Start your next chapter in a new country.
Gabriele Borgioli/Getty Images
As of October 2024, there were5.5 million Americansliving abroad, up about 100,000 from 2023.
I should know: In 2021, I became one of them, moving from California to Portugal.
Visitors walking around the Plaza de España in Seville, Spain.Credit:Gabriele Borgioli/Getty Images
However, it’s also not as easy as it may appear.
It’s also a place where American expats can usually find excellent affordability.
(Note: Numbeo’s numbers change frequently with the market, so check often.)
Cityscape of Porto, Portugal.Paula Galindo Valle/Travel + Leisure
Portugal’s public health care system is alsoamong the best in Europe, offering affordableoften freecare to residents.
According toExpat Insider 2024, Lisbon ranked 13th for ease of settling in.
Spain
Rory Fuller/Travel + Leisure
Looking to stay within the Iberian Peninsula?
Aerial view of the Alicante cityscape.Rory Fuller/Travel + Leisure
Then, simply head over to Spain.
The country’s vibrant cities, Mediterranean coastlines, and relaxed pace make it a favorite for American expats.
Like Portugal, Spain also has strong expat communities, particularly in Valencia, Malaga, and Seville.
The flag flying on top of the National Palace in Mexico City,.Jorge Castro/Travel + Leisure
The cost of living in some parts of Mexico is notably low.
Health care is both affordable and excellent across the nation, with private hospitalsmeeting international standards.
In San Jose, rent for a one-bedroom goes for about $850 a month, according to Numbeo.
Beachgoers enjoying the sunset in Costa Rica.Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure
Italy
Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure
Italy is the prime destination for romance-seeking expats.
There’s nothing not to love about this boot-shaped nation.
From its history to food and easygoing lifestyle, it’s all perfection.
Villa del Balbianello seen from the water in Lake Como, Italy.Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure
Romes cobbled streets and Florences Renaissance beauty are all fitting for a high-quality expat life.
Rent in Rome averages about $1,250 per month, according to Numbeo.
Italyspublic health careranks among the worlds top 25 countries on U.S. News' list.
A bench overlooking a lake and mountains in New Zealand.Tessa Desjardins/Travel + Leisure
It also ranks well on Numbeo’sQuality of Life Indexthanks to its relatively safe environment and health care.
Health care is publicly funded and reliable and ranks as the 15th best in the world, according toU.S.
News and World Report.
Looking down on the busy streets of old town in Quebec City.Lauren Breedlove/Travel + Leisure
The country also ranks highly on the Global Peace Index, coming in atNo.
Just check out our neighbors to the north.
Canada offers a familiar yet refreshingly international feel for American expats.
Plonlein street with city gates in Rothenburg ob der Tauber a town in German Bavaria.Harald Nachtmann/Getty Images
It’s also one more destination of remarkableand wildly underratedbeauty.
It also offers startup visas for entrepreneurs.
In cities like Berlin, rents average about $1,325 per month for a one-bedroom, according toNumbeo.
Fields of tulips and windmills in the Netherlands.ake1150sb/Getty Images
And across the country, both locals and expats can expect exceptional healthcare, with Germany ranking No.
News and World Report’srankings.
The nation also clocks in at No.
Colorful heritage building in the Chinatown neighborhood of Singapore.Ng Zheng Hui/Getty Images
10 on theGlobal Peace Index, which can provide excellent peace of mind for some expats.
It also offers awork, study, and research visa.
Health care also ranks among the world’s best, coming in at ninth place onU.S.
Panoramic high angle view of Panama City and ocean views.David Shvartsman/Getty Images
News and World Report.
Importantly, it’s also a place where happiness abounds.
In 2025, it came in fifth place in theWorld Happiness Report.
The beautiful cityscape with Palacio Salvo in Montevideo, Uruguay.Wirestock/Getty Images
And really, what’s not to be happy about?
Here, you could bike along flower-lined canals, enjoy local markets, and attend world-class cultural festivals.
However, you trade that cost for excellent health care, with it ranking 14th inU.S.
The Watchediluang Varaviharn Temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand.Lauren DeCicca/Travel + Leisure
News and World Report’slist.
In Panama City, a one-bedroom apartment rents for about $1,100 per month,per Numbeo.
The nation’s health care system ranks among the top 100 (no.
The Abreuvoir footbridge on the River Ill in Strasbourg, France.Gautier Houba/Travel + Leisure
News and World Report’s list and is accessible through both private and public plans.
Uruguay ranks 52nd on the Global Peace Index, making it one of the safest places in Latin America.
Life here is laid-back and community-centered, with cultural festivals celebrated year-round.
Chinese lanterns at Kek Lok Si Temple in George Town, Penang, Malaysia.Inti St Clair/Getty Images
58 on U.S. and World Report.
Thailand also placed in the top 30 for quality of life in Expat Insider 2024.
There are also other more specific long-term and retirement visas available.
Sailboats in the harbor in Ios, Greece.Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure
Like Italy, it too offers romance, culture, world-class dining, and an effortlessly chic vibe.
But more than that, expats will also find some of the best health care on the planet.
The nation’s public health care system consistently ranks among the best globally, including coming in 14th onU.S.
Scooter bikes on the street in Hanoi, Vietnam.Irjaliina Paavonpera/Travel + Leisure
News and World Report.It’s also a country that values a great quality of life.
It took the No.
Malaysia
Inti St Clair/Getty Images
Malaysia is another up-and-coming destination that’s catering to expat retirees.
Views of Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción in Cuenca, Ecuador.jon chica parada/Getty Images
In Kuala Lumpur, a one-bedroom apartment rents for around $522 per month, according to Numbeo.
Great health care options are also here, with the country ranking at No.
How to move there:TheMalaysia My Second Home programoffers long-term visas for those meeting specific financial requirements.
Old Fortress in Dubrovnik Harbor, Croatia.Samantha T. Photography/Getty Images
It also offers adigital nomad visathat allows you to stay for up to 12 months.
It’s also one more affordable spot where the expat dollar can stretch even further.
In Athens, rent for a one-bedroom apartment goes for about $628, Numbeo reported.
Caracol Natural Monument Reservation in Belize.Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure
Greece also ranked well in Expat Insider 2024, coming in at No.
34 thanks to its quality of life and community.
Vietnam also consistently scores well for affordability and adventure and took the No.
40 spot on Expat Insider 2024’s quality of life index.
In Zagreb, expats canexpect to payabout $775 per month to rent a one-bedroom apartment.
37 on the U.S. News and World Report list.
Croatia additionally ranks 15th on the Global Peace Index, making it one of Europes safest countries.
Then Belize is the ideal expat destination for you.
The tiny country in Central America is just a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Miami but feels a whole world away.
Expats can also access its health care system for routine care.
