2020 was a year of unforeseen challenges that shook the world, especially the US, to the core and made many Americans reevaluate their life plans. Today, many US citizens are mulling over the idea of moving out of the country and seeking permanent residence in another country.
According to the State Department, nine million US expats are currently living abroad. An expatriate is a person who moves to another country and becomes a tax-paying citizen there while no longer paying taxes at home. The number of American expats living in different countries is continually growing thanks to the flexibility and ease of remote work and the increasing benefits of living abroad for retirees, such as affordable living, safety, economic and political stability, exceptional quality of life, and more.
With that said, it’s not always easy to decide which country you will move to if you choose to leave your home country. After all, there are countless factors that you need to consider before you make the big move.
Here we review two European countries and four Asian cities that American expats would love to call their homes. This assessment is based on what each country and city offers to US expatriates, such as a diverse culture, a booming economy, low cost of living, and exceptional natural beauty.
Portugal
Located west of Spain, Portugal offers welcoming business incentives that are attracting young entrepreneurial expats to its cities. For instance, Porto, the country’s second-largest city, is the manufacturing and textile hub of the land with many expat designers.
Even though Portugal experienced an economic decline in the 1970s, today, its cobbled streets are brimming with life as many restaurants, and cafes, and boutiques that sell local goods have opened up. While living in Porto, you can explore the city’s palaces, historic churches, and art district, along with the Douro River.
You can also live in Braga, Portugal’s happiest and third-largest city. Braga offers a reduced tax rate for start-ups and is home to established international companies and highly qualified, career-oriented, English-speaking natives. Known as “Portuguese Rome,” Braga is a breathtaking and modern city with fascinating Roman-style architecture, attractive green spaces, high-tech companies, and international schools.
Alternatively, you can live along the quiet Algarve coast and enjoy sunny days while leading the ideal retiree’s life. Offering enviable quality of life, beautiful beaches, and international schooling, the Algarve continues to attract expats from across the world. Some of the nine islands in the Azores also offer incentives to attract start-ups and small businesses.
Regardless of the place you choose to call your home, you will be met with kindness, acceptance, and love in Portugal, making it one of the best countries for US expats to live in.
Spain
Spain is an ideal country for US expats who want to live their retirement days with ease and comfort. It has one of the lowest costs of living in Western Europe; it offers affordable housing and health care reimbursements. It also has exceptional international schools and offers self-employment visas, which certainly appeal to freelancers, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads.
If you love European culture and architecture, you will love living in Malaga. The birthplace of Picasso, this sunny city boasts gorgeous beaches, arresting museums, high quality of life, rich culture, security, great healthcare, diversity, impressive schooling, and so much more. Alternatively, you can live along Andalusia’s fabulous citrus coast with beautiful beaches, Moorish architecture, and English-speaking expat communities.
You can also live in Madrid and benefit from a low crime rate and a reasonable cost of living. Madrid is the ideal city for all sorts of US expats, including working and retired folks. It has a large English-speaking population, diverse culture, various international schools, and modern transportation. San Sebastian is another beautiful Spanish city to live in. It’s blessed with top-tier restaurants, breathtaking beaches, and vibrant, lush green vegetation. The city is a surfer’s paradise!
Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwan is a modern metropolitan area and capital of Taiwan, a country renowned for its low cost of living and expansive cuisine. It’s the world’s top-rated city to live in for expats. The most popular reason for this esteemed ranking is the expats’ happiness with the overall quality of living, healthcare facilities, and local transportation, including the state-of-the-art rail system and cheap taxis.
Moreover, Taipei offers a wide range of local street food that is delectable and affordable. The locals are also incredibly friendly. Plus, Taipei is an incredibly safe and inclusive city to live in; Taiwan was the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriages, while Taipei continues to host the largest annual East Asian pride event. The only obstacle that you will have to face while moving to Taipei is the language barrier; you will have to learn Chinese as that is the local language.
Lastly, if you are a travel and food lover, you will certainly love living in the city. It offers a wide array of mouthwatering local and foreign cuisines at impressively affordable rates. Plus, there are so many places that you can visit in KL, such as the Petronas Towers, Jalan Alor, Batu Caves, Central Market, etc.
Singapore
Singapore has one of the strongest economies in the world. This diverse, culturally rich city-state is hands down one of the best places for US expats to live and conduct business due to its impressive infrastructure, political stability, high-quality education, and business-friendly environment. Thanks to its relaxed taxation policies and lack of bureaucratic red tape, doing business in Singapore is a great option.
Moreover, Singapore’s business language is English, which means that you will not face any language barriers while living in the city. It also offers an incredible food scene, from mouthwatering local street food to night markets to an affordable Michelin-starred restaurant. It also has thriving nightlife, shopping malls, sustainable skyscrapers, botanical gardens, and so much more. Moreover, expats find it easy to adjust to the diverse local culture and make new friends in the city-state. One downside of living in Singapore is that the cost of living is a bit high as compared to other foreign cities.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is one of the best cities for US expats because it’s a diverse city with no language barrier; English is the preferred business language in the city. Moreover, the city also offers a high standard of living at a relatively low cost.
As an expat, you can live in a posh locality in Kuala Lumpur by spending only half the price of a smaller apartment in the US. Moreover, petrol and gas prices are also lower since Malaysia has a large market of oil and gas companies. Plus, there are many locally grown products available at affordable rates.
Additionally, the healthcare system in the city is pretty decent as well. Highly qualified doctors offer their services and medical assistance at affordable rates. Kuala Lumpur also offers well-planned, modern infrastructure and transportation. Most of the living spaces in the city are modern, spacious, and newly built.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Also known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is another great city for US expats as it offers convenient, affordable housing and excellent financial prospects. Moreover, the city is home to the friendliest locals who will make you feel at home right away, despite the language barrier. You will also have a welcoming expat community to rely on.
Ho Chi Minh City also has an exceptionally low cost of living, especially when compared to European cities. The local food is incredibly affordable and delicious, and you have tons of street vendors and local eateries to choose from. Groceries, transportation, and social activities also don’t cost much in the city. As an expat, you will have plenty of shops to visit and nearby cities to explore.
The only drawback of living in the city is that you will have to deal with the pollution and overall poor quality of the environment. Other than that, Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant place to call your home. The city offers many outdoor recreational avenues for adventure lovers. It’s also home to many cultural and historical sites and has an impressive local art scene.
The Bottom Line
As a US expat, it’s not easy to leave your home and start living in a foreign land. Moreover, it can be quite overwhelming to choose a permanent home where you can rebuild your life the way you want. The countries and cities mentioned above have distinctive benefits for American expats, such as affordable living, high-quality education, business opportunities, and more. The country you choose will depend on the qualities that you are looking for in your permanent home.