Slightly off topic for the board but technically still travel related...

Was bored over the weekend and started thinking about the prospects of living in another country. I have spent my entire life in TX but have always had a desire to live elsewhere (another state or country) for a bit just to experience other places, people, etc... Have travelled a decent bit around the US for work and a few other states on vacation but not much abroad. I still have tons of places on my bucket list to visit so don't have the personal experience to 100% nail down my ideal location but also thought this could be an interesting discussion...

Have you lived outside of the US? Why were you there? What were the pros/cons?
If you could live anywhere in the world outside of the US, where would it be and why?

Wife and I are planning to retire in the next year and current plans are to go to USVI or perhaps Mexico.

I've got some friends that met in St Croix (he is from Scotland and she was from Ohio), got married and lived there for a few more years. They moved to the Houston area when they got pregnant with their first because they were iffy about the medical facilities there. That's been 9-10yrs ago.

Since we're citizens, we've considered Italy. But I suppose we could go anywhere in the EU if we wanted. Would prefer somewhere with a warmer climate. So northern Finland is probably off the table.

I am hoping to have a retirement home in Mexico and Colorado. I do plan on spending quite a bit of time in Europe (AirBnB). Obviously a lot of stuff has to occur for this to happen but its on my roadmap.

If my job allowed it and kids were older, I would totally go stay 2-3 months at a time in other countries.

Once my kids are out of the house, I want to get a smaller house away from the congestion where I currently live. I have the advantage (for now) that I have a remote job, so I can live anywhere with internet. Before all the covid madness, I suggested to my wife that we sell our current house and before buying a new place we could AirBnB around Europe for several months. Based on some really quick research, there are lots of options were we could rent places a month at a time for less than our current mortgage.

Not me but my mom just moved back about a year ago after living in Switzerland for half a dozen years or so for work.

The overall experience she said was very good. Centrally located in Europe, she visited Austria, Hungary, France, UK, Finland, Germany, Belgium, and many others.

Food was all fresh and a heck of a lot healthier than what's available here unless you pay through the nose.

Her husband is a big cycler and he especially misses all of the elevation and the hiking and camping.

I think she would prefer to be back there but one of the big cons she said was winter was just a brutal slog and she hates the cold.

Cayman Islands.

The plan currently is in Costa Rica. That is a five year plan at the earliest. That may change to Panama or Columbia if the gringos keep driving the prices up.

We prefer the simple laid back approach of Costa Rica. Their motto is Pura Vida and we strive for that every day. The cost of living a simpler life there, while being able to work remotely is a huge plus.

The Chicken Ranch said:

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Cayman Islands.

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Little Cayman in particular is my dream home away from home if I win the lottery.

Spouse is applying for her medical license in New Zealand, takes 2 years to get it. Looking at part time there and part time Bali.

Already have a house and 6 Rai (~2.5 acres) in Surin, Thailand. Will move there full time after my daughter finishes school. I'll keep my house in AZ as a home base though.

txags92 said:

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The Chicken Ranch said:

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Cayman Islands.

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Little Cayman in particular is my dream home away from home if I win the lottery.

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I concur!

I've been living abroad for the last 11 years. Currently I'm in Colombia. Previously I was in Guatemala and Cambodia. I love the energy in Latin America and the cost of living is great as well. I plan on staying here and then probably splitting my retirement time between Thailand and Colombia.

if anyone has recs on how a US citizen can retire (buy a home, etc) in Australia/New Zealand....then I'm all ears!

Go hunt down HollywoodBQ. He is in the states now but he lived in Australia for 10ish years (work related). I know he has posted a good bit over the years about his experiences as an expat. Not sure if he posts in Travel anymore. I know he posts in F16 and I think in Outdoor occasionally.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of living abroad, but I am perfectly happy where I am and plan to VISIT all the cool places, but keep my life right where I'm at.

Perhaps it is because I don't live in a a congested, fast paced place.

We've talked about it a lot that once the kids are out of the house we move to Spain or Portugal...possibly Italy. Just depends on when I'm able to retire. Ideally it'd be when the kids (I have two) are fresh graduates and before grandkids. I guess we'd keep some sort of residence here for when we need to come back and or reset our time of stay in Europe.

Or we win the lottery and we go tomorrow...

Hincemm said:

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if anyone has recs on how a US citizen can retire (buy a home, etc) in Australia/New Zealand....then I'm all ears!

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chjoak, Thanks for the mention. I've been really busy with work lately so I've only had time to snipe at a few posts here and there.

For the OP, here are a couple posts I made since I moved back to California 3 years ago.

Questions about moving abroad - https://texags.com/forums/56/topics/3116157
Issues with repatriation - https://texags.com/forums/56/topics/3198073

The main thing you're really going to need to know is that you don't need Citizenship but, you will need Permanent Residency (the equivalent of a Green Card).

Once you gain PR in Australia, or New Zealand, you can move freely between the two countries and PR in one grants you PR in the other. It was a trip when I first went to NZ after getting my Aussie PR because the Kiwis stamped in my passport a stamp that says, I never have to leave NZ.

Having PR in Australia gives you all the rights of a Citizen except for voting. Their voting is compulsory and a bit of a clown show anyway so I'm happy to not have to worry about it.

Once you have your Permanent Residency, you can remain in the country forever. But, if you want to leave and come back, you have to have a Visa that grants you the right to return. Those need to be renewed every 5 years. I have a Dutch friend who has been in Australia for 30 years and has renewed his right to return 6 times. On the other hand, I have a Brit friend who became an Australian Citizen after 25 years in the country because it was cheaper than renewing his UK passport.

There are basically 4 different ways to get your Permanent Residency in Australia or New Zealand.

• Marry your way in - they don't have the 5 year waiting period on mail order brides like we do in the USA. I've known a few guys who were devastated once their Russian or Colombian brides left them after 5 years. In Australia or NZ, they grant you full privileges right away.
• Buy your way in - the USA and many countries like Australia and New Zealand have business investor programs that allow people who are willing to inject $1M to $5M into the economy to buy their way into Permanent Residency and sometimes even Citizenship right away.
• Become a Refugee - this is the second hardest way to get in. Because you usually need to be from some s/hole country and brave your way across the ocean or board a flight, hoping to seek asylum in Australia. They don't let very many people in this way but for the ones who make it, it's a really good deal.
• Skilled Migrant - this is what I did and is certainly the most difficult way to go. You have to have credentialed technical skills and be sponsored by an employer in Australia. You'll have to go through medical exams and agree to leave the country in 28 days if your employer fires you. You'll have to pay $5,000/yr per child to send them to the public schools and of course, you'll need to earn a wage that puts you somewhere around the 40% tax bracket. After 3-4 years, you can apply for Permanent Residency which includes fees, paperwork and a few more medical exams.

I encourage you to have a look and go visit for 2+ weeks to see if it would really be for you.

If it's a retirement strategy, I'll say that it would be difficult to fit in and make friends if you're not working in an office, and/or have schoolchildren playing sports.

I enjoyed my time Down Under but for myself, I'm an American and while I'm very adaptable, I'm a firm believer in the US Constitution (one of the reasons I'm looking to bail out of California this year).

After 12 years of 20+ hours travel to visit friends and family, the 3+ hour flights from California to Texas only seem like a warm up.

Spanish coast is my dream

Would also absolutely live in the Netherlands or Germany if the opportunity arose.

Switzerland - I'm a born and raised Texan, living in Switzerland on a work visa. It's legit.

Yes. Have lived in both Jamaica and Australia. Wouldn't recommend Jamaica right now. How old are you? Is it just you? If young and adventurous I would highly recommend Australia. Lived there for 5 years. Beautiful place, less people, cool culture, and an enormous playground if you like the outdoors. Plenty semblance to western conveniences, but definitely culturally very different and unique. I will always have a soft spot and have never met someone that moved there as a life changing decision.

My sister lived for 3-4 years in Australia. She spent 1 year in Toowoomba and the rest of the time in Port Douglas. She really liked Port Douglas.

Pre pandemic I did about 1.5-2 months a year abroad for business. I'd like to live abroad, but being a granddad has me reconsidering moving away.

All things being equal, Mediterranean Europe and Australia would be the destinations. For me, the only down side to Australia would be that it's very remote. But I absolutely love the country, it checks all the boxes.

We are moving to the Texas coast hopefully inside of next 12 months. It's like a whole other country from Dallas!

My parents good friends did a hybrid arrangement for several years that I thought was cool. He is Australian and she is Texan. They would pick a city somewhere and live there for six months and go full immersion on the local culture. At end of six months, they would either hop back to Australia or Texas for the other six months and then pick a new city/place for the next six month round after home basing for a bit.

That's an interesting concept.
You've just got to be real careful on taxes.

My childhood friend who bought his way into New Zealand found out the hard way bouncing back and forth between the USA and NZ.

Told me he wound up in a $200,000 tax dispute with the NZ government because I guess they tax unrealized gains in the market value of your investment portfolio. Or something like that. Whereas in the US, gains are only taxed when you sell.

I had the same sort of feelings, so my company is moving me to Sydney for a few years.

bthotugigem05 said:

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I had the same sort of feelings, so my company is moving me to Sydney for a few years.

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If I recall, I assume you're single with no children so it should be a great adventure for you.
Qantas Status Credits are going to be your new goal

Hit me up if you have any questions about where to live (Northern Beaches vs. Eastern Suburbs).
In my opinion Manly >>> Bondi

When you start looking, keep in mind that the rents advertised are "per week".
I got really excited when I found a place for $750 and then realized it was p.w. not per month.
Domain is really good for searching for a place to live. The phone app is great.
https://www.domain.com.au/

The quick breakdown on your pay packet is that they are going to tax the heck out of you. And you've got a 10% GST on top of that.

Your employer is forced to save about 10% of your income into a Superannuation account.
After 10 years, you get 2 months "long-service leave" off.

I'm sure you'll make it out to all six states and both territories and probably a few trips to NZ, Indonesia, Singapore and maybe Fiji.

Check back and let us know how it goes.

There's a pretty good crew that gets together in Sydney for Muster. Don't miss that.

Appreciate those notes. The rental crisis in Sydney is real, I was looking at places in Manly that were $750pw that are now going for $1100-1200. Gonna be 'spensive!

Are those in Aussie dollars or US dollars? Hope for you it's the former.

Aussie, thankfully

Lives in Dubai for two years in my late 20s. Initially went because my now ex was working there; I ultimately ended up getting a job too. Probably the most fun two years of my life, honestly. It was more like a two year vacation than anything. Made a really diverse group of friends who have all since dispersed back to their home countries for marriage and kids, but we're still close and everyone visits each other when we can. I wouldn't live in Dubai again; it's a young person's city and definitely not a great place to raise kids. But I'm so grateful for the time I had there.

When my daughter is grown, I think I would really like to live in europe. Not at all sure how doable that will be from an immigration standpoint as a self employed (WFH) single person, but the lifestyles of my friends, specifically in France, Denmark, Switzerland, and Italy are very appealing to me. If nothing else, I'll probably piece together extended trips and try to spend several months a year. But who knows, my kid is only 9 and the world can change a lot in 9 years.

bthotugigem05 said:

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Appreciate those notes. The rental crisis in Sydney is real, I was looking at places in Manly that were $750pw that are now going for $1100-1200. Gonna be 'spensive!

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Sydney is expensive AF. There are no deals to be made unless you wish to live outside of the city.

glanmit said:

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I lived in Mexico for 6 months, but honestly that is not my country .
Next time plan to go to Costa Rica or Ecuador

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At least you tried to find out it whether or not it was for you. I applaud anyone who is willing to do what you did.