Posted on 11/13/2025 3:20:47 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
A new study finds cost of living, safety, and health care are driving factors behind the growing interest in international relocation.
Becoming an expat is a big decision, and the list of where to relocate to can be very long. But turns out, the country Americans are drawn to the most isn't that far after all.
Canada was the top country Americans targeted when hoping to move abroad, according to a new study from moveBuddha, which serves as an online resource for moving and storage services. In fact, 24.4 percent of the survey’s respondents picked the neighbor to the north.
“We've helped thousands of people move across the country for all kinds of reasons—to chase a job, start a family, or just get closer to the beach. But what we're seeing now is very different,” Ryan Carrigan, moveBuddha’s founder, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. “With rising costs, job uncertainty, and concerns about health care and safety, more people are looking for somewhere that just feels livable.”
Runner-up was England (another English speaking destination) with 12.2 percent of those surveyed picking the European country. That was followed by Japan, Ireland, and Switzerland rounding out the top five.
Overall, the company said nearly one in 10 Americans was "actively researching a move abroad" and nearly 60 percent said "they've considered leaving the country at some point."
When it comes to choosing a spot to land, the cost of living was the highest concern (34 percent said it was the No. 1 consideration), followed by financial security and political stability. And what are they hoping to escape? That would be high living costs in the United States, America's health care access, and crime.
For its survey, moveBuddha interviewed 1,000 U.S. residents in September.
More at link...
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Canada? Doubt it.
Canadians come to Florida for the winter and their healthcare. What a load of BS.
what? no Hispanic or black countries?
Canadians come to Florida for the winter and their healthcare. What a load of BS.
Well they need to take Anne Murray’s advice and “Spread their tiny wings and fly away!”
Political brouhaha aside, there are some legit lifestyle reasons why people prefer being overseas. And some of it cultural.
For one: not everyone loves driving. US is extremely car-centric.
Food quality: way less processed breads, grains, dairy, meats..
Social culture and nightlife. Activities especially those surrounding high art draw some to Europe.
Extended family and community centrism vs. “enclosed private property” centrism, which foreigners often find extremely isolating and eerie when they visit. Middle Easterners I’ve met in particular note this.
Healthcare: some women are afraid to give birth at American hospitals, notorious for being really unfriendly to mothers. UK apparently is not that much better, but some other places like Korea, Germany, or UAE do not whisk women out 24 hours after C-Section...you are often monitored and cared for for much longer...Given a midwife, prenatal care training, and even at home check-in a few weeks afterward completely paid for by the state.
In Spain, working women get paid leave during menstrual cycle. No joke.
So yeah...stuff like that!
Paid family leave is a BIG draw to other countries especially for women who want to work but also take more time off for maternity...
Obviously not informed, if true. But then, one of my own daughters thinks France is where she’d like to live. She travels to Europe frequently, and thinks it’s wonderful. Yeah, she’s my politically liberal child. One out of four’s not bad, I guess.
Canada is cold. It’s not a top retirement destination. People with very minor criminal records can have major problems crossing in to Canada. That happens often enough with professional athletes, and it gets sanitized in the reporting as a visa problem.
Most people in Europe/Scandinavia have longer life expectancy than the US...no opioid epidemic...less mental health problems....less stress, more work/life balance.
Yeah obviously liberals if Canada is their idea of utopia
Another slanted US hit piece
In Spain, working women get paid leave during menstrual cycle
I’m sure that’s a relief to anyone that reports to them.
In any event, NO Free Speech, NO 2nd A, totally unable to defend itself, Total Socialist Focus, to be soon over run by Islam and Sharia Jihad.
What’s not to like about the Future of Canaduh?
Most people in Europe/Scandinavia have longer life expectancy than the US...no opioid epidemic...less mental health problems....less stress, more work/life balance.
More “white”......at least for now.
I'd be interested in hearing what others have to say.
Runner-up was England
America is overrun by Third Worlders.
"Hey honey, let's move to a country even MORE overrun!"
[Heh, heh]
U R BAD!
I would consider Poland or Slovakia or Slovenia.
Asian countries Korea/Japan have higher life expectancy than Americans....albeit there are also high suicide rates in parts of East Asia. So not good mental health due to less work/life balance and other challenges of modernity/poster-modernity.
But diet/food quality, physical health — on the whole, better.
Fine with me. GO!
But then you can’t come back.
(Or maybe we should let them back - THEY GOT AN EDUCATION, and now maybe appreciate what they have here)
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