Americans Are Leaving the U.S. in Record Numbers. Here's What They Discover Next.

Inspired by recent reporting from The Wall Street Journal on the growing number of Americans choosing to build lives abroad.

If you've been thinking about moving abroad lately, you're not imagining it—you have more company than ever.

A recent Wall Street Journal investigation highlighted something remarkable: Americans appear to be leaving the United States in numbers not seen in generations. Estimates suggest that between 8 and 9 million U.S. citizens now live abroad, and interest in expatriation has surged in recent years. Google searches for "move abroad" and "leave the U.S." have spiked, while applications for second citizenships and long-term visas have increased significantly since 2020. Rising housing costs, expensive healthcare, remote work, political polarization, and a desire for a different pace of life are among the most commonly cited reasons.

But after spending time in expat communities and talking to people planning international moves, I've noticed something interesting.

The biggest obstacle usually isn't deciding to leave.

It's figuring out where you can actually go.

The Dream Is Emotional. The Research Is Overwhelming.

Most people don't start with a spreadsheet.

They start with a feeling.

Maybe they're burned out. Maybe they want safer streets for their kids, healthier food, better work-life balance, or simply a slower pace of life.

Then reality sets in.

Every country differs across several key dimensions:

• Visas — eligibility, duration, renewal options
• Taxes — income tax, foreign income rules, treaties
• Healthcare — access, quality, cost, insurance requirements
• Residency pathways — temporary vs permanent options, citizenship routes
• Cost of living — housing, food, transportation, childcare
• Language — daily usability, integration challenges
• Remote work rules — legal status of working for foreign employers

Suddenly what started as an exciting dream becomes dozens of browser tabs, government websites, Reddit threads, YouTube videos, and conflicting advice.

A Simple Framework for Choosing a Country

Instead of trying to evaluate everything at once, it helps to break the decision into three clear layers.

1. Priorities (What You Want)

Start with your personal goals and lifestyle preferences.

• Families — safety, schools, healthcare, stability
• Remote workers — visa flexibility, internet, taxes, time zones
• Entrepreneurs — business regulations, taxes, market access
• Retirees — affordability, healthcare, climate

2. Visa Eligibility (What's Possible)

Next, narrow your options based on where you can legally stay.

• Digital nomad visa — remote workers with foreign income
• Work visa — employees sponsored by local companies
• Entrepreneur visa — business owners and investors
• Retirement visa — individuals with passive income
• Student visa — those pursuing education abroad
• Family-based visa — people with relatives in the destination

Your income, career, citizenship, age, and family situation will often determine which of these are realistic. See What Is the Schengen Area? for how European stays are counted, and Can You Work Remotely Anywhere in Europe? for the rules on working while abroad.

3. Lifestyle Fit (What Life Is Actually Like)

Finally, compare how each viable country aligns with your day-to-day life.

• Cost of living — can I afford my desired lifestyle?
• Healthcare — is it accessible and high quality?
• Culture — will I feel comfortable and integrated?
• Language — can I communicate effectively?
• Infrastructure — is transportation, internet, and daily life reliable?

This three-step approach—priorities → eligibility → lifestyle fit—turns an overwhelming decision into a structured process.

There Isn't One "Best Country"

One of the biggest myths about moving abroad is that everyone is chasing the same destination.

They're not.

The "best" country depends entirely on how your priorities, visa options, and lifestyle preferences intersect.

A country that's perfect on paper may not work if you don't qualify for a visa.

A country you qualify for may not match your lifestyle goals.

The right answer sits at the intersection of all three.

The Visa Is Usually the Deciding Factor

Many Americans start by comparing lifestyle.

Experienced expats usually start by comparing visas.

The perfect country doesn't help if you don't qualify to stay.

In practice, visa eligibility often acts as a filter:

• Identify countries where you meet visa requirements
• Compare those countries based on lifestyle and cost
• Choose the best fit within your realistic options

This is why understanding visas early saves time and frustration. The free relocation assessment filters countries by visa eligibility first, so you only compare places where you actually qualify to stay.

Why More Americans Can Move Abroad Than Ever Before

Twenty years ago, international relocation often meant taking a job overseas.

Today, remote work has fundamentally changed the equation.

Many Americans can keep earning U.S. salaries while living in countries where housing, healthcare, childcare, or everyday expenses cost significantly less. Combined with expanding digital nomad visas and more flexible residency pathways, this has made international relocation accessible to people who may never have considered it before. If you're curious what your own move could look like on paper, the relocation budget planner breaks down phase-by-phase costs — from visa fees and flights to your first six months of rent — for every country on NextLatitude.

That doesn't mean moving abroad is easy.

It means it's possible.

The Question Isn't "Should I Leave?"

For many people, the more useful question is:

"If I wanted to build a life somewhere else, what are my realistic options?"

That's a much easier question to answer—especially when you use a structured approach.

Because the information is scattered, inconsistent, and often outdated. One website focuses on visas but ignores taxes. Another talks about cost of living but skips healthcare. Forums are filled with personal anecdotes that may not apply to your situation.

What people really need isn't more content.

They need clarity.

They need a way to:

• Define their priorities
• Identify which visas they qualify for
• Compare countries side by side
• Understand what life would realistically look like

Because moving abroad should feel like the beginning of an adventure.

Not the beginning of a research project.

So instead of asking yourself whether you should leave, start by asking a simpler, more actionable question: Where could I realistically go—and what would it take to get there?

Take a moment to reflect on what matters most to you—your lifestyle, your finances, your career, your family—and begin exploring your options with intention.

And if you want a clearer path forward, start by building your own relocation plan with the free relocation assessment — you'll get personalized country recommendations ranked to your priorities, visa eligibility, and lifestyle fit. From there, the relocation budget planner turns those recommendations into a realistic dollar figure so you know exactly what your move would cost.

Because once you understand your options—and have a plan to guide you—the idea of building a life somewhere new stops feeling overwhelming and starts feeling like a real, achievable next step.