The practical move-abroad planner for Americans
Build a real relocation plan before you book the flight.
TotallyNomad helps Americans compare countries, estimate move costs, check US tax and compliance basics, and map the first 90 days abroad.
Relocation workspace
Your move-abroad operating board
Compare countries
Visa paths, realistic monthly budgets, healthcare, taxes, banking friction, and first landing cities.
Open country briefsEstimate move costs
Pressure-test first-90-day cash, setup deposits, monthly burn, and the buffer you need before leaving.
Plan the budgetCheck compliance basics
FBAR, FEIE, foreign tax credits, visa document readiness, and the US accounts to keep active.
Review US obligationsPlan the first 90 days
Documents, banking, phone, insurance, mail, transfers, housing, and arrival setup by workflow.
Build a checklistCountry guides
Compare destinations on what actually matters.
Each guide covers the essentials for Americans moving abroad: visas and legal stay, monthly cost of living, taxes, healthcare, banking, and getting set up after you arrive.
Portugal
Avg. cost: $2,000–$3,500/mo
Popular visa: D7 Passive Income Visa
Timezone: UTC+0 (WET / WEST)
Mexico
Avg. cost: $1,200–$2,500/mo
Popular visa: Temporary Resident Visa
Timezone: UTC-6 (Central) / UTC-7 (Pacific)
Spain
Avg. cost: $2,200–$3,800/mo
Popular visa: Digital Nomad Visa
Timezone: UTC+1 (CET / CEST)
Thailand
Avg. cost: $1,000–$2,500/mo
Popular visa: Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
Timezone: UTC+7 (ICT)
Costa Rica
Avg. cost: $1,500–$3,000/mo
Popular visa: Rentista Visa
Timezone: UTC-6 (CST — no daylight saving)
Practical next steps
Set up the practical side of your move.
We surface practical setup options for tax help, insurance, banking, eSIMs, VPNs, and mail forwarding without pretending one vendor solves relocation.
Affiliate disclosure: some outbound partner links (Greenback, Wise, SafetyWing, Airalo, NordVPN) may earn TotallyNomad a commission at no extra cost to you.
Start with the dashboard
Answer a few practical questions, compare destinations, and turn the move from an idea into a checklist.
Open free tools ->Planning library
Useful reading for the next decision
How Much Money Should Americans Save Before Moving Abroad?
There is no universal savings number for moving abroad. Build your target from setup costs, monthly living costs, emergency runway, and U.S. obligations.
May 24, 2026
U.S. Banking Checklist Before Moving Abroad
Before moving abroad, pressure-test your U.S. bank accounts, cards, brokerage access, address, phone verification, and backup money options.
May 24, 2026
Bright!Tax vs Greenback: Best Expat Tax Service for Americans Abroad (2026)
Filing US taxes from abroad is complicated enough without picking the wrong service. We compare Bright!Tax and Greenback on pricing, expertise, turnaround, and what actually happens when things get complicated.
March 31, 2026
The 5 Best eSIMs for Traveling Abroad (2026)
Stop paying outrageous roaming fees. These eSIM providers give you cheap, reliable data in 190+ countries — installed in minutes, no physical SIM required.
March 20, 2026
Best VPN for Expats: Stay Secure & Stream from Anywhere (2026)
Your US bank might block you, Netflix shows different content, and public WiFi is everywhere. Here's why every expat needs a VPN — and which ones are actually worth it.
March 21, 2026
Best International Money Transfer Apps for Expats (2026)
Banks charge 3-5% on international transfers. These apps charge a fraction of that — with better exchange rates and faster delivery. Here are the best options.
March 22, 2026