Living Abroad in 2021 - The Ultimate Guide (steps to making your dreams a reality)

The headlines report another mass shooting… your monthly budget is constantly in the red despite working 60 hours a week… constantly on the run but never accomplishing anything. Can you relate to any of these?

Maybe you have dreams of living or even moving abroad? Are you ready to make 2021 the year you make some major changes in your life? Then, this ultimate guide is for you. I’ll walk you through some important points to consider when deciding if living abroad or moving abroad is for you.

Is now the right time? What if you take the plunge and decide it’s not for you? It’s okay! It can be exciting or scary. It’s okay!

With this guide in mind, you can take steps to minimize these fears and doubts. You can dip your toes into the world without making a full-time commitment. 

Why should you listen to me? I moved abroad eight years ago, in 2013. I have worked in 5 different countries during this time and traveled extensively in each. I have made friends, learned to cook without a box, and even learned another language (Spanish).

Yes, eight years is a long time. It’s longer than I’ve lived anywhere continuously as an adult. What I discovered is each place is different: different faces, trees, foods, smells, animals, buildings, cars—everything was different.

People think differently, move differently, and have different values and priorities than the people of your home country. The land is different: from cool mountain valleys and peaks to beach towns to high deserts to thick humid jungles. The homes are different: squat homes made of cane, unpainted cinder blocks/traditional adobe, or modern high-rises.

A lot of thought needs to go into the decision to move abroad; it’s not for everyone. Everyone has different expectations and experiences -- a less stressful lifestyle, a lower cost of living, a healthier lifestyle, or firsthand learning about a different culture and language. 

This guide includes important details like planning an exploratory trip, what to think about in choosing a new home country, what are your options, and making the leap to living abroad.

So, let’s dive into the details… 11 things to contemplate.

The Pros and Cons of Living Abroad – An Adventure or A Disaster?

What does it mean to live abroad? The simple definition is living in any other country than your native country. It is more than simply traveling abroad, but actually immersing yourself in a new local culture in a new country.

You may be referred to as an “expat” or “foreigner.” You can live abroad as a single, couple, or family. How you plan that transition can create a marvelous adventure or an awful disaster.

So, what is required to successfully live abroad? Everyone’s experience is different, but it starts with an open mind.

 1. Anticipation - New Experiences While Living Abroad

 The first time I traveled abroad alone was to England. The second night in London, I was robbed at knifepoint with policemen 20 feet away. While the experience put a damper on my trip, it didn’t stop my vacation plans. And it didn’t deter me from future travels.

The next time I traveled abroad alone, my friends all thought I was crazy. A single, white woman, traveling alone to the deserts of Africa. Yes, I encountered corruption in the form of bribes to be allowed to lawfully pass (paramilitary) and danger (extreme poverty in a known drug trafficking area), but I had hired a reliable guide. I was in Cairo, Egypt right before the major rioting began. Two weeks later I saw the same places I had visited on the news in the center of rioting and demonstrations.

My third trip abroad was to live abroad in China. I was working as a school teacher while living in a rural community. Weekends and holidays were for traveling and seeing the country. In that year, I saw both the good and bad of living abroad. I definitely didn’t speak the language and the lifestyle was extremely different from what I was used to. This wasn’t the right place for me to live long term.

But that only fueled my passion to continue this adventure. Bad things can and do happen everywhere, even in your native country. That is why you have to try different countries – to find out what is best for you. Usually the pros far outweigh the cons of living abroad.

I spent over three years in Mexico with a totally different experience. Mexico is a large and diverse country. Most people think of drugs and cartels when they think of Mexico, but there is also a fascinating history of ancient civilizations (I’m a history buff), a unique culture full of friendly and welcoming people, and a laid back approach to life.

I have subsequently moved to Ecuador. While you may think all central and South America are the same… you would be wrong. 

That’s why you have to try out an area before committing to a long term move to live abroad. It’s all about finding the right fit for you.

2. Prerequisite: A LOVE of Traveling, Culture, and People

The absolute best way to open your mind to the possibility of life abroad is to travel and experience different parts of the world. If you don’t love to travel, you will not love living abroad.

In addition to taking long flights or drives to get to your destination, communicating in a foreign language, converting currencies to buy basics like food, and getting lost, you have to get permission to legally stay in the country. This is usually called the visa process and is different for every country. 

Once you have your visa in hand, you need to find an apartment, get acquainted with the healthcare system, and adjust to living in a place where small differences may become major annoyances.

But then the fun begins because as an expat, you can freely travel the country you are living in while experiencing the sights and sounds of your new home. In many countries, the public transport system is economical and efficient to get around. Buses go everywhere, domestic flights are cheap, and exploring by car is a promise of true adventure with unmarked streets and no GPS.

For example, in Mexico you can get to just about anywhere for a weekend trip -- a fancy beach resort, hiking trails on towering volcanoes, colorful colonial towns, ancient pyramids, or world-class Mexico City, with its mix of historic neighborhoods intertwined with a modern city. You can go to out-of-the-way places that most travelers haven’t heard of like the old silver-mining town of Taxco, the surreal concrete structures in the jungle garden of Los Pozas, or the church in San Juan Chamula, Chiapas, where locals sit on the floor among pine needles and smoky candles, drinking soda and sacrificing chickens. How is that for diversity?

You’ll never really know what a country is like until you’ve been there. Online research can get you started but it is a biased and frequently unreliable resource. Connecting with expats currently living in the country is another resource but incorporates the good with the bad. Some aspects of living abroad are great, and some aren’t so great. Some are downright terrible.

Finding a house is not usually done online or through a realtor. It involves talking to people in the neighborhood where you want to live or wandering the streets looking for “For Rent” signs on houses and apartment buildings. You’ll need to speak the language for this or have a reliable friend to do so, because in most cases, they will not speak your language. You also want to see if you feel safe in the neighborhood while walking around.

As you are looking for your new home, consider different times of the day. What is the noise like in the morning with the garbage collection trucks or the propane tank refill trucks? Are there multiple barking dogs in the area – can you handle that in the middle of the night? What about that nightclub you want to try out – is it as much fun when you hear the loud music all night long, every night?

What about the weather? In most countries you can find too hot, too cold, too much rain, too many bugs, too much dust, or just about any other climate worry. What weather do you like best? Or more importantly, what weather do you not like?

And finally, there is money. You need money for everything. Unless you plan on working where you are living, you will need to have a reliable way to access your funds from back home. What are the fees for ATM withdrawals or for international wires? What are the currency exchange rates (remember these may change daily)? How much money do you need to live comfortably wherever you are?

3. Think Ahead About Money – You Can’t Live on Air!

Don’t believe anyone who tells you just to quit your job and go for it. You need money when you are planning to move abroad, and the more you have saved back home, the better off you'll be. Your money never stretches as far as you think it will when you are spending it with nothing coming in.

Once you have decided to move abroad, don’t buy anything unless it’s a flight to the country you’re interested in or something you KNOW you will need. You don’t want to carry all your worldly possessions in suitcases through airports while you are traveling to your new home.

The good news is that the US dollar and the Euro generally go far in many countries where expats tend to live. This makes everyday expenses seem cheap in comparison to what you spent back home.

Living abroad is not a simple process. It requires a lot of planning and a lot of thought.

4. Oh No! An Accident or Illness You Didn’t Plan

You rarely plan on getting injured or sick, but having a plan while living abroad is essential, making healthcare an important consideration. In many countries known for expat living, healthcare is relatively inexpensive and readily available. For example, in Mexico you can go to a pharmacy for almost any minor ailment (upset stomach, cold, UTI, etc.), talk to the pharmacist, and come away with medication for your issue. All for just a few dollars.

For more serious issues, there are basically two options – public or private. In most cases the public system is free, even for foreigners. But there may be long waits for service and the standards may not be what you are accustomed to back home. The private system on the other hand is more like modern healthcare facilities in the US or UK with full capabilities for surgery and other advanced procedures. While more expensive, private facilities generally offer a better quality of care at a very reasonable price.

It is wise to invest in health insurance wherever you reside. If you are working in a country, it is likely your employer can help you sign up for the public system. But as an experienced expat, I would suggest investing a few dollars a month into a good private insurance plan. For example, here in Ecuador I have a full coverage plan for a mere $57 a month. I pay a copay for services needed ranging from 10-40% depending on the status of the provider (network or non-network). Most office visits are $3-5 dollars!

You can start out with a good travel insurance plan until you explore the alternatives in your new home country.

You may even find your health is better while living abroad as you walk more to get around and eat fresher foods (a.k.a. less processed meals).

5. Living Abroad as a Family Results in More Engagement with Friends and Family 

Living abroad with your family is a unique opportunity for the whole family. Children learn languages faster than us adults. Everyone learns new ways of doing things. And, most foreign countries have an emphasis on family and friend relationships that is infectious.

Naturally, nothing should stop you from moving abroad as a couple or as a single either.

One of the first things you will want to acquire when living abroad is a cell phone. Your sim card from your native country may allow your phone to work, but be aware of the roaming charges when you are using it. Cell phone carriers are everywhere. And like in the US, the quality of service varies as well. Talk with a local to find the best carrier and best plans for your needs.

I’ve always preferred pay-as-you-go plans, which are super cheap (USD 10 or less). Every cell phone company has them. You buy a phone, add a SIM chip, and you are ready to go. Frequently, these can even be purchased in local convenience stores. Add funds as needed. Do not use your cellphone for international calls unless your plan includes it. Instead, use Skype, Zoom, TextNow, or Google Hangout.

Like cell phone companies, there are usually multiple internet providers with various plans, but at the end of the day they are all quite similar. Again, talk to your neighbors for recommendations about your neighborhood. Do you want it bundled with TV and a landline? Plan on about USD 25-30 for a package deal. 

6. The Dreaded VISA or Immigration Process – Planning to Simplify It

Every country has different requirements for foreigners to legally live or work in their country. You will want to check the requirements carefully for the requirements of the country you want to live in for any restrictions and the requirements. Some are easy and some are very complicated. 

Many will require documents from your native country, so it is best to obtain these before you go, especially if you need documents apostilled.

Sometimes you need a lawyer to assist you while other times you can complete it yourself if you speak the language.

A tip I wish someone had told me when I first moved abroad: do not carry your passport and visa or stamped tourist form with you everywhere you go. Make a copy of both and carry them instead, unless you are traveling across borders. That way if your purse or wallet gets stolen you haven’t lost the original documents which can be a royal pain to replace!

And if you do lose those documents, remain calm. Being polite and respectful goes a long way to getting officials to help you rather than taking you to jail.

7. Working Abroad… It’s Possible if You Know the Restrictions

The best way to get a job in another country is the same as anywhere in the world — in person or by word of mouth. Submit an application or resume and ask for a job interview. 

Some countries will require you to have a job offer in hand before your arrival if you are planning on a working visa. In this case, your future employer will need to provide you with a sponsorship letter to take to immigration and they need prior permission from the government to hire foreign workers.

A great way to work abroad without this hassle is teaching English online, although it is not the only possibility. There are both private and public schools all over the world wanting native speakers as tutors or teachers. Be sure to thoroughly read any contract before you sign it as working conditions and benefits vary dramatically from country to country. Also expect the pay to be quite low compared to what you may be used to in your native country.

To get a legitimate job in another country, you will need originals of official documents like your birth certificate and all degrees and transcripts from higher education, and possibly even high school. Before you leave your native country, get these certifications to carry with you; it will save you a lot of time and money later.

8. Respect and Patience When Dealing with Authorities

In most countries, 90% of officials are reasonable, polite, and willing to do anything to help. Most are also honest. But, give these hard-working people a hard time, and expect the worst.

In some countries (including the U.S.A. and England), when confronted with unreasonable situations such as being told “no” with no explanation, a common reaction is “You can’t do this to me! Let me see your supervisor!”

Do not do this in a country where you want to live. It will get you nowhere and may even get you arrested. It may also result in your visa application being rejected and then, where are you?

Stay calm and pleasant in any official situations, including immigration, the bank, or at the police station. Smile and give the proper greeting depending on the time and authority of the person. You may be given the wrong information or told to come back another time with more documents. One tiny error on an application form, and you might have to start all over again. Officials may compare your signature on the form with the signature on your ID, making sure it’s exactly the same. Don’t get angry or impatient as this will only slow down what you are trying to accomplish. Be persistent but be patient and polite.

Another tip: bring a book or something non-digital to do. The process may take a while and many official offices do not allow cell phones or digital equipment while waiting. 

In most countries you do not need or want a foreign banking account unless you are working in the country. As you shop around for a bank, consider the location, the fees for service, minimum balances, and the availability of debit/credit cards. In general, it is easier to carefully withdraw funds from your home country and rely on cash for daily expenses.

If you are working in the country, the preference is the bank of your employer. This will allow you to more efficiently deposit your paycheck and withdraw money as needed.

9. I Want My Car!

 Your foreign license is usually legitimate for driving in your new country when you first arrive. If you are thinking of moving abroad and taking your car with you to your new country, check the current regulations about importing a vehicle as this varies widely and may even be prohibited for non-citizens.

When driving, try to stay on toll highways as these are generally safe and monitored by law enforcement. Free highways, on the other hand, can be confusing or dangerous and lack directional signs. It is also important to know the area where you are driving as there are areas you should never drive in. It is best to ask a local before embarking on a long-distance trip for both conditions and safety. 

Safety is always important. Bottom line, it is generally not safe to drive a vehicle in another country unless you are very familiar with the area and the language. Here are some safety consideration:

• Keep your wallet in your front pocket.
• Never leave your purse hanging from a chair in a restaurant.
• Do not carry your camera around your neck.
• Do not study a map in a public place.
• Do not walk down empty streets, especially at night.
• Do not accept drinks from strangers.
• Always be aware of your surroundings.

Although major crimes are rare, getting mugged is possible even in the daytime. Never resist as there is usually someone watching, and this will bring you more trouble. But you can usually call out “thief” or “help” to garner assistance from nearby people. The most important thing is to get away from anything that gives you a “bad vibe.”

10. What Did You Say? Learning the Language Makes a Huge Difference

Start by learning at least the basics like hello, thank you, where is, and such. But the more of the language you know, the more locals will welcome you and try to help you even if you are not fluent.

Learning a language is a lot like going to the gym. If you exercise only on the weekends and get no other exercise, nothing happens. If you go hard for three hours every day, you get sick of it, and nothing happens. To learn a language, you need two basic things: commitment and patience. Commit to practicing the language every day, even for just 20 minutes. Be patient and after six months, one year, or two years you’ll suddenly wake up fluent. That’s when the fun begins as you can really interact with the locals!

11. Be Adventurous – Try New Foods and Flavors

You can’t drink tap water in most parts of the world. Some countries routinely boil their water to make it safe. Generally, it is best to buy water in bottles. Large, 20-liter bottles of water are cheap and an economical way to purchase your water needs. In many neighborhoods, trucks routinely drive around delivering this for a nominal fee (they’ll even carry it into your house for you).

If you want water with a meal at a restaurant, don’t expect a glass of water. Instead, buy a bottle of water.

One of the best things about living abroad is the cuisine. Don’t just eat foods you are familiar with from home but try the local cuisine. Most of the time, these are fresh and economical. I love the almuerzos of South America - $2 will get you a heap of tasty, filling food.

It’s more than restaurants. You can easily find inexpensive and high-quality produce everywhere. Instead of shopping at a supermarket, buy fruit, vegetables, meat, tortillas, or whatever you need from a small corner store. It will save you money and support the local economy. The quality will also be much better.

One of the best options for fruit and vegetables are the street carts in the neighborhoods, which often have the freshest seasonal fruit. Public markets are also great places to shop for whatever you need and experience the culture as well.

Other considerations:

Everyone’s questions and desires are different. Here are some other frequently asked questions that may be lingering in the back of your mind:

• Does living abroad change you? Most definitely, and usually for the better. You experience first hand how other people live… what is important to them and what is not. You cannot help but change your perspectives as well.
• Is living abroad a good thing? While everyone’s experience is different, I would definitively say yes.
• What do you gain from living abroad? You may find you are healthier, and maybe even lighter, as you eat wholesome foods and walk more every day. You may learn a new language, or maybe even more. You meet new people and make new friends. These are just a few of the benefits of living abroad.
• What is it like to live abroad? This question is a little tougher as everyone’s experience is different. But generally, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages significantly, especially in today’s digitally connected world.
• Is moving to another country a good idea? This really depends on your reasons for moving. But, if you are looking for a slower pace of life, a place where your money stretches further, or a place to experience new adventures, the answer is a resounding YES!
• What are the disadvantages of living abroad? I’m not going to sugar-coat this. Living abroad is not for everyone. If you expect to find everything “like it was back home,” you will not survive living abroad. If you cannot live without pre-packaged meals, you will not experience the diversity of foods around the world. If you don’t like change, you will not do well living abroad.
• What is the healthiest diet in the world? The healthiest diets are those high in fresh, natural foods without chemical preservatives and harmful additives. You can find a healthy diet in almost any country if you are willing to pay for it, including the US or UK. But living abroad, you are usually living closer to the land so fresh and natural foods are plentiful and inexpensive.

In summary: You Can Happily Live Abroad with a Plan

Many people think you need help to live abroad. But this is simply not true. You can move abroad as a single, as a family, or as a couple – if you do your homework and plan accordingly.

You do not have to become a citizen to live in another country. And, you do not have to renounce your own citizenship.

Much of what I appreciate living abroad is what my home country has lost. Food that doesn’t cost a fortune or come in a box like inexpensive fresh fruit and vegetables every day. Butcher shops sell meat with no hormone injections and cut right in front of me. And the chicken store with free-range eggs and chicken cut up however I want it.

The differences are not always good. Living abroad has advantages and disadvantages. At times, it may be stressful, confusing or frustrating, but it’s never boring. 

Three easy steps:

• Save money
• Visit your country of interest for the maximum time you can stay as a visitor. Do you actually want to live in that country?
• Make the leap

Living in a new country is much more than geography. It is an entry into a whole new experience. Don’t expect the country to change to fit you - you have to make the adjustment. And, you may find that you never want to go back home (wherever that may be).

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