Which non-US country would be good to move to?

Believe it or not Uruguay was rated highly by International Living.

Slovenia.

Belarus

I'm hearing good things about North Korea, OP.

Darfur!

Don't even think of Canada, you'll never get enough points at your age.

Iran! Sharia law is really in right now.

Palestine

Djibouti

We'll simply take control, as you disappear...

I would love to move to England, but I think you have to prove that a UK company wants you and there's not a UK worker that can do what you do. Not sure about retired people.

Russia.

I like Chile very much. Argentina could be great, but the economy is a mess and I doubt things will improve in the near future. Uruguay is too expensive and boring for my taste. But I do think the southern cone is going to be the best place to be if WWIII breaks out.

[quote]Slovenia.

Another vote for Slovenia: unspoiled beauty, friendly people, and most people speak English.

South Pacific somewhere.

[quote]Uruguay is too expensive

That's what I heard as well, R13. And as soon as I heard someone on YouTube say that Costa Rica is a Third World country with First World prices, I ruled that out as well, even though I know someone who will be moving there soon.

Right now, I'm researching Colombia. I want to go somewhere inexpensive where I can use/improve my horrible Spanish, and for me, Colombian Spanish is the easiest accent to understand. Plus you can pretty much choose the climate you want to live in. I actually had been thinking about Ecuador, but currently the government is basically in a shambles, so that's out.

I too read good things about Slovenia, but I don't want to go anywhere cold. I considered Portugal (I have a Portuguese neighbor) but I just don't want to learn a new language at this late date. [Yes, I know -- many Europeans speak English, but I don't want to be one of [italic]those[/italic] Americans.] Mexico upped the amount of passive monthly income/$ in savings for a retirement visa, so that's now out of the question for me.

If anyone has any ideas of somewhere somewhat warm I might be able to afford where nobody's going to burn down an old lesbian's apartment, feel free to mention it here. I've been wracking my brain for a year now and haven't settled on anything, so I'm open to suggestions.

Maybe Trump will go to his just reward and I won't have to worry about this...but I'm not holding my breath.

How would that work? As a retiree won’t you need to rely on Medicare for at least part of your health insurance? Pretty sure they don’t take that in other countries.

Is Jamaica safe?

Google the cost of health care/insurance for expats in other countries, R17 -- that's what the internet is [italic]for[/italic].

Neither Jamaica nor Colombia are safe.

Not for gay people, R18 -- and I heard that directly from the mouth of my lesbian student from Jamaica.

Do tell, R20 -- have you lived in/visited Colombia?

fo sho Puerrrrto Rico is da place to be.

Not really US and not really not US.

[quote] Is Jamaica safe?

Is Jamaica safe, that’s a good one, that’s funny.

Why would any other country want you, OP?

Well, after Trump is elected and the dollar tanks, no country will want us.

Vote blue, early and often.

I’m thinking of going to Ireland for retirement. Just outside of Sligo. Have family and other relatives there, and the weather is decent. Plus I love my Guinness and Irish whiskey and a good pot of stew. Even though it’s not England, the fish and chips are above average and on par. Also, their retirement immigration process is not too bad.

Aotearoa

You are not going anywhere OP, hence your vague query with no details about your situation.

Senior lesbian on the other hand told us something about her circumstances. I think Columbia would be safe enough for a strong, smart single woman. If your main interest is learning the language then isn't a Spanish speaking country where you want to be?

I know the political situation in Ecuador isn't great at the moment but that can change quickly. There is a 76 year old single American woman who moved to Cuenca 5 years ago and still adores it. Crime is still low. Her website is 'travelnlass'. But the town is in the Andes so it's chilly, largely due to many homes not having heat. Space heaters are in your future.

You Americans kill me with your complete lack of knowledge of the world around you.

Malaysia, Montenegro, Portugal, Panama, Spain, Uruguay and Vietnam.

[quote] I think Columbia would be safe enough for a strong, smart single woman.

Haven't you heard about all the student protests there? It's a shame to be paying that much for an Ivy League education and have it be disrupted.

I agree, Aotearoa (New Zealand) sounds wonderful, and it has so many hunky Polynesian men.

Chewy McNip wants to retire in Areola.

I'm always thinking of getting the hell out and I keep an eye on UK real estate prices. They're better than here and long as you get a freehold and not in London

We’re considering Ireland.

R35 are you in your 80s? The UK will be under Sharia law within a decade.

R16 LOL you think Biden or Trump or anyone else is going to stop the shitstorm brewing in this divided country? Delusional.

The lurch toward the right isn’t a uniquely US phenomenon. It seems to be affecting most of the western (and industrialized eastern) world. Canada, most of South America, much of Europe, ANZ, Japan. Better to stay put and keep my head down, I think, than to press my luck moving to France or Ireland. Or Uruguay(?).

R39 you must be joking. While there are definitely a few far right movements happening, most of Europe is being engulfed in extreme liberal policies that are flooding the countries with migrants and Orwellian censorship. You need to round out your news sources. CNN and NPR aren’t giving you the full story.

[quote] Better to stay put and keep my head down

It's not a problem if you don't look up

Who’s this Sharia chick and why does she have laws?

Was considering the UK, but can only stay in the country for 180 days in a calendar year. I've long dreamed of having a flat in London. We would have to live elsewhere the other half of the year.

I've also considering Portugal where we could qualify for a year-round retirement visa if you plunk down enough money. I do like Porto, and rental prices there seem affordable since I am used to US prices.

Two additional sites on my "short list" are Costa Rica and Croatia.

The US will be under Sharia law pretty soon (rebranded as Christian Nationalism).

Ms. Mulva @R30, I am happy to admit my ignorance, although in my defense, I am more aware than the average American (sad but true).

So please educate me more. I spent five years in grad school FT back when college was actually difficult, so I obviously love to learn. Point me to the latest research (keeping in mind that I only have 12 or so hours a day available for further ruining my eyes) and I will be more than happy to educate myself.

Of course, travel is the best education for this sort of thing, but I really don't have much money. So if you can see your way clear to subsidize my travel expenses (and babysit my little dog), I'll hop on a plane tomorrow (as long as it's not a Boeing!).

Thanks!

I have relatives in Colombia. Ones with money. Even they only go out to certain parts of town, and their grocery stores have armoured guards.

Oh yeah, and the occasional Colombian/American/ Tourist is still kidnapped once in a while if they go to far afield.

R46, I'm sure more than a few US cities have armed guards at supermarkets.

You’re sure? In which cities have you personally seen armed guards at supermarkets?

[Quote] Believe it or not Uruguay

You’re a Gay? Of course you’d want to live there!!!

Thanks, R46 -- what city?

Ireland, but not Dublin as its expensive..but a town like Tullamore..or a seaside town like Wexford(tends to get the most sun too). Its English speaking, extremely friendly people and no matter where u live, Dublin is never more than 3 hours away. Plus u can pop to most of Europe very cheaply on Ryanair..about 80 euro. If u chose a hot tourist spot like Killarney, you'd meet American tourist every day.

[quote] You’re a Gay? Of course you’d want to live there!!!

Rose, I’m a para-gay and will be competing for Paraguay at the next Paralympics!

[quote] Plus u can pop to most of Europe very cheaply on Ryanair

Ewww. Don’t do that. It’s the European version of Spirit.

[quote] but a town like Tullamore..or a seaside town like Wexford(tends to get the most sun too).

How are things in Glocca Morra?

I’ve always fancied life in a northern town.

R55, is that in North?

Threads like this are useless.

Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again.

The white ones.

my friend moved to Spain

R57 and why are you here?

mexico, seriously

[ R2 ] Uruguay is great. There are not many Americans there yet and that is part of the reason. Pockets of old hippies and flat earths here and there but the scene is pretty much International. The worst are the Americans who want an escape but only speak English and get inconvenienced by and pissy about having to converse in non- English languages.

The worst are the fundamentalist preachers. Third-grade con men telling the poor suckers that watch them that they speak with Jesus, and to please send in money. Money, money, money! If Jesus came back and saw what's going on in his name, he'd never stop throwing up.

South America is a lot further than many realize.

R48, Cali. But news from other relatives in Bogota is the same.

Greece

Coronation Street

South America is rather large, and not a country.

I’ve never been to me.

1. Costa Rica. 2. Portugal - check out the D7 visa (for retirees or anyone with regular income from out of the country, like rentals). 3. Mexico. 4. Panama. 5. Spain. 6. Ecuador. 7. Greece. 8 Malaysia. 9. France. 10. Colombia.

That list is from January - but I think Ecuador may have gone downhill. "Exercise increased caution in Ecuador due to civil unrest, crime, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory."

I'd check on safety in Colombia as well.

Mexico: Mexico City or San Miguel de Allende. It’s close enough to the culture I’m already familiar with and flights are short enough to make it easy to come back if needed.

Costa Rica is certainly a beautiful country. A married couple I know moved there from the US a few years ago. Their #1 reason was the lower-cost healthcare. They spent at least 2 years investigating and visited several times. Everything was going fine once they moved, until one of them needed a knee replacement. The incision became infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. She spent months in a hospital that had no air conditioning or fans. She almost had her leg amputated because it seemed like the only way to stop the infection from spreading. It was finally brought under control without amputation, but her leg was severely damaged. I saw her recently here in the US and almost cried seeing her struggle to go up stairs.

My friends don’t live in a major city like San Jose, and they say the roads are in terrible condition and have water-filled potholes. The traffic has to move so slowly that it can take hours to go relatively short distances. The internet service goes out almost daily. Bugs, bats, and other creatures are plentiful and difficult to keep out of the house. Certain bugs are so small they go through screens and can cover entire walls of a home until they decide to return to the outside. There are active volcanos that spew acidic ash. The coffee plants love it; human lungs, not so much.

Costa Rica is the #1 choice in the article posted by OP. What I’ve learned from my friends’ experiences is that it’s a good idea to live in a different country for a few months to know what it might be like to live there permanently. No matter how much reading you do and how many short visits you make there, you won’t know what it’s really like to live in a foreign country until you actually do it.

Ireland is in the grip of a catastrophic housing crisis. A tiny one bedroom flat in Dublin rents at over 2000 EUR a month now, so, I wouldn't bother coming over until its fixed.

That said, if you're in New York City you can get a glimpse of vibrant Talbot Street through the new portal

Some of the efforts to initiate intercontinental dialogue have been really heartwarming and creative.

A more serious suggestion: anywhere in former Yugoslavia. I stayed in Macedonia a couple of years ago and the place was full of digital nomads lazily and very affordably drifting through the Balkans. Not the most obvious tourist hotspot but you can have a good standard of living affordably, and the people are educated and open. Perhaps my DL Croatian friend will happen by to give his take on it.

Correction: the article I mentioned above was posted by R71, not OP.

[quote]Is Jamaica safe?

Absolutely not R18. Probably one of the most dangerous countries in the world for gay people, none too safe even for those that arent. Avoid

I've been to Uruguay, and it is indeed lovely. Argentina was pretty nice too, but then I was in the best part of Buenos Aires and didnt stray much outside tourist areas

Malaysia is surprisingly civilised for an Islamic country, the significant Chinese minority and others are a moderating influence

New Zealand where I'm from is pretty nice, but it is really expensive, and not crime free either. Motel room here in a small town costs more than a Hotel room in central Tokyo, and houses are not cheap even outside city centres either

Just stay right here in the US. Move somewhere super cheap. A small college town where the weather is ok. You really can't live outside the US anymore unless you are rich.

Mexico for me. Lots of ex-pats live there. The cost of living is fabulous. But hopefully my ass will be able to stay right here in North Carolina after Biden beats Agent Orange.

Another really stupid post followed by equally stupid thread posts.

R82 you mean: Another really stupid thread followed by equally stupid posts?

I wish I knew, R61.

- R57

About ten years ago I was considering Italy. I lived there as a child and spoke the language fluently then, so it wouldn't be too difficult to become proficient fairly quickly. However, the cost of living in the urban areas is very high. I was thinking of Abruzzo, but then I realized that public transportation outside of urban areas is not good, and there's no way I could drive in Italy. Living in Maryland you'd think I could tolerate aggressive drivers, but Italy is in a whole different class. And the political situation is scary, but then there's really no way to hide any more from the wave of fascism rolling over the world.

[quote] You really can't live outside the US anymore unless you are rich.

I think you have that backwards. You can live well in many countries for a fraction of the price of the US. If you want to live in a decent area in the US and have a good quality of life, housing is going to be sky high and car ownership is a must. Food is expensive too.

I'm planning to retire in Austria, as a nonworking resident. I already speak English AND German, so after the three-year waiting period, I could sit for long-term residency. Perhaps even citizenship someday!

[quote] Perhaps even citizenship someday!

Yay! I’m so happy for you.

[quote]I'm planning to retire in Austria

Servus, Grüezi und Hallo!

OP, there is no where for you to go. The rest of the English-speaking countries are overrun with Muslims and the far-Right is taking over. Your moving would only make things worse for you.

[quote] Mexico for me.

You wish to live in squalor with gangs that will rip your limbs off with a political system completely corrupt. Nice.

Australia

God forbid an English speaker would ever go to a country where languages other than English are spoken. 🙄

Spain. Very gay friendly and great weather.

^^Another country I can't afford to retire in...

England is a disastrous mess, R11. They’re in as much of a state as we are. Worse in some cases, especially with their economy.

R95 Most of Spain is cheaper than big parts of the US, you tightwad!

No, R97, it's not that. I'd love to go to Spain, and for awhile, I thought I would. But they set levels of cash you have to have in the bank as well as a passive income level (SS + pension), and I am a bit short of that level. Nice try.

Feel free to support me, though!

Mexico City is quite literally sinking into the ground at the rate of a foot a year R73, because of catastrophic lack of water and overuse of groundwater. They’re headed for a major resource crisis that no one will be able to help them with. They’re also at the foot of an active volcano. That combined with constant civil unrest countrywide and what seems like an incompetent and dangerous government would keep any sane person away.

I'm going by reading articles like this...

Siam

Apparently Belize isn't so bad. One US dollar buys two Belizean.

"non-us country" 😵‍💫

??? This is clumsy. Since an American posted this, isn't every other country a "non-us" country?

Switzerland or Ireland.

R102? Belize is another country where they hate gay people. That's one I checked out a long time ago.

Former British possessions in the Caribbean and Africa often have strict anti-sodomy laws and corresponding social attitudes.

[quote]Apparently Belize isn't so bad. One US dollar buys two Belizean.

They still have slavery?

R102, Belize is gorgeous, but the capital city is quite dangerous. One of the places where I always felt like I had to look over my shoulder.

Can someone tell me how much it costs for retirement visas in some of the countries mentioned?

You could show some initiative and Google the information for yourself. You’ll need that kind of initiative when you retire to another country, R109.

oh Auntie Em.... There's NO place like home!

Friends who live in Portugal and another friend from Portugal who lives in the US tell me we’re no longer so welcome there.

The influx of folks from the U.S. (including both retirees and remote workers) during and since COVID has apparently made housing for locals unaffordable all over the country, not only in Lisbon.

Dining out and shopping have also become costlier. No, of course that’s not entirely down to the recent arrivals. But it’s a huge factor. (Or at least seen as a driving force.)

R112 foreign countries with Americans are blaming everything on white American expats now. Blame whitey is the cool thing to do now.

[quote] foreign countries with Americans are blaming everything on white American expats now.

Examples?

I'm pretty sure it's just Americans in general, specifically digital nomads who come in a variety of American shapes and colors.

[quote] foreign countries with Americans are blaming everything on white American expats now. Blame whitey is the cool thing to do now.

So the Portuguese, who inhabit a European nation, are blaming white American expats?

Atlantis

Find a few friends and buy a small town that is dying. Entice either the new Nomad class or remote workers to stay for short to long stints. Make it fun and affordable. Look how much fun they had in Schitt's Creek. The problem is we all want to find a cheap place where everything is perfect, easy and open minded. Make your own places in this world. Form community. We have forgotten the strength we have when we team up with people rather than all trying to fight life's challenges alone.

R113- In Spain they DEFINITELY dislike the British far more than the dislike Americans.

R115, they're not. R113 is talking out of his ass and has some need to feel victimized.

I think Norway, Sweden or Denmark. Maybe The Netherlands? Because with Climate Change you don't want to be too far south. They have good healthcare and they're stable. So that's where I'd go.

Good luck in The Netherlands, R120, where 26% of the country is below sea level.

Climate change and rising water levels don’t just start between specific latitudes - ice and snow are melting at both poles.

R121, I think R120 wants both the pole AND the hole.

There's no answer to your question, OP, rather there are scores if answers to your question, or a few if you narrowed what you want and what you offer.

A quick search online will turn up thousands of hits.

Retired?

Rich?

Able to qualify as financially self-sufficient and to afford medical insurance (usually a small fraction of comparable cost in the U.S.)?

Independently employed & able to work from anywhere in the world?

Looking for employment in a new country?

Do you have career qualifications that are sought after in other countries?

What languages do you speak (and are you willing to learn a new language with reasonable fluency)?

Are you eligible for any citizenship based on your family heritage (parents, grandparents, sometimes more distant ancestors)?

Every country has its own rules, different types of visas and residency permits, different citizenship requirements (if it comes to that). Each has its own degrees and quirks of bureaucracy. Each country has its own general tone of openness to accepting foreigners in the short and long terms. And each has different criteria that must be met for each type of entrance or residency permit.

I agree about life in college towns. I lived in Columbia, Missouri for several years. There was a youthful vibe all over the city. There are lots of cultural entities that provide entertainment. I took a class at Mizzou, just for the hell of it. You can get from one end of the city to the other in about ten minutes. I rode my bicycle everywhere. The young men at the bars are well-dressed and pumped up. They are looking to get laid, and when they strike out, and with a little persuasion, they sometimes take a walk on the wild side.

Try Iowa City, IA; Lawrence, KS; Bloomington, IN; State College, PA; Charlottesville, VA; Chapel Hill, NC; Athens, OH; Missoula, MT; Eugene, OR. That's just the start. I would be shocked if you didn't consider moving to one of these cities after visiting and talking to residents.

E123 Mexico is number one on your list. Guess I was right.

OP, there is a great big jolly Youtube queen who swears that Malaysia can make all your retirement dreams come true!

There are some nice rich people enclaves in Guatemala.

[quote]Good luck in The Netherlands, [R120], where 26% of the country is below sea level.

Better than the US, where 26% of the population has an IQ below the "Moron" level.

What about Urmomistan? 🥁

[quote]R123 Mexico is number one on your list. Guess I was right

I included that list only because it addresses sine of the major requirements and means of moving to those countries. A Google search will steer you to hundreds of such lists, many without Mexico in their top 6, top 10, top 15, top 24, whatever. The results are all over the place, but the process or requirements of moving to another country was what I was looking for in s list, not a ranking of best and worst because that's entirely variable by personal situation.

I guess so, R128. As I’m neither Dutch nor American your point is moot.

What I find amusing about this and similar threads is that so many of you assume that the countries to which you aspire to emigrate are just waiting with open arms for you because you’re American.

It doesn’t work that way. But good luck moving to Ireland because their fish and chips are almost as good as England’s. Or to that hitherto unknown country called “South Pacific”. But not Slovenia because it’s cold. Or Uruguay because it’s boring.

As always, I’d love to see the majority of you identify your target country on a map. After first having acquired a passport enabling you to visit said country.

Have you considered Thailand, r16? You can buy a nice condo in Bangkok for 50-100k. A meal at a decent restaurant will cost you $12. It's an authoritarian country though.

I haven't been to the Philippines but it's also a warm country with a low cost of living.

R132 it's very possible to move to another country if you have no intention of working and don't care about pursuing full citizenship. Plenty of American retirees live in Mexico. You sound like a total cunt.

I’m a “total cunt” for pointing out the obvious, R134? You sound like an American.

Enjoy Mexico, if you ever get to visit.

[quote]What I find amusing about this and similar threads is that so many of you assume that the countries to which you aspire to emigrate are just waiting with open arms for you because you’re American.

Open arms, R132? There's no welcome committee anywhere in the world that I'm aware of. And who the fuck would think that being American would extend special privileges of emigration?

But is is very possible for many people, as R134 notes. First step: learn about the process generally and then investigate the policies of particular countries. Granted, these first steps are better done via Google than asking wide-open questions about "Where can I move?" without providing any details.

All depends on matching your circumstances against the various options available for different countries. Money, ancestry, working from home, retirement, need to work, work skills, interest in learning and/or teaching language, criminal background, health insurance...any simple combination of these can be the key, depending on which country you consider for emigration.

[quote]As always, I’d love to see the majority of you identify your target country on a map. After first having acquired a passport enabling you to visit said country.

The chorus of "just stay where you are, you miserable old twat, nobody wants you" resounds in nearly every such thread, but the message is ridiculous. Yes people ask the question absent any real intention if following through, but it is is quite possible for many people

Kevin Sessums

r120 when the Gulf Stream stops in a few years, Northern Europe will enter an Ice Age.

The Philippines? Belize?

Gross. Hot weather, monsoon-season jungles, crooked governments, more mosquitoes than child prostitutes, and a tacky-ass local population that'd suck a dick for a Diet Coke.

[quote] and a tacky-ass local population that'd suck a dick for a Diet Coke.

Don't threaten DLers with a good time!

France, without a question the only place I would go.

The UK, Germany, France and the Benelux countries are not good places on planning a future. They are so fucked, while most indigenous people there are in complete denial about what their elected officials have done.

If I had to leave my country and I could move anywhere without restrictions I'd choose New Zealand.

However, it's hard to get into (tough immigration rules) and it's very expensive. But -- as with most things in life -- probably possible if you put the effort in.

I already got out after the 2004 election. Enjoy your dystopia.

I left the US in the middle of Trump's first presidency. Not because of Trump, but what a happy fucking coincidence.

R144 & R145 -- where are you? Was it difficult to get in? Is it expensive to live there? Are you happy about where you landed?

TIA

I'm going to Canada. My sister has dual citizenship in the UK and she can get us in.

R146: I live in Spain. It was quite easy for me because I have EU citizenship and my husband is from here (much, much easier than when he got residency in the US.)

But without my advantages, Southern Europe is fairly easy for a US citizen to obtain residency by way of various visas. Especially so if you can work from home for an company in another country, or can demonstrate a basic level of financial self-sufficiency and health insurance coverage (a fraction of the cost of US insurance.) Expenses are much lower, more or less proportional to lower salaries. I love it here and couldn't be happier with having moved, and not for reasons of politics or money but for the pleasure every day of living here.

Europeans can be real stuck up sons of bitches to Americans.

R148, I originally wanted to go to Spain because I speak a modicum of Spanish (i.e., I can get by when I have to), but the amount of $ they want you to have in the bank for a retirement visa is about 15K more than I currently have, and my "passive income" is only $2000/month.

Perhaps I'll rent out my place, because frankly, I'm not ready to sell it yet.

Thanks for your reply!

[quote]and my "passive income" is only $2000/month.

So you're a professional bottom?

R73 San Miguel Allende is full of expats. Wonderful restaurants and a decent local hospital. It's a 2 hour flight to DFW and relatively safe. There is even a VFW post due to all the soldiers who went to US supported language schools.

I've heard Chile is nice, and that the men are a gorgeous mix of native peoples and Europeans. I once met a man from Chile on Haulover Beach. He was Mediterranean-complected with a thick cock, a huge dark brown bush and a nicely-hairy ass. His nipples were suckible, too. He was with his partner at the beach. I was so disappointed.

Oh poor you, R149! How dreadful!

It’s crazy when a move like North Dakota to Saskatchewan is so complicated. Who wants either?

R150: On the requirements of passive income, I think there is leeway in the calculation, in that savings and assets not currently generating passive income (but which could) may be considered. This is the first link I found, so I'm sure there are better explanations. (If you've not already explored this)

Dallas. Hong Kong Market.

A list of countries for the cost-conscious. The affordability if Portugal may be outdated/overestimated, in direct relation to its high degree of popularity

I'm thinking about Switzerland. Tina Turner lived quietly and well in Switzerland. It's cold and it's up high in the mountains. So with rising seas levels and global warming I should be fine. I'd feel even better if all of you would eachsend me $,to make this happen. Y'all be sweet, now!