I’ve lived abroad...both English-speaking places and non.
Overcoming the language barrier is what requires the most commitment if you truly want to assimilate into certain places.
Personally the strip-mall aesthetic alone of much of America, I find stifling enough. Suburbia in general. I like places that are either/or: truly urban and metropolitan like NYC, or rugged/rural and in touch with nature without being overly sterile.
Another quintessentially American “thing” is drive-thru culture. (Fast food is globalized, but not drive-thru) - and I also don’t care for that...
But alas will remain for now. :)
Actually we don't need any fancy new research study to answer that question.
Social security statistics give us the answer. The chart shows the number of bank deposits and checks the SSA is sending overseas by country.
And here the top Social Security payment destinations:
111,096 Japan
108,941 Canada
62,028 Mexico
40,369 United Kingdom
38,109 Germany
37,509 Poland
35,328 Philippines
26,210 Italy
22,012 Greece
18,502 France
17,378 Australia
17,060 Israel
15,864 Portugal
14,611 Spain
11,293 South Korea
One of the biggest factors, I surmise, is that many of the top countries have U.S. military bases. I was stationed in Sasebo, Japan where I met my wife. And now after 40+ years living in the USA, we returned 3 years ago as resident aliens in Japan, an advanced country where the U.S. dollar goes far.
As long as you have a Japanese spouse to navigate city hall, banks, and immigration offices, you can have a great life here. And the bonus is the Japanese love Americans.
So come on over! And bring your pickleball racket :-)