Your Move Abroad: The Ultimate Checklist for Success

Part 6 In the Move Abroad Series

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

A Quick Intro

Hi, I’m Kimberly Anne and thrilled to be writing these articles for you. If you don’t know my background: I relocated alone from San Francisco to Portugal in September 2022, sight unseen and without a built-in support system. Before that, I spent a year traveling solo across the U.S., living in a van. I’m also a published indie author with over 30 novels.

—If you’d rather listen to the author read this article with several ad-lib additions, click here.

While the examples in this article focus primarily on Portugal because that’s where I moved, please use these lists and examples to figure out what your needs are for wherever you want to go. These examples can be used for Spain, Cambodia, Costa Rica: or anywhere else!

Before I moved to Portugal, people asked two main questions (they still do).

1. “Why are you moving there?” This question is huge and I do cover it as much as I can in this article. But they really just wanted a listicle and I can (and did) provide one, but it’s really a much deeper conversation.

2. The second question was: “What’s the most affordable place to live in Portugal and elsewhere?”

While there is no cut and dry answer, especially with the rising cost of inflation and immigrants driving up the cost of living in so many destinations, there are many shades of gray. And these are easy to understand, and plan for.

The first question I ask is: what are your musts?

Huh?

Let me explain.

We all have a list, whether we’ve written it down or not... of what we can’t live without and another list of these things would be nice to have. I had such a list before I moved here. I also had another list for what I wanted in an apartment (things I wouldn’t settle for) and what things would be nice.

In my upcoming class, I provide worksheets and booklets to help you figure all of this out.

Here are my lists which include both the location and the housing...

My Musts:

• Housing must accept a dog.

• I wanted to live in a city.

• I wanted a coffee shop 1-3 blocks (max) from my apartment that I could walk to.

• The weather had to be cooler in the summer especially, not over 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26 celsius) but ideally 20 celsius. And not too cold in the winter (not below 40F or 4C).

• No car needed but free parking if I decided to get one.

• No more than 30 minutes drive to an international airport.

• A two bedroom apartment (minimum), for under €1,000 a month.

• No more than a 30 minute walk to the city center.

• A washing machine.

• Direct sunlight for part of the day.

• Can walk to a beach.

Would be nice to have, but is not imperative:

• AC and heating

• An elevator

• A three bedroom, two bath apartment — also for under €1,000 a month.

• A balcony.

• Top floor.

• Newer building.

• A bidet.

• Historic area.

• No carpet.

Things I didn’t care about at all:

• Furnished or unfurnished.

• Dishwasher.

I encourage everyone to make their own list! Ideas Below:

First start with the city.

Here are the most important things to consider:

• Proximity to an airport.

• Size of the city - for example in Portugal: the largest city is Lisbon, the second largest is Porto and the third is Braga. But there are plenty of other towns that are quite large here too.

• Proximity to the ocean, or to a forest, or hiking, or rock climbing, or to a desert or mountains, or a lake or snow, etc.

• What do you need where you want to live? Examples: a ceramic studio, a gym with specific equipment or a rock climbing gym, a regular gym, an acupuncturist, a circus school, skiing/snowboarding, etc.

• Outdoor spaces/nature: do you need parks? Trees lining the streets?

• Weather: depending on where your location is, in comparison to the equator, the north areas may be cooler, and the south may be hotter. My California vs Portugal examples are this—Porto is similar in weather to San Francisco. Lisbon is similar to Los Angeles and the Algarve is similar to San Diego. This is because of the similar latitude between these areas. However, because Portugal is wet/humid and California is a dry desert, it’s actually quite different temperature wise.

• Language needs. Must the people in your new home speak your language? Or does the idea of learning a new language (even at an older age—I’m in my late 50’s and doing just that) excite you, even a tiny bit? Or do you already know a second or third language and want to limit your countries that way?

Then you can drill down to your housing:

• A house or an apartment or a farm (I know someone who bought an actual farm because that’s what she wanted and it’s amazing).

• Proximity to town

• Must buy a car to get around or don’t want a car?

• AC

• Heating

• Etc.

Maybe you want to live a beach life. Portugal examples would be to find somewhere either on the Silver Coast (the area between Lisbon and Porto) or south in the Algarve.

If you want to live in the warmth all year round, then the Algarve in Portugal is a good choice but so is Southern Spain.

Looking for island life? You could choose Sicily, Malta, Madeira or the Canary Islands (Tenerife) to name a few.

Do you want to be beholden to trains and buses or buy a car? The one thing I heard before moving to Portugal was that eventually, if you plan to travel a lot, you’ll probably want a car. I tried trains and buses quite a bit during my first few months here and I had many horrible experiences, not just one or two. Plus I often travel with my dog and it was very difficult to travel with her on public transit. Eventually I bought a car and it was one of the best things for me. But I have a lot of friends who really don’t want one and they love the public transportation here and haven’t had any bad experiences.

Conclusion

Finding your next home base or “forever” home outside of your country can undoubtedly feel overwhelming, but by breaking the process down into manageable steps, it becomes much easier to navigate. Start by defining your must-haves—whether it’s proximity to an international airport, access to specific amenities, or a climate that suits your lifestyle. Take the time to assess what truly matters to you in both your new location and your housing. From there, consider broader factors like city size, accessibility to nature or cultural hubs, and your transportation preferences.

It’s important to remember that what works for one person may not work for another, and that’s perfectly fine. Whether you’re seeking a bustling city life in Madrid, a quiet beach escape in Peñíscola, or a rural retreat in Ronda, the key is to prioritize your unique needs and lifestyle.

By starting with a clear sense of what you cannot compromise on—and what you might be willing to negotiate—you'll be better equipped to make confident decisions that align with your goals. Don't forget to factor in your personal preferences for housing, such as whether you need a pet-friendly space, access to outdoor areas, or specific housing features like a washing machine or sunlight exposure.

Every relocation is a personal journey, and by following these practical, step-by-step strategies, you'll not only feel more in control but also more excited about planting roots in a new place that truly feels like home. Take your time, explore your options, and trust that you’ll find a location that fits both your needs and your dreams.

**Reminder: I do have an upcoming class to help you move abroad but you can also book me for a consultation. I offer a free 15 minutes to see if we’re a good fit.

Thank you so much for reading! If you don’t want to become a paid subscriber but enjoyed this article, you can buy me a coffee below or simply share this article with a friend. Your support (in all ways) is greatly appreciated!

Resources:

LINKS FOR THE ENTIRE MOVE ABROAD SERIES:

• 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

Other Resources to Help your Move

• Countries of the World

• Internations

• Numbeo

• The Earth Awaits

• My Upcoming Class: How to Move Abroad on a Budget

• Archive of all my Articles

• My Website

Thank you so much for reading! If you don’t want to become a paid subscriber (my articles are free) but enjoyed this article, you can buy me a coffee below.

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!