While the ladder comes with the certainty of your final destination, the first two provide a level of ambiguity that can be instantly overwhelming.

Narrowing down to a short list of countries can make the process easier from the start. But what needs to be considered to make that decision?

10 Points to Consider when Choosing to Move Abroad

The list below is roughly in order of importance to us based on what we were looking for, as it quickly helped to whittle down our lists of hopeful countries, and we were able to focus our efforts on the most viable countries to move to.

1. Cost of living

There are many countries that have a significantly lower cost of living than the United States, especially as inflation continues to rise in the United States.

Inflation is making an impact on a global scale, but the power of the dollar can still afford more in many countries. Just as you would with any budget, you must consider the costs of monthly bills like housing, utilities, and transportation, as well as fluctuating expenses like groceries and entertainment.

One important thing to note is that there continues to be rising discomfort with internationals moving to certain countries like Spain and Portugal. This is due to non-natives raising the cost of housing, which is pricing out locals.

All this to say is when choosing countries to consider, please ensure there are considerations made for being respectful of locals and making an effort to adjust the lifestyle to local customs so as not to make a negative impact on the local economy.

2. Visa Requirements

There are a myriad of documents, records, and applications that may be needed to acquire a visa that can. Some countries have stringent requirements that can be difficult to navigate on your own.

This is where the help of local lawyers or relocating services and be a wealth of information and worth the investment to reduce the workload of the move.

Be sure to note that not all visas are created equal. Golden and investment visas can be a good idea if you have the savings upfront, but others are able to explore work and digital nomad visas that can sometimes even support spouses.

There are still a lucky few who have dual citizenship that may help support a simpler visa in a country outside of where their citizenship is.

3. Housing

Housing markets can be even more challenging than in some parts of the United States, so it is worth looking into the costs of housing.

Connect with a local realtor or look up the equivalent of Zillow to understand what apartments and houses look like.

A fun way to explore options is binge-watching House Hunters International for specific countries and cities you are interested in to get a sense of the typical housing.

Some places may not include AC or appliances as standard, which again would impact budgeting if you want to acquire such comforts right when you land.

There are also very popular areas that are much more expensive, although better connected than smaller cities.

Understanding what you are willing to compromise on for housing, including the location and amenities, will help create parameters when you need to narrow down where to live.

4. Language

If a language barrier is something that you are not comfortable with, it is important to understand the local language culture of whichever countries you are considering.

There are some countries where you can get by on just English, even if the national language is something different.

For instance, in the Netherlands, almost everyone in the Randstad area speaks English at least conversationally, which can make the adjustment a lot easier.

If you are already bilingual, that will, of course, provide a wider range of countries that would be easier to move to, but there is a wealth of resources, many of them free, that can help you begin to learn the language even before you move.

5. Job Market Climate

If you are able to keep your current role as a remote employee or start your own business, there is a wealth of opportunities in many countries that you can take advantage of.

If you need to find a job with a company within your country, there are some places you can look for a job in the country before you move. There are also countries where you can look for work in person for a few months.

Whichever route you choose, make sure to thoroughly research the job market in your country and what the job application culture looks like. For instance, CVs are typical in Europe rather than resumes, so the format and information included are different.

6. Climate

A big determining factor for us is the impact of climate change on our new home.

Costa Rica was a top choice, especially since we had visited there, and the cost of living and culture were a fit in general.

With regular hurricanes and hot and humid summers, we decided to look outside of Central and South America altogether.

If you are willing to adjust to any climate, make sure you understand the impacts of climate change on weather patterns. This could mean needing to invest in more insurance.

7. Culture Fit

Culture fit may be just as important as the cost of living and ease of immigration.

If a culture is too foreign for what you are accustomed to or what you are willing to accept, the adjustment to your new home will be that much more difficult.

From day-to-day etiquette to local food and dress, understanding what to expect can start to paint a realistic picture of what life will be like abroad.

One of the best ways to learn about the local culture from other Americans who have moved to a particular country is through blogs and Facebook groups.

While most of my posts here are specifically about moving to the Netherlands (with a few anecdotes about Brazil and India), there are many country-specific Facebook groups that have regular contributors ready to answer any questions and share their experiences both moving abroad and integrating into the local culture.

Similar to considering the impact of Internationals impacting the local economy, it is in your and the locals’ best interest if you commit to acclimating to the culture rather than imposing your own culture, so to speak.

8. Local Amenities

This goes hand in hand with culture fit, but local amenities will contribute greatly to your day-to-day life. Access to groceries, shopping, and healthcare.

This is a small consideration with groceries, but access to international goods (like your favorite hot sauce or clothing brand) may not be widely available if that is high ranking on your needs list.

If walkability is something that is important to you, you may want to look into countries and cities that have useful public transportation at a reasonable cost.

There are some countries where you are able to bring your own vehicle (although this would come with a hefty price tag) if you want to maintain the commuting culture.

9. Health care

Healthcare was mentioned above, but it deserves its own point for further explanation.

If you have health concerns or medical needs that would require specific healthcare while abroad, this may be a top consideration in your country search.

Healthcare costs are at the top of everyone’s mind, and while there are some countries that have universal healthcare, others may carry a higher bill than the United States.

There may also be restrictions on certain medications, which can pose difficulties when needing a prescription refilled. There are not too many public resources to understand the intricacies of this topic, even on a country-by-country basis.

The best option here is to speak with your doctor for your best options if this is something that would limit which counties you would move to.

10. Other Considerations

There are some additional topics that are not covered here. Do they deserve their own post, and/or have I completed as much research on these?

Education and Childcare – The quality of education can be a major determining factor if you have or plan on having kids. International schools can be found all over and may be a better option than fully integrating into the local education system, depending on the age of your kids. The cost of childcare may also significantly increase or decrease your planned budget.

Political Climate – The current politics of your desired future home can obviously make or break the quality of the move. Making sure to do at least basic research can prepare you for legislation that could impact your daily life.

Treat moving to any country as visiting as a guest. Even if your hope is to gain citizenship, you should be a fit for the country as much as the country should be a fit for you.

All this information and prep can feel very overwhelming, but it can be manageable, especially if you are able to get clear on what you want out of your new home country.

If you are ready to take the next steps but need support, please reach out here, and I would love to support you on your journey.

If you are still in research mode and want to learn more, check out my suggestions for other things to prep and how to dip a toe in packing to make the beginning stages of the moving process easier.