All articles tagged with #expat
A Utah family moved to Pattaya, Thailand in 2024 to live and work remotely, but visa complications forced a multi-country detour with their young son through Malaysia and Vietnam (and a late-night hotel snag in Manila) before Thailand granted a five-year Destination Thailand Visa; eight months after leaving Utah they returned home, stronger as a couple and still open to returning to Asia someday.
After eight years in Doha, Kevin and Camille Elliott chose to retire in Hua Hin, Thailand, drawn by a lower cost of living and an accessible retirement visa. They moved with their four dogs and plan to live on about $4,000 a month in Social Security while keeping expenses around $2,500, enjoying a perceived higher quality of life and safety in Thailand compared with the US. They’re adjusting to the heat, language barrier, and a developing expat social scene, but view retirement in Thailand as a sustainable alternative to returning home.
A Brazilian-born content creator, Luca Martins, moved from Los Angeles back to Rio with his wife and now lives in a large gated complex that includes a supermarket, gym, pool, spa, and more. Their 800-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment costs about $1,600 a month—roughly half of his LA rent—allowing for a higher quality of life, more social connection, and easier travel, with enhanced safety and a sense of community at the center of daily life.
A Canadian expat in Germany loses her job in January 2025, triggering an identity crisis and the challenge of securing unemployment benefits on a work visa. She rebuilds with a strict daily routine, collaborates with former colleagues to launch a data-science startup, and expands a beekeeping business with her husband. Despite financial strain, she pursues personal goals (yoga teacher training, running) and the value of community, ultimately finding more purpose and stability a year later.
An American expat in Seoul, Derek Laan, built a career and family in Korea but is weighing whether to move back to the U.S. for his two sons' education. He notes Korea’s lower salaries but rich lifestyle, subsidized daycare, and the lure of U.S. free elementary schooling, estimating he’d need about four times his current income to maintain his lifestyle in Colorado. He plans to stay in Korea until his older son starts first grade and is weighing options to work with U.S. clients or return home, while acknowledging Korea’s strong emphasis on studying affects parenting decisions.
Gigi Gonzalez, 36, moved from Chicago to Valencia, Spain in 2025 with her husband and now works about 16–20 hours weekly, enabled by Spain’s lower costs and a digital nomad visa. She saved roughly $40,000 to start her business and move abroad, and now enjoys a calmer routine while continuing The First Gen Mentor. She has more than $220,000 in retirement investments and plans to retire by 65 through compounding. While rent is cheaper (~€1,900) and private health insurance costs about €200/month, managing her business across two countries adds tax and visa complexity. She aims to stay long-term and pursue Spanish citizenship after residency.
Edward Krueger Connors Jr., an 80-year-old Vietnam War veteran, former Gold’s Gym founder and California architect, moved to Lecce, Italy in early 2026 to pursue a long‑deferred dream and escape the “ugliness” he saw in suburban America. He rents a furnished one‑bedroom near Lecce’s historic center for about $1,100 a month, opts for six‑month flexibility over permanence, and spends mornings writing and afternoons walking as he travels around Europe and contemplates more exploration—living life in the moment rather than owning property.
Paige Madison moved from Vermont to Copenhagen for a dream job, expecting a high quality of life, but found the harsh winters, high costs, social barriers, and feelings of isolation challenging, leading her to leave after two years and realize the importance of community and belonging.
Cheryl Orlov, a 55-year-old from Los Angeles, left her life in California after 23 years to move to Albania in 2023, seeking a more relaxed lifestyle, cultural exploration, and affordability. She sold her properties and business, found a safe and affordable home in Tirana, and has been enjoying her new life, traveling frequently and feeling more fulfilled. Despite challenges like language barriers and expat impermanence, she is happy and feels more like herself in Albania, with no plans to return permanently to the US.
The article explores three affordable international retirement destinations—Phuket, Thailand; Mendoza, Argentina; and Santa Marta, Colombia—highlighting their cost-effective living, healthcare options, visa requirements, and lifestyle benefits for retirees looking to maximize their Social Security income.