Opinion: Being an expat — if you go, part I

Last week, I presented one list of countries to which American citizens are currently moving. Of course, there are other lists, based on different variables. But I found that Portugal ranks high on nearly every survey.

U.S. citizens who choose to live out the rest of their lives elsewhere are concerned with work/life balance, health care, cost of living, and safety. If you’re planning to go to some other country to live, whether temporarily or for life, you need to research exit and visa requirements, conditions for residency in your new country, tax responsibility both in the U.S.A. and the country of destination, and moving expense.

Because Portugal showed up on so many lists, I chose that country for the following data. I used Savory & Partners website as the source for information.