41 Americans Who Left The USA For Good Open Up About Their Reasons For Moving

The American way of life is not always exactly a dream. While many really manage to build their happiness in the country they were born in, others decide to try out what the rest of the world is like. After all, something like questionable work-life balance, flawed healthcare system, or impossible student loan debt is something that can keep you awake at night.

So in order to find out the exact reasons why American citizens bid farewell to their beloved land and moved abroad, we have to ask the people themselves. Thanks to this Reddit thread which asks people who want to or already moved to Europe to tell everyone why, we have some very telling responses.

Scroll down below and if it all feels relatable, be sure to add your experiences in the comment section!

#1

Quality of life - I hate having to drive everywhere in the US, city parks are usually way worse, and my friends thought I was crazy for not wanting to default to spending money as a way to hang out (restaurants, bars, concerts, nail salons, shopping). I know that exists in Europe but there still seems to be more appreciation for the slow life. That plus being able to walk more and use public transport, long vacations, better social safety nets…I just feel happier and healthier with that lifestyle.

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#2

Kinda tired of my medication costing $1000 a month tbh.

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#3

I live in Berlin. I'm still trying to get used to my five weeks of vacation. All vacation is paid vacation, and it's standard everywhere. I also get a two hour lunch and have a 32 hour work week. This is is literally going to add up to years more with my family. It just makes the quality of life so much better

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#4

I moved to Europe 7yrs ago. Our motivation at first was having children without going into debt. After living here a few years we were able to buy a house with property. Live a lifestyle that was once considered the American dream.

I important distinction is that we/I found that life was more basic here. Less materialistic. People still have gardens, walk to places they want to go. Christmas is about family and not about how many gifts you got. I just find it to be a more sustainable environment for my family.

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#5

Because practicing medicine here feels dirty. I was never in it for the money or prestige. I’ve already started working on my exams to go to the UK. There are pros and cons to the way healthcare is handled in the UK, but I’d rather be able to treat a patient and sleep peacefully knowing that I haven’t financially crippled someone for life. Medicine as a career is much better in the US than anywhere in the world, but I’d rather make much less money and have a clear conscience.

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#6

I moved from the US to Europe (Austria) quite some time ago (nearly 20 years). I don't regret it and can't ever see myself moving back to the US. A couple of my friends are still trying to figure out ways to move over where. Just a few things off the top of my head regarding why:

5 weeks of paid vacation

up to 2 years of paid parental leave (including for dads as well)

no such thing as a copay at the doctor

price cap on prescription drugs (like EUR 6)

low crime rate

more well developed social safety net (ie. less poverty)

I once spent 10 days in the hospital and needed emergency surgery. My bill: EUR 0.

Free daycare

Excellent and well-funded public schools

No tuition for college

Image credits: mejok

#7

I moved to Spain from the US 6 years ago (initially through a program to teach English, now I'm married to a Spaniard). As much as I deeply love and miss the US -- the nature, the food, friends, the VIBE -- I have no plans to move back.

Healthcare in America scares the bejeesus out of me, especially as I age. I just had surgery on an injury that cost me nothing -- I still feel like I'm getting away with murder.

And the work-life balance is so insane once you see it from the outside. I stopped being able to understand how my mom was slaving away for a company that really didn't pay much for 2 precious weeks of paid vacation a year (and I would describe my family as privileged). COVID really changed my view, seeing everyone in my city dutifully wear the mask even after it's not required, whereas my state in America devolved into a culture war. "Devolving" is, unfortunately, the best word I have to describe the US in the last decade(s).

Image credits: sweetest_oblivion

#8

I moved 5.5 years ago because there are better job opportunities in my field of music here. Also, I'm able to afford living in a nice, big city without working two to three jobs.

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#9

I moved years ago for marriage. My life is immeasurably better here in so many ways. My children don't know what an active shooter drill is, I don't question taking them to a doctor when they need it, and I don't have to buy school supplies

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#10

Being poor in the US is worse than being poor in Europe.

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#11

It's easy to get somewhere completely different. In America you have to travel a long way to get to a place with a different culture. In Europe, in just a few hours I can drive to France, the Netherlands, or Germany. And, in a few hours on a plane, I can be in Italy, Greece, Spain, or Portugal.

Image credits: Doggyboy

#12

Because I’m so tired of constantly living in fear. Fear of medical debt. Fear of any kind of overwhelming debt. Fear of getting screwed over by a landlord. By a mortgage lender. By a bank. By a corporation. Fear of getting screwed by an employer. Fear of losing my job or getting sick and getting in over my head with expenses. Fear of getting shot. Fear of getting covid due to lax regulations. Fear of getting hurt by a radicalized anti-vaxer. Fear of losing access to civil rights protection (ahem, Texas). Fear of the out of control housing market. Fear of the ramifications of our own civic, economic, and social policies. Fear I’ll finally give in to the despair. Our way of life is… it’s so completely irrational. And it’s seemingly inescapable. I think about this every day.

And generally speaking, I align with contemporary European values more so than contemporary American values (are these even a thing? What are contemporary American values?) Education, culture, a well-rounded life fully lived, travel, prioritizing social good over economic growth. These are the things that I want for myself and everyone. I’ve lived in the US all my life. There are so many things I love about it. Truly. But the older I get, the more it feels like a trap. A trap with a really effective marketing campaign.

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#13

The quality of life in terms of healthcare, nutrition, work culture, etc

You can travel to so many different countries so easily and experience different cultures, food and people

Everything just looks pretty and cute: especially in terms of architecture

You don't hear too many bad things about Europeans, mostly just how they don't like Americans, which is very telling about us

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#14

Because we let idiots storm our own capitol. That was the turning point for me.

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#15

I moved from the US to Denmark in 80 and since then have lived in various European countries, for the last 30 in England.

Culture is better. Not saying that some Americans are not cultured (I am American after all) but things are so much more oriented to enjoying music, theatre, and arts. I had relatives in the US that mocked university education, modern art, and pretty much anything that was not simple patriotism and religion.

Image credits: Doggyboy

#16

My partner and I moved to Sweden two years ago. We were both working extremely long hours in the US and it was killing us. We were both making a lot of money, but it was coming at too great a cost. There's also the political and social situation. Society is extremely polarized in the U.S. Now, we have six weeks of vacation, guaranteed healthcare, and a political system that isn't a complete sh*tshow 24/7. There are also a lot more opportunities here. America is actually extremely toxic for non-unicorn small businesses, so industries are getting consolidated into fewer and fewer firms. Stockholm is internationally known as a tech hub, but unlike the Bay area you can actually afford to buy a house here. Hell, for 18 months we were living comfortably on a single income, which would be impossible in the states.

We don't ever want to move back. Hopefully we'll be able to get our citizenship in 3 more years and we'll never have to.

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#17

Postdoctoral education.

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#18

I can walk to all the amenities I need. People say what they mean. Sh*t works as intended a lot more.

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#19

Because Italy has some of the best food in the world.

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#20

Relaxed pace of life. It's far less stressful in the south of Europe than in the US.

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#21

I moved as part of a student exchange and then again to teach English. Spent around 2 years total living in France. Honestly, I loved the culture a ton and could see myself moving there again. The food is bomb, I felt so good while I was there because of the lack of shit in the food. Time off was amazing, the general idea that life and its little pleasures are meant to be enjoyed and that hustle culture isn't the way also attracted me.

#22

Quality of life, the humanity of the citizens, people actually know how to drive and be overall humane. Then you have the socialized healthcare showing that the society cares about the well being of the rest of society…. Yeah, the humanity for the most part draws my attention.

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#23

Currently looking at moving to Western Europe from America. I can only speak for myself but these are some of my reasons

• Capitalist Greed in our government • No proper medical coverage • Bipartisan outrage • Poor vacation • Poor work expectations

I’m sure I could go on and on but really government bullsh*t, corporate greed and sh*t healthcare have ruined this country. No one looks up to America anymore, they just go along with it because America has guns and bombs.

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#24

I did about three years ago. I was mentally tired from living in a state of near catastrophe all the time. I had a good job but one medical catastrophe (of which I’d already had a few) could have bankrupted me. I wanted kids but again, it’s one catastrophe away from homelessness WITH kids. And no social support for kids either, like parental leave after the birth, subsidized childcare, subsidized higher education. I hated never having job security despite being excellent at my job.

Basically everything about all of the systems in the US terrified me.

My quality of life is incalculably improved by living in a country that cares about its citizens.

Image credits: ingenfara

#25

Also an American that moved to Spain. Healthcare is my #1 reason why I have no interest in moving back to America. Even though I miss the comfort and ease of the place that I grew up, it’s nothing compared to the peace of mind living here. A lot of people complain about “people being lazy” in Spain. I, for the most part, love how relaxed everyone is here. Coming from NY, where everything needs to be finished yesterday and you get yelled at for not giving your order quick enough in a food line… it’s so refreshing to constantly be reminded to take a break. Deep breath. Fresh air. Take a nap. Get around to it later. I’m sure that it’s helped my anxiety and made me happier for it. One more thing… I just returned from a visit to America today after being away for two years. It could be just me being sensitive to things, but the vibe there felt different. It felt very divisive, fearful and angry. It made me sad.

#26

It comes down to the fact that the U.S. does not care about its people — only protecting the capital of the wealthy. There's expensive healthcare, a car-dependent infrastructure, a lack of public transportation, increasing homelessness, etc

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#27

We recently moved to Europe for my job. Some of the benefits include lower crime in most places, inexpensive or free healthcare, inexpensive or free higher education, lower costs for cellphone and internet services, and more cultural diversity.

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#28

My SO and I moved to Greece in 2016. I eat mostly vegan and the quality and price of basic raw ingredients are incredible.

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#29

I would move if I could for the food alone. Not only does the majority of it taste better in Europe, but it's also more nutritious. Food additives that are illegal in Europe are abundant in the US. Crops have been so modified that they have a fraction of the nutrients. Even baking ingredients like flour and sugar are way less healthy here in the US because of how they are processed

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#30

Less likely to be shot by a crazy person.

Easier access to medical care.

Easier access to education.

Higher quality education.

Most European nations aren't ebbing dangerously close to a civil war.

About half the US is champing at the bit to install a dictator, and usher in a new age of fascism. They might succeed.

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#31

My kids have a better quality of here. We’re fortunate to live in an area with good schools that are walking distance from our house. They have local school friends which I didn’t have. I lived in a rough area and my parents sent me out of the area so I could go to a good school. I don’t need to drive as much, my work/life balance is better, food is cheaper and of course healthcare.

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#32

You won't be bankrupt for being sick, your kids won't end up with serious student loans (in most of Europe) or be funneled into a for-profit private prison system. Less chance of a maniac shooting you. You aren't afraid of losing health insurance after a layoff/firing.

Image credits: WorldCitzen99

#33

I moved to France 10 years ago and will never move back to the U.S. I have a better quality of life and I'm not worried my daughter will be shot by a classmate

#34

To better reconnect with my father’s family in Germany. One of my cousins reached out to me and from there I felt like I had a family that actually cared about my well-being for the first time in a while. It feels like they actually 'get me' in a sense.

#35

I’m terrified that the 2024 election, or the one after, or the one after that one will be the point that Democracy fully tanks (beyond just gerrymandering) and this country becomes an autocracy.

#36

Low crime rate, free healthcare, beautiful cities and amazing architecture.

#37

The functioning railway system

#38

America is an increasingly dangerous place to live because of right-wing domestic extremism and white supremacy that threatens to undermine democracy.

#39

American who moved to Europe 15 years ago. There are pros and cons. Lived in Barcelona for 5 years and very much enjoyed the lifestyle. Moved to Gothenburg, Sweden after for 7 years. Actually gained dual citizenship there, which has made being in Europe much easier. A lot of things are great in Sweden, but I couldn’t handle the cold, wet, dark… It gets very hard with the 7 to 9 month long winters (in 2 of my years there summer did not come). I’m back in Spain now, 3 years. Money is much tighter. But life and food suits me better. I always thought I would return to the US, but not so much anymore. Plus, my Italian wife is not interested…

Image credits: viptattoo

#40

The dating culture isn’t as bad

#41

I want to experience life in different parts of the world. Not just go on vacation for a week there