Leaving the US?
Where your dollar buys more, your visa actually qualifies, and your healthcare costs less. Ranked from PPP-adjusted cost data + visa programs that accept US passports + WHO healthcare scores.
40
destinations
25
countries
5
regions
45
avg cost index
How we rank for Americans
SortaRich ranks countries for Americans leaving the US on three axes that actually matter: (1) PPP-adjusted cost — how far the same dollar income buys, anchored to a US baseline (e.g. $5,000/mo in NYC ≈ $2,800/mo equivalent in Lisbon). (2) Visa accessibility for US passport holders — only programs that actually accept US-citizen applications + are realistic for the typical income/profile. (3) Healthcare quality — WHO Universal Health Coverage Index, plus cost of private insurance for Americans not yet eligible for the local public system.
The destinations that consistently lead the rankings for Americans: Portugal (D7 + D8 visas, EU access, low cost vs US), Mexico (Temporary Resident, lowest-friction visa, geographic proximity), Spain (Non-Lucrative Visa), Costa Rica (Pensionado/Rentista with $60K-bank-deposit alternative), Panama (Pensionado from $1,000/mo pension), Italy (1-million-Euro elective-residency option for the wealthier), Uruguay (5-year tax holiday on foreign income), and the Netherlands DAFT visa for US-self-employed.
Where do most Americans move when leaving the US?
Most Americans move to Mexico when leaving the US — it 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 are Portugal (D7 + D8 visa boom), Mexico (post-pandemic surge), Spain (Non-Lucrative + DNV), Costa Rica (Pensionado + Rentista), and Panama (Pensionado).
What countries accept US passports for residency?
Countries that accept US passports for residency via accessible programs include 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), the Netherlands (DAFT — US-Dutch Friendship Treaty, ~€4,500 starting capital for self-employed), Italy (Elective Residency), and Türkiye (Citizenship by Investment, $400K real estate). Always verify current thresholds at the official immigration authority before applying.
How does FEIE help Americans abroad?
FEIE helps Americans abroad by letting 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.
What's the cheapest country to move to from the US?
The cheapest country to move to from the US with a realistic visa pathway is Mexico (~$1,500-2,500/mo for a single American comfortably; Temporary Resident visa is income-based and easy). Other low-cost options: 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.
Top destinations
Ranked by cost of living, data quality, and relevance.
#5Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand · 127K
#6Surabaya, Java
🇮🇩 Indonesia · 2.9M
#9Bandung, Java
🇮🇩 Indonesia · 2.4M
#10Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea · 10.3M
#12Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil · 6.7M
#19Barranquilla
🇨🇴 Colombia · 1.2M
#20Aguascalientes
🇲🇽 Mexico · 722K
#22Santiago de Querétaro
🇲🇽 Mexico · 1.6M
#26Kuala Lumpur
🇲🇾 Malaysia · 1.5M
#28Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
🇪🇸 Spain · 384K
#34Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina · 2.9M
#36Durban
🇿🇦 South Africa · 3.3M
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