Let your imagination flow
Before pondering on the wages and the cost of living, take the time to dream. Make sure you're able to answer the following questions: What is your dream lifestyle like? Has any of your such dreams come true? If so, under what circumstances? Are you happy with your life in your current city? Are you looking for improvement? What is your dream city like? Don't set yourself any limits and let your imagination run wild. Take a large sheet of paper or a notebook and list all your ideas.
Start with the familiar things
What is your current situation? Are you single, in a relationship, married with or without children? There's a common belief that it's easier for single people to relocate abroad. That's when you forget that they also have family and friends. In reality, you rarely get the chance to choose your city: as a child or teenager, you usually live with your parents. The city and the neighborhood become the place that holds all the memories. Moving abroad means much more than simply relocating from one country to another (which is already no small thing). It takes a lot of thinking and planning. How are your ties with your loved ones and your neighborhood? Are you ready for a change of life? Don't you mind keeping in touch through your phone and laptop most of the time? Keep in mind that even if you're moving abroad on your own, your family shall never be too far away.
Should you move to a big city or a small town?
Capital cities and large, urban, dynamic cities, such as Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Los Angeles, etc., have always been popular with expats. London is still doing well despite Brexit. From an economic perspective, big cities offer a lot more benefits, such as career prospects, higher wages, etc. But big cities also have certain drawbacks, such as high urban density, noise, stress, etc. Of course, nothing is systematic. Despite its very high urban density, Tokyo is also the megalopolis of more than a thousand districts, each with its own identity. So you might as well have a calm little village-like lifestyle in a quiet Tokyo district. Take the time to weigh the pros and cons, though. Both big cities and small towns have their advantages and disadvantages. Would you rather be in your own quiet house with a garden in some remote district or live the rush hour to its fullest?
What about accessibility?
Today, accessibility is at the heart of public debates. A recent British study ranks the world's most accessible cities for people with disabilities. Some of the criteria studied were accessibility to public spaces, adapted facilities and infrastructures, reserved parking spaces, etc. Dublin tops the list, followed by Amsterdam, New York, Los Angeles and Frankfurt. Other studies focus on specific countries. In France, for example, Grenoble, Rennes and Nantes have invested the most in the accessibility of transport and public spaces, health, and adapted infrastructures. Whether you are directly concerned or not, a city's accessibility is a strong signal for whoever wants to live there. It shows its will to make public spaces accessible to everyone, enhancing community life.
Career and wages
It's also important to think carefully about your career prospects. What is your current situation? Are you looking for a job, an internship or to study abroad? Why would you like to study in the chosen country? Do you intend to be your own boss or be employed? What are the differences between the wages offered in your home country and your expat country? However, wages shouldn't be your sole motivation. Find out about the working conditions in your host country. Do they have equal pay? Is the protection of minority rights guaranteed? Perhaps you are rather looking for a meaningful job and life abroad. Covid has transformed workers' priorities over the past two years. Recruiters now lay more emphasis on soft skills. Work organization has also changed with the rise of remote work and digital nomadism. So it's important to know where you stand before choosing your expat city.
Calculate the cost of living
Inflation has taken a toll on budgets already strained by the economic crisis and Covid -- 9% in the United States, 11.7% in Brazil, 5.5% in Senegal, 10.2% in Spain, 5% in South Korea, etc. Following the war in Ukraine, energy and commodity prices are soaring. Housing, food, transportation, etc., are now more expensive. So carefully consider your salary forecast and your cost-of-living estimations before choosing.
What about ecology?
Ecology is becoming increasingly important worldwide. As heat waves shake huge parts of Europe and the United States, more and more expats are considering eco-friendly destinations. The most forward-thinking people are striking off cities only accessible by long-distance flights. Instead, they only move to the neighboring countries. Scandinavian cities are among the world's greenest cities. Besides Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Reykjavik and Helsinki, you also have Zurich, Bristol, London, Berlin, Vancouver, San Francisco, and even cities like Cape Town, among the most eco-friendly ones.
And politics
The terrible war in Ukraine has shaken up the whole world. Ostracized Russia is relying on the few allies it has left while NATO is getting stronger. Locals and immigrants are desperately waiting for the end of the conflict. In Taiwan, residents are worried about Xi Jinping's ambitions. Elsewhere, populations are terrorized by other wars and conflicts. So geopolitics can weigh heavily on moving abroad plans. Would you move to a city where human rights are not respected and where there's no democracy? Since Covid, Singapore's job nationalization policy has been driving many expatriates away from the country. The same is true for Hong Kong, which is increasingly concerned about Chinese influence. Hong Kong and Singapore were, until a few years ago, two of the most popular expat destinations. Unfortunately, high wages and high standards of living are no longer enough to attract and retain expatriates.
Will you be able to adapt?
The Internet is full of comparative articles and other tools that may give you an idea of the cost of living in different countries and cities, but avoid relying solely on them. Do you really have to convert all prices into your home country's currency? Is it really surprising that what you eat at home is suddenly more expensive abroad? Keep in mind that higher import rates will definitely drive prices up. But more importantly, are you actually moving abroad to have the same lifestyle as you would in your home country? Is it not wiser, more ecological and economical to adapt to the local way of life and consumption? Of course, you might feel homesick and crave food from your home country from time to time. But in the end, moving to a new city abroad involves adapting to a new lifestyle.
What should you watch out for in your expat city?
Ideally, testing the waters would give you a better idea of what you should expect from your expat city. But make sure to do it during the low season or, if you can afford it, during different seasons.
Don't overlook the health care system. Covid has trapped many expatriates with little or no insurance. So make sure to have enough information on the health care facilities available in your expat city. If you're going to work, make sure you are aware of the local labor laws and codes, including unionization.
Avoid idealizing your life in your expat city. Many cities around the world have been experiencing a rise in racism and xenophobia lately, and Covid has not helped. Of course, it is impossible to agree with all the policies of the new place you are moving to, so take a step back and stay in line with your values.
Keep things in perspective. Your dream city may not check off all your boxes. So weigh the pros and cons to make your choice. The search for a meaningful life has become crucial ever since the pandemic. Take the time to gather sufficient information and analyze. Finally, trust yourself, and dare to go on an adventure.
