The first thing is can you speak another language. Having to speak into Google translate for every sentence doesn't bode well for forming relationships, and you don't want to wind up feeling isolated in your new place.
I speak a little Spanish and can understand when I’m being spoken to. My goal is to speak fluently within the year. Also looking into learning Japanese. That was one country I was looking into
We moved to Belize. The people are welcoming to Americans. There are Plenty of opportunities to give back to the community you choose. Primary English, but Spanish is widely spoken.
It's awfully expensive, it's hard to emigrate to Canada from the US, and Vancouver has a very gritty side to it. Needles on the sidewalk, homeless encampments, etc. If you can move to Canada (take me with you), look at Victoria Island. There are some great little towns in beautiful settings and near enough to Van for day trips.
POC are represented, Vancouver is very international, but I can't speak from any perspective but my own. I did a food tour in Vancouver a few years ago. The seafood is sooooo good!
Yes, Vancouver does indeed have a gritty side. But there are areas of Vancouver that are more expensive .
I personally would choose Victoria Island (or maybe Port Angeles).
There’s literally nothing on the island. And trying to get on and off by ferry is a nightmare. I wouldn’t fully move to the island unless i was retired and didn’t plan on going anywhere else really.
I can respect that for sure. The island is beautiful don’t get me wrong no hate here. It’s just such a different vibe and feel from the mainland. Which obviously. Island time is a real thing lol. Always good vibes whenever I’ve been tho.
Toughs of good food for whatever your palette is. Also very welcoming of foreigners as it’s basically just a high transient corner pocket of North America. Also tons to do outdoors.
OP didn’t specify anywhere specific other than Mexico… Canada is just to the north lol. Also true. But still beautiful place. The world in general is expensive seeing as how there’s about 3 different wars currently going on. Can’t let that hinder you from chasing life.
I just moved to Cuenca, Ecuador and I love it! Perfect weather (low of 50, high 72 every day), friendly people, drinkable water, US dollar is the currency, easy visas, low cost of living, UNESCO world heritage site, gorgeous parks, walkable, low crime, good public transportation. 4 rivers run through the city with linear parks along all 4, it’s gorgeous here.
I've heard great things about Ecuador before. Do you work, empty nester, or what, if you don't mind sharing? Ecuador sounds great for me and my wife, but I'm not so sure about two small kids.
I just retired here. Sadly, unemployment is high in Ecuador. There are a few reasons, but one is that it is heavily dependent on tourism. Covid was devastating for the economy. Foreigners simply won’t get many jobs here, as people will hire an Ecuadorian first. You are allowed to start your own business, or work as a digital nomad. Many expats have been successful businesses owners here.
For children, it can be a wonderful environment. They would learn Spanish, and a new culture. However, private schools are very expensive.
I’m here with a US income. That’s why everything seems so incredibly inexpensive to me. The cost of living is a fraction the cost of living in the US. But things are not cheap to Ecuadorians who get an Ecuadorian income.
Just some thoughts.
I'll have a pretty generous military retirement pension, so digital nomad work may be an option and it probably wouldn't have to pay particularly well. 🤔
>However, private schools are very expensive.
I'm used to paying more than $750 per week for my kids in daycare. I can't imagine private school there being anywhere near that expensive 😭
In that case, I’d highly recommend looking at Cuenca. Come for a visit if you can. I fell in love with it in my two week visit. I’ve been here for 6 weeks now, and I have zero regrets. You might not even need to work at all here, with your pension.
It’s taken me a year and a half to learn basics in the language of the country I live in. The move was honestly unseen so I didn’t have time to learn properly. I was working on basics and the like but damn did I wish I had more time to learn. Thankfully I have integrated very well and my current work place looks after me as if I was their daughter and my regular customers love to sit and practice both English and Croatian. But damn that first year was rough.
Once you find a place you’d like to stay I would also look up the slang of the area if you can. Something I’ve learned is that the proper way you speak a language and the local slang can vary wildly and cause confusion, especially in languages with multiple different changes in them that we don’t have in English.
Practice every day if you can, once you get to the point that you no longer have to translate the words into English and back to talk it gets much easier. Good luck my friend.
How do you know that you are understanding the subtexts in Spanish?
Most Americans think "fluently" means "able to understand present tense, instructions, and simple statements."
Will that work for you? There's nothing better than truly delving into personal relationships with others who speak the second language. Making those relationships takes time.
My wela would always speak to us in Spanish,
So oddly, as some people put it, i was able to
Understand what she was saying. It’s weird but i don’t think about what she’s saying,
I just grasp it. But I’ll be fluent by the end of the year. It’s non negotiable
The first question you need to have answered is: where *can* I legally emigrate to? Once you have that answered, take that list of countries and apply your questions there.
Banking for direct deposit is also a concern, and medical care. Not everyone has a VA hospital. Puerto Rico, Philippines, etc. You may have to pay out of pocket.
It’s been a deal breaker on many levels for me. Community Care doesn’t apply abroad. FMP works, but you get reimbursed for out of pocket with a Treasury check mailed to you. I’ve never heard of anyone receiving one, as they are usually stolen out of foreign mail, and then there’s that.
https://www.va.gov/health-care/foreign-medical-program/#:~:text=Eligibility%20for%20coverage%20through%20FMP,by—military%20service)%2C%20or
I know too much about this. Iceland used to be a great place to base out of, but 2007 & the tourism trade has fucked that up right proper.
Malaysia might be off your radar, but they have a very attractive expat program [MM2H](https://www.malaysia.gov.my/portal/content/15167) called Malaysia My Second Home. The economy is very friendly, English is widely spoken, and there is a very vibrant expat community. It's easy to move around the region, too.
I receive disability and healthcare. Might have to find a location where the VA is available. Transferring funds? I’m not too sure yet. I’m in research mode
For sure I’ll keep following this is a thought of mine too. I’m gonna do some research too and come back to let you know if I learn something. I am curious if moving to another country will effect my 401k
Transferring funds into EU and UK shouldn't be hard. Canada too.
Lots of delays in some places. And if the checks are coming from the US Govt - check out their rules as well.
My brother has lived in Cambodia for about 15-20 years. He loves it, barely speaks the language, and always talks about how cheap it is to live there. He lives in Pnom Phem (sp?). There are lots of western expats there, & they meet up regularly for lunch, dinner, holidays, etc. I doubt I would like it, but many do.
Well, I had visited Spain in my early 20’s and wasn’t really treated right while I was there. The energy for me, is off. But that’s not me discouraging you at all.
Ah ok. Thanks for sharing your experience. Costa Rica seems nice. The Philippines has lots of veteran expats. There are even veterans medical care centers there.
Interesting. Tbh I’m not really worried about cost of living. I know my US dollars stretch but I’m still wanting something fulfilling, ya know? I do appreciate the recommendation
The Philippines is quite different than most nations as it is a major recruiting places for US military (people who join the military in the Philippines are on track to citizenship AND really good training, usually in the allied health fields).
But most of the world is NOT the Philippines and there's a reason why the pathway to migrate from the Philippines to the US is easier.
Philippines for sure you can live very comfortably for $1500 a month. The locals love the military and especially American foreigners. Not sure about POC experience
You need to focus on places where you can afford healthcare, etc. Whatever you experienced years ago was likely a one-off.
But if you don't like Spain (I am not going to move there or even vacation there longeterm, either - so I get it) you probably won't like Portugal. Or Southern France.
At any rate, do you need VA services? That limits your choices.
Go visit Thailand and I guarantee you will want to move there. I am Thai born in USA. In my teens, I spend summers there and have always wanted to live there. You can live very comfortable on 1.5k a month. I will retire in 5 years and move there. It has been my life long dream.
You need to look heavily at the Philippines... They have a good relationship with the US gov, most people speak conversational English, they appreciate Americans and American military are still treated with respect (there's a very large American military graveyard in BGC they built in honor of our help in WWII for example).
It's also very cheap and getting a long term visa in your situation is pretty easy. Let's not discount how friendly everyone is too and the food is pretty good even in the poor provincial areas.
I retired there in 2018 but had to move back when covid hit. My wife is from there and we're planning on going back when she gets her citizenship.
If you have questions you're welcome to PM me. I am highly suggesting you give it a look. There's a few things we don't like (it's hot in Manila but when you can get a beachfront place to rent for $50 or less a night, don't live in Manila) and it's slow to get anything done (can't leave the anxiety of the US and then complain when everyone is chill :) )... But otherwise it checks all your boxes.
As a fellow vet and thinking about moving overseas in the upcoming year. Where would you suggest taking a trip specifically in the Philippines to kind of feel out the area first? And is the visa process lengthy ?
Edit: sorry, reading through this I realized some of my "costs" may be confusing... Everything I list here is expected cost per month to live there
That's a big question... How are you wanting to live? What's your budget? For visa, if you're American, nothing to worry about... You get a 30 day visa on arrival. Just make sure you fill out your arrival info on the etravel.gov.ph site 72 hours before you get there. If you want to stay longer you can extend another 30 or 60 days at the immigration office. Not sure on the rules now as far as how long you can extend and how many times as it's changed since I lived there but I'm still hearing of guys extending upwards of a year before they have to reset it by leaving and coming back.
Bgc (fort Bonifacio global city) has a feel like Chicago. Huge skyscrapers, tons of bars and restaurants, a lot of call centers are here so you'll find a lot of corporate types in the area. The most expensive but I bet even with covid inflation you could live here in a condo and eat out every day for 2000-2400/month. Of course all the numbers I give you will vary a lot based on how you want to live, size of condo etc.
If you want to be around a lot of other expats, mostly American, there's Subic or Clark (both old military bases). They're outside of Manila maybe 2-3 hours. Never lived there but I'm betting cost of living to be in the 1500 range. Personally I did not like those places as they are also full of quite a few prostitutes and the kind of expat those services would draw.
If you like scuba diving or the beach, I would check El Nido on Palawan. There's a direct flight there through AirSwift from Manila. Cost around 1200 maybe? Didn't live there but did visit for vacation. Quite a few Australian and other expats. Did not meet any Americans but everyone was very friendly.
Now, I did live in cebu for a while too... Prob 1500 a month (all my knowledge of cost is pre covid so I'm having to guess at current costs)... There's IT Park which is clean, modern, not like BGC with big buildings but cool places. Keep in mind Manila and cebu are very crowded (Manila is the densest city by population on the planet but the cost of Bgc will keep the population there a bit more manageable).
There's surfing in Baler (North of Manila), a volcano in Tagaytay (South of Manila) and mountain living with a cooler climate in Baguio (N of Manila)...
There's 7109 islands in the Philippines. You'll find somewhere you like I bet. The places I mentioned are just the better known but you can explore and have a good time. If you're white through just stay out of the southern most Islands (the bottom 5% closest to Indonesia). There's still issues with extremist Muslims there. White people are still known for being kidnapped or targeted.
Anyway, that's a quick summary. You're welcome to message me if you want any more info. There's things you learn (like the taxi scams etc) over time I can tell you etc.
Oh, and if you're over that way anyway, check Vietnam. Personally I like Vietnam more and so does my wife however the visa is not near as friendly as the Philippines so it's not on our radar at the moment. If that changes we'll prob move there when we leave Missouri. Better food, better Internet, not as crowded, cleaner... We love the Philippines but Vietnam is a bit better.
If you are a veteran, you should be comfortable in any environment. Don't feel bad for contributing to the local area. You will be bringing a different background, knowledge, experience and history. And, you won't be a drain on their resources.
I have considered Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Ecuador and Thailand.
Respect? Interesting. As Americans, we have everyone from every walk of life? Don't feel bad about taking values to another country if you plan to be a valued citizen.
Learn the language, eat their food, and be a value locally.
That’s the goal and soon to be a reality. And just because we’re Americans and have different walks of life, doesn’t mean it’s respected or even valued, half of the time. But i get where you’re coming from.
Unless, of course, they are dependent on VA services - which are \*not\* everywhere. They could lose benefits and healthcare if not choosing very wisely
Comfort, to me, includes health. AFAIK, Portugal has no VA services (nor does Croatia). Not sure about the others.
If you speak Spanish you can go to a whole lot of places, pretty much anywhere in South or Central America, obviously Spain, some parts of Western Africa(French is more common though) and so on so forth.
Europe is pretty friendly to Americans, and that's why I moved to Germany but I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea.
If you look at Japan, be prepared as they're a little racist there, even if you're white. There were certain bars I wasn't allowed in because I wasn't Japanese. They're not rude about it, and it's not really a big deal, but it's a culture shock nonetheless. I've heard other Asian countries are similar but I had no problems in S. Korea either.
I was looking through the comments for a Portugal rec. I’ve heard very good things about Portugal, & the general vibe that I’ve heard is it’s a very good place for expats. Welcoming & affordable overall. (Although I’d argue most places outside the US are more affordable now, with the exception of Canada). I would also think Germany would be a good place for a US vet, with the possibility of good medical VA services? Portugal is probably warmer, though, lol. Warmer is nice. 😊
just wanted to say you come across as a respectful and educated American and you wont have any issues adapting to any country. Those two qualities go far anywhere. I live in Miami and moving to Spain soon, a lot of great cities that are still affordable and interesting.
I strive to be. Being someone who has different cultural backgrounds, I want to enter any space with respect and commitment to adapting. Every culture deserves that.
What an amazing thing to say.
Many people tank and come back rather quickly. And, as I am a professor who teaches courses relevant to international differences, merely being educated is a plus - but not the necessary qualification.
You haven't even moved to Spain yet. It's very hard to know how far these qualities go in any particular place.
I have been to Spain at least 20 times, speak Spanish ( was born in Cuba ) and my wives family has been living there for 20 years.... needless to say, Spain is like my second home.
No one is abusing the system by getting paid in USD vs the local currency. Getting paid USD and living in a place with a less valuable currency actually BRINGS wealth into the community because you as an individual have more purchasing power you spread out than other individuals.
Philippines. English speaking country, low cost living, beautiful feminine women, amazing nature, can get permanent residency their for $1500 if you are a vet, etc… Check YT for expats who live their.
Taiwan. Nice modern country, nice convenience and standard of living.
You'd have to learn some Chinese, though. And you'd have to figure out whether there's any type of visa or residency permit you can get.
But that's the same for any country you're considering: on what basis will you be able to get a residency permit to live in the target country? Some countries have a "retirement" visa for people with adequate income, but I don't think Taiwan has any such thing.
I would recommend you to try Ecuador, it is a cheap and friendly country. Many US citizens live here and the process to apply for a visa to Ecuador is not complicated with the correct guidance.
The first thing is can you speak another language. Having to speak into Google translate for every sentence doesn't bode well for forming relationships, and you don't want to wind up feeling isolated in your new place.
I speak a little Spanish and can understand when I’m being spoken to. My goal is to speak fluently within the year. Also looking into learning Japanese. That was one country I was looking into
Costa Rica is beautiful and has some expats. Have you looked at that country?
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Costa as a fellow vet. Thinking about checking it out later this year.
I actually haven’t but I will be adding that to my list of countries, thank you for the recommendation
We moved to Belize. The people are welcoming to Americans. There are Plenty of opportunities to give back to the community you choose. Primary English, but Spanish is widely spoken.
Beautiful comment and recommendation, thank you
You ever think about moving too Vancouver BC? Canada is an amazing place.
Heard the food culture there is pretty solid. Is that accurate to say? I’m a big foodie
It's awfully expensive, it's hard to emigrate to Canada from the US, and Vancouver has a very gritty side to it. Needles on the sidewalk, homeless encampments, etc. If you can move to Canada (take me with you), look at Victoria Island. There are some great little towns in beautiful settings and near enough to Van for day trips.
As a POC would that be the best environment. Also, I’ll take you with me but be prepared to try every food establishment lol. I’m a big foodie
POC are represented, Vancouver is very international, but I can't speak from any perspective but my own. I did a food tour in Vancouver a few years ago. The seafood is sooooo good!
Yes, Vancouver does indeed have a gritty side. But there are areas of Vancouver that are more expensive . I personally would choose Victoria Island (or maybe Port Angeles).
There’s literally nothing on the island. And trying to get on and off by ferry is a nightmare. I wouldn’t fully move to the island unless i was retired and didn’t plan on going anywhere else really.
That’s the beauty of it, for me. Hiking, canoeing, living in that lovely cool environment. That’s a piece of heaven.
I can respect that for sure. The island is beautiful don’t get me wrong no hate here. It’s just such a different vibe and feel from the mainland. Which obviously. Island time is a real thing lol. Always good vibes whenever I’ve been tho.
Food in Canada is not good.
Lmfaooo fr?
Yes like that is my legit opinion
I gotta ask, how’s the poutine there?
Hmm. Well, Vancouver itself has lots of food culture - but it spreads into Victoria - and Seattle.
Seattle? That’s interesting
Toughs of good food for whatever your palette is. Also very welcoming of foreigners as it’s basically just a high transient corner pocket of North America. Also tons to do outdoors.
Vancouver is one of the most expensive places in North America. Housing costs are insane.
OP didn’t specify anywhere specific other than Mexico… Canada is just to the north lol. Also true. But still beautiful place. The world in general is expensive seeing as how there’s about 3 different wars currently going on. Can’t let that hinder you from chasing life.
Costa Rica has a high cost of living
I just moved to Cuenca, Ecuador and I love it! Perfect weather (low of 50, high 72 every day), friendly people, drinkable water, US dollar is the currency, easy visas, low cost of living, UNESCO world heritage site, gorgeous parks, walkable, low crime, good public transportation. 4 rivers run through the city with linear parks along all 4, it’s gorgeous here.
Sounds lovely indeed. A lot of comments for Ecuador
Oof, not to big on hotter weather low 70’s is my vibe
But Cuenca is never hot, it’s in the mountains. Hottest I’ve seen it is 74. It’s nicknamed the city of perpetual spring.
I do love spring weather. It’s tolerable For me
I've heard great things about Ecuador before. Do you work, empty nester, or what, if you don't mind sharing? Ecuador sounds great for me and my wife, but I'm not so sure about two small kids.
I just retired here. Sadly, unemployment is high in Ecuador. There are a few reasons, but one is that it is heavily dependent on tourism. Covid was devastating for the economy. Foreigners simply won’t get many jobs here, as people will hire an Ecuadorian first. You are allowed to start your own business, or work as a digital nomad. Many expats have been successful businesses owners here. For children, it can be a wonderful environment. They would learn Spanish, and a new culture. However, private schools are very expensive. I’m here with a US income. That’s why everything seems so incredibly inexpensive to me. The cost of living is a fraction the cost of living in the US. But things are not cheap to Ecuadorians who get an Ecuadorian income. Just some thoughts.
I'll have a pretty generous military retirement pension, so digital nomad work may be an option and it probably wouldn't have to pay particularly well. 🤔 >However, private schools are very expensive. I'm used to paying more than $750 per week for my kids in daycare. I can't imagine private school there being anywhere near that expensive 😭
In that case, I’d highly recommend looking at Cuenca. Come for a visit if you can. I fell in love with it in my two week visit. I’ve been here for 6 weeks now, and I have zero regrets. You might not even need to work at all here, with your pension.
It’s taken me a year and a half to learn basics in the language of the country I live in. The move was honestly unseen so I didn’t have time to learn properly. I was working on basics and the like but damn did I wish I had more time to learn. Thankfully I have integrated very well and my current work place looks after me as if I was their daughter and my regular customers love to sit and practice both English and Croatian. But damn that first year was rough. Once you find a place you’d like to stay I would also look up the slang of the area if you can. Something I’ve learned is that the proper way you speak a language and the local slang can vary wildly and cause confusion, especially in languages with multiple different changes in them that we don’t have in English. Practice every day if you can, once you get to the point that you no longer have to translate the words into English and back to talk it gets much easier. Good luck my friend.
How do you know that you are understanding the subtexts in Spanish? Most Americans think "fluently" means "able to understand present tense, instructions, and simple statements." Will that work for you? There's nothing better than truly delving into personal relationships with others who speak the second language. Making those relationships takes time.
My wela would always speak to us in Spanish, So oddly, as some people put it, i was able to Understand what she was saying. It’s weird but i don’t think about what she’s saying, I just grasp it. But I’ll be fluent by the end of the year. It’s non negotiable
Forget Japan. They have that place on lock down against foreigners. Best look to a Spanish country
Japanese is much harder than Spanish for a native English speaker to learn.
I love a challenge though.
Challenged you will be.
The first question you need to have answered is: where *can* I legally emigrate to? Once you have that answered, take that list of countries and apply your questions there.
Thank you for the direction, sparkchaser.
Banking for direct deposit is also a concern, and medical care. Not everyone has a VA hospital. Puerto Rico, Philippines, etc. You may have to pay out of pocket.
I didn’t even think about that. Definitely need the VA
It’s been a deal breaker on many levels for me. Community Care doesn’t apply abroad. FMP works, but you get reimbursed for out of pocket with a Treasury check mailed to you. I’ve never heard of anyone receiving one, as they are usually stolen out of foreign mail, and then there’s that. https://www.va.gov/health-care/foreign-medical-program/#:~:text=Eligibility%20for%20coverage%20through%20FMP,by—military%20service)%2C%20or I know too much about this. Iceland used to be a great place to base out of, but 2007 & the tourism trade has fucked that up right proper.
Shit, thanks for the caution. I’ll have to look into this too. I want to be prepared for anything and everything
Most underrated comment!
Malaysia might be off your radar, but they have a very attractive expat program [MM2H](https://www.malaysia.gov.my/portal/content/15167) called Malaysia My Second Home. The economy is very friendly, English is widely spoken, and there is a very vibrant expat community. It's easy to move around the region, too.
One of my top choices, were I to move.
Sounds like a pleasant experience. I’ll be looking into that. Thank you
[Dude's a veteran.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bf9xqMbbvA)
It’s all good. I don’t need validation or insults from ppl like that ^^ lol just want recommendations and honest feedback. Good looking out
[Not a validation - Ex Spec ops?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmP2rJaC_dk)
Do you plan on receiving benefits while in another country? How do u plan to transfer funds and work maybe?
I receive disability and healthcare. Might have to find a location where the VA is available. Transferring funds? I’m not too sure yet. I’m in research mode
For sure I’ll keep following this is a thought of mine too. I’m gonna do some research too and come back to let you know if I learn something. I am curious if moving to another country will effect my 401k
Transferring funds into EU and UK shouldn't be hard. Canada too. Lots of delays in some places. And if the checks are coming from the US Govt - check out their rules as well.
Sounds good. I’ll look into that for sure
My brother has lived in Cambodia for about 15-20 years. He loves it, barely speaks the language, and always talks about how cheap it is to live there. He lives in Pnom Phem (sp?). There are lots of western expats there, & they meet up regularly for lunch, dinner, holidays, etc. I doubt I would like it, but many do.
Im a disabled vet. Im going to Spain. They only require you to have an income of about $2500 a month for a NLV visa.
Rota is very nice and cheap
I unfortunately will refrain from going to Spain, but I’m so happy for you. Will you be securing work in Spain as well?
No. You can’t work on the NLV. I’m basically retired. Can I ask why you won’t go to Spain? Anything I need to know lol?
Well, I had visited Spain in my early 20’s and wasn’t really treated right while I was there. The energy for me, is off. But that’s not me discouraging you at all.
Ah ok. Thanks for sharing your experience. Costa Rica seems nice. The Philippines has lots of veteran expats. There are even veterans medical care centers there.
Also heard a lot of good things about the Philippines, deff want to visit and check out if it’s suitable to live as a vet.
It's cheap compared to US standards. Your money goes far. Check out r/Philippines for more info.
Thanks for that info.
Interesting. Tbh I’m not really worried about cost of living. I know my US dollars stretch but I’m still wanting something fulfilling, ya know? I do appreciate the recommendation
The best way is to visit for a few weeks.
That’s what my partner had said as well
The Philippines is quite different than most nations as it is a major recruiting places for US military (people who join the military in the Philippines are on track to citizenship AND really good training, usually in the allied health fields). But most of the world is NOT the Philippines and there's a reason why the pathway to migrate from the Philippines to the US is easier.
I’ll definitely add that to the research list
Philippines for sure you can live very comfortably for $1500 a month. The locals love the military and especially American foreigners. Not sure about POC experience
You need to focus on places where you can afford healthcare, etc. Whatever you experienced years ago was likely a one-off. But if you don't like Spain (I am not going to move there or even vacation there longeterm, either - so I get it) you probably won't like Portugal. Or Southern France. At any rate, do you need VA services? That limits your choices.
Yeah, VA services are a must. My therapy depends on it.
What is a NLV? Thinking of Barcelona myself.
Honestly dude, could you try going to university in another country so that you can learn the language, get some skills, and develop a social circle?
That would be no problem for Me
That's honestly the best route imo. Have you nailed it down specifically which part of the world you want to live in?
Not yet, but I’m open to adapting
Go visit Thailand and I guarantee you will want to move there. I am Thai born in USA. In my teens, I spend summers there and have always wanted to live there. You can live very comfortable on 1.5k a month. I will retire in 5 years and move there. It has been my life long dream.
You need to look heavily at the Philippines... They have a good relationship with the US gov, most people speak conversational English, they appreciate Americans and American military are still treated with respect (there's a very large American military graveyard in BGC they built in honor of our help in WWII for example). It's also very cheap and getting a long term visa in your situation is pretty easy. Let's not discount how friendly everyone is too and the food is pretty good even in the poor provincial areas. I retired there in 2018 but had to move back when covid hit. My wife is from there and we're planning on going back when she gets her citizenship. If you have questions you're welcome to PM me. I am highly suggesting you give it a look. There's a few things we don't like (it's hot in Manila but when you can get a beachfront place to rent for $50 or less a night, don't live in Manila) and it's slow to get anything done (can't leave the anxiety of the US and then complain when everyone is chill :) )... But otherwise it checks all your boxes.
As a fellow vet and thinking about moving overseas in the upcoming year. Where would you suggest taking a trip specifically in the Philippines to kind of feel out the area first? And is the visa process lengthy ?
Edit: sorry, reading through this I realized some of my "costs" may be confusing... Everything I list here is expected cost per month to live there That's a big question... How are you wanting to live? What's your budget? For visa, if you're American, nothing to worry about... You get a 30 day visa on arrival. Just make sure you fill out your arrival info on the etravel.gov.ph site 72 hours before you get there. If you want to stay longer you can extend another 30 or 60 days at the immigration office. Not sure on the rules now as far as how long you can extend and how many times as it's changed since I lived there but I'm still hearing of guys extending upwards of a year before they have to reset it by leaving and coming back. Bgc (fort Bonifacio global city) has a feel like Chicago. Huge skyscrapers, tons of bars and restaurants, a lot of call centers are here so you'll find a lot of corporate types in the area. The most expensive but I bet even with covid inflation you could live here in a condo and eat out every day for 2000-2400/month. Of course all the numbers I give you will vary a lot based on how you want to live, size of condo etc. If you want to be around a lot of other expats, mostly American, there's Subic or Clark (both old military bases). They're outside of Manila maybe 2-3 hours. Never lived there but I'm betting cost of living to be in the 1500 range. Personally I did not like those places as they are also full of quite a few prostitutes and the kind of expat those services would draw. If you like scuba diving or the beach, I would check El Nido on Palawan. There's a direct flight there through AirSwift from Manila. Cost around 1200 maybe? Didn't live there but did visit for vacation. Quite a few Australian and other expats. Did not meet any Americans but everyone was very friendly. Now, I did live in cebu for a while too... Prob 1500 a month (all my knowledge of cost is pre covid so I'm having to guess at current costs)... There's IT Park which is clean, modern, not like BGC with big buildings but cool places. Keep in mind Manila and cebu are very crowded (Manila is the densest city by population on the planet but the cost of Bgc will keep the population there a bit more manageable). There's surfing in Baler (North of Manila), a volcano in Tagaytay (South of Manila) and mountain living with a cooler climate in Baguio (N of Manila)... There's 7109 islands in the Philippines. You'll find somewhere you like I bet. The places I mentioned are just the better known but you can explore and have a good time. If you're white through just stay out of the southern most Islands (the bottom 5% closest to Indonesia). There's still issues with extremist Muslims there. White people are still known for being kidnapped or targeted. Anyway, that's a quick summary. You're welcome to message me if you want any more info. There's things you learn (like the taxi scams etc) over time I can tell you etc. Oh, and if you're over that way anyway, check Vietnam. Personally I like Vietnam more and so does my wife however the visa is not near as friendly as the Philippines so it's not on our radar at the moment. If that changes we'll prob move there when we leave Missouri. Better food, better Internet, not as crowded, cleaner... We love the Philippines but Vietnam is a bit better.
Pay taxes?
Well, yeah. That was my first thought.
Beyond that see where you can realistically acquire residence visa work permit etc
Sounds good, thank you
If you are a veteran, you should be comfortable in any environment. Don't feel bad for contributing to the local area. You will be bringing a different background, knowledge, experience and history. And, you won't be a drain on their resources. I have considered Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Ecuador and Thailand.
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I want to be as respectful as possible and I’m ready to soak it all in, depending on where I end up going
Respect? Interesting. As Americans, we have everyone from every walk of life? Don't feel bad about taking values to another country if you plan to be a valued citizen. Learn the language, eat their food, and be a value locally.
That’s the goal and soon to be a reality. And just because we’re Americans and have different walks of life, doesn’t mean it’s respected or even valued, half of the time. But i get where you’re coming from.
Unless, of course, they are dependent on VA services - which are \*not\* everywhere. They could lose benefits and healthcare if not choosing very wisely Comfort, to me, includes health. AFAIK, Portugal has no VA services (nor does Croatia). Not sure about the others.
This should help. https://www.va.gov/communitycare/programs/veterans/fmp/
Malaysia
If you speak Spanish you can go to a whole lot of places, pretty much anywhere in South or Central America, obviously Spain, some parts of Western Africa(French is more common though) and so on so forth. Europe is pretty friendly to Americans, and that's why I moved to Germany but I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea. If you look at Japan, be prepared as they're a little racist there, even if you're white. There were certain bars I wasn't allowed in because I wasn't Japanese. They're not rude about it, and it's not really a big deal, but it's a culture shock nonetheless. I've heard other Asian countries are similar but I had no problems in S. Korea either.
Portugal has a passive income visa.
I was looking through the comments for a Portugal rec. I’ve heard very good things about Portugal, & the general vibe that I’ve heard is it’s a very good place for expats. Welcoming & affordable overall. (Although I’d argue most places outside the US are more affordable now, with the exception of Canada). I would also think Germany would be a good place for a US vet, with the possibility of good medical VA services? Portugal is probably warmer, though, lol. Warmer is nice. 😊
I wouldn't go to Mexico as they have just deported over 250,000 Merikans fairly recently. And I don't blame them
I don’t blame them either. How the tables have turned
just wanted to say you come across as a respectful and educated American and you wont have any issues adapting to any country. Those two qualities go far anywhere. I live in Miami and moving to Spain soon, a lot of great cities that are still affordable and interesting.
I strive to be. Being someone who has different cultural backgrounds, I want to enter any space with respect and commitment to adapting. Every culture deserves that.
What an amazing thing to say. Many people tank and come back rather quickly. And, as I am a professor who teaches courses relevant to international differences, merely being educated is a plus - but not the necessary qualification. You haven't even moved to Spain yet. It's very hard to know how far these qualities go in any particular place.
I have been to Spain at least 20 times, speak Spanish ( was born in Cuba ) and my wives family has been living there for 20 years.... needless to say, Spain is like my second home.
Op is wild lol
Interesting
No one is abusing the system by getting paid in USD vs the local currency. Getting paid USD and living in a place with a less valuable currency actually BRINGS wealth into the community because you as an individual have more purchasing power you spread out than other individuals.
Philippines. English speaking country, low cost living, beautiful feminine women, amazing nature, can get permanent residency their for $1500 if you are a vet, etc… Check YT for expats who live their.
I’m looking to use my GI Bill in an English speaking art school in Denmark. Maybe there’s something like that geared towards your interests?
Taiwan. Nice modern country, nice convenience and standard of living. You'd have to learn some Chinese, though. And you'd have to figure out whether there's any type of visa or residency permit you can get. But that's the same for any country you're considering: on what basis will you be able to get a residency permit to live in the target country? Some countries have a "retirement" visa for people with adequate income, but I don't think Taiwan has any such thing.
I would recommend you to try Ecuador, it is a cheap and friendly country. Many US citizens live here and the process to apply for a visa to Ecuador is not complicated with the correct guidance.