Where are Americans emigrating to and why (2024)

FAQs

Where are Americans emigrating to and why? ›

Mexico is the top destination for Americans moving abroad, followed by the U.K., Canada and Australia. So far in 2022, ~75% more Americans have moved to Mexico than Canada. Portugal has seen the biggest percentage increase in Americans moving in (+122% from 2019-2021)

And secondly, they are also states where housing is more affordable and available than in parts of the country that lost residents. The states that attracted the most new residents in 2022 are Florida, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina, followed by other states in the South and West.

Reasons for emigrating

There are many reasons why Americans emigrate from the United States. Economic reasons include job or business opportunities, or a higher standard of living in another country.

Portugal has a warm climate and a much lower cost of living than the US, which makes it one of the easiest countries to immigrate to from the US. Portugal is well known for its beautiful beaches, rich culture and history, and vibrant cities.

Overall, Portugal's combination of warm weather, affordable cost of living, high quality of life, welcoming culture, and attractive visa and residency programs make it an ideal destination for Americans looking to live and work abroad.

Lower Cost Of Living

With skyrocketing inflation and living costs in the United States, many Americans are finding that their dollars go much further in Mexico. Housing, healthcare, food, and transportation are just a few of the things that are significantly cheaper in Mexico than in the United States.

Based on migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans are moving to Austin, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona. The most moved-to cities are based on percentage increases in population since 2010.

Top Reasons to Move to Florida

The Sunshine State is known for its warm weather and sunny days, which can be attractive to those looking to escape colder climates. Florida is a popular destination for retirees due to its warm climate, low taxes, and affordable cost of living.

Increasingly high costs of living, housing, and transportation coupled with an increase in crime, pollution, and congestion has caused many people to relocate to more affordable cities and states. Businesses have also been on the move out of California.

What is the most moved to state in 2023? ›

One of the most popular states to move to in 2023 is Texas, and for good reason. This state boasts an impressive job market since it is home to many tech companies, startups, and artistic hubs.

Climate may also be a driving factor: Forbes reports on Postal Service data which suggests that many Americans "are leaving large cities and chilly states for less congested areas and warmer climes." And AP says other factors could include housing affordability, lower taxes, and the retirement of Baby Boomers.

What State Is Like California But Cheaper? Texas is one of those states similar to California but significantly cheaper. Along with a lower cost of living, Texas also offers the benefits of no personal income tax. Its climate is similar to that of California's – warm summers and cool winters with hardly any snow.

If you can handle the cold, Germany and the Netherlands are two of the most popular countries for expats, both offering international communities and unique residency options. Switzerland: Although many European countries offer a better quality of life than the U.S., Switzerland takes the cake.

Portugal is actually considered one of the most affordable countries in Western Europe and is an average of 50 percent cheaper than living in the United States.

Portugal has long been a top location to retire to. With dreamy sunsets over beautiful beaches, an affordable cost of living, excellent seafood, and attractive tax benefits, it is understandable why so many retirees are turning their attention to Portugal.

In Mexico, you can live a comfortable life on $1,000 a month. The average cost of living for expats, digital nomads and retirees varies between $600 to $2,000 depending on one's lifestyle choices and their location. Baseline costs in Mexico are around $750 a month.

Why do Americans want to move to Canada? ›

Safety. Canada typically ranks higher for quality of life and safety than the USA. U.S. News's 2021 Best Countries Report gave Canada a score of 96.7 out of 100 for safety; on the same scale, the United States scored just 10.8. When comparing homicide rates per 100,000 people, the USA is about 400% higher than Canada.

Mexico Has a Low Cost of Living. The biggest benefit of living in Mexico is the fact that pretty much everything costs less. Rent, food, transportation, and entertainment are all absolute bargains if you are used to paying American or Canadian prices. Your dollars go much further in Mexico than in the U.S. or Canada.

Mississippi. Coming in as the cheapest state to live in in the United States is Mississippi with a cost of living index score of 83.3. It also has the lowest average housing costs in the nation at 33.7% below the national average.

Overall, more people left Colorado than moved into it in the last year. Their data showed that 51.6 percent of local United Van Lines moves were outbound, with 48.4 percent being inbound. Of those leaving the state, 'family' was the top reason (35 percent), followed by 'job' (29 percent), and 'retirement' (21 percent).

The paper is reporting that Floridians and others are migrating to Alabama's Gulf Coast, prompted by high prices in the Sunshine State and its transient lifestyle. That's one of the reasons why Baldwin County grew faster than any other Alabama county from 2010 to 2020.

From July 2021-July 2022, nearly 444,500 people moved to Florida, which compared to the previous year was a gain of 185,000, the largest year-over-year impact of residents moving. Florida also ranked #1 in domestic migration, #2 in international migration, and #1 with the most people moving in per day at 1,218.

Many folks choose to retire in Florida for tax reasons alone. There are no state taxes on social security, pension funds, IRAs, 401(k)s, or other retirement incomes, which makes the state specifically attractive to folks over the age of 65.

Top states residents are leaving

The annual 2022 United Van Lines National Movers study is out! But it wasn't good news for New Jersey or New York. A similar report from United Van Lines showed New Jersey as the top outbound state, followed by Illinois, New York, Michigan, and Wyoming. The full list is below.

According to The Times, unaffordable housing, long commute times, crowds, crime and pollution in urban areas —which have also been plagued by homelessness — were primary reasons people left.

Are the rich leaving California? ›

Now one has dug into the latest data and discovered that people of all economic classes are leaving, including the wealthy. “Most striking, California is now losing higher-income households as well as middle-and-lower-income households,” the independent Public Policy Institute of California reported Tuesday.

Texas has the largest Black state population.

You'll enjoy a lower cost of living

Speaking of saving money, Southeastern residents enjoy a lower cost of living than many other Americans. Everything from housing costs and childcare to restaurant prices and amenities tends to be less expensive in the South.

Gold rush and mining opportunities (silver in Nevada) The opportunity to work in the cattle industry; to be a “cowboy” Faster travel to the West by railroad; availability of supplies due to the railroad. The opportunity to own land cheaply under the Homestead Act.

States With Lowest Cost of Living

Mississippi is the state with the lowest cost of living in the US, with a cost of living index of 85. This means that the cost of living in Mississippi is 15% lower than the national average. The state has a low cost of housing, groceries, and utilities.

Assuredly these are not the only states attracting Californians; states such as Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, and Colorado all present enticing benefits. Texas, Arizona, and Oregon simply appear to be the best positioned and data indicates they are benefiting most thus far.

What country has the best quality of life? ›

1. Sweden. Sweden is the top country in 2022 best quality of life rankings. The country stands out in the ranking of quality of life for health systems and well-developed public education, security, economic stability, and politics.

Canada. Located in North America and sharing the longest binational land border of the world with the USA, Canada is undoubtedly the most desirable country in the world to immigrate to. The government is known for its welcoming attitude toward immigrants.

Canada is one of the most welcoming countries to immigrate to. It is also one of the easiest because it has a vast landmass and a small population. Canada covers several programs for immigrants to move to attract new residents.

Portugal has a warm climate and a much lower cost of living than the US, which makes it one of the easiest countries to immigrate to from the US. Portugal is well known for its beautiful beaches, rich culture and history, and vibrant cities.

Overall, Europe has a lower cost of living due to lower healthcare expenses, a weakening euro currency, and low inflation. Europeans, however, tend to pay more of their income to taxes, and average wages tend to be lower than in America.

Depending on your preferences, some of the best countries in Europe to move to are Portugal, Spain, Cyprus, and Malta. With warmer climates, friendly people, and a more relaxed way of life, these places are favorites for America's citizens to relocate to.

Spain. There are numerous reasons why, for many American expats, Spain tops the list of best countries in Europe to live in. For a start, the country boasts a diverse and rich culture and quality of life, with something to offer everyone.

How many Americans have never left America? ›

There's no place like home! Shocking stats reveals 40% of Americans have never left the country - and 11% haven't even made it out of their home STATE. They say there's no place like home, but for some Americans, that couldn't be more true, because quite a huge number have never left the country.

The Mexican Diaspora in the United States

Approximately 23.2 million Mexican immigrants and their children live in the United States, making Mexico by far the largest source of immigration to the United States.

Canada. Located in North America and sharing the longest binational land border of the world with the USA, Canada is undoubtedly the most desirable country in the world to immigrate to. The government is known for its welcoming attitude toward immigrants.

The four most-forgotten states behind Missouri are Connecticut, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Nebraska. If you're one of the few who remembered Missouri, try guessing the only letter that's not in any U.S. state name. The fact that so many people forget Missouri isn't that surprising, though.

Despite having a population of more than 310 million people, 47% of the USA remains unoccupied.”

One of the biggest reasons Americans don't travel is that they feel like they don't have the time. Americans take an average of ten days off a year – one of the world's lowest amounts of time off. For example, this is four times lower than Austria. Even more surprising is that most ten days are National holidays vs.

According to Rice University research, Nigerian Americans are the most educated group in the United States.

While both terms imply removal from one's native country, Diaspora gives more the sense of being driven out, and expatriate lends itself more to a self-motivated migration.

What ethnicity has the largest diaspora? ›

The largest Asian diaspora, and in the world, is the Indian diaspora. The overseas Indian community, estimated at over 17.5 million, is spread across many regions in the world, on every continent.