{"id":16796,"date":"2018-01-22T15:00:12","date_gmt":"2018-01-22T20:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=16796"},"modified":"2020-09-08T13:41:22","modified_gmt":"2020-09-08T17:41:22","slug":"easy-live-overseas-americans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/easy-live-overseas-americans\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Easy To Live Overseas For Americans?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The task of calculating how many Americans live abroad is often referred to as \u201ccounting the uncountable.\u201d Indeed, no one knows for sure how many U.S. citizens have chosen to reside in a foreign country. There are some estimations, but official ones are outdated because the country doesn\u2019t compile official numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, the 1999 report released by the U.S. Department of State\u2019s Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA) provided the following picture that should not be dramatically different from the present one (except for the numbers):<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16800\" src=\"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image4-3.jpg\" alt=\"Is it Easy to Live Overseas for Americans? \" width=\"1484\" height=\"882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image4-3.jpg 1484w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image4-3-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image4-3-768x456.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image4-3-1024x609.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image4-3-1170x695.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image4-3-585x348.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1484px) 100vw, 1484px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to these estimates, approximately 4 million Americans lived in others countries in 1999. How about now? Given that official data is virtually non-existent, one can only use the information by CA. One of the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most recent reports<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> released by the organization in 2016 provided the following data:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">number of Americans living overseas (including military personnel): about 9 million<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">70,666 registered overseas births of U.S. citizens in 2016<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10,992 U.S. citizens died while overseas in 2016.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, as these numbers show, a lot of Americans live abroad. In this article, let\u2019s find out just how easy it is for them? Clearly, quality of living is different, and one may be deprived of many benefits, so why did they make the decision to move?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Assessing the Quality of Life of Americans Living Overseas<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obviously, one cannot say for sure whether each individual American citizen lives comfortably, but one can certainly make reasonable predictions. We are going to do that by assessing the cost of living in some destinations with a high number of American citizens living there, including Germany, France, Canada, and Mexico. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We used the newly calculated price index from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expatistan.com\/cost-of-living\/index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expatistan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which recently claimed that Zurich, Switzerland, was the most expensive city to live in with the index as high as $295 &#8211; while Kyiv, Ukraine, had the lowest price index of $65.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16799\" src=\"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image3-8.jpg\" alt=\"Is it Easy to Live Overseas for Americans? \" width=\"960\" height=\"639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image3-8.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image3-8-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image3-8-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image3-8-585x389.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Berlin, Germany (Pixabay image)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Germany<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Number of Americans living in Germany<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: about 110,000 (Eurostat estimates) <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Share of English speakers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: up to 70 percent<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Cost of living in Berlin<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: price index 161, which is equal to living in Salt Lake City<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s begin with a popular destination: <\/span><b>Germany<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The country has a lot to offer to an American, including stunning architecture, reasonable prices compared to the U.S., an access to all Western European countries (a two-hour flight will get you anywhere), friendly people, and even a good job.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16802\" src=\"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image6-3.jpg\" alt=\"Is it Easy to Live Overseas for Americans? \" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image6-3.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image6-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image6-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image6-3-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paris, France (Pixabay image)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>France<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Number of Americans living in France<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: about 50,000 (Eurostat estimates) <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Share of English speakers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: up to 60 percent<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Cost of living in Paris<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: price index 216, which is comparable to living in Seattle<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of Americans living in France came there to work or live life fully. What does that mean? In terms of working, the country has a lot to offer; for example, Paris is the world\u2019s capital of fashion, so a lot of American citizens interested in this industry work here. Living life in France is also something that many American admire. \u201cI fell in love with this country long before I decided to move there,\u201d says Brian Shklanski, an American expatriate living in Paris. \u201cAnd it started when my son asked me: \u201cWould you help to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.proessaywriting.com\/write-my-essay\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">write my essay<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on Parisian architecture?\u201d Since then, the only city I preferred for life was the French capital.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The beaches of Cannes, the museums and architecture of Paris, the restaurants of Lyon, the vineyards in Champagne\u2026 you get the idea.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16801\" src=\"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image5-4.jpg\" alt=\"Is it Easy to Live Overseas for Americans? \" width=\"960\" height=\"518\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image5-4.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image5-4-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image5-4-768x414.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image5-4-585x316.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toronto, Canada (Pixabay image)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Canada<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Number of Americans living in Canada<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 300,000+ (government estimates) <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Share of English speakers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 99 percent<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Cost of living in Montreal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: price index is 153, which is less expensive than cities like Tulsa<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Canada has an amazingly open immigration policy, so a lot of Americans have chosen to live abroad there. Compared to American cities, Canadian ones are a bit cheaper but provide almost the same living conditions. So, it\u2019s safe to assume that living in this country is reasonably easy for an American.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16797\" src=\"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image1-9.jpg\" alt=\"Is it Easy to Live Overseas for Americans? \" width=\"922\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image1-9.jpg 922w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image1-9-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image1-9-768x600.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image1-9-585x457.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mexico City, Mexico (Pixabay Image)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Mexico<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Number of Americans living in Mexico<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: up to 1 million (unofficial estimates) <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Share of English speakers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: up to 13 percent<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Cost of living in Mexico City<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: price index of 83 makes it 52 percent cheaper than living in Chicago<b><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the recent years, Mexico emerged as the most popular destination for Americans living abroad, with some sources identifying the number of immigrants <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/r\/pa\/ei\/bgn\/35749.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as high as 1 million<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, it should be noted that a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/worldviews\/wp\/2014\/11\/21\/mexico-has-its-own-immigration-problem-american-retirees\/?utm_term=.3eff661048f8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">large share of this number is American retirees<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who move there (often illegally) to enjoy the warm weather, good food, and lower cost of living. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The Verdict<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having reviewed some popular destinations of Americans overseas, it is clear that they are drawn to some unique opportunities offered by foreign countries. We think it is safe to suggest that living overseas is reasonably easy for many Americans, but this doesn\u2019t mean you should grab your passport and head for the airport. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To make an important choice of living in a foreign country, you still need to take care of such things as work. In destinations like Berlin, Paris, and Toronto, the labor market is highly competitive, even for native English speakers. So, plan everything ahead, especially if you want to move to Europe or another overseas destination. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Author Bio:<\/span><\/i><\/h2>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diana Clark once gave up her educator career for something she always dreamed about \u2013 writing. Diana is a freelance writer at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/awriter.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Awriter<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. She discovers the world of digital nomads and believes that someday people will become location independent.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The task of calculating how many Americans live abroad is often referred to as \u201ccounting the uncountable.\u201d Indeed, no one knows for sure how many U.S. citizens have chosen to reside in a foreign country. There are some estimations, but official ones are outdated because the country doesn\u2019t compile official numbers. For example, the 1999 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":308,"featured_media":16798,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[2413,12278,12268,12275,12279,2342,12276,2775,1768,7270,10058,12281,2776,12270,12266,12280,12273,12274,12267,3075],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image2-7.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16796"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/308"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16796"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16796\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30298,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16796\/revisions\/30298"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16796"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=16796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}