The Bulgaria map marker was an obvious editing mistake since "Romania" is very clearly circled. I spent 3 days editing this video and these things happen when I'm in a hurry and doing all the editing (for a 31 minute video) by myself. I also spelled "accommodation" wrong. The editor doesn't have a spell check and spelling has never been my strong suit. Unfortunately, Amelia also missed these in our final review. She usually catches these types of errors, but they slipped past both of us. And since we can't edit a video that has already been published on TH-cam, we can't fix them. Many apologies. We'll try to do better in the future.
@ Hey JP, good to know, but give yourself a break. Editing is serious work, people who have never done it have NO IDEA how time consuming/tedious it is. In the early days of digital editing, I used to say an Hour of Editing per Minute of video. So a 40 minute clip took an entire 40hr work week. Things have gotten better, faster, easier. You guys do really well & you feel like friends.😉
@@AmeliaAndJP the reason why the country receives lots of rain is because of the amoc current, is a very hot warm current that rise up alongside the Eastern Seaboard of the United States and has the equivalent water flow of all the rivers of the world combined that current exits underneath the bottom of And it propels itself all the way up to keep Adderis and then exits the United States in the direction of Ireland and United Kingdom that hot warm water delivers more water vapor into the atmosphere and as a result I believe Ireland may be receiving more rain than normal in fact it might be it's even more intense there's been some major changes in the global cloud coverage United Kingdom and ireland
I am an asthmatic and I was there just over a month ago and I have to say that the smoking, especially around the restaurants & train stations, was just as horrible as any other city in the northern region. 🤔
I’ve visited France and loved it. Only one person out of the hundreds I encountered was rude, and he was a non-native shop owner. The French people were calm, happy, accepting and welcoming.
In my French class, they asked us about stereotypes of the French. Native French said that they get treated rudely when they go to Paris, as well. It's not just tourists.
@@BOULDERGEEK That's exactly what our French teacher told us. She was from Centre, a region well south of Paris. She said Parisian and French lifestyles are two very different things.
I lived in Germany from 72 to 96. We got stationed there in 72 then my father retired and got a civilian job as I did after graduation after a few years working for Rowenta and Schwab. Best years of my life. We had so much freedom. I was taking buses, trains and u-bahns alone at 14. Loved going shopping spending my allowance and baby sitting money. Things have changed but Germany is still an amazing country
Poland signed an agreement with the U.S. in the early 90's that allows U.S. citizens to stay as long as they want if they cross the border and return every three months. The catch is since the creation of the Schengen zone you have to go to a non-Schengen country. So you can cross into Ukraine and come back, which with the war is probably a no go, or you can fly to countries like Georgia or the U.K. Poland is very well connected to Europe by discount airlines. For me I could see spending the warmer months in Poland then flying to the southern hemisphere, likely Argentina, when their Spring starts. All year warmth!
I been in France on the long stay visa and they only want people who are under the age of 55. and who meet the Minium wage requirements. They just brought in a medical examination and language tests starting from January 2026. Many other Americans are arriving by the day. Coming from Florida I was amazed to find so many Americans from my home state and NY living in France.
Ireland's south east coast (Waterford, Wexford) is sunnier than the rest of the country. If you are relocating to Waterford from a place like Seattle, Washington - no big deal! It will seem fine. If you are coming from sunny Southern California - you might be in for a depressing winter. Galway and the west side in general gets a LOT of rain. Try living in Ireland for a winter to really know how you are going to feel!
You sold me on Albania. It was not on my radar till I saw your videos and now it's top of the list to visit. Enjoy you guys telling about your travels and opinions.
Oh wow i met someone once from this country and he was always happy and was in love living there even invited me to visit,he showed me pictures of how clean the streets are its reminded me of some places in Canada years ago very clean and enjoyed the quietness on th he weekend especially when driving on Sunday morning its almost feel like soothing moment.
Very good compilation. A couple notes to add. In France if you choose a long term lease like 2-5 years contract you can end it at any time by giving 30-90 days notice without penalty so you are not locked in for the whole term if your situation changes or you decide to buy a property or move elsewhere. Germany also requires health insurance which is extremely expensive. We are in out 50s in good health and it is $700 per person or more and goes up each year. France also has the best tax treaty with the US and taxes all US sourced income only in the US. Pensions, social security, Roth 401K/403B, and investments not taxed in France if taxed in the US. Many countries don't recognize Roths so you get taxed on the withdrawals which is double taxation and a big hit.
@@janeathome6643 Yes shockingly $700 per person per month. We are healthy in our 50s which makes it even worse if older or in poor health. If you work or are young it isn't a problem. However for retirees it is crazy expensive.
Thanks for another well written & produced video! One thing people might want to keep in mind is noise! Many warm weather countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America have little or no insulation in the walls. The streets are often narrow and people use scooters and motorcycles to get where they are going on those narrow streets. Some cultures don't even get socializing until late in the evening because of the heat of the day. Spain's garbage is collected in the middle of the night. Barking dogs, fireworks and loud music is common in warm weather nations. Some North Americans looking for a laid-back European lifestyle are unprepared for the noise levels. Cigarette smoking is also much more prevalent, and although Greece, Portugal and Spain have passed laws preventing smoking indoors at work or inside restaurants, people will still smoke near open windows and doorways. Smoking has actually ticked upward in a few of these countries since COVID. It can be a shock for those unprepared. Do your homework! Please rent in your preferred neighborhood for awhile before buying a property.
FYI: US citizens are allowed to register a sole proprietorship in Poland then apply for residency based on business activity. I'm in that process now. I believe you get 3 years. With the business you have to pay a minumum into the the national healthcare system every month regardless of income, but then you have healthcare. There is also tax breaks for new businesses. AND we can apply from within Poland as long as we do it before our tourist (90 days) visa ends.
@@jamescalifornia2964 yes in California has the highest taxes, state taxes in the United States plus of course you pay federal taxes. In addition, although California is beautiful.
Another really good video, full of great information! We are pretty much set on France for our retirement, and we're happy to see that it was high on your list. France just has so many positives that check every box for us (I speak French too, so that's always a plus). We're heading there in the fall to begin scoping out our favorite areas to plant our retirement roots. My brother and his fiancé are planning to retire in Spain making for easy visits via high-speed trains.
I lived in Germany for 4 years and Italy for 2 years. I went to France all the time. If I ever moved back I would pick France. I agree with you about the people, French people get a bad reputation. I always found them nice. My phone app and high school French helped
Great video! Tons of info! Just wanted to share that I'm living in France on an Entrepreneur visa (Profession-Liberale visa) where I started my business in France. I didn't have an existing business when I applied for the visa. So, for entreprenuers, wanting to move to France, this could be an option.
For the retirees France may be beneficial - you do not have to pay taxes in France on retirement income meaning Social Security at least, I think 401k is also included but I could not find definite answer for that one. There is an Article 18 US/France tax treaty but also “saving clause” (article 26) which I have not digested yet
We spent a month in Europe in 2019 & we had the same experience in France! Your experience and expectations were nearly word for word what we say. Can’t wait to return!
I lived in the Savoie for a summer, years back. Absolutely magical. Life gets in the way, but I can't wait to go back, especially Bordeaux and the Pyrenees.
Thanks for another great video Guys. Your videos have been very inspirational. We just returned from three weeks in Europe. We stayed in Germany and Luxembourg. But while we were there, we also visited France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The Christmas markets were awesome!
Thanks as always. 2025 is my year to prepare for rolling later this year or early 2026. Have Albanian friends who I worked with while in Kosovo so I think it will be my first step.
Excellent video and jam packed with info. I also loved many of the commenters who took the time to further flesh out your video and add interesting details (like the one about getting a driver’s license in Italy). This was all very timely and helpful.
We plan our next trip sometimes just a few days before we leave. We like the flexibility and it allows us to choose the best last minute deals for flights.
@lsax1028 Not an immigrant, I'm a guest living under the expat visa terms. I can go back to the US or decide on another country anytime I want, not looking for foreign citizenship.
Derry Girls! Love it❤ Lithuania does have an option for descendants, it can be a bit tricky because of missing records, and a lot of moving borders in the region, but it’s an option. Thank you for the great videos!
I went to France by myself and took advantage of the Metro and the nationwide trains. Absolutely loved it and found the people very friendly. Would love to move there.
My husband and I just left Albania a few days ago on an exploratory visit as a possible retirement country from US. Unfortunately it's just not for us...yes, people are very nice, very affordable. Jyst keep in mind if you are thinking of moving there, still quite underdeveloped. I was shocked at the amount of trash...especially Durres and Vlorë. Driving us INSANE! Heavy, heavy smoking culture. It has beach and mountains which is great. IMO, Albania probably needs a lot more time for better infrastructure...it's a poor country, people do not make high wages, which makes it very affordable for US. Language is very challenging... yes, younger people speak english, but I wouldn't totally rely on that.
I'm an American in Durres right now. Yes, parts are trashy, but some parts are very clean. The long swimming beach has very little trash. I've been to many countries with much worse trash for sure. If you are frugal you can live very inexpensively here, excellent food is available, and low crime. My rent at a very clean guesthouse with free WI-FI, laundry, daily fresh towels, and a good kitchen is a bit over $300/month. Also mostly good and often gorgeous weather in the middle of winter comparable to the Algarve. Interesting time to be here. I really like the people and they like Americans. I'm sticking around.
We prefer Tirana for these reasons. We have friends living in other parts of the country and they like it, but we wouldn’t want to live outside Tirana. After living in Latin America for 6+ years and traveling through SE Asia for 5 months, Albania looks much more developed than most places we’ve been.
In my home state of *Kentucky,* the situation is this: Yes, people are very nice, very affordable. Jyst keep in mind if you are thinking of moving there, still quite underdeveloped. I was shocked at the amount of trash... Driving us INSANE! Heavy, heavy smoking culture. It has beach and mountains which is great. IMO, Kentcuky needs a lot more time for better infrastructure...it's a poor state, people do not make high wages, which makes it very affordable for US. Language is very challenging... Seriously, the way you described Albania hits all the buttons here!
I'm an American who's been to Tirana. Tirana is not pretty, but out of all the major Europian cities I've traveled, they have to be the friendliest and cheapest. English is everywhere. But too hot in the summer, which is when I went and rent was not cheap in Tirana. But maybe you can "summer" in Latvia and winter in Albania. Also, cash is king, and ATMs are a ripoff. Don't expect to put things on your credit card, especially rent. You have cash, you live cheap.
We always thought my dad's side of the family was from Germany but when I researched our family tree, it turns out we're from Lithuania! I even found a book with the history of how my great-grandparents immigrated to America in 1875. When I visited Lithuania and asked about the village they came from, people looked at me funny and said "Why in the world do you want to go there? There's absolutely nothing there."
😂 I have visited a few rural places where my ancestors lived. To each his own, but I can see why they left. Life is certainly more convenient in an urban area, there are more opportunities for employment, and the culture offerings are more numerous. I’m usually left with the thought, “ a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live here.”
Excellent video guys, the info summarizes the requirements so clearly and concisely. It makes general decision making a lot easier, thanks. Now.... Spain, France or Albania? My initial hopeful destination was Spain or France, but Albania just seems ridiculously easy for Americans to reside, with an impressively low cost of living.
Thank you for sharing your expat experiences and this amazing list of possible places to call home. France sounds like the best option for Americans looking for am affordable and stable LONG term place to live. And it has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. And France has a low cost of living for a first world country. And $250k still buys a comfortable house.
Did I miss it or did you talk about Portugal? Would have thought it'd be top of the list? I'm Irish, living in Ireland, so it doesn't matter to me. I see so much on TH-cam Americans wanting to move. I think it's great you guys are so open to moving, but what I see on TH-cam can only be the tip of the iceburg (number wise). Must be very something wrong that you feel you can't change your country to be a better version of itself. There's no place like home! Even Dorothy knew that
Our country has been changing for decades, but certainly not to a better version of itself. We don’t even recognize it anymore. The individual has no power to change anything unless that individual has billions of dollars. Life is better outside its borders.
@@AthDara62 America has benefits but it comes with major disadvantages too. There is no charm it’s become one big strip mall hard to find a sense of belonging or community and it’s all about money and consumerism. And it’s become very unaffordable for most ppl
Janice in France 🇫🇷 loves living outside Paris Thanks for clarifying about Greek culture Makes sense now why we were yelled at in Greek restaurants in Boston and Western Europe 😅
But there is massive housing shortage and their health service is collapsing every day into the abyss of the US pharma system since it got its hooks into there. It's a total nonstarter. Free watch SkyNews for a week and I'd be surprised if anyone still felt it was a prudent option.
@@deebee2603 Really? My daughter has lived in the UK for 18yrs and wants mom and dad, (with cancer) to become her dependents. Lawyers there said would have to prove that he needs to be there for medical reasons. Plus very expensive fees, something like $5000. BUT, my grandfather was born in Ripley. So will definitely check into this. We’ll be over in March for 6 months, so we can get the ball rolling hopefully. Ty
This is true but ONLY if you were born in one of the Commonwealth countries, such as Canada, Australia, etc. I worked with an immigration lawyer in Scotland to see if I qualified for an ancestry visa and I ticked all the boxes except that I was born in the U.S. 😢 It is extremely difficult to get a UK visa that eventually leads to what they call “leave to remain”.
29:00 minutes of the video: As a born and raised Torontonian, I can confirm we pronounce Toronto just like Tirana, Albania. I did mention that on your Albania video a few months ago.
You probably don't want to go to Italy in 2025. They are having a jubilee of some kind and expect to have an extra 20 million visitors. So the country will be very crowded all year.
Wow guys! Your channel just gets better every year. Your slow traveling is so informative & enjoyable! Thanks for sharing your traveling lifestyle with us.
We're living in Bulgaria and so far, it's been great. There are some areas of the country that get little to no snow, so you can sidestep cold Sofia if need be. The ont thing I can't underscore enough is how challenging it can be when you have to apply for a visa from outside the country--as is the case with Bulgaria. We are Americans who were living in Ecuador when we decided to move to Bulgaria. We had to go back to the US for nearly four months to jump through all the hoops to get our D-visas. Since we no longer have our permanent housing in the US, it meant we had to AirBnB it--as well as rent a car--for that entire time. So, it was REALLY EXPENSIVE to undertake this visa process. If you're already living in the US, this would be a much less costly undertaking. Once we arrived here, however, our costs of living went way down. We are in Plovdiv--where the people are friendly and many speak English. It's a fascinating country and we can't wait to explore more.
We moved to Romania (Timisoara) about 18 months ago. Getting a residence visa was easy, although we bought a (very affordable) house. It's a beautiful, affordable country with the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania...and they are now a full Schengen member. One thing to note: like several countries in Europe, as Americans we can own a house but not the land it sits on. We have friends who have the title and signed a 99 year lease.
My husband's sister married a Dutchman named Roelf, and they live in Nijmegen with their two young adult sons. She's more Dutch than American now, having lived there almost 40 years. I saw your name and had to comment. 😊
Thanks for this video, guys. I always enjoy following your journey! Just one comment about what you said regarding Spain visas -- you can indeed apply for the digital nomad visa from within Spain. As a matter of fact, it is easier to do that particular visa's process from within Spain rather than from your home country.
Couple quick comments: Tax treaties - If you intend to work or earn income, always look if there is also a "Totalisation Agreement" for social security. If not, you may be liable for both FICA and whatever is charged locally. An example is Estonia-- 15.3% FICA self-employed US and 37.4% EE. That's BEFORE income taxes. Certain countries: Estonia entrepreneur visa -- Just for software programmers, and you must provide your code to the committee before getting the visa. Limited guarantees on IP protection! 👎 Something you only learn by trying.☹ Switzerland - Retirement visa request goes FIRST through cantonal authorities and then the Embassy in the U.S. Not subject to quotas but need B-1 in national language (eventually) and "connection to Switzerland." Entrepreneurs - subject to third-country quotas, so you are up against the financial and pharmaceutical sectors for hiring. CHF 2 million investment will buy you in, however. 💰 If you want a Swiss experience, live in France nearby (Alsace or Savoy) and visit.
It's funny how you talk about Bulgaria while circling Romania on the map. ;) By the way, harsh winters are increasingly rare in Bulgaria - except for the mountains. Be happy!
Interesting about your experience in Greece. We were there last summer and as a family we were all saying just how friendly the Greeks were. Anytime we said hello in Greek we got a friendly smile. Of course, we are from Philly, so maybe we just didn't notice the abrasiveness you experienced.
I just came across your channel and found it very interesting. I had been told by another youtuber that if a grandparent/relative was from England there is a visa available. I've been searching that information as my grandmother was born in Chapel en le Frith and moved to Canada by Melita ship when she was 21. I will look at other ones you have posted. Thank you.
Many in the US qualify for an Irish passport meaning you can move there once it is issued without any requirements or a visa, if either parent or any of your four grandparents was an Irish citizen you can get a passport. I got mine because my father was an Irish citizen, and I lived there in 2017. At the time they had just started up the universal NHS and it was very difficult to get healthcare, I was treated like a tourist and was required to go to an ER when I got sick, and that meant going to Dublin or Galway by train and paying cash at a hospital, but I was also told that the law required those over 65 be seen first so a four to five day wait to be seen was not uncommon. In the end it was faster to fly to Spain to be seen. And then because a mass was found on my bladder I just returned to the States. Now however there is private insurance you can buy that will cover you for doctor visits, urgent care clinics, and hospital ER and rooms if you are admitted, for a premium that is 50; 100; or 150 Euro per month with the low end just covering hospital stays in a semi private room or ward, the mid range will cover a few more outpatient costs, and the high end Cadillac premium covers a private room and most all other healthcare costs even such as mental health appointments. Compared to what we pay in the US this seems absurdly cheap. Also, because my income is as a disabled veteran and social security retirement in the US it is not taxed in Ireland and I got the revenue office to produce an exemption letter that states that. And this is good because the Irish tax system does not work the way the IRS does. The tax rate is 30% on income below 42,000 euro (that might be dated) and 40% on anything above that income. It is simply withheld and you do not file annual income taxes for a "return," they have very limited deductions for which you can get money back. If you do qualify for some tax break scheme you can apply for a refund but there is no official filing date. If you do move to Ireland you really must forget about taking a car, aside from shipping costs there is the import duty, which is the same as the 25% VAT, there is a motor tax calculated by the engine displacement and that is not too bad for a 1.3 liter engine but gets prohibitive very quickly up the scale. Then there is the MOT, and insurance tends to be fairly comparable but will be higher for left hand steering. All in all when I investigated taking my 3 liter BMW with me I concluded that it would cost more to get it off the dock than to just buy a new one, and it matters because Ireland does NOT have comprehensive efficient mass transit like other European countries. It is a very rural country with very little transit.
As a Canadian I can confirm that we do not enunciate Toronto lol. I also want to commend you both for advocating that your viewers should learn some host country vocabulary out of respect for the local people. What a well researched video!
You forgot the happiest country in Europe - Finland! There is a possibility for self-employment visa which includes digital nomads with proof of annual income of around 15K€! And people easily speak English with no prob!
The income requirement in the residence permit process is based on minimum income required for supporting living in Finland. It can be adjusted yearly. It's not a comfortable income level for living in Finland though not impossible either. And if you have irregular additional income in addition to that then it's much better. At lower income levels even a small additional amount can be significant. Some studies have shown that at around 3000 € monthly income level people start to feel comfortable with their financial situation. Getting more is of course better, but its importance starts to diminish.
I’ve been told if we apply for the Spanish DNV while in Spain, we’re eligible for 3 years of residency but only 1 year when applied for outside of Spain.
Very good list Amelia & JP. I did not know how European JP is. I was in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague and now in other parts of the Euro continent. There are lots of news that Europe will require registration and biometrics (Entry/Exit System and ETIAS) for Non-EU and Non-Resident travelers coming from countries currently Visa Free (tourist visa) starting this year that had been delayed from November 2024 since Germany, France and The Netherlands were not ready for it. The U.K. was stating plans to start their Electronic Travel Authorization System yesterday on Jan 8th, 2025. Apparently travel to Europe may require extra steps soon.
As someone who immigrated to Austria (from America) a very long long time ago, I strongly suggest that you either immigrate to a country whole-heartedly (learn AND adopt the language and culture), or.... stay home (in America). If you want to be a tourist and visit, find, do so, but you'll only be hurting yourself if you immigrate half-buttedly. European countries are a different world, and each one if absolutely different than their neighbor, so thin carefully which new lifestyle you are going to be expected to take on. We (Yes, I am an Austrian now, 100%) expected people to speak German, we expect people to work, we expect people to contribute to our society here, and we expect immigrants to hold their tongues and not complain about the differences between here and their homelands. Give it serious consideration. Good luck.
Mr. Wilders wants to raise the requirements for immigration to Irish standards and will, of course, getting it implemented. The general sentiment in W. Europe is making immigration a lot more difficult, even for students.
If you make it to Sitges, Spain we'd love to show you around! We've been watching you guys for years and you inspired our journey including a long trip to Ecuador.
American here. I have lived all over Europe. Ireland is easy to live in, but very expensive and they are not big on Americans, The Netherlands is having a housing disaster, no rentals for many. Poland is a Great place, affordable and pro American. The best place overall. The Baltics are also great, affordable, and friendly to Americans. Think affordable Scandinavia
@robbien.1798 they have a lot of Americans and American businesses there. They are not big on Americans, (especially those that call themselves Irish), or America. That's fine, but it will affect you if you live there. Lots of better choices that are cheaper and more friendly towards Americans. ( Note, I'm definitely not pro American, but it makes no difference)
@@tnickknight Interesting. I'd heard about their dislike for Americans of Irish descent calling themselves Irish, which I can understand. But compared to their history with England, I thought they'd feel some affinity with Americans given how many of their forefathers immigrated there and how "we" are so proud of our Irish roots. Not to mention that the Irish are touted to be among the friendliest people in the world.
Albania seems to be the perfect home base for Shengen shuffle. I'm interested in Montenegro too but can't stay one year like Albania. Don't want the temporary residency there because of restrictions on only leaving one month per year or you lose your residency and health benefits.
Don't overlook Cyprus. They are not Schengen yet despite being EU and the fact that you can get the Pink Slip while in the country is very beneficial. The tax treatment there is also highly favorable and it is a big expat haven for most of Europe, ie English is a lingua franca there.
Thanks. As a US retiree investigating European options (dual US German citizenship in the works) and becoming familiar with cost of living in several countries on my list, one gaping hole to round out the true cost of living are taxes. Would be great if a software developer would create software to allow us to compare our country list and income streams, etc, and spit out an estimate of taxes for each country beyond what we owe the US. Would be a great service for a tax consultant too. As of now I am building a list of tax consultants for each of the countries and will have them individually estimate my taxes. Rumor has it that France has a good tax treaty with US so hoping that pans out.
CIVIL LEGAL system service process has forced heirship inheritance requirements and this is the reason why the SEYCHELLES charity foundation is keeping good enough for the necessary asset protection tactics!🏥
Wow, such a comprehensive and well-organized presentation, thank you! One of the things I've heard from a few expats in Slovenia is that it's not very racially/culturally diverse, if that is important to you, and that the culture tends to be a bit xenophobic for reasons rooted in their history. But, as with all anecdotes, YMMV, of course.
Well you could just stay there as a temporary tourist. Six months in the UK. 90 days in the Schengen areas, and three months wherever else in Europe you can stay with no problems. Find good deals to rent through AirB&B or other good rental finds. Then you don't have to worry about any requirements.
Just one pro tip for american moving to Europe: learn the language of the country you are moving to. It will make your life easier and make people like you a bit more. Dont be like a typical loud american in Capri. I have met with a rising frustration with expats in Prague where you have expats living there for years and not speaking any czech.
I wonder where Croatia and Montenegro would place in your ratings. One attractive thing about Croatia, among many, is that there is no property tax on a property you own if you live in it. Property taxes tend to be lower in Europe, regardless.
Hey guys. Just discovered your channel and videos. I did a scroll down thru and wondered if you have any on the UK and visiting or moving there? I’m gonna look at some more. I look forward to learning about these places.
I know you guys like Albania, but I suspect if you spend time in Cyprus that it will be a place you would like as well. It has some big advantages in terms of its tax treaties that make it very favorable for Americans, especially if TH-cam royalty income is a big part of your income. They have a zero withholding rate on royalties with the US and a lot of other countries too. They also have their Non-Dom tax regime which lasts for 17 years.
@messyhomestead7320 24% less expensive than the US on average and 41% less expensive on rent. If you are earning a US income and you have the over $200k of foreign earned income exclusion and standard deduction a married American couple gets with the benefit of Cyprus' Non-Dom regime with proper structuring ie the use of US LLCs and owner's draws the prices being that much lower with a zero tax rate excluding US social security taxes and the under 3% social contribution in Cyprus on dividends it becomes fairly inexpensive for US citizens earning even an average US income. That is not to say you are earning $200k, just that if you have no US tax liability until you exceed $200k, it looks fairly good for taxes.
I spend 90 days in Cyprus for my winter schengen out. Healthcare is not good in Cyprus. You must plan on going to other EU countries for healthcare. April to September is hot, sticky, and awful. Almost all food is imported, so expect instability. The boat people have made areas of Cyprus really dangerous. Before they arrived, Cyprus was fairly safe. But now, petty crime has really increased and the Cypriots do not like or want the africans.
Guys this would have been EVEN BETTER with pointing out a few cities/towns in each country! Traveling with Kristin did one on France that was super helpful.
Thank you for the video. So many of us are looking to leave the USA. You guys covered lots of good options but some of the income qualifications were not clear if the numbers were for one person or for a couple. Also, several of the countries you covered have in-country time requirements. For example Spain has a 6 month in-country requirement.
All requirements were for the main applicant. Each country has different requirements for dependents. Most countries have physical presence requirements.
Enjoying this one from Ordonez Lasso in Cuenca. We are putting together our plans for later this year. South America until June. Then off to Europe, finally. Hoping for France, Italy, Ireland and Adriatic.
I enjoy these lists. I always open up google maps and zoom in on the countries to see exactly where they are and what's around them. Curious where you would rank UK countries (England, Scotland, Wales, N Ireland)? Maybe there's a reason I never see them on many lists. lol Enjoyed your video. :)
Turkiye passports are obsolete in schengen countries. In order to enter with turkish passports, one needs to have 7000 euros in bank accounts, earn at least net monthly wage of 150.000 tl barcoded shown to european embassies as individual for at most 20 days of europe travel experience. Only 17 million rich turks out of total 86 million turkiye population can get into that economic , financial treshholds to enter into schengen paradigm. 1 euro is 37 tl
AT 16:00 You list #4 as Bulgaria, yet Romania is clearly circled on the map. You may want to edit this. In fact, the name Romania is circled and Bulgaria is not labeled at all. Thanks for the video. Just trying to help!!
Love me some Amelia and JP. I had pretty much decided on Spain, but due to the differences in healthcare (both great but France ranks superior for those of us Seniors). I hope I can swing it! It’s a tough choice but healthcare is my #1 consideration at this stage. I’m going to start some basic French lessons soon. Would you feel comfortable moving there with limited French you tried on the language app you use? Merci.
RE: Greeks yelling: The daily spoken language is very animated that contains guttural sounds , and we tend to say things with flourish.... so two people can be talking about something very mundane, but it sounds like a verbal throw down. People stare at me when I am talking to my mother like I'm abusing her, but in reality all I'm asking is if she would like anything from the market since I'm heading out, lol!!!
The Bulgaria map marker was an obvious editing mistake since "Romania" is very clearly circled. I spent 3 days editing this video and these things happen when I'm in a hurry and doing all the editing (for a 31 minute video) by myself. I also spelled "accommodation" wrong. The editor doesn't have a spell check and spelling has never been my strong suit. Unfortunately, Amelia also missed these in our final review. She usually catches these types of errors, but they slipped past both of us. And since we can't edit a video that has already been published on TH-cam, we can't fix them. Many apologies. We'll try to do better in the future.
@ Hey JP, good to know, but give yourself a break. Editing is serious work, people who have never done it have NO IDEA how time consuming/tedious it is. In the early days of digital editing, I used to say an Hour of Editing per Minute of video. So a 40 minute clip took an entire 40hr work week. Things have gotten better, faster, easier. You guys do really well & you feel like friends.😉
@@AmeliaAndJP the reason why the country receives lots of rain is because of the amoc current, is a very hot warm current that rise up alongside the Eastern Seaboard of the United States and has the equivalent water flow of all the rivers of the world combined that current exits underneath the bottom of And it propels itself all the way up to keep Adderis and then exits the United States in the direction of Ireland and United Kingdom that hot warm water delivers more water vapor into the atmosphere and as a result I believe Ireland may be receiving more rain than normal in fact it might be it's even more intense there's been some major changes in the global cloud coverage United Kingdom and ireland
For those Italy lovers who do not love cigarette smoke, Milano just enacted some of the toughest smoking laws in the country.
Bravo to Italy (I am a non-smoker)
Oooh that is great news. Now if only we could get them into the 21st century on queer people being people, I could really move there.
@@messyhomestead7320move to San Francisco! Doesn’t get any better than that!
I am an asthmatic and I was there just over a month ago and I have to say that the smoking, especially around the restaurants & train stations, was just as horrible as any other city in the northern region. 🤔
@@DonDenver-r7v 😆😂 Yes, the homeless and exceedly high cost of living are so attractive.
I didn't have ANY expectations when I went to FRANCE, and to my surprise, My daughter and I to be treated with SO MUCH respect and LOVE.
I’ve visited France and loved it. Only one person out of the hundreds I encountered was rude, and he was a non-native shop owner. The French people were calm, happy, accepting and welcoming.
American expats are treated much better around the world than Americans treat foreign expats (aka immigrants in Fox terminology).
In my French class, they asked us about stereotypes of the French. Native French said that they get treated rudely when they go to Paris, as well. It's not just tourists.
@@BOULDERGEEK That's exactly what our French teacher told us. She was from Centre, a region well south of Paris. She said Parisian and French lifestyles are two very different things.
So glad to hear this, much success to you in a civilized country.
I lived in Germany from 72 to 96. We got stationed there in 72 then my father retired and got a civilian job as I did after graduation after a few years working for Rowenta and Schwab. Best years of my life. We had so much freedom. I was taking buses, trains and u-bahns alone at 14. Loved going shopping spending my allowance and baby sitting money. Things have changed but Germany is still an amazing country
Poland signed an agreement with the U.S. in the early 90's that allows U.S. citizens to stay as long as they want if they cross the border and return every three months. The catch is since the creation of the Schengen zone you have to go to a non-Schengen country. So you can cross into Ukraine and come back, which with the war is probably a no go, or you can fly to countries like Georgia or the U.K. Poland is very well connected to Europe by discount airlines. For me I could see spending the warmer months in Poland then flying to the southern hemisphere, likely Argentina, when their Spring starts. All year warmth!
That sounds like a great plan!
Poland is one of the best choices in Europe, by far
Google: Reddit, Poland, Bilateral Agreement, 2025. I saw this the other day, and they are looking into getting rid of this agreement, sadly.
Sad to hear. Oh well, could still do 90 days there or elsewhere, then 90+ days in Georgia or Albania, then head to the southern hemisphere.
@kennethkilpatrick3758 👍🏽☺️
I been in France on the long stay visa and they only want people who are under the age of 55. and who meet the Minium wage requirements. They just brought in a medical examination and language tests starting from January 2026. Many other Americans are arriving by the day. Coming from Florida I was amazed to find so many Americans from my home state and NY living in France.
@@Jean-MarcBordeaux Do you have a source for France not wanting anyone over 55? I haven't heard that before. Disappointing if true.
Not true.
Ireland's south east coast (Waterford, Wexford) is sunnier than the rest of the country. If you are relocating to Waterford from a place like Seattle, Washington - no big deal! It will seem fine. If you are coming from sunny Southern California - you might be in for a depressing winter. Galway and the west side in general gets a LOT of rain. Try living in Ireland for a winter to really know how you are going to feel!
You sold me on Albania. It was not on my radar till I saw your videos and now it's top of the list to visit. Enjoy you guys telling about your travels and opinions.
@@pchdavis Cheap and beautiful.
Oh wow i met someone once from this country and he was always happy and was in love living there even invited me to visit,he showed me pictures of how clean the streets are its reminded me of some places in Canada years ago very clean and enjoyed the quietness on th he weekend especially when driving on Sunday morning its almost feel like soothing moment.
I appreciate you guys filming this.
Very good compilation. A couple notes to add. In France if you choose a long term lease like 2-5 years contract you can end it at any time by giving 30-90 days notice without penalty so you are not locked in for the whole term if your situation changes or you decide to buy a property or move elsewhere. Germany also requires health insurance which is extremely expensive. We are in out 50s in good health and it is $700 per person or more and goes up each year. France also has the best tax treaty with the US and taxes all US sourced income only in the US. Pensions, social security, Roth 401K/403B, and investments not taxed in France if taxed in the US. Many countries don't recognize Roths so you get taxed on the withdrawals which is double taxation and a big hit.
For the health insurance, s that $700 a year or per month?
@@janeathome6643 Yes shockingly $700 per person per month. We are healthy in our 50s which makes it even worse if older or in poor health. If you work or are young it isn't a problem. However for retirees it is crazy expensive.
Thanks for another well written & produced video! One thing people might want to keep in mind is noise! Many warm weather countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America have little or no insulation in the walls. The streets are often narrow and people use scooters and motorcycles to get where they are going on those narrow streets. Some cultures don't even get socializing until late in the evening because of the heat of the day. Spain's garbage is collected in the middle of the night. Barking dogs, fireworks and loud music is common in warm weather nations. Some North Americans looking for a laid-back European lifestyle are unprepared for the noise levels. Cigarette smoking is also much more prevalent, and although Greece, Portugal and Spain have passed laws preventing smoking indoors at work or inside restaurants, people will still smoke near open windows and doorways. Smoking has actually ticked upward in a few of these countries since COVID. It can be a shock for those unprepared. Do your homework! Please rent in your preferred neighborhood for awhile before buying a property.
"Things are not like in America": yeah, I'm massively surprised with that one!
This video has shown me how much growth happens when we take action and learn from every step, even when things don’t go as planned.
FYI: US citizens are allowed to register a sole proprietorship in Poland then apply for residency based on business activity. I'm in that process now. I believe you get 3 years. With the business you have to pay a minumum into the the national healthcare system every month regardless of income, but then you have healthcare. There is also tax breaks for new businesses. AND we can apply from within Poland as long as we do it before our tourist (90 days) visa ends.
You guys are amazing, Sad that many of us feel like escaping our own country.
Sad indeed. At 66, making plans to spend my final years in exile was nothing I could have anticipated.
@@michaelhall2709 it will be a blessing...wish I had done this years ago
😉 _✨️Retire in beautiful California. We speak English!🌴⛱️_
( most of us )
@@michaelhall2709I didn’t anticipate it but now I’m looking forward to it!
@@jamescalifornia2964 yes in California has the highest taxes, state taxes in the United States plus of course you pay federal taxes. In addition, although California is beautiful.
🇧🇬 Bulgarias Black sea coast has one of the warmest winters in Europe!
I was wondering
Temperature please
@@keangwooichoo6138 it can still drop to 0c in the winter, but feels warmer. They can grow palm trees there, so that shows how warm it is
@@keangwooichoo6138 The weather in the winter is the same in Varna as it is in Philadelphia.
Your youtube channel has probably never been more relevant ❤😊
Thanks!
Another really good video, full of great information! We are pretty much set on France for our retirement, and we're happy to see that it was high on your list. France just has so many positives that check every box for us (I speak French too, so that's always a plus). We're heading there in the fall to begin scoping out our favorite areas to plant our retirement roots. My brother and his fiancé are planning to retire in Spain making for easy visits via high-speed trains.
The biggest thing for me regarding France is the extremely inexpensive healthcare
@@nala3038 Yes, affordable healthcare is high on our list of must-haves, and France's system is very good.
@@LivinCindysLife it sure is
I lived in Germany for 4 years and Italy for 2 years. I went to France all the time. If I ever moved back I would pick France. I agree with you about the people, French people get a bad reputation. I always found them nice. My phone app and high school French helped
Great video! Tons of info! Just wanted to share that I'm living in France on an Entrepreneur visa (Profession-Liberale visa) where I started my business in France. I didn't have an existing business when I applied for the visa. So, for entreprenuers, wanting to move to France, this could be an option.
For the retirees France may be beneficial - you do not have to pay taxes in France on retirement income meaning Social Security at least, I think 401k is also included but I could not find definite answer for that one. There is an Article 18 US/France tax treaty but also “saving clause” (article 26) which I have not digested yet
We spent a month in Europe in 2019 & we had the same experience in France! Your experience and expectations were nearly word for word what we say. Can’t wait to return!
I lived in the Savoie for a summer, years back. Absolutely magical. Life gets in the way, but I can't wait to go back, especially Bordeaux and the Pyrenees.
Thanks for another great video Guys. Your videos have been very inspirational. We just returned from three weeks in Europe. We stayed in Germany and Luxembourg. But while we were there, we also visited France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The Christmas markets were awesome!
Sounds like you had a great trip!
I googled this question and your video popped up. Thank god for you both!
I’m currently in Paris and loving it. ✨
Thanks as always. 2025 is my year to prepare for rolling later this year or early 2026. Have Albanian friends who I worked with while in Kosovo so I think it will be my first step.
Thank you for an excellent video! Really enjoy hearing your insights on all of these countries!
Excellent video and jam packed with info. I also loved many of the commenters who took the time to further flesh out your video and add interesting details (like the one about getting a driver’s license in Italy). This was all very timely and helpful.
I'm glad you found it helpful!
I’m so glad I got my dial Italian citizenship years ago! I knew it would come in handy!
Thank you for this great video! I would love to hear where you are headed next and maybe for the next six months!
We plan our next trip sometimes just a few days before we leave. We like the flexibility and it allows us to choose the best last minute deals for flights.
Slovenia was gorgeous, went through there on a motorcycle trip through the Alps and Dolomite’s.
Awesome info for us American expats. Thanks so much!
Immigarant. Not expat.
@lsax1028 Not an immigrant, I'm a guest living under the expat visa terms. I can go back to the US or decide on another country anytime I want, not looking for foreign citizenship.
Love all the information! Thank you!
Derry Girls! Love it❤ Lithuania does have an option for descendants, it can be a bit tricky because of missing records, and a lot of moving borders in the region, but it’s an option.
Thank you for the great videos!
thank you so much for your in-depth information
I went to France by myself and took advantage of the Metro and the nationwide trains. Absolutely loved it and found the people very friendly. Would love to move there.
My husband and I just left Albania a few days ago on an exploratory visit as a possible retirement country from US. Unfortunately it's just not for us...yes, people are very nice, very affordable. Jyst keep in mind if you are thinking of moving there, still quite underdeveloped. I was shocked at the amount of trash...especially Durres and Vlorë. Driving us INSANE! Heavy, heavy smoking culture. It has beach and mountains which is great. IMO, Albania probably needs a lot more time for better infrastructure...it's a poor country, people do not make high wages, which makes it very affordable for US. Language is very challenging... yes, younger people speak english, but I wouldn't totally rely on that.
I'm an American in Durres right now. Yes, parts are trashy, but some parts are very clean. The long swimming beach has very little trash. I've been to many countries with much worse trash for sure. If you are frugal you can live very inexpensively here, excellent food is available, and low crime. My rent at a very clean guesthouse with free WI-FI, laundry, daily fresh towels, and a good kitchen is a bit over $300/month. Also mostly good and often gorgeous weather in the middle of winter comparable to the Algarve. Interesting time to be here. I really like the people and they like Americans. I'm sticking around.
We prefer Tirana for these reasons. We have friends living in other parts of the country and they like it, but we wouldn’t want to live outside Tirana. After living in Latin America for 6+ years and traveling through SE Asia for 5 months, Albania looks much more developed than most places we’ve been.
In my home state of *Kentucky,* the situation is this: Yes, people are very nice, very affordable. Jyst keep in mind if you are thinking of moving there, still quite underdeveloped. I was shocked at the amount of trash... Driving us INSANE! Heavy, heavy smoking culture. It has beach and mountains which is great. IMO, Kentcuky needs a lot more time for better infrastructure...it's a poor state, people do not make high wages, which makes it very affordable for US. Language is very challenging...
Seriously, the way you described Albania hits all the buttons here!
@@brianarbenz1329 --- Great comment!
I'm an American who's been to Tirana. Tirana is not pretty, but out of all the major Europian cities I've traveled, they have to be the friendliest and cheapest. English is everywhere. But too hot in the summer, which is when I went and rent was not cheap in Tirana. But maybe you can "summer" in Latvia and winter in Albania. Also, cash is king, and ATMs are a ripoff. Don't expect to put things on your credit card, especially rent. You have cash, you live cheap.
Thanks for this update.
We always thought my dad's side of the family was from Germany but when I researched our family tree, it turns out we're from Lithuania! I even found a book with the history of how my great-grandparents immigrated to America in 1875. When I visited Lithuania and asked about the village they came from, people looked at me funny and said "Why in the world do you want to go there? There's absolutely nothing there."
Very cool!
😂 I have visited a few rural places where my ancestors lived. To each his own, but I can see why they left. Life is certainly more convenient in an urban area, there are more opportunities for employment, and the culture offerings are more numerous. I’m usually left with the thought, “ a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live here.”
Probably Jewish?
Excellent video guys, the info summarizes the requirements so clearly and concisely. It makes general decision making a lot easier, thanks. Now.... Spain, France or Albania? My initial hopeful destination was Spain or France, but Albania just seems ridiculously easy for Americans to reside, with an impressively low cost of living.
Oops, when you discussed Bulgaria your graphic had Romania circled! But I do appreciate your videos!
Yep. Small screen editing mistake.
Thank you for sharing your expat experiences and this amazing list of possible places to call home. France sounds like the best option for Americans looking for am affordable and stable LONG term place to live. And it has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. And France has a low cost of living for a first world country. And $250k still buys a comfortable house.
Did I miss it or did you talk about Portugal? Would have thought it'd be top of the list? I'm Irish, living in Ireland, so it doesn't matter to me. I see so much on TH-cam Americans wanting to move. I think it's great you guys are so open to moving, but what I see on TH-cam can only be the tip of the iceburg (number wise). Must be very something wrong that you feel you can't change your country to be a better version of itself. There's no place like home! Even Dorothy knew that
Our country has been changing for decades, but certainly not to a better version of itself. We don’t even recognize it anymore. The individual has no power to change anything unless that individual has billions of dollars. Life is better outside its borders.
We Americans don't have a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow like you Irish. We have a pot of debt 😂
@@AthDara62 America has benefits but it comes with major disadvantages too. There is no charm it’s become one big strip mall hard to find a sense of belonging or community and it’s all about money and consumerism. And it’s become very unaffordable for most ppl
Been following you for over a year. Your channel and work is by far one of the best to be found! Thanks!
I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
Interesting you guys. Thank you.
Janice in France 🇫🇷 loves living outside Paris
Thanks for clarifying about Greek culture
Makes sense now why we were yelled at in Greek restaurants in Boston and Western Europe 😅
Yeah Albania! ❤❤❤ Love that country so much. I’d move there tomorrow if I could. Take care you two!
Great video❤
For the UK, if you have a parent or grandparent born there, you can usually get residency!
Ancestry visa
But there is massive housing shortage and their health service is collapsing every day into the abyss of the US pharma system since it got its hooks into there. It's a total nonstarter. Free watch SkyNews for a week and I'd be surprised if anyone still felt it was a prudent option.
@@deebee2603 Really? My daughter has lived in the UK for 18yrs and wants mom and dad, (with cancer) to become her dependents. Lawyers there said would have to prove that he needs to be there for medical reasons. Plus very expensive fees, something like $5000. BUT, my grandfather was born in Ripley. So will definitely check into this. We’ll be over in March for 6 months, so we can get the ball rolling hopefully. Ty
This is true but ONLY if you were born in one of the Commonwealth countries, such as Canada, Australia, etc. I worked with an immigration lawyer in Scotland to see if I qualified for an ancestry visa and I ticked all the boxes except that I was born in the U.S. 😢 It is extremely difficult to get a UK visa that eventually leads to what they call “leave to remain”.
29:00 minutes of the video: As a born and raised Torontonian, I can confirm we pronounce Toronto just like Tirana, Albania. I did mention that on your Albania video a few months ago.
You probably don't want to go to Italy in 2025. They are having a jubilee of some kind and expect to have an extra 20 million visitors. So the country will be very crowded all year.
It's a Catholic celebration so most of the visitors would probably be heading for Rome!
@kaloarepo288 it's a country wide thing with people going to sites all over.
Wow guys! Your channel just gets better every year. Your slow traveling is so informative & enjoyable! Thanks for sharing your traveling lifestyle with us.
Thanks for the kind words 😊
We're living in Bulgaria and so far, it's been great. There are some areas of the country that get little to no snow, so you can sidestep cold Sofia if need be. The ont thing I can't underscore enough is how challenging it can be when you have to apply for a visa from outside the country--as is the case with Bulgaria. We are Americans who were living in Ecuador when we decided to move to Bulgaria. We had to go back to the US for nearly four months to jump through all the hoops to get our D-visas. Since we no longer have our permanent housing in the US, it meant we had to AirBnB it--as well as rent a car--for that entire time. So, it was REALLY EXPENSIVE to undertake this visa process. If you're already living in the US, this would be a much less costly undertaking. Once we arrived here, however, our costs of living went way down. We are in Plovdiv--where the people are friendly and many speak English. It's a fascinating country and we can't wait to explore more.
Thanks
For this great information. I’m in Cuenca and happy here, but always nice to see a fellow expat branch out from
Ecuador.
Are there opportunities to teach English in Plovdiv?
Thank you, guys!
We moved to Romania (Timisoara) about 18 months ago. Getting a residence visa was easy, although we bought a (very affordable) house. It's a beautiful, affordable country with the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania...and they are now a full Schengen member. One thing to note: like several countries in Europe, as Americans we can own a house but not the land it sits on. We have friends who have the title and signed a 99 year lease.
Excellent video! Might I add: there are free iPhone/Google translation apps, and
I live in Hooglanderveen, which is about 20 minutes cycling from Nijkerk. Love your videos!
Very cool!
My husband's sister married a Dutchman named Roelf, and they live in Nijmegen with their two young adult sons. She's more Dutch than American now, having lived there almost 40 years. I saw your name and had to comment. 😊
THANK YOU AMELIA & JP. GOOD INFORMATION.....
Thanks for this video, guys. I always enjoy following your journey!
Just one comment about what you said regarding Spain visas -- you can indeed apply for the digital nomad visa from within Spain. As a matter of fact, it is easier to do that particular visa's process from within Spain rather than from your home country.
Good to know, thanks!
Wow awesome ya living the life, I'm so envious, I'm trying to save, pay off debt , get a remote job, to be able to do this in my 40s
Couple quick comments:
Tax treaties - If you intend to work or earn income, always look if there is also a "Totalisation Agreement" for social security. If not, you may be liable for both FICA and whatever is charged locally. An example is Estonia-- 15.3% FICA self-employed US and 37.4% EE. That's BEFORE income taxes.
Certain countries: Estonia entrepreneur visa -- Just for software programmers, and you must provide your code to the committee before getting the visa. Limited guarantees on IP protection! 👎 Something you only learn by trying.☹
Switzerland - Retirement visa request goes FIRST through cantonal authorities and then the Embassy in the U.S. Not subject to quotas but need B-1 in national language (eventually) and "connection to Switzerland." Entrepreneurs - subject to third-country quotas, so you are up against the financial and pharmaceutical sectors for hiring. CHF 2 million investment will buy you in, however. 💰 If you want a Swiss experience, live in France nearby (Alsace or Savoy) and visit.
It's funny how you talk about Bulgaria while circling Romania on the map. ;) By the way, harsh winters are increasingly rare in Bulgaria - except for the mountains. Be happy!
Interesting about your experience in Greece. We were there last summer and as a family we were all saying just how friendly the Greeks were. Anytime we said hello in Greek we got a friendly smile. Of course, we are from Philly, so maybe we just didn't notice the abrasiveness you experienced.
I just came across your channel and found it very interesting. I had been told by another youtuber that if a grandparent/relative was from England there is a visa available. I've been searching that information as my grandmother was born in Chapel en le Frith and moved to Canada by Melita ship when she was 21. I will look at other ones you have posted. Thank you.
Soy de Ecuador y siempre me encanta su Contenido.
Gracias 😊🇪🇨
Many in the US qualify for an Irish passport meaning you can move there once it is issued without any requirements or a visa, if either parent or any of your four grandparents was an Irish citizen you can get a passport. I got mine because my father was an Irish citizen, and I lived there in 2017. At the time they had just started up the universal NHS and it was very difficult to get healthcare, I was treated like a tourist and was required to go to an ER when I got sick, and that meant going to Dublin or Galway by train and paying cash at a hospital, but I was also told that the law required those over 65 be seen first so a four to five day wait to be seen was not uncommon. In the end it was faster to fly to Spain to be seen. And then because a mass was found on my bladder I just returned to the States. Now however there is private insurance you can buy that will cover you for doctor visits, urgent care clinics, and hospital ER and rooms if you are admitted, for a premium that is 50; 100; or 150 Euro per month with the low end just covering hospital stays in a semi private room or ward, the mid range will cover a few more outpatient costs, and the high end Cadillac premium covers a private room and most all other healthcare costs even such as mental health appointments. Compared to what we pay in the US this seems absurdly cheap.
Also, because my income is as a disabled veteran and social security retirement in the US it is not taxed in Ireland and I got the revenue office to produce an exemption letter that states that. And this is good because the Irish tax system does not work the way the IRS does. The tax rate is 30% on income below 42,000 euro (that might be dated) and 40% on anything above that income. It is simply withheld and you do not file annual income taxes for a "return," they have very limited deductions for which you can get money back. If you do qualify for some tax break scheme you can apply for a refund but there is no official filing date. If you do move to Ireland you really must forget about taking a car, aside from shipping costs there is the import duty, which is the same as the 25% VAT, there is a motor tax calculated by the engine displacement and that is not too bad for a 1.3 liter engine but gets prohibitive very quickly up the scale. Then there is the MOT, and insurance tends to be fairly comparable but will be higher for left hand steering. All in all when I investigated taking my 3 liter BMW with me I concluded that it would cost more to get it off the dock than to just buy a new one, and it matters because Ireland does NOT have comprehensive efficient mass transit like other European countries. It is a very rural country with very little transit.
As a Canadian I can confirm that we do not enunciate Toronto lol. I also want to commend you both for advocating that your viewers should learn some host country vocabulary out of respect for the local people. What a well researched video!
Yes, learning the language is important. Thanks!
That's a lot of information, thanks!
My early SS is only $1,347 a month and 71 yrs old. So, I'm stuck in the USA, lol!
You forgot the happiest country in Europe - Finland! There is a possibility for self-employment visa which includes digital nomads with proof of annual income of around 15K€! And people easily speak English with no prob!
The income requirement in the residence permit process is based on minimum income required for supporting living in Finland. It can be adjusted yearly. It's not a comfortable income level for living in Finland though not impossible either.
And if you have irregular additional income in addition to that then it's much better. At lower income levels even a small additional amount can be significant.
Some studies have shown that at around 3000 € monthly income level people start to feel comfortable with their financial situation. Getting more is of course better, but its importance starts to diminish.
I’ve been told if we apply for the Spanish DNV while in Spain, we’re eligible for 3 years of residency but only 1 year when applied for outside of Spain.
Very good list Amelia & JP. I did not know how European JP is. I was in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague and now in other parts of the Euro continent. There are lots of news that Europe will require registration and biometrics (Entry/Exit System and ETIAS) for Non-EU and Non-Resident travelers coming from countries currently Visa Free (tourist visa) starting this year that had been delayed from November 2024 since Germany, France and The Netherlands were not ready for it. The U.K. was stating plans to start their Electronic Travel Authorization System yesterday on Jan 8th, 2025. Apparently travel to Europe may require extra steps soon.
As someone who immigrated to Austria (from America) a very long long time ago, I strongly suggest that you either immigrate to a country whole-heartedly (learn AND adopt the language and culture), or.... stay home (in America). If you want to be a tourist and visit, find, do so, but you'll only be hurting yourself if you immigrate half-buttedly.
European countries are a different world, and each one if absolutely different than their neighbor, so thin carefully which new lifestyle you are going to be expected to take on. We (Yes, I am an Austrian now, 100%) expected people to speak German, we expect people to work, we expect people to contribute to our society here, and we expect immigrants to hold their tongues and not complain about the differences between here and their homelands.
Give it serious consideration. Good luck.
Thank you for telling it like it is. By far you have given the best advice on this forum.
Mr. Wilders wants to raise the requirements for immigration to Irish standards and will, of course, getting it implemented. The general sentiment in W. Europe is making immigration a lot more difficult, even for students.
It's nice to see that Jeff Bridges' brother has a TH-cam channel.
😂
If you make it to Sitges, Spain we'd love to show you around! We've been watching you guys for years and you inspired our journey including a long trip to Ecuador.
Awesome! Thank you!
American here. I have lived all over Europe. Ireland is easy to live in, but very expensive and they are not big on Americans, The Netherlands is having a housing disaster, no rentals for many. Poland is a Great place, affordable and pro American. The best place overall. The Baltics are also great, affordable, and friendly to Americans. Think affordable Scandinavia
@tnickknight Not big on Americans? Wow I'm surprised. Have heard differently...at least online. Could you elaborate?
@robbien.1798 they have a lot of Americans and American businesses there. They are not big on Americans, (especially those that call themselves Irish), or America. That's fine, but it will affect you if you live there. Lots of better choices that are cheaper and more friendly towards Americans. ( Note, I'm definitely not pro American, but it makes no difference)
@@tnickknight Interesting. I'd heard about their dislike for Americans of Irish descent calling themselves Irish, which I can understand. But compared to their history with England, I thought they'd feel some affinity with Americans given how many of their forefathers immigrated there and how "we" are so proud of our Irish roots. Not to mention that the Irish are touted to be among the friendliest people in the world.
Albania seems to be the perfect home base for Shengen shuffle. I'm interested in Montenegro too but can't stay one year like Albania. Don't want the temporary residency there because of restrictions on only leaving one month per year or you lose your residency and health benefits.
Don't overlook Cyprus. They are not Schengen yet despite being EU and the fact that you can get the Pink Slip while in the country is very beneficial. The tax treatment there is also highly favorable and it is a big expat haven for most of Europe, ie English is a lingua franca there.
Good luck😂😂😂
Right about now, I expect a whole lot of folks are ready to bail!
Yeah I’m seriously considering it
meeeeeeeeeeee!!
bye 🙋♂
@@Peter-m5n7m I now have a renewed interest in staying in the USA!🇺🇸
Not all that easy for most people to just leave friends, family, jobs, mortgages.
Thanks. As a US retiree investigating European options (dual US German citizenship in the works) and becoming familiar with cost of living in several countries on my list, one gaping hole to round out the true cost of living are taxes. Would be great if a software developer would create software to allow us to compare our country list and income streams, etc, and spit out an estimate of taxes for each country beyond what we owe the US. Would be a great service for a tax consultant too. As of now I am building a list of tax consultants for each of the countries and will have them individually estimate my taxes. Rumor has it that France has a good tax treaty with US so hoping that pans out.
And France has world class healthcare which is extremely inexpensive
CIVIL LEGAL system service process has forced heirship inheritance requirements and this is the reason why the SEYCHELLES charity foundation is keeping good enough for the necessary asset protection tactics!🏥
If you are willing to go to Central America, Costa Rica and Panama do not tax foreign earned income or retirement.
@@deebee2603 I knew about Panama I didn’t know about Costa Rica
If you're considering France, be sure to look at their inheritance taxes, and make sure they will work for whatever comes your way. Yikes.
well done!
Wow, such a comprehensive and well-organized presentation, thank you! One of the things I've heard from a few expats in Slovenia is that it's not very racially/culturally diverse, if that is important to you, and that the culture tends to be a bit xenophobic for reasons rooted in their history. But, as with all anecdotes, YMMV, of course.
Good info, thanks. One small mistake I noticed, @16:00 - you say Bulgaria but circled Romania.
Yup
I love the both of you your so nice and positive bless you both❤🙏
Well you could just stay there as a temporary tourist. Six months in the UK. 90 days in the Schengen areas, and three months wherever else in Europe you can stay with no problems. Find good deals to rent through AirB&B or other good rental finds. Then you don't have to worry about any requirements.
Just one pro tip for american moving to Europe: learn the language of the country you are moving to. It will make your life easier and make people like you a bit more. Dont be like a typical loud american in Capri. I have met with a rising frustration with expats in Prague where you have expats living there for years and not speaking any czech.
I wonder where Croatia and Montenegro would place in your ratings. One attractive thing about Croatia, among many, is that there is no property tax on a property you own if you live in it. Property taxes tend to be lower in Europe, regardless.
We talked about both of these later in the video.
I'm a huge fan of Derry Girls!
So are we! It’s hilarious!
Hey guys. Just discovered your channel and videos. I did a scroll down thru and wondered if you have any on the UK and visiting or moving there? I’m gonna look at some more. I look forward to learning about these places.
The UK doesn’t have any good visa options. It’s difficult to move there.
Oups, When you show Italy,you show the Pantheon from Greece! But very instructive video!
Nope. It’s a Greek ruin in Sicily. Selinunte Archaeological Park.
I know you guys like Albania, but I suspect if you spend time in Cyprus that it will be a place you would like as well. It has some big advantages in terms of its tax treaties that make it very favorable for Americans, especially if TH-cam royalty income is a big part of your income. They have a zero withholding rate on royalties with the US and a lot of other countries too. They also have their Non-Dom tax regime which lasts for 17 years.
It's quite expensive to live, though, and not a very safe place for single women, and not at all food-independent, so costs will never be low.
@messyhomestead7320 24% less expensive than the US on average and 41% less expensive on rent. If you are earning a US income and you have the over $200k of foreign earned income exclusion and standard deduction a married American couple gets with the benefit of Cyprus' Non-Dom regime with proper structuring ie the use of US LLCs and owner's draws the prices being that much lower with a zero tax rate excluding US social security taxes and the under 3% social contribution in Cyprus on dividends it becomes fairly inexpensive for US citizens earning even an average US income. That is not to say you are earning $200k, just that if you have no US tax liability until you exceed $200k, it looks fairly good for taxes.
I spend 90 days in Cyprus for my winter schengen out. Healthcare is not good in Cyprus. You must plan on going to other EU countries for healthcare. April to September is hot, sticky, and awful. Almost all food is imported, so expect instability. The boat people have made areas of Cyprus really dangerous. Before they arrived, Cyprus was fairly safe. But now, petty crime has really increased and the Cypriots do not like or want the africans.
Guys this would have been EVEN BETTER with pointing out a few cities/towns in each country! Traveling with Kristin did one on France that was super helpful.
It was too long and too many countries for that. We cut 10 minutes as it was.
Thank you for the video. So many of us are looking to leave the USA. You guys covered lots of good options but some of the income qualifications were not clear if the numbers were for one person or for a couple. Also, several of the countries you covered have in-country time requirements. For example Spain has a 6 month in-country requirement.
All requirements were for the main applicant. Each country has different requirements for dependents. Most countries have physical presence requirements.
Great video❤
Enjoying this one from Ordonez Lasso in Cuenca. We are putting together our plans for later this year. South America until June. Then off to Europe, finally. Hoping for France, Italy, Ireland and Adriatic.
Great!
a very concise and informative video ….like
always you both Great 👍…..until soon ……Alex🇬🇷
I enjoy these lists. I always open up google maps and zoom in on the countries to see exactly where they are and what's around them. Curious where you would rank UK countries (England, Scotland, Wales, N Ireland)? Maybe there's a reason I never see them on many lists. lol Enjoyed your video. :)
We discussed the UK later in the video and explained why we never talk about them.
Turkiye passports are obsolete in schengen countries. In order to enter with turkish passports, one needs to have 7000 euros in bank accounts, earn at least net monthly wage of 150.000 tl barcoded shown to european embassies as individual for at most 20 days of europe travel experience. Only 17 million rich turks out of total 86 million turkiye population can get into that economic , financial treshholds to enter into schengen paradigm. 1 euro is 37 tl
AT 16:00 You list #4 as Bulgaria, yet Romania is clearly circled on the map. You may want to edit this. In fact, the name Romania is circled and Bulgaria is not labeled at all. Thanks for the video. Just trying to help!!
We can’t edit a video that has already been published on TH-cam. It was a mistake.
Love me some Amelia and JP. I had pretty much decided on Spain, but due to the differences in healthcare (both great but France ranks superior for those of us Seniors). I hope I can swing it! It’s a tough choice but healthcare is my #1 consideration at this stage. I’m going to start some basic French lessons soon. Would you feel comfortable moving there with limited French you tried on the language app you use? Merci.
Moving there, yes. Living there long term, no. We would need to do an immersion program.
RE: Greeks yelling: The daily spoken language is very animated that contains guttural sounds , and we tend to say things with flourish.... so two people can be talking about something very mundane, but it sounds like a verbal throw down. People stare at me when I am talking to my mother like I'm abusing her, but in reality all I'm asking is if she would like anything from the market since I'm heading out, lol!!!
Haha! Love it! Great explanation! 😂
Great video - and yes, I do - to Greece, sorry JP. 🤣