How Are People Actually Affording to Live Abroad? 🤔

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One of the questions I receive almost every single day in my DMs is:

“How are people actually affording to move abroad?”

Many people assume everyone living overseas is independently wealthy, retired early, or somehow won the lottery.

The reality?

After spending the past several years meeting countless digital nomad families and expats, I’ve noticed the same income strategies come up again and again.

There isn’t one “secret.” Instead, most people fall into one of these six categories.

Let’s break them down 👇🏽

This is probably the most common path I see for Americans relocating abroad.

These are employees working full-time for companies that have embraced remote work, typically smaller startup companies with 100 employees or less. They receive a regular paycheck, health benefits (sometimes), paid time off, and continue working much like they did in the U.S. just from another country.

This can include people working in:

• Marketing

• Customer Success

• Software Development

• Design

• Recruiting

• Finance

• Project Management

• Operations

• Human Resources

Many of these employees simply log in from Greece, Portugal, Spain, Mexico, or another country instead of from an office in the United States.

Pros

• Predictable paycheck

• Stable employment

• Easier budgeting

• Benefits may still be included

Things to know
Not every company allows employees to work internationally because of payroll, tax, and employment laws. Some only allow remote work within the United States, while others are fully global - but if that’s the case, then many people negotiate to become contractors (see more below).

This is the category I personally fall into.

Instead of being a traditional employee, contractors work with companies under a service agreement.

Examples include:

• Customer support

• Operations

• Executive assistants

• Marketing specialists

• Designers

• Developers

• Writers

• Virtual assistants

Contractors generally invoice the company each month and are responsible for handling their own taxes and benefits.

Many companies prefer hiring contractors because it gives them flexibility while allowing workers more freedom over where they live.

Pros

• Greater location flexibility

• Often easier to work internationally

• Ability to work with multiple clients

Things to know
Income can fluctuate, and you're responsible for managing your own taxes, retirement savings, and healthcare. The upside is that healthcare costs are often significantly lower in many countries than in the United States, so depending on where you live and the type of coverage you choose, you may end up spending less than you would on an employer-sponsored U.S. health insurance plan.

Another path I see frequently is people packaging their professional expertise into a coaching business.

This might include:

• Career coaching

• Business consulting

• Marketing consulting

• Health coaching

• Financial coaching

• Resume reviews

• Immigration consulting

• Language tutoring

Instead of earning a salary, they’re selling knowledge they’ve built over years of experience.

One thing I love about this model is that your office can be almost anywhere with a reliable internet connection.

Things to know
Coaching and consulting can take time to turn into a consistent stream of income. It may take several years to build a steady client base, establish credibility, refine your offers, and create systems that make the business easier to manage. Successful coaches also spend a significant amount of time marketing their services through social media, weekly newsletters, networking, referrals, and other forms of ongoing content. Over time, some parts of the business can be automated, but it typically requires patience, consistency, and substantial work upfront.

Many expats already own businesses before they move abroad.

Some examples include:

• Marketing agencies

• Accounting firms

• Real estate businesses

• E-commerce brands

• Software companies

• Creative agencies

• Travel businesses

• Online education companies

Some manage employees remotely while others run lean businesses entirely online.

Owning a business can create incredible flexibility, but it also comes with more responsibility than many people realize.

Behind every Instagram photo of someone working from a café is often someone answering emails at night, managing payroll, handling clients, or solving problems behind the scenes.

Affiliate marketing has become a significant income source for many creators and online entrepreneurs.

Rather than creating their own products, affiliates earn commissions when someone purchases a product or service they recommend.

Examples include:

• Software

• Online courses

• Travel insurance

• Banking products

• Relocation services

• Travel gear

• Credit cards

• Education platforms

Some people also earn substantial commissions promoting network marketing (MLM) companies. While MLMs are a form of affiliate-style commission structure, they’re also controversial. Some individuals have built successful businesses through them, while many others have not. If you’re considering this route, it’s important to research the company carefully, understand the compensation plan, and recognize the financial risks before joining.

The biggest takeaway?

Affiliate marketing isn’t “easy money.” It usually requires building trust with an audience over months or even years before meaningful income begins.

Not everyone moving abroad is working.

Many retirees relocate because their retirement savings simply stretch much further overseas.

Others generate passive income through assets such as:

• Rental properties

• Dividends

• Investments

• Pensions

• Social Security (where eligible)

• Selling a home and living off a portion of the proceeds

• Long-term rental income from a property they kept in the U.S.

For some families, lowering their cost of living abroad means they can comfortably live on retirement income that may have felt tight back home.

Another strategy I’ve seen many families use is selling their home before moving abroad.

For some, selling their home provides enough equity to fund their move, purchase or rent a home overseas, and create a financial cushion while they settle into their new life. Others invest those proceeds or use them alongside other income sources to help support their lifestyle abroad.

In some countries, those savings can also strengthen an application for a passive income or financially independent visa, provided the applicant meets that country’s specific financial requirements. Every visa is different, so it’s important to research the rules carefully rather than assuming that selling a home alone will qualify you.

I’ve also seen families take a different approach by keeping their U.S. home and renting it out. The monthly rental income can help offset living expenses abroad, create an additional stream of passive income, and in some cases contribute toward meeting the financial requirements for certain residency visas.

The biggest takeaway is this: many long-term expats aren’t necessarily earning dramatically more money than everyone else, they’ve simply restructured their finances. Whether it’s through home equity, rental income, retirement savings, investments, or remote work, they’re combining different income sources to make living abroad financially sustainable.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that everyone living abroad is wealthy.

In reality, many people are simply earning the same, or sometimes even less, than they did in the United States.

The difference is often that they’ve intentionally chosen a country where housing, healthcare, transportation, childcare, or everyday living costs align better with their income and priorities.

That was certainly true for my family. When we left the U.S., I wasn’t making more money than I was before. We left with around $5K in savings and my $65,000 salary but by selling off our belongings in the U.S. and settling in Greece we were able to lower our living expenses. That gave us more breathing room financially and allowed us to focus on building the life we wanted instead of constantly trying to keep up with rising costs.

One unexpected advantage has been the time difference. Because I work U.S. Eastern Time hours from Europe, my mornings and afternoons are free to focus on growing my creator business. I’ve been able to spend that time creating content, building partnerships, and developing additional income streams before logging into my remote job later in the day. Over time, that extra time has helped me grow my business to the point where I’ve more than doubled my overall income.

Of course, everyone’s journey will look different. For me, moving abroad didn’t immediately increase my income, it created the space and flexibility to build new opportunities that weren’t possible before.

Moving abroad isn’t about escaping work.

For most people, it’s about creating a life where their income goes further and they have more time, flexibility, and freedom.

If you’re wondering whether moving abroad is possible for you, start by asking a different question.

Instead of asking:

“How could I ever afford this?”

Ask:

“Which income model fits my skills, experience, and lifestyle?”

That single shift in thinking opens up far more possibilities than you might expect.

I’d love to hear from you 💛

If you dream of moving abroad, which of these six paths feels the most realistic for your life right now? Leave a comment below, I read every one!