Amazing International Cities That Will Pay You To Move There

Do you ever dream of leaving it all behind, packing everything up, and moving to a new country? I don’t mean for a visit either. Could you leave everything behind, the life you know, relatives and friends, your culture, and the conveniences of Western living, to live in another country for multiple years? Or, even permanently? Well, there are several international cities that will pay you to live there if you’re serious. However, conditions do apply.

Since every country has its own visa requirements for foreigners, and the distance of your adopted country relative to the United States is a big factor, it might cost as much as $10,000 to move internationally.

Still, that is a conservative estimate. If you’re moving to a country with a high cost of living, or if you’re moving a family along with you, such costs increase unpredictably and exponentially.

Unless you are adventurous enough to live in a developing country, you’re going to need a lot of startup capital in terms of relocation costs to move to a new country.

Maybe that is what stops a lot of people from their realizing dreams of moving abroad.

There is a lot of logistics and bureaucracy involved as well. This isn’t something that should be done on a whim.

You could find yourself in a much worse situation than when you started trying to extricate yourself from international living.

It’s a process that must be well-thought out.

So, before I tell you about three international cities that will pay you to move there, which will help mitigate moving costs, let me tell you how you must prepare before starting such an endeavor.

Also, since I am currently living abroad, I can tell you how it’s working out for me.

This Isn’t For Everyone

Have you every been on a short-term trip with a friend or a relative who complained the entire way and was determined to be miserable?

Ever been on a camping trip with someone who complained about the lack of electricity and WiFi?

Or, have you ever gone on an international trip with someone who was frustrated the local natives didn’t speak English? And their solution was to just speak English louder to people who didn’t know English?

Have you ever been the Grumpy Traveler on a short-term trip?

Well, try to imagine this misery magnified a thousand-fold if you move to a new country with a different culture.

I am not preaching or being condescending either, since I am living this experience now.

Living the Dream

I currently live in the Philippines. The cost of living works for me.

I am employed by Western clients and then I convert that pay into the local currency.

I am endeavoring to start a small business, a budget-conscious endeavor more affordable to here.

It isn’t all incense and peppermints, however.

I’m still learning the local language. However, many people speak English here.

It is helpful to learn the local language to become more independent. This will be helpful too in cases of emergency.

The standard of living here is nothing like the United States. Every time I call the local post office, someone picks up the phone and then hangs up.

You must pay for medical care, and even then, the medical care standard is that of a developing country, not like New York City where I’m from.

I must buy potable water often. It’s cheap, but I have to remember to keep ample supplies in case of water shortages.

I must pay a visa every few months as a foreigner to stay here. Homesickness and culture shock struck me hard my first year here.

There aren’t many conveniences here, like 24-hours stores, relative to the USA. Don’t get me wrong, they have those here.

But I must walk long distances, sometimes past feral dogs, or past really poor people. That puts my craving quest for a Big Mac or a candy bar into perspective when I do that.

You must consider the currency exchange when you move to a new country. Especially if you’re moving to a new country where the dollar is weaker against the local currency.

You’ll be hurting for money unless you have significant savings or a good-paying job that allows to telecommute.

Countries That Will Pay You to Move There

I am happy where I am. In case I run out of work, my backup plan is to work as an English teacher in Taiwan, Thailand or China. Not my preference, but it’s a backup plan if needed.

I am a telecommuting writer, so I must be prepared for contingencies. In retrospect, I wish I had written this article before I moved here.

I would have loved for a city to have paid me to move there.

Here is a list of cities willing to pay foreigners to move there. Of course, there are conditions and any pay is mainly designed to mitigate moving costs.

So, don’t expect a fortune.

Still, this is one less excuse to not try to achieve the dream of moving internationally.

Chile

Chile has a high standard of living relative to the rest of Latin America. Santiago is the capital. You should make at least $1,500 to $2,000 monthly to live comfortably here.

It’s hot. It would to learn Spanish if you deign to live here. Chile is prone to earthquakes – a 9.5 Richter scale quake struck the country in 1960. An 8.8 earthquake struck in 2010 – so keep that in mind.

Still, its mostly an industrialized and relatively safe city to live in.

The Chilean Government is looking for foreign entrepreneurs to emigrate to the country and bring their business ideas.

It’s called Start-Up Chile. You could be given up to $80,000 to start your own business in the country. There are 3 programs and the next application submission process starts in February and March 2020.

New Zealand

Although this country is prone to earthquake strikes as well, it is modernized and culturally vibrant.

If you are a certified teacher, New Zealand will pay you up to $5,000 in relocation expenses to move there. Then, the country will pay you $7,000 to move back home.

You must go through a verification and qualification process.

Ireland

The Irish government has created an entrepreneurial fund to help foreigners emigrate to Ireland and launch a business that will benefit the country and its citizens.

You may be eligible for thousands of dollars in startup capital.

Still, you need to have a serious business plan for a successful business based in Ireland for any real chance of qualifying.

Also, the standard of living in a major Irish city like Dublin is high.

Map it Out

Here is a great site that lists the many ways that you should prepare for moving abroad.

Don’t rush into it. Take a short-term trip to see how you like it first. Think about the tax implications. Consider the standards of medical care you’ll be dealing with.

In other words, a great new adventure, or a new chapter in life, should be planned out well in advance of execution.

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