Free guides and tools for Americans
moving abroad
Free guides, tools, and community for planning your move overseas.
Not sure where to start?
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Dive into country guides with visa info, cost of living, and real expat tips
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Take the Quiz →I just want to explore
Read comparison guides, expat tips, and real stories from Americans abroad
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Popular Country Guides
In-depth guides for the most popular American expat destinations.
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: Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa
Timezone: UTC+7 (ICT)
Costa Rica
Avg. cost: $1,500–$3,000/mo
Popular visa: Rentista Visa
Timezone: UTC-6 (CST — no daylight saving)
What We Cover
Visa Guides
Step-by-step breakdowns of every visa option for each country.
Cost of Living
Real cost data for popular expat cities around the world.
Tax Guides
FEIE, FBAR, tax treaties — demystified for US expats.
Healthcare
How to get covered abroad — public, private, and international.
Banking & Money
Open accounts, transfer money, and avoid FATCA headaches.
Community
Connect with other Americans living abroad on Discord.
💡 Pro Tips from the TotallyNomad Team
Tools we actually use and recommend to every expat.
Save on Your Relocation Flight
Already booked your one-way ticket? Repriced monitors the price and automatically rebooks if it drops. Most users save $50–200 per flight.
Stop Losing Money on Transfers
Banks charge 3–5% on international transfers. Wise uses the real exchange rate with fees starting at 0.41%. The difference adds up to hundreds per year.
Get Wise — Free Account →Stay Connected from Day One
Buy an eSIM before you land. Airalo covers 200+ countries, activates instantly on your phone, and starts at just $5. No hunting for SIM cards at the airport.
Get Airalo — from $5 →Find Unique Places to Stay
Find unique places to stay with Booking.com, whether you need a soft landing for a few nights or a base while you apartment hunt.
Book accommodations with Booking.com →Sort Your Flights and Car Rental
Book your next flight or car rental with Booking.com so your arrival logistics are handled before you land.
See Booking.com travel options →Affiliate disclosure: some outbound partner links may earn TotallyNomad a commission at no extra cost to you.
Compare actual landing zones, not just countries
Portugal or Mexico is too broad. Compare Lisbon vs Valencia, Mexico City vs Bangkok, or Mérida vs San José on budget, airport friction, remote-work fit, family fit, and the tradeoffs people usually learn too late.
Need a soft landing for your first week abroad?
We now surface Booking.com offers alongside our arrival guidance so you can lock in a flexible first stay, then compare neighborhoods once you land.
Need personalized relocation help?
Use the concierge to get tailored guidance on visas, cost planning, and practical next steps based on your situation.
Try the concierge →Latest Articles
View all →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
7 Essential Apps Every Expat Needs on Their Phone
From banking to language learning to staying connected — these seven apps solve the biggest headaches of living abroad. Install them before you move.
March 24, 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
Best Countries for Americans to Stay 90+ Days Without Moving Permanently
Want to try life abroad before committing? Use this planning framework to compare legal stay length, remote-work rules, healthcare, banking, and budget.
May 24, 2026
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
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