailand known for their safety and large expat communities.
The Drawbacks:
• The political situation: is strained and protests are not unheard of.
• Earlier I mentioned the weather, and if you aren’t into a hot year round climate this might be a huge negative for you.
• Also there are times of the year when the air pollution is so bad that many Expats relocate to the south of the country for a few months.
Visa Options for Thailand:
Just like with other countries there are many different visa options for Thailand, and choosing the right one will depend on your specific situation.
More Info
5. Malta “Small, But Mighty”
“If you’re working from home, Malta really shines. You can get a house in some other quiet place and be a short walk from the sea for a daily swim in summer.”
Malta is a small island nation located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea. And when I say small, I mean small. Malta is 10% the size of Rhode Island. And even though it’s small, there’s actually tons to do here.
•Malta’s beautiful beaches (although most of them are rocky), delicious cuisine, and picturesque cities have made it a magnet for expats.
•In fact, 1 in 5 Malta residents are foreigners.
•English is one of the official languages in Malta, making it that much more appealing to Americans.
•Malta places a high value on the environment and is transitioning to a green economy.
•Fun fact, there are cats everywhere, so if you’re a cat person this might be your heaven.
Weather: The island’s year-round sunshine doesn’t hurt its popularity, either and The average annual sea temperature is the highest in Europe at 68 degrees F.
Cost: While it’s not the cheapest country on our list, living a comfortable life here is well within your grasp. It’s cheaper to live in Malta than Germany, France or Austria.
Safety: The healthcare system here ranks better than the United States, and it’s safer to live in Malta than Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands (which is saying a lot).
The Drawbacks:
• As we’ve already established, Malta is small. If you like a lot of space and natural diversity, it may not be your best option.
• You will also need to be ok with the annual influx of summer tourists, because Malta is a popular, historic area.
Visa Options for Malta:
And, Malta does the Golden Visa, (remember I told you about this earlier) Malta’s program is generally the cheapest option for any European country. For Malta’s Golden Visa you can invest in government bonds, a government contribution, or purchase property for just under $400,000 American Dollars.
More Info Here
6. Spain "Bullfighting and Tapas...oh, and Wine"
“I would sooner be a foreigner in Spain than in most countries, how easy it is to make friends in Spain!” – George Orwell
Spain is one of the easiest European countries to move to as a US citizen. And it has the largest American population of all European countries. Spain has an incredibly rich culture, mind-blowing food scene, cheap wine, and relaxed welcoming lifestyle. Say no more.
• But I will say more, if travel and exploration is priority for you, Spain has cheap and quick flights all over Europe.
• Brush up on your Spanish though, because English is not widely spoken in here.
• You will likely want to look into moving to a major city like Barcelona, or the Canary Islands where English is more common, and there are larger expat communities.
Weather: The weather here is going to be for those that don’t want extreme anything. Not too hot, and not too cold. Summer is sunny but cool, and winters are mild. Sounds pretty perfect, actually.
Safety: Spain has some of the lowest crime rates in Europe and is overall a very safe place to live. There are notable differences in cities however, so do your research to identify your best options.
The Drawbacks:
• Cost: While Spain is going to be more affordable than the US (rent is almost 50% less), it does have a high unemployment rate, so don’t get your hopes up about finding a job once you get there.
• The pacing of life here is going to be much slower, for example, everything is closed on Sundays. If you are someone that enjoys a furious and fast paced style, this one’s not for you.
Visa Options for Spain:
But if you’re self-employed, the government does offer a self-employment visa, perfect for freelancers and digital nomads.
There are many other visa options too, and if you have enough money you can easily get a residence permit via Spain’s (say it with me) Golden Visa Program.
More Info Here
7. St. Lucia "Home to the Drive-in Volcano"
St. Lucia is a sovereign island in the Caribbean Sea, not far from the United States. It’s known for dramatic mountain landscapes, volcanos, beaches, and rainforests?
There are two main roads and it only takes 1-2 hours to drive the entire island, and it’s actually faster in some cases to travel by boat. So, it’s a small island. It is 2x larger than Malta though.
• Culturally the country is quite a blend. You have African, French, and British influences, but the official language here is English.
• One of the draws to St. Lucia is the close proximity to the US. There are many direct flights, from multiple US cities.
• If you’re looking for a small, tropical island lifestyle this might be one to consider.
Weather: The weather in Saint Lucia stays consistently warm throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from 84 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a wet season and a dry season, but even in the wet season tropical storms usually pass quickly.
Cost: Compared to the US, the cost of living in St. Lucia is rather low. Rent prices are 72% cheaper in St. Lucia compared to the United States. A family of four should be able to live comfortably with around USD $3.000,00 monthly.
Safety: St. Lucia is one of the Caribbean’s safest locations. Petty crime does exist, but seems to be more common in tourist areas.
The Drawbacks:
• On the downside, some expats find the lack of infrastructure and public transportation to be a challenge.
• St. Lucia is a popular cruise ship port, and the country relies heavily on tourism. This could be a pro or con based on your preferences.
• As well as the limited job opportunities.
Visa Options for St. Lucia:
They do have the Golden Visa, so you can live here by making a donation, or investing in real estate.
More Info Here
At the end of the day, the best country to move to is a very personal preference.
No country is going to be perfect, and if you find one please let me know. If you’ve lived in any of these countries mentioned, or any other amazing countries around the world I would love to hear about it in the comments below.
2 thoughts on “The Best Countries to Move to From America (2024)”
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Great blog! Love the well thought out pros & cons format. Well done!
I really enjoyed reading your post! You are doing a great job!