Housing - Expat Magazine

Marietta from Greece started her expat journey seven years ago when she went to Denmark for her Master's degree and then to the Netherlands as a research assistant. Today, she is based in Kuopio, a densely populated city in Finland, famous for its beautiful forested area and Lake Kallavesi, which surrounds the town. After two and a half years in Finland, Marietta may still struggle with the cold weather, but she has found joy in outdoor activities and of course, her PhD. 

Besides career prospects, quality of life, environment, and safety and security, the cost of living is another significant issue to consider when planning your move abroad, whether alone or with your family. Which are the cities where you're likely to spend more regarding rent, food, transportation, and leisure? To help you choose the best destination according to your budget, Expat.com gives you an insight into the world's most expensive cities in 2018 according to the latest Mercer Cost of Living report.

Living in a shared house can be the best solution for solo expats who are keen on socialising, saving money, or both. Sharing accommodation can be as exciting and open-minding as expatriation itself — each of your housemates will probably teach you something about yourself that you didn't know and will introduce you to new experiences and habits (from making pizza dough and separating laundry by their type and colour, to recycling and watching international cinema). Thus, even if you don't live with like-minded people, you can establish harmony with your housemates, as long as there's willingness for respect, tolerance, good communication, and a good sense of humour.

Earthquakes are some of the most powerful and unpredictable natural phenomena, which occur underground due to the release of energy when two blocks of rocks (plates) are pushing against each other and eventually break. Although earthquakes can happen anywhere on the planet, there are some countries which are more vulnerable due to their location near or within seismic zones. Unfortunately, we cannot rely on earthquake forecasts yet, but being prepared for an emergency situation can be life-saving.

Paola, a wife and mother of two, lives and works in the tech sector in the capital area of Finland. Besides her full-time job, which she loves, Paola is a dedicated blogger. Today, she talks to Expat.com about her expat life as an Italian in the Nordic world, and her appreciation about Finland's natural beauty, as well as the country's socioeconomic security — aspects which nurture a happy family life.

After two and a half fulfilling expat years in Brazil's vast and hectic Rio de Janeiro, Charlotte from Manchester, UK and her Brazilian partner moved to Italy for studies. Starting anew, Charlotte, who is a seasoned traveller and expat, is determined to make the most of her time in Italy. Life in a small Italian town may be quieter, but not without its challenges and stories worth sharing.

Ute is a German (and Swiss) “expat-since-birth”, as she likes to call herself. She has lived abroad her entire life, and is currently living with her loving family in The Hague, Netherlands. Ute has moved to different countries several times for study, work, and to accompany her partner, and with every move she had to reinvent herself, to adapt, and to overcome the lows. However, every country has been an adventure she has learned from and an opportunity to thrive and move forward.

Omar is from Guatemala and arrived in Finland eleven years ago as the singer in a heavy metal band. Ever since, many things have changed — the group split up, Omar obtained the Finnish nationality, and he has created a loving family. Follow us on this exciting journey of a designer, musician, and avid traveller from Guatemala to Finland. 

Aby, arrived in New Zealand from Strasbourg on a Working Holiday Visa, grabbing the opportunity that the country offers to young expatriates who want to work in New Zealand with spare time to explore its beauty. There are many reasons why Aby chose New Zealand as her expat destination; one of them is the friendly and welcoming Kiwi people. She talks to Expat.com about the flexibility that the Working Holiday Visa gives you and the best things about New Zealand. 

Upon moving to Paris, whether it is after an expatriation or a business mission, one of your main objectives will probably be looking for a place to call home. The process of finding accommodation in Paris can take a lot of time. In addition, without any proof of residence, you may encounter difficulties in progressing with other administrative procedures, such as enrolling children in school.

Xian, an Australian-Chinese-Filipina, amateur photographer, badminton player, and swimmer among others, moved to the island nation of Timor-Leste three and a half years ago to continue her wonderful work on gender equality and the prevention of violence against women.  Xian has absolutely adapted to the unique style of island living, and shares with Expat.com some tips on making the most of your expat experience in Timor-Leste — spoiler alert: food and snorkelling included.

We don't choose our place of birth, and our nationality shouldn't be linked to our achievements, growth, and personal value. However, the Quality of Nationality Index by Henley & Partners has set some objective criteria to compare nationalities and measure their local and global performance.  Find out to what extent your nationality allows you to develop your talents inside and outside of your country.

A relocation project can be very beneficial for companies thanks to the recruitment of global talent and diversity in the working place. However, it comes with several challenges, which, if not adequately addressed, may not only cost the company a lot of money but also lead to loss of competent human force. Some of these challenges are available support to expat employees and orientation, visa acquisition, travel costs, housing, shipment of goods, and other benefits. Cartus, a provider of corporate relocation services, has assessed the global relocation trends for 2018 and the challenges that companies have to deal with when sending employees abroad.

Alejandra, a Colombian expat in Lyon, France has gone through different stages of life in this historical city. A language enthusiast, Alejandra initially arrived in France to learn French but she immediately fell in love with this vibrant place, and enrolled in a Master's degree before getting a rewarding full time job as a business developer. Looking always on the bright side of life, Alejandra gives us a tour around her favourite city. 

Sila, from Nigeria and Turkey, is now living and working in Rwanda after she agreed to accept a relocation job offer. In the heart of Africa, and home to the continent's largest rainforest with a third of gorillas' world population, Rwanda is one of the proudest nations regarding conservation of natural habitats. When not teaching the principles of leadership to talented, pan-African students, Sila is enjoying the variety of restaurants and the convenience of moto rides, which can take you anywhere in the country's capital city, Kigali. However, there are three things that Sila needs more time to adapt to — living without caring housemates, the lack of spicy food, and the calmness of the city.