People have been threatening to leave the U.S. for the last what? At least three elections? Maybe even more?
I certainly threatened to move in 2020 if Trump won re-election. Thankfully, that didn’t happen. But it did this time, and I vowed if it did, I’d leave America.
I’m not the only one. Reuters reported “Google searches for ‘move to Canada’ surged 1,270% in the 24 hours after U.S. East Coast polls closed” on Election Night.
Where are American expats headed?
Canada wasn’t the only place to experience a search surge. New Zealand was on people’s minds, too. According to the Reuters article, “data from the Immigration New Zealand website showed the site logged some 25,000 new U.S. users on Nov. 7, compared to 1,500 for the same day last year.”
CNBC reported that Americans “flocked” to expat websites following the election. One they highlighted was Expatsi, “a travel company that offers scouting trips to help Americans move abroad.”
In addition to Canada and New Zealand, Expatsi said Portugal, Spain, and Mexico have historically been popular countries for American expats to consider. But Ireland, France, and Albania are now also popular.
Empty threat, or are we out too?
Are we really leaving? Or was mine an empty threat?
Wayne has always wanted to live somewhere else. Healthcare costs have always concerned him, and so have taxes. He’s interested in living somewhere with lower costs to both, yet still quality healthcare and lifestyle.
I’ve always known U.S. healthcare is outrageous, but I got a first-hand reminder of just how outrageously priced it is this past September when Wayne suffered a medical issue when we were in Japan.
We ended up visiting a hospital in Narita, where he got all sorts of tests, including an EKG, CT, bloodwork, and a consult with a cardiologist. Here, that bill would’ve been in the thousands. There, it was under $350.
And like a couple of years ago, when we visited Spain and France, Japan also provoked a bout of reverse culture shock. It once again reminded me there’s a better way to live than the chaos I’ve become accustomed to in the U.S.
So, even though it terrifies me, and I’m sad to leave my homeland, I’m ready to make the leap.
Where are we moving?
TBD.
As much as I’d love to move to Canada, it’s too expensive for Wayne’s blood, not to mention too cold and dark in the winter. Instead, we’re looking into the following:
- Montevideo or Maldonado, Uruguay
- Buenes Aires, Bariloche, or Mendoza, Argentina
- Vigo or Bilbao, Spain
Costa Rica and somewhere in the Mexican Riviera might also be contenders too. I’m particularly intrigued by Vigo, Spain, and Mendoza, Argentina. Vigo’s temperate climate appeals to me immensely. It sounds similar to San Francisco (because it gets foggy) or maybe Seattle. Mendoza looks like parts of Colorado blended with Arizona or California. I think it gets hotter there than Vigo, but it also appears to be a drier climate.
We’ll spend 2025 doing some exploring. I plan to document it but haven’t settled on a series title yet. Sadly, Expat Escape and the Reluctant Expat have already been taken. I’m open to suggestions so if you have any please leave them!
Your Turn
What are your plans? Do you plan to be an American expat, too? If so, where are you looking to go?
I’ve got my eye on Canada. Will keep an eye out for your Expat adventure blog…(I’m guessing “How-on-Earth-did-that-corrupt-criminal-get-elected-again-Expat-Exodus” is a little too long and wordy for a blog title? Ha!)
BWAHAHAHA!!! Oh, Willow, THANK YOU for a very much needed chuckle!!! I’ll be keeping an eye on your Canadian adventures because I am SO curious about life there and would love to give it a go myself. I’ll have to settle living vicariously through you!