9 Reality Checks About Moving Abroad
So, you wanna move abroad? Cool, love that for you. But before you start packing your bags and daydreaming about cheap rent and beachside cocktails, let’s talk about what no one tells you.
Because while living abroad is awesome, it’s also full of curveballs you might not see coming.
Table of Contents
- 1. You Can’t Just Move and Stay Forever
- 2. You’ll Always Be an Outsider & Making Friends Can Be Hard
- 3. Healthcare Isn’t Free for You
- 4. Dating Can Be… Interesting
- 5. You Might Not Relate to People Back Home Anymore
- 6. Time Zones & Flight Prices Will Wreck Keeping in Touch
- 7. Less Stuff, Less Convenience
- 8. Bureaucracy Will Be a B
- 9. Cost of Living Surprises
- So What? Does Moving Abroad Suck?
- Final Thoughts
- More on Moving Abroad:
1. You Can’t Just Move and Stay Forever
You don’t just roll up to a country and say, “I live here now.” Visas are a thing.
Unless you have a clear long-term path (citizenship, marriage, highly skilled work visa, etc.), you’ll be dealing with renewals, extensions, or hopping to a new country every so often.
And no, “But I love it here!” isn’t a valid legal status. Luckily, there are many options to stay out of the U.S., which works well, but staying in one specific place long-term can be difficult.
Read more about visas:
- 21 Visas to Help Americans Move Abroad (That You Haven’t Heard of)
- 28 TOP Digital Nomad Visas for Remote Workers
- Longest Tourist Visas for U.S Citizens, How to Extend, & More
- 6 Working Holiday Visas for Americans
- Skilled Work Visas: How to Move Abroad with Your Profession
- ALL Resources on visas
2. You’ll Always Be an Outsider & Making Friends Can Be Hard
Even if you learn the language and make local friends, you’ll always be a foreigner in some way. Some countries are more welcoming than others, but full integration? That takes years—if it even happens.
Friendships don’t magically happen overnight. Some cultures take longer to warm up, and if you’re in a tourist-heavy spot, you might go through an endless cycle of short-term friendships.
Expats come and go, and finding deep, lasting connections? That’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Going along with this, depending on how long you’re allowed to stay, you might also have an expiration date on the community you do form.
3. Healthcare Isn’t Free for You
Yes, healthcare is cheaper abroad, but don’t assume you’ll get the same perks as locals. Universal healthcare? That’s for citizens (or long-term residents).
You’ll likely need private travel insurance, which means you’ll still pay out of pocket or get reimbursed by your insurer. That said, a $50 doctor’s visit sure beats a $500 one in the U.S.
This is not a real issue in my eyes since I actively avoid getting medical care in the U.S.—because it’s easier, cheaper, and just as good (if not better) abroad.
I’ve been to the dentist in 3 or 4 countries, a gyno in Thailand, had LASEK in South Korea, and was hospitalized in Indonesia—all for a fraction of what it would have cost me in the U.S.
RELATED: Nomad Insurance: Travel Medical Insurance for Nomads!
4. Dating Can Be… Interesting
Cross-cultural dating is fun but whew does it come with challenges. Language barriers, different relationship expectations, small dating pools—every country has its quirks.
Also, PSA: Tinder in some countries is 90% tourists, so if you’re looking for a local romance, be prepared to dig deeper.
Side note about me if you care—I met my partner abroad in Thailand. He’s American. We would have never met in the US!
5. You Might Not Relate to People Back Home Anymore
The longer you’re gone, the harder it is to connect with friends and family back home.
They won’t always get your lifestyle, and you might feel like an alien at family gatherings. “So when are you coming back?” is a question you’ll get a lot.
It took years for these questions to fade for me. After over a decade, everyone who knows me finally gets it. I actually rarely talk about my travels anymore—just a quick gloss over of where I lived most recently, and that’s about it.
I actively avoid mentioning things since it’s just totally unrelatable. And in reverse, while, of course, I understand life back home, I can’t fully relate to a lot of what people are doing there anymore.
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6. Time Zones & Flight Prices Will Wreck Keeping in Touch
Group chats will be dead while you’re awake. Family FaceTimes? A logistical nightmare. Your best friend’s birthday dinner? It’s at 2 AM your time.
Keeping up with people across the globe requires effort, and sometimes, you’ll just have to accept that you’ll miss things.
On a similar note, flights home aren’t cheap—so visits won’t be happening for every event or special moment.
7. Less Stuff, Less Convenience
Minimalism isn’t just an aesthetic—it’s often a necessity. Shipping your whole life abroad is expensive, so you’ll live with fewer things. Amazon Prime? Lol, no. Finding that one obscure item you need? Could take a lot of digging!
I don’t find this to be a bad thing, personally—wait till you see how little you actually need to thrive! The less stuff, the better in my opinion.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t treat yourself or buy things here and there for your imaginary house that you’ll eventually have… somewhere… but keep it in check, save money, and get the need for overconsumption out of your system.
8. Bureaucracy Will Be a B
Government paperwork can be next-level frustrating abroad. Immigration offices, banking rules, random document requirements—expect delays, confusion, and rules that make no sense.
This is something you’ll just have to roll with and accept. Get used to looking up visa rules, banking processes, and other logistical things before you fly anywhere. Rules change on a dime, and sometimes, an immigration officer is just having a bad day.
While I personally don’t think it’s that bad (I’m used to it), some people will find it exhausting.
9. Cost of Living Surprises
Yes, some places are cheap. But there are hidden costs—visa renewals, flights home, foreigner pricing on rent, and random expenses you didn’t budget for. Just because daily expenses are lower doesn’t mean life abroad is always cheap.
Eventually, with time, you’ll see these coming, but there are guaranteed moments where you’ll be on the losing end of a cost you didn’t plan for.
RELATED: How Traveling The World is Cheaper Than Existing in the US
So What? Does Moving Abroad Suck?
Absolutely not. These things are just realities—just like any other lifestyle. No life and no place is perfect. It’s all about trade-offs and finding what works for you.
But here’s the thing: this lifestyle gives you so much flexibility and so many options that you can shape it to be as close to perfect as possible for you.
You’ll find ways to make it work. And worst-case scenario? You try it, realize it’s not for you, and go back home. But at least you tried.
For me, this lifestyle provides more value, freedom, and flexibility while experiencing the world. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
RELATED: 33 Pros and Cons of Living Abroad—From A Pro
Want to Move Abroad?
But are totally helpless and don’t know where to start? Can’t figure out a clear path? Need to talk to someone who gets it? I’m here! Let’s chat and figure out your next steps…
Final Thoughts
Living abroad is incredible, but it’s not just a never-ending vacation. There are challenges, sacrifices, and moments where you’ll question your choices.
But if you go in with realistic expectations (and a sense of humor), it can be the best decision you ever make.
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