States Americans Are Fleeing—And the Countries They’re Landing in Instead
Americans aren’t just leaving their hometowns anymore. They’re leaving the country.
The combo of high rent, weird politics, and “why is healthcare a boss battle?” has pushed a lot of people from a quiet “maybe someday” to “I’m actually out.”
Inside the U.S., people are bailing on high-cost, high-tax states like California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Massachusetts in big numbers, according to moving companies and migration data. At the same time, an estimated 5.5 million Americans now live abroad, with hotspots like Mexico, Canada, Spain, Portugal, and Costa Rica pulling more people every year.
So let’s connect the dots: here’s how the “I’m done with this state” energy is lining up with specific countries that make sense as an escape hatch.
Table of Contents
- The States Americans Are Quietly Breaking Up With
- Leaving California? Mexico and Canada Make Obvious Sense
- Done With New York / New Jersey? Portugal and Spain Are the Upgrade
- Bailing on Illinois and the Midwest? Canada Looks Very Familiar
- Over the Whole System? Costa Rica and Panama for Ex–Sunbelt People
- How to Match Your State Exit to a Country That Actually Fits
The States Americans Are Quietly Breaking Up With
Multiple data sources tell the same story:
- Top outbound states in 2024: New Jersey, Illinois, New York, California, Massachusetts and a few others, per the United Van Lines National Movers Study.
- California: Dead last in U-Haul’s growth index for the fifth year in a row, with the biggest net loss of one-way movers.
- Why people are leaving: High taxes and high living costs in these states push people toward lower-cost, lower-tax regions.
Most of those moves are still domestic, but a growing chunk of people are saying, “If I’m going to uproot my entire life, why stop at Florida?” and are hopping borders altogether.
Leaving California? Mexico and Canada Make Obvious Sense
If you’re burned out on California prices but still love sun, tacos, beaches, and access back to the U.S., Mexico is the default “California, but affordable” move.
Recent reporting and U.S. government estimates say around 1.6 million Americans now live in Mexico, up roughly 70% since 2019. That makes Mexico the single biggest American expat hub in the world.
Why Californians in particular end up here:
- Quick flights from LA/San Diego to places like Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, and Guadalajara
- Familiar West Coast time zones for remote workers
- Cost of living that can be half of what they were paying back home
- Easy “try it first” test runs with the 180-day tourist stay, then longer-term residency if they commit
You’ll see a lot of former West Coasters settling in:
- CDMX, Guadalajara, Querétaro for city vibes
- Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca, Baja California Sur for slower beach or small-city life
If you want more structure, check out this very practical guide to moving to Mexico from the US.
Canada also pulls a quieter stream of Californians and other coastal folks who want:
- Lower healthcare stress
- Familiar culture
- Access to decent wages and social services
Canada hosts over 1 million American expats by some estimates.
Done With New York / New Jersey? Portugal and Spain Are the Upgrade
New York and New Jersey are repeat offenders on the “most outbound” list, with New Jersey sitting at number one for outbound moves and New York close behind. Combine that with dark winters, high rents, and tax drama, and you get a specific kind of person:
“I want safety, sunshine, walkable cities, and a glass of wine that doesn’t cost $19.”
That person keeps landing in Portugal and Spain.
Portugal
Portugal has become the unofficial crush of disillusioned Americans. Roughly 14,000 US citizens now officially live there, and relocation services say it consistently ranks as a top choice for Americans looking to emigrate.
Reasons New Yorkers vibe with Portugal:
- Lisbon and Porto scratch the “city life” itch but with way less chaos
- High safety scores and strong LGBTQ+ and anti-discrimination protections
- Access to public healthcare and EU mobility
- Lower cost of living than NYC or NJ suburbs
For a good reality check (pros and challenges), there’s a solid breakdown here: challenges Americans face moving to Portugal.
Spain
Spain has quietly become the number one EU destination for Americans getting first-time residence permits. Eurostat data shows that in 2024, Spain issued more first permits to U.S. citizens than any other EU country.
Why this screams “ex-New Yorker / ex-Jersey person”:
- Big, vibrant cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia) plus tons of mid-size coastal towns
- Late-night culture and social life that feels more familiar to East Coasters
- Popular retirement and non-lucrative visas that suit people with remote income or pensions
If you’re curious how big this trend is, start with this piece on Americans moving to Spain: record numbers of Americans moving to Spain.
Bailing on Illinois and the Midwest? Canada Looks Very Familiar
Illinois, especially the Chicago area, keeps landing on the high-outbound list thanks to cost, taxes, and people just being over the grind.
Some of those folks want change but not full culture shock, which is where Canada comes in.
Canada is consistently ranked as a top destination for American expats and currently holds the number two spot globally with over a million Americans living there.
Why it works well for ex-Midwesterners:
- Weather is… not better, but familiar
- Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary all offer big-city jobs and culture
- Public healthcare eases some financial anxiety
- Very easy flights back to the U.S. for family and work
You can get a feel for how Canada stacks up for Americans in this overview of best countries for Americans to move to.
Over the Whole System? Costa Rica and Panama for Ex–Sunbelt People
Here’s the plot twist: it’s not just blue-state folks leaving. Plenty of people from Texas, Florida, Arizona and other Sunbelt states are also deciding, “If I’m going to sweat, I’d rather sweat somewhere cheaper with national parks.”
For that crowd, Costa Rica and Panama are big draws.
- Both countries show up repeatedly on lists of top retirement and long-term expat destinations.
- They offer friendlier residency options for people with pensions, Social Security, or stable income, plus lower living costs than most of the U.S. Sunbelt.
Panama in particular ranks number one in some recent expat happiness surveys, with 94% of expats saying they’re happy with life there.
If you’re in “I want out, but I still love warmth and palm trees” mode, this sort of resource is a decent starting point: global expat stats and top retirement destinations.
How to Match Your State Exit to a Country That Actually Fits
You don’t need a perfect data-backed “Californians go to X, New Yorkers go to Y” formula. There isn’t one. What you do need is to match your pain points in the U.S. with what another country actually fixes.
Think in pairs:
- Leaving California for cost-of-living and housing?
Look at Mexico, Portugal, Spain, or parts of Latin America where rent, healthcare, and food don’t feel like a scam. - Leaving New York / New Jersey for safety and sanity?
Portugal, Spain, and some Canadian cities offer lower violent crime rates and more stable day-to-day life. - Leaving Illinois or other Midwest states for opportunity + services?
Canada or parts of Europe with solid public infrastructure and healthcare might feel like an upgrade, not a downgrade. - Leaving anywhere because the whole system feels cooked?
Countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, Portugal, Panama, and Spain are already absorbing big numbers of Americans. There’s a reason those same names keep popping up in the data.
Bottom line: People aren’t just running from states. They’re running toward something that feels more livable. If you’re in that “do I leave, or do I just complain about Zillow screenshots forever” headspace, start by figuring out what you’re escaping… then pick the country that actually solves that problem instead of just giving you better views.
