We may not know the results of the 2020 election for several days or even weeks. But whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden ultimately wins the presidency, you may not be happy with the direction our country is headed.
“No matter who wins the election, I fear it will take longer than our lifetime to bring America back to pre-2016 election attitudes,” said Julie Darling, a recent ex-pat.
Darling, her partner, and their three dogs recently left San Diego, California, to become residents of Mexico. It started when the couple, both in their 60s, rented a home on Rosarito Beach last October. They loved it so much that they decided to buy it in February and live there full-time.
Darling said the cost of living was a factor in the decision to leave the U.S. ― there’s no way they could afford beachfront property owners in Southern California. Their property taxes are about $90 per year, and the electricity bill is around $65 monthly. But there were other, more significant reasons for the move, too.
“We could see the America I grew up in devolving. The anger and hate were ramping up,” she said. “We wanted out.”
Darling is one of many Americans who moved to another country, searching for a better quality of life. As of 2016, it was estimated that nearly 9 million Americans live overseas, whether for work or personal reasons.
Homebrewer and educator Ken Mukai is one of them. Last year, he and his wife moved from Los Angeles to Niyodogawa-Cho, Japan, to open a brewery. It was an offer they couldn’t refuse: He said the cost of living in the U.S. continued rising to ridiculous levels, especially medical and dental insurance. As a teacher, Mukai said he was sick of wasting time and energy on things other than actual teachings, such as dealing with pushy parents, useless staff meetings, pointless mandates from his district, and constantly fighting for better conditions.
The local government in Niyodogawa-who offered to subsidize the construction of the new brewery building, and the rent on their home is much lower than in LA. (initially, it was about $300 per month). Medical and dental coverage are also highly subsidized in Japan, further reducing the cost of living.
Mukai said that seeing what’s currently going on in the U.S. regarding politics, violence, COVID-19, and school shutdowns, he feels that he “got out just in time.”
“I love LA, but I had to live in a constant state of alert, not knowing what bad thing might happen,” Mukai said. “I knew the town I’d be moving to would feel safe, and I wouldn’t have to be in that constant state of alertness. I don’t have to watch my back anymore.”
How Much Does It Cost To Move Overseas?
Though the cost of living might be lower in many foreign countries, getting it is not usually cheap. If you’re considering leaving the country (for whatever reason), you must plan for these international moving costs.
Getting your belongings from the U.S. to your new home overseas is a significant expense. Many people use a lift company, which transports belongings in a large container via ship. “The price of the shipment is hugely variable and depends on a lot of factors, but you can end up shelling out $1,000-$2,000 more than you expected due to all the extras,” said Sammie Herrick, a travel blogger from Boston who has been living as an ex-pat throughout Asia and the Middle East for about five years.
On average, it costs just over $3,000 to ship the contents of a three-bedroom home. But that number can rise dramatically if you also have a car or pets.
If you are thinking about shipping a container overseas, Herrick’s advice is twofold: First, read your contract carefully to know where hidden charges could come into play. It’s not uncommon for shipping companies to emphasize the base price without clearly explaining the upcharges, extra fees, insurance, and taxes due on your shipment when it arrives in your new country.
Secondly, Herrick strongly recommends reconsidering a shipping container. “I have heard horror stories of people paying a lot of money to get customized furniture that they love abroad and then having to sell it because it doesn’t fit in their new home,” he said. That’s because houses in other countries are often smaller than in the U.S., and you could end up paying a lot of money to keep items you can’t use. “Do your research and try and bring only things you cannot get in your new country or things of sentimental value.”
Most people anticipate the high costs of moving overseas, such as packers, movers, and shipping, said Marco Sison, a retirement coach for the site Nomadic FIRE who has moved more than a dozen times internationally. However, many people forget to budget for the most critical step: getting a visa.
“You are not moving anywhere without a visa, and a visa is not free,” Sison said. Take popular ex-pat destination Spain, for example. Securing a long-term stay visa costs Sison over $3,000. However, he noted, it’s not the cost of the access itself that was expensive, but the indirect cost of fulfilling the requirements to get one.
