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Author Topic: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?  (Read 16448 times)

Shasarak

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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #15 on: March 16, 2021, 12:26:46 AM »
I would say to come to NZ but unfortunately our Prime Minister disagrees.

Some thing about dirty foreigners I think.
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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #16 on: March 16, 2021, 12:34:48 AM »
I would say to come to NZ but unfortunately our Prime Minister disagrees.

Some thing about dirty foreigners I think.
Understandable, the last time your border controls slipped a flotilla of people on little boats arrived and killed Big Bird.

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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #17 on: March 16, 2021, 10:37:34 AM »
I've considered Uruguay and Belize recently.  I've backed off from Uruguay do to what seems to be the high cost of living.  I need to work for another decade at least.

Uruguay does have a higher cost of living than most 3rd world countries.
How high that cost of living is depends on what level of lifestyle you expect. If you want to have all the luxuries of upper middle class first-world living, it's going to cost roughly the same.
If you're more modest or bohemian, the cost of living will be cheaper than in most 1st world cities.

Just for reference:
a 1-bedroom apartment in a good part of town, nice but super fancy, rents at about $420 USD, plus about another $50-150 in utilities.
Groceries and food are cheap (I can feed myself for a week very easily with good varied and healthy groceries for about $25; and an average main course at a typical restaurant might cost $10; a cappucino about $2.50 at a cafe, a beer maybe $4).
Imported stuff is very expensive, though getting cheaper than it used to be (I used to say anything technological costs twice what it would cost in north america, but now that's closer to only about 1.5x more).
Health care (you don't want to use public health care here) costs about $75 a month for basic coverage. But expect to pay a couple of hundred extra in "tests" and prescriptions any time you actually get sick or injured.

The really expensive things are owning a car (gas is expensive, and costly licenses and parking permits), raising kids (private schools are pricy, and even most of those aren't very good here). 

And the real problem is that incomes here are low. So if you're planning to get a job here and live off that, if you try to teach english for example, you'll be working long hours and making about $700 a month if you're lucky.  Owning your own business here is also likely to bankrupt you.  So you need to either have a lot of money (and buy real estate, if you like), or be on a fixed income from foreign sources (retirement, pension etc), or work for yourself in a business that's done online and where all your business is out-of-country.


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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #18 on: March 16, 2021, 01:13:43 PM »
I live very rural in the US and it feels like a different country from where I used to live in the US.

My thoughts as of late have been that it is better to be ignored/pandered to as a minority in another country than what is currently happening in the US to the majority. I have thought Chile would be nice to live in, maybe a German community there. But I have kids and that complicates everything. I did live in Germany in the 2000's and it was great. Unfortunately my German ancestry is too far distant for right of return.

Chile seems like a good option but I would want a couple of million before I move down there.

Shasarak

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Mistwell

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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #20 on: March 17, 2021, 01:51:53 PM »
At one point my wife was under consideration for a regular in a television show that shot in Vancouver. As she's originally from Canada and still a citizen there, we briefly considered moving to Vancouver. The role didn't pan out so we never left the very early consideration phase.

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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #21 on: March 17, 2021, 01:52:56 PM »
I live very rural in the US and it feels like a different country from where I used to live in the US.

My thoughts as of late have been that it is better to be ignored/pandered to as a minority in another country than what is currently happening in the US to the majority. I have thought Chile would be nice to live in, maybe a German community there. But I have kids and that complicates everything. I did live in Germany in the 2000's and it was great. Unfortunately my German ancestry is too far distant for right of return.

Chile seems like a good option but I would want a couple of million before I move down there.

We visited Casper, WY a few months back and fell in love with it. We're not ready to move there, but it's something we'd consider if circumstances changed here in Los Angeles.

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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #22 on: March 20, 2021, 10:17:38 PM »
I live in California. It will be nice to move to the USA.

oggsmash

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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #23 on: March 31, 2021, 12:01:30 PM »
Well, Uruguay has some disadvantages (a terrible bureaucracy, high prices on imports, regulations make it almost impossible to start a profitable small business), but on the whole it keeps getting better and better. A new Conservative government that refused (against huge pressure from the communists, the WHO, the UN, and media) to institute a lockdown, increasingly cosmopolitan, good internet connections (including for business), real estate is still very cheap, and of course all the things that it always had that were good (the people, semi-decent weather with about 6 months of serious warmth and only about 2 of real cold, the MEAT and all the food in general, a culture that is relatively educated and european in style but very culturally-libertarian and tolerant, beaches if you're into that, etc). Plus, lots of gamers!

As long as you don't need to try to get a job or start a local business here (but rather can work online internationally, or live on a fixed income, or you plan to engage in real estate as your business),  this is a great place to live.
  It is one of the nations I have on a list to relocate to.   I favor Panama and Ecuador most for south America at the moment as they have extremely easy to use programs for establishing residency and permanent residency.   Do you have any ideas about cost differences between Ecuador and Uraguay (They sound similar, where local goods and living is fairly cheap, but imports are pretty expensive) by chance?   Wife can work remote and I will be able to as well when we make any moves. 

Shasarak

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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #24 on: March 31, 2021, 05:52:51 PM »
I live in California. It will be nice to move to the USA.

Just remember when you move to the USA to vote Blue!
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look at the good things you've got! -  Jesus

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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #25 on: April 01, 2021, 11:29:02 PM »
Well, Uruguay has some disadvantages (a terrible bureaucracy, high prices on imports, regulations make it almost impossible to start a profitable small business), but on the whole it keeps getting better and better. A new Conservative government that refused (against huge pressure from the communists, the WHO, the UN, and media) to institute a lockdown, increasingly cosmopolitan, good internet connections (including for business), real estate is still very cheap, and of course all the things that it always had that were good (the people, semi-decent weather with about 6 months of serious warmth and only about 2 of real cold, the MEAT and all the food in general, a culture that is relatively educated and european in style but very culturally-libertarian and tolerant, beaches if you're into that, etc). Plus, lots of gamers!

As long as you don't need to try to get a job or start a local business here (but rather can work online internationally, or live on a fixed income, or you plan to engage in real estate as your business),  this is a great place to live.
  It is one of the nations I have on a list to relocate to.   I favor Panama and Ecuador most for south America at the moment as they have extremely easy to use programs for establishing residency and permanent residency.   Do you have any ideas about cost differences between Ecuador and Uraguay (They sound similar, where local goods and living is fairly cheap, but imports are pretty expensive) by chance?   Wife can work remote and I will be able to as well when we make any moves.


Cost of living is probably somewhat cheaper in Ecuador. However, there's probably other issues too; crime is higher in Ecuador, and there's more poverty and less development
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oggsmash

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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #26 on: April 01, 2021, 11:46:38 PM »
Well, Uruguay has some disadvantages (a terrible bureaucracy, high prices on imports, regulations make it almost impossible to start a profitable small business), but on the whole it keeps getting better and better. A new Conservative government that refused (against huge pressure from the communists, the WHO, the UN, and media) to institute a lockdown, increasingly cosmopolitan, good internet connections (including for business), real estate is still very cheap, and of course all the things that it always had that were good (the people, semi-decent weather with about 6 months of serious warmth and only about 2 of real cold, the MEAT and all the food in general, a culture that is relatively educated and european in style but very culturally-libertarian and tolerant, beaches if you're into that, etc). Plus, lots of gamers!

As long as you don't need to try to get a job or start a local business here (but rather can work online internationally, or live on a fixed income, or you plan to engage in real estate as your business),  this is a great place to live.
  It is one of the nations I have on a list to relocate to.   I favor Panama and Ecuador most for south America at the moment as they have extremely easy to use programs for establishing residency and permanent residency.   Do you have any ideas about cost differences between Ecuador and Uraguay (They sound similar, where local goods and living is fairly cheap, but imports are pretty expensive) by chance?   Wife can work remote and I will be able to as well when we make any moves.


Cost of living is probably somewhat cheaper in Ecuador. However, there's probably other issues too; crime is higher in Ecuador, and there's more poverty and less development

  Oh for sure.  The means of establishing residency in Ecuador though is pretty darned easy, its just a bank account and does not require actually living there.  Its also a good deal closer to the States in the event we had to return for a family issue.  I did look at Uruguay's residency rules though, and they seem pretty smooth sailing once you are actually there.  Crime is honestly not much of an issue to me.  Many cities in the USA put the worst places in either country to shame, and it does seem as if neither nation spends all their time lamenting about what terrible people their nation is composed of.

Zirunel

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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #27 on: May 05, 2021, 07:31:00 PM »
Well, Uruguay has some disadvantages (a terrible bureaucracy, high prices on imports, regulations make it almost impossible to start a profitable small business), but on the whole it keeps getting better and better. A new Conservative government that refused (against huge pressure from the communists, the WHO, the UN, and media) to institute a lockdown, increasingly cosmopolitan, good internet connections (including for business), real estate is still very cheap, and of course all the things that it always had that were good (the people, semi-decent weather with about 6 months of serious warmth and only about 2 of real cold, the MEAT and all the food in general, a culture that is relatively educated and european in style but very culturally-libertarian and tolerant, beaches if you're into that, etc). Plus, lots of gamers!

As long as you don't need to try to get a job or start a local business here (but rather can work online internationally, or live on a fixed income, or you plan to engage in real estate as your business),  this is a great place to live.
  It is one of the nations I have on a list to relocate to.   I favor Panama and Ecuador most for south America at the moment as they have extremely easy to use programs for establishing residency and permanent residency.   Do you have any ideas about cost differences between Ecuador and Uraguay (They sound similar, where local goods and living is fairly cheap, but imports are pretty expensive) by chance?   Wife can work remote and I will be able to as well when we make any moves.


Cost of living is probably somewhat cheaper in Ecuador. However, there's probably other issues too; crime is higher in Ecuador, and there's more poverty and less development

  Oh for sure.  The means of establishing residency in Ecuador though is pretty darned easy, its just a bank account and does not require actually living there.  Its also a good deal closer to the States in the event we had to return for a family issue.  I did look at Uruguay's residency rules though, and they seem pretty smooth sailing once you are actually there.  Crime is honestly not much of an issue to me.  Many cities in the USA put the worst places in either country to shame, and it does seem as if neither nation spends all their time lamenting about what terrible people their nation is composed of.

I lived in Ecuador for a spell in the 1980s. That was a long time ago, almost 40 years ago. And it was a rather different place than it is today, just emerging from an endless stream of military coups. Security was heavy, the war with Peru was still ongoing (sort of a cold war at that point, but still, I  was either detained or pursued on suspicion of espionage -groundlessly - three times), it was a time of great suspicion.... and the whole kidnap for ransom thing was just beginning, which is a way different deal that famously became a big deal later in the 90s, a particular risk for gringos. Again, I'm not sure that's so prevalent today. And yet, things can change. Do you know what you're getting into?

For one thing, entry was easy, but after 3 months, if you wanted to leave,  you needed to apply for an exit visa. I.e. permission to leave the country. I have to admit that weirded me out. I'm not sure that's required today. Maybe, maybe not, I haven't looked into it.

It was certainly affordable, most of the money I had came back with me unspent. Now, mostly I lived in a remote village with little electricity and no water, so obviously cheap, but when I could get out I was doing hotels and restaurants in Guayaquil. Still couldn't spend what I had, it was ridiculously cheap. Even in the most expensive city in the country, $20 a day amply covered restaurant meals, hotel accommodation and transportation. I doubt it's quite as affordable now. I'm not sure I'd go back to live there, but I still loved it nonetheless.

And yet, I was there for a reason, it wasn't some random country I picked to escape from somewhere else. If you're trying to pick a country because you want to leave another one,  then surely you need to take a long hard look at what you want to leave, not just window-shop for "cheap" or "easy to get into."
« Last Edit: May 06, 2021, 04:47:11 PM by Zirunel »

Anon Adderlan

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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #28 on: May 06, 2021, 07:05:02 PM »
Yes, and I have to move in the next 3 months anyway.

I suspect I can actually get a Lithuanian passport, but I'm hesitant to move there due to the growing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Also weather.

oggsmash

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Re: Anyone here ever seriously consider moving or move out the the USA?
« Reply #29 on: May 06, 2021, 08:41:51 PM »
Well, Uruguay has some disadvantages (a terrible bureaucracy, high prices on imports, regulations make it almost impossible to start a profitable small business), but on the whole it keeps getting better and better. A new Conservative government that refused (against huge pressure from the communists, the WHO, the UN, and media) to institute a lockdown, increasingly cosmopolitan, good internet connections (including for business), real estate is still very cheap, and of course all the things that it always had that were good (the people, semi-decent weather with about 6 months of serious warmth and only about 2 of real cold, the MEAT and all the food in general, a culture that is relatively educated and european in style but very culturally-libertarian and tolerant, beaches if you're into that, etc). Plus, lots of gamers!

As long as you don't need to try to get a job or start a local business here (but rather can work online internationally, or live on a fixed income, or you plan to engage in real estate as your business),  this is a great place to live.
  It is one of the nations I have on a list to relocate to.   I favor Panama and Ecuador most for south America at the moment as they have extremely easy to use programs for establishing residency and permanent residency.   Do you have any ideas about cost differences between Ecuador and Uraguay (They sound similar, where local goods and living is fairly cheap, but imports are pretty expensive) by chance?   Wife can work remote and I will be able to as well when we make any moves.


Cost of living is probably somewhat cheaper in Ecuador. However, there's probably other issues too; crime is higher in Ecuador, and there's more poverty and less development

  Oh for sure.  The means of establishing residency in Ecuador though is pretty darned easy, its just a bank account and does not require actually living there.  Its also a good deal closer to the States in the event we had to return for a family issue.  I did look at Uruguay's residency rules though, and they seem pretty smooth sailing once you are actually there.  Crime is honestly not much of an issue to me.  Many cities in the USA put the worst places in either country to shame, and it does seem as if neither nation spends all their time lamenting about what terrible people their nation is composed of.

I lived in Ecuador for a spell in the 1980s. That was a long time ago, almost 40 years ago. And it was a rather different place than it is today, just emerging from an endless stream of military coups. Security was heavy, the war with Peru was still ongoing (sort of a cold war at that point, but still, I  was either detained or pursued on suspicion of espionage -groundlessly - three times), it was a time of great suspicion.... and the whole kidnap for ransom thing was just beginning, which is a way different deal that famously became a big deal later in the 90s, a particular risk for gringos. Again, I'm not sure that's so prevalent today. And yet, things can change. Do you know what you're getting into?

For one thing, entry was easy, but after 3 months, if you wanted to leave,  you needed to apply for an exit visa. I.e. permission to leave the country. I have to admit that weirded me out. I'm not sure that's required today. Maybe, maybe not, I haven't looked into it.

It was certainly affordable, most of the money I had came back with me unspent. Now, mostly I lived in a remote village with little electricity and no water, so obviously cheap, but when I could get out I was doing hotels and restaurants in Guayaquil. Still couldn't spend what I had, it was ridiculously cheap. Even in the most expensive city in the country, $20 a day amply covered restaurant meals, hotel accommodation and transportation. I doubt it's quite as affordable now. I'm not sure I'd go back to live there, but I still loved it nonetheless.

And yet, I was there for a reason, it wasn't some random country I picked to escape from somewhere else. If you're trying to pick a country because you want to leave another one,  then surely you need to take a long hard look at what you want to leave, not just window-shop for "cheap" or "easy to get into."

  Researching several, and easy to get into allows easy establishment of residency to get a visa.  I have taken a long hard look, and I dont need the nation I go to to be cheap.  It is just a bonus if it is a nation with upswing.  But I have looked into if for a while now. I have been to several countries in my life, and I would of course spend a week, or even a month there before I gave serious consideration to establishing residency.   Its not a random country for me, its picked for specific reasons.