Living Abroad: 5 Things to Know Before Moving Abroad to Your Favorite Travel Destination

We’re sure many of you have dreamt of living abroad - possibly to the bustling city of Tokyo, or to Seoul - to live among your favorite K-Drama stars, or even to New Zealand, which we hear has the best sights and ranks second in the world for quality of life. 

Whether it be for work, school, or the local culture, there are a couple things to take note of before moving abroad. If you’re moving to your favorite destination, it is still important that you aren’t blinded by what it can offer tourists - because living there is a whole other situation. Right before you decide on making the move, here’s a short checklist of things to know before moving:

As a traveler, choosing your accommodation would typically depend on convenience and accessibility to attractions or the city. When you move however, your priorities have to change especially with a longer-term plan concerned. 

If you’d like to get a feel of the local culture, choosing a home in a residential area would be a good option, while those moving for work might appreciate the energy of city-centre and opt for rental apartments or condominiums. 

Moving will require a lot of money, so be sure you’ve put aside some of your savings for this move. You can also expect expenses to be a lot higher if you’re moving abroad - given the handling and shipping fees. Before you can even think about the cost of flights, you’ll also have to consider the cost for your new place - including utilities, new furniture, rental, deposit and installation fees to start. 

Similar to a budget-savvy tip for travelling, purchasing groceries and eating in will help keep the costs down as opposed to constantly dining out. You can also grow your own herbs in your kitchen with a DIY Garden Kit, and even learn how to make cleaning supplies from what you have at home to save some cash. Of course, making do with what you already have is the top-notch way of staying within your budget.

Always ask your realtor about the community and the area of the properties you’re considering. Also, make time to scan through the shops, restaurants, local parks and convenience stores in the area. Getting an idea of local culture will help you settle into your new neighborhood much easier. 

With the first months of 2020 eclipsed by risk events, knowing about your new location’s response to a health crisis is important before you finally settle into a new city or town. 

Do some quick research on how the local government units responded to health crises like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other natural disasters.

Follow the news to see if your new place of residence is responsive to calamities, health crises, and your overall safety. In particular, check how new real estate developments have adjusted to the crisis and find out how extensive the response has been. 

Of course when you’re travelling, it’s easy to go all out on once-in-a-lifetime experiences. However, when you’re considering a more permanent situation, you’ll need income and the expenses to support the lifestyle you want. In addition to that, you must also be aware of the city’s cost of living. 

For instance, according to CNN, the top 5 most expensive cities in the world to live in are Singapore, Osaka, Hong Kong, New York City, and Paris. “Cost of living” goes beyond moving and home expenses, so be sure you’ve got the budget to live and survive in the city you want to live in. 

It’s not surprising that many travelers are enamored with destinations that resonate with them, so much so that they’ll consider moving into their dream location permanently. If this is something you want to happen, start checking the factors that will affect your lifestyle move today.