An upward trend in Americans moving abroad for retirement continues through 2026 and likely beyond. For many retirees, the destination often relies on lower cost of living, accessible healthcare, and finding community. LGBTQ+ seniors face additional challenges in their search, seeking countries where their marital status, gender identity, and personal
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has come under scrutiny for comments about revoking rights from gay Americans, including same-sex marriage. Thankfully, even if the worst were to happen, other countries still offer those rights for LGBTQIA+ folks. Since the Netherlands first legalized gay marriage back in 2001, the fight
When you start planning a move abroad, digging into universal healthcare rankings by country is easily one of the smartest things you can do for your peace of mind. Nobody wants to relocate to a dream destination only to realize the local medical care is substandard or completely unaffordable. The
Friendly to visit and friendly to actually live in are two different things. Italy feels wonderful for two weeks. Talk to Americans who spent years navigating Italian residency paperwork, and the story changes. The countries below work long-term: locals who engage with newcomers rather than tolerate them, bureaucracy that doesn’t
Here’s a sentence that would have sounded weird not too terribly long ago: the United States is no longer considered a liberal democracy. The V-Dem Institute, which tracks democracy across 202 countries and territories, downgraded the U.S. in its 2026 report — dropping it from “liberal democracy” to “electoral democracy,”
Are you looking forward to retirement? Do you imagine peaceful days spent socializing with family and friends, pursuing hobbies, and catching up on things you put off during a long career with limited time off? While we all long for those days, you may look at your bank account and
You hear it all the time from vacationers in Costa Rica: “God, this is the best.” And from vacationers who just got home from Costa Rica and can’t stop telling everyone who didn’t get to go to Costa Rica: “Costa Rica was the best.” But of course anyone who’s just spent
Did you miss our country comparo last year? We’ve revived it, reviewed it, and refreshed it for Costa Rica/Panama Country of the Month 2026. Enjoy! Expats relocating from the U.S. to warmer climates often put Costa Rica and Panama at the top of their list. And for good reason —
Despite Americans who claim it’s the greatest country on earth, the United States is not exceptional when it comes to healthcare. It is, however, the most expensive. According to a 2023 report from the Commonwealth Fund, U.S. healthcare ranks highest worldwide in terms of costs, spending nearly 18 percent of
Expats relocating from the U.S. to warmer climates often put Costa Rica and Panama at the top of their list. And for good reason — both offer warm climates, stunning natural beauty, and thriving expat communities. In fact, it can be hard to decide which tropical nation will be the
Every year, Expatsi releases a report about when, why, and how Americans are planning to leave the country. The statistics are derived from the Expatsi Test — the 20-question assessment Expatsi uses to help prospective expats find the country that best suits their budget, visa path, and preferences. READ THE
While “digital nomads” — remote employees or freelancers who work from their laptops — have existed for as long as technology has made it possible, most still travel on tourist visas and work surreptitiously around the world. First launched by Estonia in 2020, digital nomad visas allow these wanderers to
“How the heck are so many Americans moving abroad?” Questions like this come up frequently when Expatsi hosts its TikTok Live streams. People of all ages are looking for ways to leave the U.S. We’ve had teenagers considering college; single mothers looking for safer schools; retirees hoping to settle down
The idea of Blue Zones came from demographic research emphasizing areas with unusually high numbers of centenarians. Not only are these sites known for residents with long lives, but a great quality of life in aged individuals has been observed as well. That said, let’s have a look into the
It’s getting tougher and tougher to retire in the United States. Between the high cost of healthcare and overall inflation, seniors are poorer than ever before. The good news is that there are plenty of bargains to be had abroad. Consider these spots in paradise where you can live for
If your anxiety or depression are through the roof here in the United States, you’re not alone. More than 50 million Americans live with a mental illness, none of whom are helped by our lackluster healthcare systems or the stress of living here. If you’d like to consider another country
What traditions do you follow for winter holidays? How would you celebrate if the friend, foods, and events you were used to weren’t around? Even in the U.S., Brett and I love participating in Jolabokaflod, the Icelandic tradition of exchanging and reading books on Christmas. These Americans share the unique
For many Americans looking to retire abroad, living well on a fixed income ranks among their highest priorities. You’ve paid into social security through your working years and want to relax. Maybe you have a pension or a 401(k), too, and intend to stretch that retirement income as far as
