What's YOUR "Price of Admission" for a New Life?

Every dream life has a cost. Here's how to calculate yours.

Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash

Hello and thank you for being here! I’m Kimberly Anne—a U.S. expat who moved to Portugal solo in 2022, sight unseen and without a safety net. I originally started this Substack to document my adventures, but these days, I’m here to help you explore your own dreams of moving abroad. Thanks for joining me on the adventure! (Want more of the backstory? Click here.)

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Introduction

I originally wrote this article with two separate ideas and got caught up with extensive research. That lengthened the time I usually spend writing these posts and in the end I decided to split the article up into two separate ideas.

In this week’s post I’ll address some of the comments I get from people who don’t want to move and some of the concerns I’ve been hearing from them, ie: their reasons or challenges for making the move abroad.

I know I addressed many in this article but as I hear from more of you I feel this will be an ongoing topic. I also hope it will be beneficial to those of you who still haven’t pulled the plug.

Why You Say You Won’t Move Abroad and Maybe Why You Shouldn’t

Not everyone is adaptable. But adaptability is a huge component of what makes moving abroad doable for some and out of the question for many. I think it’s really what is at the heart of holding people back. I wrote a complete article about adaptability, you can find that here.

Adaptability exists along a continuum and I know several people who aren’t super adaptable but moved abroad anyway. One is my lovely cousin Nancy who moved to Paris two years ago. She absolutely loves convenience. She’s a fan of drive-throughs and Costco and there’s nothing wrong with that! When I moved into a van she was so excited, she wanted to try it out as a part-time weekend warrior. I love that she’s so open to trying so many new things and that’s how she found out, quite quickly, that even part-time vanlife was not for her. But as much as Nancy loves her conveniences, she loves traveling more. Travel takes precedence in her life and I love that she’s not willing to compromise on that. It’s what won out and she has zero interest or plan to ever return to the U.S. Yes she lives without her modern conveniences now. She doesn’t even own a car. And she loves her new life. She’s thriving and growing and… adapting.

Conveniences

This is the perfect segue into conveniences. If you’re a person who needs them, you’re going to have a difficult time finding what you’re used to outside of Canada, the US, UK, Australia or Dubai.

Maybe drive-throughs exist elsewhere but I haven’t seen one here in Portugal so if they do exist here, they’re not common. But what I have found is a coffee bar in every gas station. And I don’t mean a vending machine. I mean a person who stands behind a bar and serves you a quick cup of fresh coffee to enjoy immediately. That’s the culture in most of Europe. I remember once I was traveling through Italy on the back of a friend’s motorcycle on our way to an island (another story for another time perhaps) and he stopped at a gas station not to fill up, but to get us fresh espressos.

I was pleasantly shocked and told him so. “I didn’t know gas stations served fresh coffee,” I exclaimed!

“I didn’t know they didn’t,” he replied (in Italian of course) with a sly smile.

“Big box stores” exist abroad but the majority of people shop elsewhere. The only names you’ll recognize are IKEA and in some places (not in Portugal), Costco.

Stores like these aren’t the norm. They’re not where most people go to get their “stuff”. Instead they tend to frequent local mom and pop stores, which is so much better for the economy. However, the ones we have here are pretty cool and much less expensive than those in the U.S. Let’s please ignore the fact that it took me several years to discover them!

Delivery services do exist in many other places now. In Dubai for example, someone will come and fill your car up with gas. You can order most anything, including a single carrot.

Here in Portugal I do order groceries to be delivered. I can’t physically carry heavy items up all my flights of stairs. You can order online from a supermarket such as Continente or Auchan. You can also go into a market, do your shopping and have them deliver your food. And there’s always Glovo, which will pick up and deliver pretty much anything your heart desires. I saw Glovo delivery drivers carrying huge bouquets of flowers on the back of their mopeds on mother’s day.

Many larger cities in other countries offer delivery now, thanks or not-thanks to Covid.

Your Reasons For Not Moving Are Valid

I received a very interesting comment from someone recently who stated they were planning their move to Portugal but decided to remain in the U.S. because of climate change. Someone else commented to say they wouldn’t move because they were worried about water. These are big and valid concerns that are not going away, so I’m going to take a moment to address them.

But first, you don’t have to move. It’s that simple. No one is making you leave the U.S. or your home country unless they are and if that’s the case, I’m so sorry!

Even fear of change is a valid reason for not moving abroad. I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind. I’m simply providing help and content for people who DO want to move abroad.

Climate Change

Yet, I feel it’s important to address this in particular. I thought I’d saved the comment but now I can’t find it, so this is from memory. I believe the reader’s comment stated that from their research the two safest places to live in regards to climate change is the Northern part of the U.S. and the southern part of Canada. And one of the worst areas is all of Europe. A quick google search listed the places that will be least affected as: New Zealand, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland but even these areas are not exempt.

Personally, I have a difficult time thinking in these terms; chasing where climate change may have the least impact. If I was still in my twenties, I may think differently but I’m inching toward sixty and universal healthcare is currently at the top of my list.

But I’ll reiterate what I said to the reader. I lived in Northern California for thirty years. Between 2020 and 2021 alone, I lived through four major wildfires that turned the sky orange, covered my car in ash and made it impossible to breath for weeks on end. I literally had to sleep wearing a very uncomfortable respirator and run five special air filters 24/7.

When I left California I ended up driving through Oregon wearing two masks because it too was on fire at the time.

I’m not saying it may not be better in Northern Washington or Idaho or Montana and so forth. And I’m not saying, if that’s your biggest concern, you should move abroad. I can only say that for me, my life is better in almost every way living in Portugal. There was a major wildfire near Porto last year in September of 2024 and I chose to leave and drive north. The air quality was horrendous for three days as opposed to a week+ when I lived in Marin County.

But when the wildfires hit Northern California I had nowhere to escape to. I was stuck there and it was brutal.

I want to bring up disaster relief here because this plays a huge part in the equation. Just look at what happened in Texas. FEMA is being dismantled and soon enough there won’t be enough help for the all the major disasters in the US caused by climate change.

Water

I had a comment from someone who doesn’t want to move because of water. Water is most definitely a problem and obviously a precious commodity. Of course, we can’t live without it. And… there are things being done to help and things you can do too; no matter where you live.

Currently there are 16,000 desalination plants in operation throughout one hundred and seventy-seven countries.¹ According to the World Research Institute there are twenty-six countries with “high water stress” and fourteen of them are located in the Middle East.²

There are plenty of areas in the U.S. that are already in crises and that’s not going to go away.

There are ways you too can “save” water such as using less water! Plant succulents and a chamomile lawn for example. There are companies that have developed ways to reuse waste water.

You can reuse (non waste) water yourselves. For example: I use the water that comes out of my dehumidifiers, to water my plants. You can put a tub in your sink (if it’s large enough) to collect water when you wash vegetables and water your plants with that. My friend Regina taught me that, thank you Regina <3

There are some amazing houses that rely on full systems to catch and use rainwater and reuse gray water.

Other ways to mitigate water use: check to make sure you don’t have any leaks, don’t flush the toilet every time you pee.

I have discussed the conundrum and hypocrisy often with friends, especially once I got into vanlife. How strange is it that we use a scarce resource to flush our sh$t. There are so many better alternatives. My favorite is a compostable toilet. Why not use your crap to grow plants instead!

***Please share your water savings ideas below in the comments!!!

Conclusion

So, whether we’re talking about the convenience of a drive-through, the very real threat of climate change, or worries about water, let me say it again: your reasons for not moving are valid.

In the end, this whole conversation isn’t about finding some magical, problem-free paradise. It’s about deciding which trade-offs you’re willing to make to get the life you want. It’s a personal equation, and only you can do the math.

My cousin Nancy gave up her Costco runs, but she got Paris. I left the constant wildfire stress of Northern California for Portugal, knowing full well it has its own challenges, like the fire near Porto I had to drive away from. For me, universal healthcare and a better quality of life won out. I chose my trade-off.

There is no perfect place. You don't get to escape problems by moving; you just get to choose a different set of them. The real question is which set of problems you’re willing to live with in exchange for a life that feels more like your own.

This will be an ongoing topic.

I want to hear from you and continue this conversation in the comments. I listed a few water-saving ideas, but please, tell me more. What are the trade-offs you’re wrestling with? What fears are holding you back, and what dreams are pulling you forward? Your story helps everyone else who is still trying to figure it all out.

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Resources

• Iberdrola, a Spanish Energy Company

• World Research Institute: Water Risks and Solutions

• Climate Change and Water Risks

• UN Environment Programme: discussing water risks in the US

• Chamomile Lawn Growth

• Chamomile Lawns are Drought Resistant

• Reusing waste water: industrial filtration system

• Earthships collect potable water from rainwater

• Climate Change, the areas least affected, outside the U.S.

• States least affected by climate change in the U.S. —article 1 and article 2

Thank you so much for reading! If you don’t want to become a paid subscriber (my articles will always be free) but enjoyed this article, please consider a one time donation below.

I’m excited to help you make your dream of moving abroad a reality! Book a video consultation with me to get personalized guidance for your big move, or check out my self-paced class to learn key steps and strategies for relocating abroad. —Let’s make it happen!

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—If you want to learn another language before you embark (or after) on your new adventure, I highly recommend the platform Preply! It’s what I use to learn Portuguese and it’s also the platform I teach on. Please use my referral code for $17 off your first lesson!

—I use Wise to transfer money internationally between bank accounts and they also offer a free atm card that can be used as a Visa worldwide without fees. Please use my referral code for a free transfer of up to $600.

—I’ve started using Kindred Home Exchange in order to secure affordable accommodations! If you’re interested and want to sign up, you will get five nights with my referral code!

—I use SafetyWing for my travel medical insurance abroad. You can check them out here.

—For travel hacking, I use my Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. I earn enough points by using the card regularly (with no foreign transaction fees) to get a “free” RT ticket from Europe to the US at least once a year.

—I use the eSim Nomad. I’ve tried several others, and Nomad is the only one that’s ever worked for me.

—If you’re traveling or moving to a new country, I highly recommend choosing ExpressVPN. It’s the VPN service that I use. Click here for more information and get three extra months on an affordable twelve month subscription.

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If you’re interested in my “Why I Left the US and Won’t Ever Return” Series, please check out..

1. Cost of living: Article here

2. Healthcare (or lack thereof) here.

3. Safety—article here.

4. Polarization—too much hate and anger

5. Community

6. Values

If you’re interested in moving abroad, check out my free Expat on a Budget pub or podcast on Substack

The How to Live Abroad Publication is here.

• Part 1—Want to move abroad? Start here!

• Part 2—Conquer your fears about moving abroad!

• Part 3—12 Minimizing Mistakes Part 1

• Part 4—12 Minimizing Mistakes Part 2

• Part 5—A Personal Case study (re: Minimizing)

• Part 6—Your Move Abroad: The Ultimate Checklist

If you’re on a budget (as am I) please like by clicking on the heart below and share this article with a friend. 

Your support (in all ways) is greatly appreciated! 

—Expat on a Budget (AKA) Living Abroad on a Budget and My Unknown Adventure by Kimberly Anne

*** This article contains a few affiliate links. Using my affiliate links is not required and does not cost you anything extra but I greatly appreciate it, if you do. It’s a (free to you) way to help support my writing.

***Disclaimer: My writing, and podcasts are based on personal experience and are for informational purposes only. I am not a lawyer. Please seek professional advice before making decisions about moving abroad. I am not responsible for any outcomes resulting from the use of this information.

1. Iberdrola

2. World Resource Institute Chart