How Much Does It Cost to Move Abroad From the US?

Budget $3,000–$12,000 for the move itself, depending on how much you ship. The number that actually decides whether you can stay is monthly, not one-off — and against published price levels, the average US retirement benefit of $2,086 buys as much as $8,772 a month would at home.

Alex Carter · September 18, 2026 · 5 min read

The one-off cost

Flights, shipping, visa fees, apostilles and translations, the first month's rent and deposit, and a gap of several weeks where you are paying in two countries at once. For most people that lands between $3,000 and $12,000, and the biggest variable is how much you ship.

Shipping is where people overspend. A full container from the US to Europe runs into five figures. Most of what ends up in it gets replaced within two years anyway.

The monthly cost, which matters more

This is the number that decides whether the move survives. Here is what $2,086 a month — the average US retired-worker benefit — is worth against published price levels.

Country	Multiplier	$2,086 becomes
India	4.21x	$8,772
Nepal	3.79x	$7,905
Viet Nam	3.37x	$7,039
Thailand	3.24x	$6,750
Malaysia	3.16x	$6,587
Indonesia	3.11x	$6,479
Philippines	2.76x	$5,761
Cambodia	2.76x	$5,748
Nicaragua	2.69x	$5,611
Colombia	2.64x	$5,511
Turkiye	2.61x	$5,452
Dominican Republic	2.53x	$5,279

What the multiplier does not include

Health cover. Priced separately, rises steeply with age, and in several countries insurers stop writing new policies somewhere between 60 and 70.

Flights home. Recurring, not one-off. From Southeast Asia, around a thousand dollars each way.

The exchange rate. Your income is in dollars and your costs are not. A ten per cent move is a ten per cent pay cut.

What to check before you commit

Insurance first, because waiting a year can close a door permanently. Then the visa income floor, which is published and either clears your income or does not. Then rent for the actual neighbourhood, not the national average.

Frequently asked

How much does it cost to move abroad from the US?

Budget $3,000 to $12,000 for the move itself. Shipping is the largest variable: a full container to Europe runs into five figures, while most people who ship less replace things locally for less.

How much money do you need per month to live abroad?

It depends entirely on the country. Measured against published price levels, the average US retirement benefit of $2,086 a month is worth $8,772 in India, $7,039 in Vietnam and $3,449 in Portugal. Only two of the 66 countries measured return less than it does at home.

Is it cheaper to live abroad than in the US?

In almost all of them, yes. Of 66 countries measured, all but two return more purchasing power than the United States for the same money — the exceptions are the few where prices sit above American levels.

What is the biggest unexpected cost?

Private health cover. It is priced separately from the cost of living, it steps upward with age rather than rising gently, and several insurers stop accepting new applicants after a certain birthday.