Question 1

Where do most Americans move when leaving the US?

SortaRich · Accepted Answer

Mexico is the largest US-expat destination by a wide margin (~1.6M+ US citizens estimated, with major concentrations in CDMX, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, Mérida). Canada (~750K), the UK (~150K), Germany (~120K), Israel, France, Spain, Australia, Italy, and Costa Rica round out the top destinations by US-citizen population. The fastest-growing US-expat destinations 2020-2025: Portugal (D7 + D8 visa boom), Mexico (post-pandemic surge), Spain (Non-Lucrative + DNV), Costa Rica (Pensionado + Rentista), and Panama (Pensionado).

Question 2

What countries accept US passports for residency?

SortaRich · Accepted Answer

Most-accessible residency programs that explicitly welcome US applicants: Portugal D7 (passive income ~€820/mo) + D8 (digital nomad), Spain Non-Lucrative (~€2,400/mo per person), Mexico Temporary Resident (income or savings-based), Costa Rica Rentista ($2,500/mo income or $60K bank deposit) / Pensionado ($1,000/mo lifetime pension), Panama Pensionado ($1,000/mo pension threshold — among the world's most accessible), Ecuador Pensioner Visa ($1,275/mo), Uruguay (passive-income residency), Netherlands DAFT (US-Dutch Friendship Treaty, ~€4,500 starting capital for self-employed), Italy Elective Residency, Türkiye Citizenship by Investment ($400K real estate). Always verify current thresholds at the official immigration authority before applying.

Question 3

How does FEIE help Americans abroad?

SortaRich · Accepted Answer

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets US citizens exclude up to $126,500 (2024 figure, inflation-adjusted annually) of foreign-earned income from US federal income tax. Two qualification paths: Bona Fide Residence (uninterrupted residency in a foreign country for a full tax year) or Physical Presence (330+ days outside the US in any 12-month period). FEIE excludes earned income only — not investment income, pensions, or distributions. Self-employment tax (15.3%) is NOT excluded by FEIE. State tax residency may persist depending on your state of last domicile. Always work with a US-expat-CPA before filing — the rules are unforgiving.

Question 4

What's the cheapest country to move to from the US?

SortaRich · Accepted Answer

Cheapest established destinations with realistic US-passport visa pathways: Mexico (~$1,500-2,500/mo for a single American comfortably; Temporary Resident visa is income-based and easy), Ecuador (~$1,500-2,000/mo, Pensioner Visa from $1,275/mo), Costa Rica (~$1,800-2,500/mo, multiple visa options), Panama (~$1,500-2,500/mo, Pensionado), Portugal (~$2,000-2,800/mo outside Lisbon premium, D7), Malaysia (~$1,500-2,200/mo, MM2H), Vietnam ($1,200-1,800/mo but visa pathways for long-stay are weaker for US passports — typically tourist-visa runs). All anchored to current World Bank ICP price-level data and personalized by SortaRich to your actual home-city baseline.

Leaving the US?

How we rank for Americans

Where do most Americans move when leaving the US?

What countries accept US passports for residency?

How does FEIE help Americans abroad?

What's the cheapest country to move to from the US?

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