As the coronavirus pandemic continues to take its toll and the political situation heats up, many Americans are thinking about bolting and leaving the U.S. International Living, a website that shows how you can live, retire and invest overseas, says that interest in leaving America has been soaring—with traffic up 945% from May to early August on its “How to Move Out of the US” page. According to Immigration New Zealand, a total of 250,000 Americans have looked into how to leave the U.S. and move to the Pacific island nation, with visits to the website New Zealand Now spiking 160%—an average of about one U.S. resident a minute.
READ MORE: “How To Move Out Of The US (And The Best Places To Escape)”
Companies that help Americans get second passports are also witnessing a massive increase in interest in their services. And Americans are giving up their citizenship at record levels: According to Bambridge Accountants New York, twice as many people (5,816 Americans) relinquished their citizenship in the first half of 2020, compared to the 2,072 who did it during the entirety of 2019.
"The huge increase in U.S. expats renouncing from our experience is that the current pandemic has allowed individuals the time to review their ties to the U.S. and decide that the current political climate and annual U.S. tax reporting is just too much to bear," says Alistair Bambridge, partner at Bambridge Accountants New York.
Jennifer Stevens, executive editor at International Living, says that a lower cost of life and newfound work freedom is also influencing people: “With job losses into the millions, some folks are looking for places where they can lower their cost of living. For others, new ‘remote working’ flexibility has them thinking that if they can work from home, home might as well be at a beach. In the right spots overseas, that beach can prove remarkably affordable.”
Whatever the reason, many Americans simply want out and are looking for places where they can move out of the U.S. So it makes sense that the editors at International Living recently came out with a list of the five cheapest—and best—places to go if you want to leave the U.S. These countries include Costa Rica, Belize, Portugal, Uruguay and Mexico. Stevens says the editors chose these countries because they offer a low cost of living, have easy-to-meet visa requirements and are also friendly, safe and welcoming to expats.
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And while some of the countries on the list aren’t accepting U.S. tourists right this minute due to COVID restrictions, this is the time to start making your plans for relocating as soon as any travel bans lift.
Here are the five places that International Living recommends if you want to move out of the U.S. after coronavirus. Or sooner.
Costa Rica
Why It’s Great: A perennial front-runner in International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index, Costa Rica is known for its political stability, low-key profile and easy life. “In a place like Costa Rica, lots of people speak English as it’s taught in the schools from a young age, well-established expat communities make settling in easy, your dollars really stretch (a budget from as low as $1,500 can bankroll a comfortable life for a couple) and three good visa options make it relatively easy to gain residence there,” says Stevens.
Where To Move: Although Costa Rica is similar in size to West Virginia, there’s a range of climates and places to live, from seaside villages to mountain towns. Two major international airports with regular flights to major U.S. cities make it easy to get back home for special occasions. Home to the capital of San Jose, the Central Valley is where about two-thirds of Costa Rica’s population lives; it is known for its “eternal spring” climate. Hot, dry Guanacaste has gorgeous beaches. Pristine Lake Arenal has homes in the hills with lake views.
The Cost: A couple can live well on $1,500 to $2,000 a month, depending on where you live—and it’s even lower if you’re single. For instance, in a mountain town like Atenas, which is a about an hour outside San Jose and an hour from the beach, a single person can live the good life on $1,518 a month, which includes $25 a week for a fridge worth of groceries.
The Details: Want to move to Costa Rica? Tourists can stay for up to 90 days on a tourist visa, and longer stays are easy to arrange. If you plan to live in Costa Rica long term it is best to seek residence. The Pensionado Program and The Rentista Program are more popular visa options.
Belize
Why It’s Great: International Living has seen a whopping 798% increase in traffic to its “Move to Belize” page since May 2020. The appeal? English is the primary language (making it easy for expats to fit in), the country offers a low cost of living and there’s a slow pace of life. It’s a barefoot nirvana that International Living describes as a “rustic paradise.”
Where To Move: Belize is known for its diverse natural beauty (secluded beaches, rain forests, jungles) and Maya ruins. “I spend most of my time right now on the island of Ambergris Caye, which is known as the very fun, energetic Jimmy Buffett Island,” says International Living correspondent Laura Diffendal, who moved to Belize in 2014 from Cleveland, Ohio. “And I also spend time in Placencia which is sort of a quieter, bohemian place, much calmer and much less crowded, a lot more like tranquil, open beaches.”
The Cost: A couple living and renting on a place like Ambergris Caye can live lavishly on a monthly budget starting at $2,875. Home prices range from under $15,000 for a simple Belizean-style home in a small village to $500,000 or more for a luxury home on the beach in San Pedro.
The Details: As a U.S. citizen, you can stay in Belize for up to one month without a visa. After that, if you can provide proof of long-term renting or other documents showing why you are staying in the country, you can be granted a 60-day or a 90-day permit. Every 30 days, you can renew your visa. Once you live in Belize for 50 consecutive weeks, you can apply for permanent residence.
Portugal
Why It’s Great: One of the cheapest spots in Europe, Portugal has it all: safety, quality healthcare, an easygoing lifestyle, a rich history and delicious food. Plus, it’s high tech, thanks to the country’s state-of-the-art infrastructure that has been in development since the late 2000s (no wonder it’s so popular with digital nomads).
Where To Move: In most parts of Portugal, you’ll find great weather year-round. Prime areas like Lisbon—one of the world’s oldest cities—the beachy Algarve region and Porto (Portugal’s second largest city) are more expensive. But search a little beyond those obvious spots, and you’ll find a gem that fits your budget. Places to check out include Óbidos (a hilly medieval town) and Nazaré (a seaside enclave known for its waves).
The Cost: The typical expat budget is about a third of what it would be in the States. “Even with a fluctuating exchange rate, [a couple can have] a comfortable, although not extravagant, lifestyle for about $2,500 a month,” says Tricia Pimental, International Living’s Portugal correspondent. “If you choose to live in Porto in the north, Lisbon, or in the expat havens of Cascais or the Algarve, you probably want to bump that up to $3,000.”
The Details: A visa is not required for Americans to visit Portugal for up to 90 days out of every 180 days. If you wish to stay longer than the tourist limit and move to Portugal, then you should look into getting a residence visa. There are several types of visas available, including visas for students, the self-employed and investors. Portugal also offers a Golden Visa that allows high net-worth individuals to buy their way into the country.
Uruguay
Why It’s Great: When it comes to infrastructure, Uruguay is one of the top countries in South America. You’ll find a quality medical care, safe drinking water, good roads (and good public transportation if you don’t want to have a car) and one of the fastest internet speeds in Latin America. Plus, it’s cheap and it has a tranquilo (calm) lifestyle with a healthy, stress-free approach to living.
Where To Move: Even though Uruguay is small, there’s a variety of options including Punta del Este (a chic beach resort), La Paloma (a small Atlantic beach town) and Montevideo (the Europeab-style capital city where traditional and modern coexist). There are also plenty of small farm towns and rural villages in the countryside (the Pampas).
The Cost: Two people can live in Montevideo on $3,200 a month, renting a one-bedroom, furnished apartment in Pocitos, the most popular expat neighborhood in the city. Head out of the city and it will cost a lot less.
The Details: According to International Living, you can stay in Uruguay for 90 days at a time as often as you like or renew the tourist via for 180-day stays. Want to stay longer? With Uruguay residency, you can become a permanent resident, get a job and even start a business.
Mexico
Why It’s Great: If you look at the numbers, Mexico is one of the most popular expat destinations on the planet. Some Americans move here full-time and some just come to escape the winter. “With more than 1.5 million American and Canadians calling Mexico their full-time or part-time home in dozens of destinations around the country, you’ll have no trouble making friends and finding things to do just about anywhere you choose to settle down in Mexico,” says Jason Holland, International Living’s Roving Latin America Editor, who lives in San Miguel de Allende.
Where To Move: One of the country’s best spots for expats is San Miguel de Allende, which is about a four-hour drive northwest of Mexico City. You’ll find a temperate climate, a low cost of living, rich cultural traditions and a focus on the arts. Plus, its colonial centro is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Cost: Mexico is famously affordable. A couple can live in Mexico for as little as $1,500 a month, depending on the location—including rent and healthcare. It’s even cheaper if you’re single. In San Miguel, a couple can live well on a budget of $1,660 a month.
The Details: U.S. citizens can stay for six months at a time in Mexico on a tourist visa. It’s also possible to get a Temporary Resident Visa that allows foreigners to stay in the country for one year and extend up to three times. Pro-tip: You must apply for this resident visa before your trip and show proof of income.
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