Have you ever dreamed of sipping coffee in a bustling Parisian café, working remotely from a sunny beach in Spain, or pictured yourself in a fancy downtown office in London? If you’re reading this blog, moving abroad is a dream that many of us likely share—but the reality of living in a foreign country is far more complex than the travel Instagram posts might suggest.
In this blog, we’ll take a realistic look at what living abroad is like, exploring both the incredible opportunities and the challenges that come with starting a life in a new country. Whether you’re considering relocating for work, study, adventure, or personal growth, understanding the pros and cons of living abroad will help you make an informed decision and prepare for a smoother transition when living overseas.
Why People Live Abroad
There are hundreds of different reasons why people choose to move abroad. For some it’s about seeking new opportunities, being close to family, creating new experiences, or personal growth. For others, it can be more complicated than that.
Here’s why so many people take the leap:
1. Career Opportunities Abroad
Many professionals relocate to pursue career growth, higher salaries, or work in industries that are more advanced overseas. Countries like Germany, Canada, China, and Singapore offer strong job markets and opportunities for skilled expats seeking a life overseas. Plus, international experience looks impressive on a resume, making you more competitive in the global job market.
2. Lifestyle & Adventure
Living in a foreign country opens the door to a completely new lifestyle and culture. From savoring local cuisine and participating in cultural traditions to exploring nearby countries, moving abroad can be an adventure that transforms your daily life (I know it has for me).
3. Personal Growth
Adjusting to a new culture, language, and way of life pushes you out of your comfort zone. Many expats that I’ve met in Spain feel that they’ve increased confidence, independence, and resilience as a result of living abroad. While it’s not for the faint of heart, it is truly rewarding.
4. Political Climate and Social Factors
For some Americans, moving abroad is motivated not just by career or lifestyle, but by political and social considerations. A lot of Americans have concerns about what’s going on in the U.S., and changes in civil liberties, healthcare, or societal issues can prompt individuals or families to seek a new environment that aligns more closely with their values or offers a sense of stability.
Living abroad for political or social reasons is a deeply personal decision. While some countries, like Spain, may offer more favorable healthcare systems, social policies, or civil protections, relocating also comes with challenges such as adapting to a new culture, navigating visas, and leaving familiar support networks behind.
If you’re moving to escape something in your home country, it’s important to remember that every country has it’s own issues and you’ll never find the perfect destination you may be dreaming of. It’s about deciding which tradeoffs you can live with and making an informed decision to the best of your abilities.
Pros of Living Abroad
Let’s start with the fun stuff! There are so many positives to life abroad — what comes to mind for me is the cultural learning, new perspectives, the personal growth, the people you meet, ability to travel within Europe, and the quality and richness of life abroad.
I could go on and on, but here are a few of the key pros of live abroad:
1. Cultural Immersion and Learning
It goes without stating that living in a foreign country allows you to fully immerse yourself in a new culture. From learning a new language to understanding local traditions and customs, this experience undoubtably broadens your perspective and deepens your appreciation for diversity. Hearing people’s stories — including locals and immigrants alike — is extremely eye opening, and makes you realize what a privilege it is to even have the option to move internationally.
If you weren’t already in your home country, it’s humbling to be an immigrant and to be a minority in a new culture, and how different your experience becomes. You almost automatically develop your humility and deep sense of empathy, which are amazing side effects of a rich life.
2. Career Advancement and Networking
International experience can significantly boost your professional profile. Working in a foreign country will usually expose you to different business practices, expand your global network, and may open doors to unique career opportunities that aren’t available at home.
Whether you’re a digital nomad or if you’re established at 9-5 office job in your new country, you will certainly meet interesting new people who expand your network and could lead to collaborations or new opportunities.
3. Personal Growth and Independence
Relocating to a new country pushes you out of your comfort zone. Facing unfamiliar challenges—from navigating local bureaucracy to making new friends—builds resilience, adaptability, and self-confidence. Many expats say that living abroad changed the way they see the world and themselves. These life-changing experiences are yet another reason why immigrants tend to have a more empathetic and humble outlook as a result.
4. Travel Opportunities
Here’s the best one! Being based in a new country makes exploring nearby regions and countries way easier. Whether it’s weekend trips to neighboring cities or longer vacations to different countries, living abroad offers unparalleled opportunities to explore the world firsthand.
It’s so exciting to be in a completely new place where you can pack up and see something new every weekend if you wanted to. When you make local friends, they’ll be able to give you travel tips you would never get anywhere else, and with your new expat friends, you can explore these places together. It’s a very adventurous undertaking by nature!
5. Enhanced Quality of Life
Depending on the country you choose, you might enjoy a higher quality of life. In my case in Spain, what I mean by quality of life includes a lower cost of living, better & more affordable healthcare, improved work-life balance, community-oriented society, and access to outdoor activities and fresh, local food.
To be honest, I didn’t realize what a stark contrast this would be from my life in the U.S. I can afford to take care of myself, eat well, take time off, and I don’t need to worry about going into medical debt if something were to happen to me. For me, this is a massive relief compared to the reality of living in the U.S.
Cons of Living Abroad
Now onto the less fun, but very real and honest part. While many people glamorize life abroad, my hope is to give you an honest evaluation of what living abroad really means — including the good and the bad. While (in my humble opinion) the pros outweigh the cons, there are still some downsides and tradeoffs to living abroad that need to be considered.
1. Homesickness and Loneliness
The most common downside (especially in my case) is leaving behind family, friends, and familiar culture or surroundings. Moving internationally can be emotionally straining, and many expats experience periods of homesickness, especially during holidays or major life events. Building a social network in a new country takes time and effort, and initial feelings of isolation are very common.
The truth is that it never gets easier to miss out on your “old life” at home, but as you develop your community abroad, you find ways to cope and to build your ideal life abroad. If this is an ongoing struggle after your big move, remember you can always change your mind and move back. Just know that you’re never stuck!
2. Cultural Shock and Adaptation Challenges
Depending on where you move, adapting to a new culture isn’t always easy. Differences in social norms, communication styles, and everyday routines can be frustrating at first. Even simple tasks like grocery shopping or visiting a government office may require learning new systems and rules.
For example in Spain, people tend to run late to everything, which at first I mistook for people treating me rudely or disrespecting my time. It made me insecure about my friendships or feel “unworthy” of people’s time. While I knew intuitively that it’s part of the culture, it’s a hard adjustment when you grew up in such a different culture.
3. Financial Considerations
Moving abroad can be expensive. Costs may include relocation fees, housing deposits, visa applications, healthcare, and higher prices for imported goods. Currency exchange fluctuations and differences in taxation can also impact your budget, so it’s crucial to do your research on your desired destination.
Salaries can also be very different to what you’re used to. In Spain, the median salary is about €28,049.94, which is unfathomable by U.S. standards. If you’re relocating with a company, keep in mind that they’ll likely do a cost of living adjustment on your salary as well.
4. Legal and Administrative Hurdles
Navigating visas, work permits, residency requirements, and local laws can be complicated — notoriously so in Spain. Paperwork and bureaucracy may take months to complete, and mistakes can have serious consequences for your legal status. For this reason, I always recommend hiring a lawyer to help you with your move abroad.
Dealing with this kind of legal and administrative headache is a major factor that deters a lot of people from making the big move. My personal opinion? This stuff is part of life, and like all hard things, you get through it. While it is frustrating and a major headache, I wouldn’t let this reason alone deter you from following your dreams of moving abroad.
5. Career and Social Limitations
Depending on your destination and what kind of visa you’re eligible for, you may face restrictions on employment or have difficulty finding work in your field. Building a professional and social network in a new country can take time, and career advancement may be slower initially.
In the new age of remote work and digital nomads, this is less of a constraint than it used to be. However if you work a specific or physical job that can’t just be done online, you may have a harder time finding work after an international move.
How to Decide If Moving Abroad Is Right for You
Deciding to move abroad is a major life choice. While the idea may seem exciting, it’s important to weigh both personal and practical considerations before taking the big leap.
Here’s a simple framework you can leverage to help you decide:
1. Assess Your Financial Readiness
Consider the cost of living in your desired country, relocation expenses, and potential income. Make sure you have a budget for at least the first few months, including unexpected expenses. For context, check out my guide to cost of living in Spain to get a feel for what expenses look like after the big move.
2. Clarify Your Goals
Are you moving for career growth, education, adventure, or lifestyle changes? Understanding your primary motivation will help you choose the right destination and plan your move effectively. Plus, it’s best to dig deep and be real about why you really want to move abroad before you do it. This is not a decision that should be made overnight!
3. Identify Your Resources and Support System
Think about how much support you have from family, friends, and your network and where you’ll need additional help. For example, are your family and friends supportive? Do you have the information and expertise you need to make the move, or will you need the help of an expert?
Moving abroad is a huge undertaking, and you need a supportive system around you to make it feel more manageable.
4. Consider Your Adaptability
Moving abroad requires flexibility and resilience — it’s not just about living your life as usual, but in a new place. Ask yourself if you’re ready to embrace uncertainty, cultural differences, and unexpected challenges. The hardest thing you’ll likely have to confront is your long-held beliefs that may be challenged once you move to a new culture. Ask yourself what’s important to you and where you’re willing to be flexible and adaptable once you move to a new culture.
Tips for a Smooth Transition
Once you’ve decided you want to make the move abroad (yay!), careful planning can make the transition to life overseas much easier. Here are some practical tips to set yourself up for success:
1. Research Your Destination Thoroughly
Learn about local customs, healthcare systems, transportation, and cost of living. Understanding the local culture before arrival will help reduce culture shock and helps you feel prepared to integrate into a new country.
2. Learn the Basics of the Local Language
Even a basic grasp of the language can make daily life smoother and help you build connections with locals. Language skills also make navigating bureaucracy and social situations easier. While it’s certainly possible to move abroad without being fluent in the country’s language, life will be harder if you don’t try to adapt quickly. Plus, you’ll have an easier time making friends and building your community if you at least make an attempt at the local language!
3. Build a Support Network Early
Join expat groups, local clubs, or online communities. Facebook is your friend in this situation! Having people you can socialize with and rely on for advice will help you feel more at home in your new country. For a few tips and tricks on how to find your community abroad, check out my guide to making friends abroad.
4. Plan Your Finances and Visa Paperwork
After you’ve done thorough research on your destination, set up a budget, open a Revolut account to transfer funds, and ensure all visas, work permits, and insurance are in order before you arrive. It’ll be good for you to get used to using Revolut before you move, as you may need it to pay an immigration lawyer in Spain or international movers before you get there (if applicable). If Spain is your destination of choice, make sure to regularly check the visa requirements on their government website.
Are you moving with pets? Check out my guide to moving abroad with pets to help you understand what it takes.
5. Embrace the Experience
Stay open-minded and patient, and don’t let yourself get discouraged. Moving abroad is full of surprises, challenges, and opportunities for personal growth. Approaching your new life with curiosity and flexibility will help you make the most of the experience, even if the process is stressful at times.
If I can offer you my moving abroad advice: I promise if you do your research and come determined to make it happen, it will all work out. It may not be a linear process and there may be times you’re tempted to give up, but don’t! You never know what’s in store for you in your dream destination.
Real-Life Stories & Examples of Successful Overseas Relocation
My own journey to moving abroad was anything but straightforward. If you want the deep dive, read my full story here, but for this blog I’ll give you the CliffsNotes version.
I transferred to Spain with the support of my employer and even worked with an immigration lawyer, but we still faced an unexpected legal issue that took months to resolve. It was stressful and time-consuming, and it reminded me that even “smooth” moves can come with surprises.
Despite those challenges, I can confidently say the pros outweigh the cons. For me, the highlights of living in Spain include the welcoming and laid-back culture, a higher quality of life, a lower cost of living compared to my home country, and the ability to travel throughout Europe with ease. The hardest part, and something I’ve had to learn to accept, is being away from family and friends. Homesickness doesn’t go away completely, but with time it has become a manageable trade-off for the lifestyle I’ve built here.
I’ve also seen many different paths to life abroad in my community. Some friends came to Spain as teachers, fell in love with the culture, and decided to stay permanently. Others arrived as digital nomads looking for adventure and flexibility. A few even left their home countries for safety or stability and have rebuilt their lives successfully here.
One of the most encouraging parts of moving abroad is finding like-minded people. It’s comforting to share the ups and downs with others who understand the homesickness, the cultural adjustments, and the joys of building a new life. Whatever your reason for moving abroad, know that there are people who’ve faced similar challenges—and succeeded.
If this is your dream, keep going. I promise it’s possible.
Final Thoughts
Moving abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life—but it’s certainly not without its challenges. From career impacts and cultural immersion to homesickness and legal hurdles, living in a foreign country by choice requires careful planning, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace both the ups and downs.
If you simplify this decision making by weighing the pros and cons, assessing your goals, and preparing thoughtfully, you can make an informed choice that fits your lifestyle and aspirations. Whether you’re seeking adventure, personal growth, or a fresh start, moving abroad can open doors to life-changing opportunities.
Here’s your homework:
- Create your personal moving abroad checklist, or use mine as a starting point.
- Research destinations that align with your career, lifestyle, and personal values.
- Join expat communities to learn from others’ experiences.
- See what you learn! It may convince you either way, but hopefully you’ll have the tools you need to make an informed choice.
Moving abroad is the ultimate adventure. With the right preparation and mindset, it will be an incredibly fulfilling chapter in your life.
So, are you considering a move abroad? If so, what’s stopping you? Let me know in the comments!
Download my printable PDF Guide to Moving to Spain below!
My full guide to moving to Spain goes into detail about each step it takes to move abroad, specific paperwork requirements and resources for how to obtain them, timelines, and an exclusive cost breakdown so you know how much you need to budget.
