Jan 6, 2025
For Cara West, becoming a parent didn’t just change her — it transformed her perspective on what it meant to raise a family in America.
In 2022, shortly after giving birth to her daughter, the 33-year-old was blindsided by a $10,000 hospital bill and the realization that she didn’t qualify for her company’s maternity leave program. Then the devastating mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas forced her to confront a harsh reality: the United States wasn’t the safe supportive place she wanted for her growing family.
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Becoming a parent “made me truly understand that the U.S. does not really support families and mothers and children,” she said in a recent episode of CNBC Make It.
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Here’s what West did to find a new home in a country that met their needs.
Making the move overseas
The family decided to leave Texas and spend time in Europe as digital nomads. Besides the lower cost of living and family-friendly policies, West, who currently lives in Greece, says the move enhanced her sense of security.
“I just get to exist in peace and I’m not worried about someone following me around at the store or treating me differently because of my skin color,” she said. “I’m just seen as an American here.”
The desire to leave the country is at an all-time high, according to a recent Gallup poll. From 2011 to 2023, the number of Americans and Canadians who said they were considering emigration jumped from 10% to 18%.
As of 2022, roughly 3.9 million American civilians are living overseas, according to American Citizens Abroad (ACA). One in three expats is considering cutting ties altogether by renouncing their U.S. citizenship, according to a survey from Greenback Expat Tax Services.
If you’re considering joining this wave of people heading for the exit, here’s what you need to know.
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How to move abroad
If you’re considering leaving America, the first thing to consider is income. Wages in most U.S. states are considerably higher than the wages offered in several developed countries, according to the Economic Innovation Group. If you can hold onto a high-paying American job while living in a place with a lower cost of living, it could be a great boost to your lifestyle.
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Like Cara West, an estimated 18.1 million American digital nomads are enjoying the flexibility of remote work, according to MBO Partners 2024 State of Independence. These workers can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Beyond income and costs, you also need to consider taxes and bureaucracy. Fifty countries offer special digital nomad or remote worker visas, including Costa Rica, Panama, Spain, Portugal, Dubai and Japan, according to Citizen Remote. However, if you’re moving to a country without a remote work visa, you may need to consult an immigration expert to navigate the process and a local financial expert to handle your taxes.
Other factors to consider are housing, healthcare, education and transportation. Many developed countries have good public transit, but you may need to buy a car if you move to a country without such infrastructure. If you have children, take the time to understand the local school system before moving. And if you have healthcare needs, take a closer look at your insurance options.
Moving to a new country can be exciting and life-enhancing, but only if you plan ahead and do your research.
“It is truly such a more fulfilling, more richer life abroad,” West said.
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Vishesh Raisinghani is a financial journalist covering personal finance, investing and the global economy. He's also the founder of Sharpe Ascension Inc., a content marketing agency focused on investment firms. His work has appeared in Moneywise, Yahoo Finance!, Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine and Piggybank.
