Guides for American Expats

Real expenses compared to US cities — rent, groceries, healthcare, transportation. Built from national statistics offices and on-the-ground reporting, not the Numbeo average everyone else regurgitates.

Cost of Living · 18 min read

Median Home Prices in 21 Countries vs. the USA: The Real Numbers for 2025-2026

14 of 20 countries are cheaper than the US median of $420K. Real data from national statistics offices, not travel blogs.

Cost of Living · 15 min read

Cost of Living in Spain for Americans (2026) — Real Monthly Budgets

Real monthly budgets for Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Málaga — rent, groceries, healthcare, and how it compares to US cities.

Cost of Living · 14 min read

Cost of Living in Mexico for Americans (2026) — Real Monthly Budgets

CDMX, Mérida, Guadalajara, and Puerto Vallarta — what $1,500-$3,000/month actually gets you as an American expat.

Visa types, residency pathways, income thresholds, and legal requirements for Americans. Updated for 2026 program changes.

Legal · 16 min read

Can US Citizens Actually Buy Property in Mexico in 2026? The Full Legal Breakdown

Yes, Americans can buy property in Mexico. Here's exactly how, what the fideicomiso costs, which zones need one, and the mistakes that cost buyers millions.

Legal · 16 min read

The Step-by-Step Process of Buying a House in Mexico as an American

The real, step-by-step process of buying a house in Mexico as an American in 2026 — fideicomiso, notario, closing costs, and the parts nobody warns you about.

Legal · 11 min read

Escrow, Notario, Fideicomiso: A Glossary for American Buyers in Mexico

Every Spanish-language real estate term Americans encounter buying in Mexico — fideicomiso, notario, escritura, RFC, predial, and what they really mean.

How to actually close on a home abroad — finding an agent, foreign-buyer rules, mortgages from overseas, due diligence, and the scams that keep showing up.

Buying Property · 12 min read

How Much House Does $500K Buy in Dublin Right Now?

What USD $500,000 actually buys in Dublin in 2026. Neighborhoods, closing costs, mortgage rules for Americans, and the real cost of the Irish housing crisis.

Buying Property · 12 min read

Amsterdam vs Rotterdam: Cost of Buying as an American in 2026

Amsterdam vs Rotterdam for American property buyers in 2026. Prices, overdrachtsbelasting, BSN, mortgage access, and which Dutch city gives you more for your euro.

Buying Property · 12 min read

Berlin vs Munich for American Buyers: Price Per Square Meter in 2026

Berlin vs Munich for American property buyers in 2026. Per-sqm prices by neighborhood, Grunderwerbsteuer, notary fees, mortgage access, and which city wins on value.

Beyond the tourist trail — neighborhoods, hidden gems, day trips, food scenes, and the local experiences that actually make a place worth moving to.

Destinations · 14 min read

The Top 21 Countries Americans Are Moving To in 2026

From the canals of Amsterdam to the beaches of Thailand — where Americans are buying homes, and why.

Destinations · 16 min read

The Complete Guide to Moving to Mexico as an American

Visas, banking, healthcare, neighborhoods, safety — the real guide to relocating south of the border.

Destinations · 15 min read

Portugal vs Spain for American Expats: An Honest Comparison

The Iberian showdown: cost of living, visa programs, healthcare, property markets, and which one wins.

Long-form country playbooks: visas, neighborhoods, schools, healthcare, taxes, climate — everything you wish you knew before booking the flight.

Guide · 15 min read

What You Need to Know Before Moving Abroad: The Complete American Expat Checklist

Taxes, healthcare, visas, banking — the complete checklist for Americans planning an international move.

Healthcare · 14 min read

Health Insurance for American Expats: The Complete Guide

Medicare stops at the border. IPMI, local public systems, and emergency evacuation — your options explained.

Trends · 13 min read

Why Americans Are Leaving: The Real Numbers Behind the Exodus

The real numbers behind the American exodus — who's leaving, where they're going, and what's driving them out.

FEIE, FBAR, foreign mortgages, retirement accounts, currency strategy, double-taxation treaties — the unglamorous stuff that decides whether the move pencils out.

Taxes · 16 min read

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE): The $126,500 Tax Break Every American Abroad Needs to Know

The $126,500 tax exclusion that lets Americans working abroad legally pay zero US federal income tax.

Finance · 14 min read

Can You Collect Social Security While Living Abroad? Yes — But Read the Fine Print

Yes, you can collect Social Security overseas — but Medicare won't follow you. Here's what retirees need to know.

Finance · 14 min read

What Happens to Your 401(k) and Roth IRA When You Move Abroad

FATCA, FBAR, PFIC rules, and the Roth IRA trap. What happens to your retirement money when you leave.