Which country to live in?

[Anonymous]

Let’s say you are a fed+private sector fam that is thoroughly terrorized like Vought wanted and contemplating an exit.

What country would you move to for the next 20-30 years (assume visa isn’t an issue)? Two kids in two, including one going to college in 4 years. Both highly educated looking for highish income jobs.
Where would you live? Where would you want your kids to go to university?

Most EU/Canada - economy not as robust, lower salaries, could be fine

Middle East - high salaries, high standard of living, no political freedoms

SE Asia - fast growing, interesting opportunities but also authoritarianish (Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia come to mind)

I realize these are regions and big differences are exist between say Germany and Portugal

[Anonymous]

You missed a few continents.

[Anonymous]

I’d look for eu where you can get into national health plan and national elder care and subsidized education. That would be ideal. I’d love to know how one does this.

[Anonymous]

Sweden or Denmark

[Anonymous]

My friends who did this went to the EU. However, I worry about being that close to Russia. Canada is attractive, except for Trump's expansionist rhetoric lately.

Are you thinking of going on a work visa or some kind of business investment program? Regular immigration favors younger people, usually.

[Anonymous]

But how do you just move, legally?


And how are you preparing for this- are you moving your money over in advance? How? (I am not rich and don’t have a financial advisor)

(I guess you are just talking hypothetical but I have no idea how to find these real answers.

[Anonymous]

Where can you get a visa? Thailand?

[Anonymous]

How to get visa?

[Anonymous]

The visa is the limiting factor, especially with kids.

I have a friend who got a “digital nomad” visa in Spain. Other European countries offer them. (I believe she was also considering Italy.) Canada is more restrictive, but you can get some sort of business visa.

I am about five years from retirement and empty nest. NZ has a retirement visa. Also looking at Australia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d look for eu where you can get into national health plan and national elder care and subsidized education. That would be ideal. I’d love to know how one does this.

You pay out of pocket. It is cheaper than any premium here. No plan needed. Our last ER for broken hand was $120. A kid's allergic reaction to a cat and 4 hour stay was $40, and our baby's fever and ambulance coming out was free. They didn't even ask if the kid had insurance. They come out really fast for children.
For eldercare there's social services, neighbors, retirement homes, and you can always hire someone part time for 500 euros.

[Anonymous]

British Columbia. Helps that I’m from WA. Avoids the Canadian problem of mostly being colder than western New York.

[Anonymous]

Uruguay. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/travel/uruguay-montevideo-la-rambla-waterfront.html

[Anonymous]

Unless you are an EU citizen, it is very difficult to get a job in the EU. The EU concentrates on employing their own citizens first.

[Anonymous]

Sweden, Denmark or the Netherlands if you are white
Taiwan if you speak Mandarin
Canada if none of the above

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:British Columbia. Helps that I’m from WA. Avoids the Canadian problem of mostly being colder than western New York.

Like sneak over the border? How will you get to stay there and enroll your kids in school?