So you’ve been daydreaming about a fresh start somewhere new. Maybe you’re tired of skyrocketing housing costs, craving a slower pace of life, or just itching for a real adventure. Whatever your reason, you’re not alone — more Americans than ever are packing up and heading overseas. But with nearly 200 countries in the world, figuring out the best countries to move to as an American can feel pretty overwhelming.
That’s exactly why we put together this guide. We’ve done the legwork so you don’t have to, breaking down the top destinations based on cost of living, visa accessibility, healthcare, safety, and overall quality of life. Whether you’re a retiree looking to stretch your savings, a remote worker chasing sunshine and Wi-Fi, or a young professional ready for something completely different — there’s a destination on this list for you.
Let’s dive in.
What to Consider Before You Move
Before we get into the best countries to move to as an American, it’s worth pausing to think about what actually matters to you. Expat life looks different depending on your priorities. Here are a few key factors to weigh:
Cost of Living: Can your income — whether that’s a remote salary, retirement savings, or Social Security — comfortably cover rent, food, healthcare, and fun? Some countries are dramatically cheaper than the U.S., while others (looking at you, Switzerland) can be even pricier.
Visa Requirements: Some countries practically roll out the red carpet for American expats with special retiree visas or digital nomad visas. Others have stricter requirements that can take years to navigate.
Healthcare: This is huge. Is the local healthcare system reliable? Will you need private insurance? Some countries have world-class public healthcare that you can access as a resident for little to no cost.
Language Barrier: While English is widely spoken in many parts of the world, learning even basic phrases in the local language will significantly improve your daily life.
Safety & Stability: Check current travel advisories and expat community reviews. Some countries that look great on paper have pockets of instability worth knowing about.
With that in mind, here are our top picks for the best countries to move to as an American.
1. Portugal — Europe’s Expat Darling
If there’s one country that consistently tops the list of best countries to move to as an American, it’s Portugal. And honestly? The hype is well deserved.
Portugal has become a magnet for American expats for a handful of really compelling reasons. First, the cost of living is dramatically lower than most of Western Europe — and certainly lower than major U.S. cities. You can rent a comfortable one-bedroom apartment in Lisbon for what you’d pay for a parking space in San Francisco. Outside the capital, in places like Porto, the Algarve, or the Silver Coast, costs drop even further.
The climate is another huge draw. Southern Portugal enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year, with warm summers, mild winters, and a coastline that’ll make your Instagram followers weep with envy. The food scene is spectacular — fresh seafood, pastel de nata pastries, excellent local wine — and the people are genuinely warm and welcoming to foreigners.
From a visa standpoint, Portugal is one of the friendliest countries for Americans. The D7 Passive Income Visa is perfect for retirees or remote workers with a steady income source. There’s also Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa, launched in 2022, which is tailor-made for remote workers wanting to set up shop in one of Europe’s most charming countries. Long-term, Portugal offers a relatively straightforward path to permanent residency and even citizenship after five years.
Healthcare in Portugal is solid, with a public healthcare system that residents can access and a robust private sector that’s still far more affordable than U.S. standards. Expats typically opt for private health insurance for the best access and shortest wait times.
One heads-up: Portugal’s popularity among expats has driven up housing prices in Lisbon and Porto significantly over the past decade. If budget is your main concern, look at smaller cities or inland regions where the cost of living remains very manageable.
Bottom line: Portugal is consistently ranked among the best countries to move to as an American for a reason. It’s hard to beat the combination of culture, climate, cost, and accessibility.
2. Mexico — The Classic Expat Escape
Let’s be real — Mexico has been one of the top destinations for American expats for decades, and it’s not going anywhere. With over a million Americans already living there (many permanently), Mexico has everything you need to build a genuinely comfortable life close to home.
The proximity to the U.S. is hard to overstate. You can fly home for a long weekend, ship things easily, and stay connected with family without feeling like you’re on the other side of the world.
That alone makes Mexico one of the most practical best countries to move to as an American, especially if you have family ties stateside. Cost of living is one of Mexico’s biggest selling points. In expat-friendly cities like Oaxaca, Merida, San Miguel de Allende, or Puerto Vallarta, you can live exceptionally
well on $1,500 to $2,500 a month — including rent, food, transportation, and entertainment. Mexico City, while more expensive, still offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle at a fraction of what you’d spend in New York or Chicago.
The food alone is worth the move. Mexican cuisine is a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage, and eating locally means access to incredible markets, fresh ingredients, and some of the world’s best street food.
Visas are straightforward. Americans can stay as tourists for up to 180 days, and the Temporary Resident Visa is accessible to those with proof of income or sufficient savings. Permanent residency follows after four years as a temporary resident.
A word on safety: Mexico has regions with serious security concerns, and it’s important to do your homework on specific areas. Many expat communities are in cities with strong safety records and active neighborhood watch cultures. Research thoroughly and connect with local expat communities before committing.
3. Costa Rica — Pura Vida for the Win
“Pura vida” — pure life — isn’t just a saying in Costa Rica. It’s a genuine philosophy, and it’s one of the main reasons this small Central American nation consistently ranks among the best countries to move to as an American.
Costa Rica punches well above its weight in terms of lifestyle. It has a stable democracy (unusual in the region), no standing army since 1948, universal healthcare through a system called the Caja that residents can join, and some of the most breathtaking natural scenery on the planet. Rainforests, volcanoes, wildlife, both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines — Costa Rica has it all within a country roughly the size of West Virginia.
For retirees, the Pensionado Visa is one of the most attractive programs in Latin America. You need proof of at least $1,000 per month in pension income to qualify, and in exchange you get a renewable residency visa and access to significant discounts on everything from entertainment to medical services.
The expat community is well-established, particularly in the Central Valley (around San Jose and surrounding towns like Escazu and Santa Ana), the Guanacaste region on the Pacific coast, and the Osa Peninsula for nature lovers. English is widely spoken in expat-heavy areas, making the transition relatively smooth.
Cost of living is moderate by Latin American standards — more expensive than Mexico or Colombia, but still considerably cheaper than the U.S. Budget around $2,000 to $3,000 a month for a comfortable lifestyle.
4. Spain — History, Culture, and the Good Life
Spain makes a compelling case as one of the best countries to move to as an American, particularly if you want the full European experience without the sky-high prices of Scandinavia or Switzerland.
The lifestyle is genuinely different from what most Americans are used to — in the best possible way. Spaniards take their meals seriously, their siestas more or less seriously (depending on the region and the person), and their social time very seriously. Cities are pedestrian-friendly, public transportation is excellent, and the food and wine culture rivals anywhere in the world.
Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa is popular with retirees and those with passive income. You’ll need to show sufficient financial means (roughly 28,000 EUR per year for a single person), but in return you get legal residency with a path to permanent residency and eventually citizenship. Spain also launched a Digital Nomad Visa in 2023, making it easier for remote workers to establish legal residency.
Healthcare in Spain is among the best in the world — the country consistently ranks in global top-10 lists for health outcomes. As a legal resident, you can access the public health system, though many expats supplement with private insurance for quicker access to specialists.
Which part of Spain? That depends entirely on you. Barcelona for the cosmopolitan, art-forward Mediterranean experience. Madrid for a world-class capital city that somehow feels livable. Valencia for a warm climate and stunning beaches on a budget. The Canary Islands for year-round spring weather. Seville for traditional Andalusian culture. Spain is remarkably diverse, and there’s a region to match almost any lifestyle preference.
5. Colombia — South America’s Rising Star
Colombia has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades, and today it’s one of the most exciting and talked-about destinations among the best countries to move to as an American. The country that was once defined by instability has become a vibrant, increasingly safe, and extraordinarily affordable place to live.
Medellin — once notorious, now a model of urban renewal — has become a darling of the digital nomad community. With its spring-like climate year-round (it sits at altitude, keeping temperatures in the 70s virtually every day), world-class infrastructure, thriving arts scene, and cost of living that can be 60-70% lower than equivalent U.S. cities, Medellin is genuinely one of the best cities in the world for expats right now.
Bogota, the capital, is a massive, culturally rich metropolis. Cartagena offers Caribbean coast living in a UNESCO-listed colonial city. The coffee region around Salento is postcard-perfect and extraordinarily affordable.
Colombia offers a Migration Visa system with various categories, including options for retirees, investors, and those with income from abroad. The country has been actively courting expats and digital nomads in recent years.
As with Mexico, it’s important to research specific neighborhoods and cities. While Colombia has improved enormously, some areas have higher crime rates, and expats are advised to be sensible about where they live and travel. That said, the large and growing expat communities in Medellin and Bogota are testament to how livable these cities have become.
6. Thailand — Southeast Asia’s Expat Capital
No list of best countries to move to as an American would be complete without Thailand. For decades, Thailand has been one of the most popular expat destinations in the world, and it’s easy to see why.
The cost of living is extraordinarily low. In Chiang Mai in the north, which is particularly popular with digital nomads, you can live comfortably for $1,000 to $1,500 a month, including a nice apartment, meals out, activities, and transportation. Bangkok is more expensive but still a fraction of Western costs. Beach destinations like Koh Samui or Phuket offer tropical island living at prices that would seem impossible to anyone used to Hawaii.
The food is world-class — genuinely among the best street food cultures on the planet — the people are renowned for their friendliness, and the country is stunningly beautiful, from the mountainous north to the crystalline southern coasts.
Thailand’s visa situation has historically been a challenge for long-term expats — the traditional route involved “visa runs” to neighboring countries every 30-60 days. However, Thailand has been actively working on improving its offerings, including a Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa launched in 2022 that provides a 10-year renewable visa to qualifying retirees, remote workers, and high-potential professionals.
Healthcare in Thailand is a genuine selling point. Private hospitals in Bangkok like Bumrungrad International are legitimately world-class, often attracting medical tourists from around the globe, with costs a fraction of comparable care in the U.S.
7. Italy — La Dolce Vita, For Real
If your version of the best countries to move to as an American involves cobblestone streets, incredible food, world-class art, and a deeply rooted culture that values slowing down and enjoying life — Italy might be calling your name.
Italy has recently introduced some programs specifically designed to attract foreign residents. The “1 Euro House” programs in small rural towns (though these require renovation investments), and more practically, the Flat Tax Regime for new residents, which caps Italian tax on foreign income at a flat 100,000 EUR per year — making it attractive for high earners. There’s also the Active Retiree Visa program in southern Italy, which combines residency rights with a flat 7% tax on foreign pension income.
Practically speaking, the south of Italy — Calabria, Sicily, Puglia, Basilicata — offers some of the most affordable real estate in Western Europe, stunning landscapes, fantastic food, and a way of life that hasn’t been overrun by tourism the way Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast has. These regions are increasingly popular with Americans looking to genuinely immerse themselves in Italian culture without paying Rome prices.
The Italian bureaucracy has a (well-earned) reputation for complexity, so patience and ideally a good local lawyer or consultant will smooth the process significantly.
8. Greece — Mediterranean Bliss on a Budget
Greece has quietly become one of the best countries to move to as an American, particularly since introducing its Digital Nomad Visa and investing in making the country more expat-friendly.
The lifestyle speaks for itself: Mediterranean climate, spectacular islands, a cuisine that’s as healthy as it is delicious, incredibly warm and hospitable people, and a culture with thousands of years of history around every corner. Outside of Athens and the most tourist-heavy islands, the cost of living is genuinely very affordable.
Greece’s Golden Visa program (which grants residency in exchange for real estate investment of 250,000 EUR or more) has been popular with Americans, though the minimum investment was raised in certain areas in 2023. The Digital Nomad Visa allows remote workers to live and work in Greece for up to 12 months, renewable.
Healthcare in Greece is serviceable through the public system and excellent through private providers in Athens and major cities. Private health insurance is recommended and remains affordable by American standards.
Honorable Mentions
A few more destinations worth mentioning for anyone researching the best countries to move to as an American:
Panama: Dollar-based economy, warm climate, excellent healthcare, and the popular Pensionado Visa make this a top retiree destination. Centrally located for travel between North and South America.
New Zealand: Stunning natural scenery, English-speaking, politically stable, and with a high quality of life — though expensive and geographically remote.
The Netherlands: Excellent English proficiency, world-class infrastructure, central European location, and a great quality of life. The 30% Ruling can provide tax advantages for qualifying workers.
Japan: Incredibly safe, fascinating culture, excellent public transit and healthcare. The recent Digital Nomad Visa and government push to attract foreign residents makes this more accessible than ever.
Practical Resources for American Expats
Ready to start planning? Here are some of the most valuable websites and resources for Americans considering a move abroad:
Visa & Immigration
Numbeo – Cost of Living Comparisons – https://www.numbeo.com
Expat.com – Expat Community & Guides – https://www.expat.com
InterNations – Expat Network – https://www.internations.org
Financial & Tax
Greenback Tax Services – Expat Tax Specialists – https://www.greenbacktaxservices.com
Wise (formerly TransferWise) – International Money Transfers – https://wise.com
Healthcare Abroad
International Living – Healthcare Abroad – https://internationalliving.com
Cigna Global – Expat Health Insurance – https://www.cignahealthbenefits.com
SafetyWing – Affordable Nomad Health Insurance – https://safetywing.com
Community & Research
Reddit – r/expats – https://www.reddit.com/r/expats
Reddit – r/digitalnomad – https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalnomad
Nomad List – Digital Nomad City Rankings – https://nomadlist.com
Conclusion
The best countries to move to as an American really do depend on what you’re personally looking for. There’s no single perfect answer, but there are plenty of genuinely excellent options. Portugal and Spain offer that coveted European lifestyle with reasonable accessibility. Mexico and Costa Rica provide proximity to home with dramatically lower costs. Colombia and Thailand deliver incredible value for digital.
nomads and adventurers. Italy and Greece give you history, beauty, and culture by the bucketload.
Whatever your version of the good life looks like, the world is genuinely more open to American expats today than ever before — with a growing range of visa programs, a global remote work infrastructure, and large, welcoming expat communities in virtually every corner of the globe.
The hardest part isn’t deciding which country is best. The hardest part is actually taking that first step. But if you’re reading this, you’ve already started.
Do your research, connect with expat communities in the countries you’re considering, consult a tax professional who specializes in expats (the FEIE and FBAR requirements are real and important), and then — go.
Pura vida. Bon voyage. Buona fortuna.
— Have questions about moving abroad as an American? Drop them in the comments below.