Expat Advice

International Living’s expat network is your key to a new life in a new country. Get real, honest advice from people just like you. Discover the tips, tricks, shortcuts, and strategies you can use to cut through red tape and improve your life overseas right away.

Read about and learn from real-life experiences our expats have had in their new home countries, from health care to taxes, earning an income overseas to buying real estate…and much more.

Expat Advice Archives

A Love Affair with Tropical Cebu

By Kirsten Raccuia |

February 20, 2016

His love affair with his new home is understandable. For him, the tropical climate, the beaches, the Filipinos’ friendly, hospitable nature, and the low cost of living make it a dream come true. He lives in a big city, yet he still feels that he has the typical “island lifestyle” that you’d expect from the Philippines. Life is simpler, like the 1950s U.S., but with all the First-World amenities he could want. And “if you ask me for just one thing I love about the place, it would be the people. Their seemingly never ending smiles brighten each and every day.

The Best Ecuador Visa for You

By Wendy DeChambeau |

February 20, 2016

Four years ago when my family and I relocated to Ecuador, obtaining a residence visa was one of our top priorities. We knew we wanted to stay long-term and a residence visa would allow us to do so without penalties or needing to leave the country periodically. At the time, the process took several months to complete. But now, thanks to a more streamlined process, expats who have all of their paperwork in order can receive their visas within a matter of weeks. And just recently, Ecuador decided to half the cost of the application fee for over 65s (to $25) as well as the cost of a visa (to $250).

Old-School Community Spirit in Low-Cost Quebradas

By Deb Schaffer |

February 20, 2016

"My favorite thing about my new life is the kindness of the people,” says Carol Blair Vaughn, 63, of her rustic retirement in Costa Rica’s Southern Zone. “I have never been treated so warmly and generously by anyone. They are gems.” For Carol, the people may be the main benefit of life in the small town of Quebradas, but they’re certainly not the only one. Here she has found her perfect spot for a peaceful, rural retirement.

Great Living on $1,500 a Month in Colombia’s Coffee Triangle

By Wendy DeChambeau |

February 20, 2016

I’m here to tell you that I’ve found the Holy Grail of expat destinations. Each of us has our own priorities, but to find a place that ticks the boxes on nearly everyone’s list is something special. A perfect climate that’s neither too hot nor too cool (60 F to 80 F all year); amazing natural surroundings; plenty of cultural events; history-filled cities; superb healthcare; friendly people; and a welcoming country…all with a fantastically low cost of living—figure $1,500 a month for a couple, all in.

Enjoy Life from Outside the Political “Bar Fight”

By Dan Prescher |

February 20, 2016

When my wife Suzan and I first moved abroad in 2001, it was a time of extraordinary political turmoil in the U.S. Or so we thought at the time. Now, after 15 years of following our homeland’s political hubbub from various beautiful, affordable, and relaxed locations overseas, it seems to us that the U.S. political system is never not in turmoil.

An Active, Comfortable Life on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast

By Jason Holland |

January 24, 2016

Away from the beach, Tamarindo has great food and a fantastic social scene. We gather at sunset every evening. Because we’re near the equator, it’s always between 5:15 and 6:15 p.m. Groups of friends chat and watch their kids play. Dog walkers nod as they walk past. Surfers pop into the water for one last wave. Bottles are raised as the sun disappears over the horizon.

Enjoying a Low Cost of Living and Warm Climate in Santa Fe

By Linda Card |

January 24, 2016

Bill and Mitzi Martain are living the retirement of their dreams. “We have a lovely new home, a beautiful farm, wonderful friends and neighbors, and each other,” Mitzi says. “There’s no way we could have this lifestyle and quality of life in the U.S.” Bill and Mitzi have what they consider an ideal life. They own 10 acres of fertile land in a rural valley, surrounded by hills and mountains. They enjoy sunny, warm weather year-round, with no snow, no ice, no hurricanes or tornadoes.

Good Living on $1,000 a Month in Bolivia’s “Garden City”

By Miranda Booher |

January 24, 2016

You’re on the way home from the largest outdoor market in South America, where you loaded your shopping bags with farm-fresh produce for less than $5. The warm weather tempts you to enjoy an easy stroll through one of the plazas and parks that dot the city. Decked out with blooming flowers in vivid patterns, they offer the perfect retreat from the market’s hustle and bustle.

The Key to a Safe Retirement Overseas

By Dan Prescher |

January 24, 2016

As exciting and adventurous as the idea of moving abroad can be, it sometimes packs a little zing of anxiety with it. It’s the anxiety you feel when you wonder how safe you’ll be in a foreign country. It’s a perfectly natural feeling. Safety— for ourselves and our loved ones—is one of our most basic needs. None of the other beneﬁts of living abroad mean much to us if we don’t think we’ll be safe in our new home.

The World’s Top Retirement Havens for 2016

By International Living |

December 22, 2015

Retiring abroad is easier and more affordable than ever before. These days it really is possible to spend your days relaxing beneath palm fronds on a Caribbean beach, enjoying farm-fresh produce in a mountain haven with year-round spring weather, or wandering the storied streets of a historic and cultured European city…or all of the above. But with so many choices available, finding the right one can seem daunting.