The 4 Best Countries to Move to as an American in 2026
A guest post for Exploratory Glory
A record 180,000 Americans moved abroad in 2025. That number is expected to climb in 2026, driven by rising housing costs, healthcare expenses, concerns about gun violence, and a growing sense that the quality of life available elsewhere is genuinely worth pursuing.
The four best countries to move to as an American covered here, Panama, Spain, Costa Rica, and Portugal, keep coming up at the top of every serious expat ranking for the same reasons: accessible visa options, a lower cost of living, excellent healthcare systems, strong expat communities, and a day-to-day quality of life that most American cities cannot match at the same price. Whether you are one of many Americans seeking affordability, a warmer climate, a slower pace, or simply better work-life balance, these four countries consistently deliver.
This is not a travel wishlist. It is practical advice on what each country actually costs, what the visa requirements look like, and who each destination realistically suits.
1. Panama: Best for Retirees and Dollar-Economy Seekers
Panama came out on top in the 2026 expat survey overall, with high satisfaction scores across cost of living, ease of settling, and quality of life. For American citizens specifically, it has one structural advantage that none of the other best countries on this list can offer: the US dollar is legal tender.
No currency conversion. No exchange rate risk. No watching your purchasing power shift month to month. Your bank account works exactly as it does at home.
Panama is also one of the most politically stable countries in Latin America, which makes it a reliable long-term base rather than just an attractive short-term option.
The Pensionado Visa
Panama's Pensionado program is one of the most generous retirement visa setups available. The Friendly Nations Visa grants permanent residency to American citizens with a $5,000 bank deposit and economic ties, but for retirees, the Pensionado route is more relevant. You need a lifetime pension income of at least $1,000 per month, from Social Security, a private pension, or both.
Once approved, the residence permit comes with legally mandated discounts: 50% off entertainment, 30% off public transport, 25% off restaurants and airlines, 20% off medical consultations, and 15% off hospital services. These are written into law, not promotional perks.
Cost of Living
A couple can live well in Panama for roughly $2,000 to $2,500 per month, covering rent, food, public transportation, and healthcare. In Panama City's more affordable neighborhoods, that budget goes a long way. In Boquete, the mountain town popular with American expats, it stretches further still.
Living costs in Panama are among the lowest of any country offering dollar-economy stability, which is why it sits near the top of most lists of affordable countries for Americans.
Taxes
Panama taxes territorially, meaning foreign income is generally not taxed locally. Social Security, pension income, and investment returns from outside Panama are not subject to Panamanian income tax. You still file a US return, but the local tax burden is minimal for most retirees.
Who It Is Right For
Panama is the clearest choice for American expats living on pension or Social Security income. It also works well for anyone who wants the dollar economy, a short flight home (about three hours from Miami), an established expat community, and an affordable lifestyle without the language barriers of other Latin American destinations. Panama City is a global business hub with modern infrastructure, walkable city neighborhoods, and solid public transportation.
2. Spain: Best for Lifestyle, Career Opportunities, and European Access
Spain offers strong modern infrastructure and a high quality of life, and it comes with something the other best countries on this list cannot provide: EU residency. A Spanish residence permit gives you the right to live, travel, and in some cases work across the broader European union.
About 69,000 American citizens are registered as residents in Spain, making it one of the largest established expat communities in Western Europe. Major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia have vibrant culture, excellent public transportation, walkable city centers, and a quality of life that regularly tops European surveys.
The Digital Nomad Visa and Non-Lucrative Visa
Spain's digital nomad visa is designed for remote workers and freelancers earning income from outside Spain. The income requirement sits at around €2,850 per month.
For retirees and those with passive income, the Non-Lucrative Visa is the more appropriate long-term visa. You need to show around €28,000 to €35,000 per year in accessible funds to demonstrate you can cover living costs without working in Spain.
For skilled workers and skilled professionals seeking career opportunities in Spain, a work visa or job seeker visa may also be worth exploring, particularly given Spain's strong job market in technology, tourism, and financial services.
The Beckham Law
Spain's Special Expat Tax Regime, known informally as the Beckham Law, offers a 24% flat tax rate on Spanish-sourced income for qualifying new residents. Spain's standard rates reach 47%, so for high-earning remote workers, this is a meaningful saving that applies for the first six years of residency.
Cost of Living
Spain runs higher than the Latin America options on this list, at roughly $2,500 to $3,200 per month for a couple, but it still comes in well below New York, San Francisco, or Boston while adding access to the broader European Union. Madrid and Barcelona have the highest living costs. Seville, Valencia, Malaga, and Granada are vibrant cities with significantly lower cost of living and, in most cases, better weather.
For Americans seeking affordability within Western European countries, Spain is consistently one of the most reasonable cost options with full EU access.
Who It Is Right For
Spain suits American expats who want European access, vibrant culture, career growth opportunities, excellent public transportation, modern infrastructure, and a welcoming culture. It is particularly strong for remote workers who want better work-life balance than the US typically offers, and for skilled professionals who want career opportunities in a new country with competitive salaries relative to the cost of living.
Moving to Europe involves more paperwork than most people expect. Between apostilled documents, income verification, health insurance requirements, and consulate appointments, the visa process can take three to six months and has a lot of moving parts. StartAbroad helps Americans moving abroad work through exactly this, from choosing the right visa options to getting the application right the first time. Exploratory Glory readers get a discount using code EXPLORATORYGLORY.
3. Costa Rica: Best for Nature Lovers, Warm Climate, and Affordable Living
Costa Rica has been the go-to destination for American expats for decades, and the reasons are straightforward. It offers a warm climate year-round, excellent universal healthcare that the WHO has ranked above the US healthcare system, no military (the budget goes to education and the environment), and a genuine commitment to environmental sustainability. Around 120,000 Americans living in the country make it home to one of the highest concentrations of US expats relative to its total population anywhere in the world.
Costa Rica offers a relaxed lifestyle with an emphasis on work-life balance, a slower pace, and a peaceful environment. For nature lovers specifically, it is hard to beat: over 25% of the country is protected as national parks or nature reserves.
The Pensionado Visa and Rentista Visa
Costa Rica has two main visa options for American citizens.
The Pensionado Visa requires a minimum monthly pension or Social Security income of $1,000, one of the most accessible visa requirements for American retirees in all of Latin America.
The Rentista Visa suits those without a pension who have passive income from investments or rental properties. It requires $2,500 per month in verifiable passive income, or a $60,000 deposit in a Costa Rican bank.
Cost of Living
Living costs in Costa Rica are significantly lower than most US cities. A couple living outside San José, in the Central Valley, along the Caribbean coast, or in the Southern Zone, can cover rent, groceries, affordable healthcare, and public transportation for $2,000 to $2,500 per month.
The healthcare system covers legal residents through the public CAJA system, which offers excellent healthcare at a reasonable cost. Private insurance is also available and affordable compared to US rates, with a specialist visit typically running $50 to $80.
What to Know Before You Go
Import costs are high. Cars, electronics, and imported goods carry significant tariffs. If you shop and eat locally, living costs stay low. If you try to maintain the same consumption habits you had in the US, they go up quickly. This is the main cultural difference new arrivals notice: adapting to local culture is both financially smart and genuinely rewarding.
Who It Is Right For
Costa Rica is one of the best countries to move to as an American if you prioritize year-round warm weather, nature, a slower pace, excellent healthcare, political stability, and environmental sustainability. It is an especially strong fit for retirees and remote workers who want affordable living, a welcoming culture, minimal language barriers in the main expat areas, and the ability to stay closely aligned with U.S. working hours without turning every meeting into a time-zone calculation.
4. Portugal: Best for Safety, Excellent Healthcare, and EU Citizenship
Portugal sits at the top of most lists of the best countries to move to as an American, and the reasons are consistent: excellent healthcare, a relatively low cost of living, one of the highest safety ratings in the world (top 10 in the Global Peace Index with negligible gun violence), clear visa options, and a welcoming culture toward American expats. The American expat community there is large and growing fast.
For Americans seeking long-term stability and a route to EU citizenship, Portugal is the standout choice among Western European countries in 2026.
The D7 Visa, Golden Visa, and Digital Nomad Visa
The D7 Visa is for retirees and anyone with passive income from pensions, investments, or rental income. The official minimum income requirement is around €820 per month, though in practice consulates expect closer to €1,500 to €2,000.
Portugal's digital nomad visa, introduced in 2022, requires a minimum of around €3,280 per month in income and is aimed at remote workers or freelancers earning from outside Portugal.
Portugal's Golden Visa, while it has evolved in recent years, remains a route to permanent residency through qualifying investment for higher-net-worth American citizens.
Both the D7 and digital nomad visa lead to permanent residency after five years, and Portuguese citizenship after five years of legal residency, one of the faster routes to EU citizenship available to Americans moving abroad.
Cost of Living
Rent in the Algarve runs about 60% below US city levels, and groceries come in around 40% cheaper. Living costs in Lisbon and Porto have climbed in recent years due to expat and tourism pressure, but major cities like Braga, Coimbra, and Évora, and the Alentejo region, remain genuinely affordable. A couple can cover living costs comfortably on $2,500 to $3,000 per month outside Lisbon.
Healthcare System
Portugal's public healthcare system covers legal residents. It is one of the best healthcare systems for American expats in Western Europe, offering free healthcare or low-cost care depending on residency status. Private insurance is widely available and affordable: a GP visit costs €40 to €70, and private insurance for an American expat typically runs €100 to €200 per month.
Portugal is consistently ranked alongside Spain and Costa Rica as one of the best countries for affordable healthcare relative to quality of care.
Who It Is Right For
Portugal is the pick for American citizens who want EU residency, a clear route to EU citizenship, political stability, excellent healthcare, walkable cities with good public transportation, and a new country with a strongly welcoming culture toward American expats. It suits retirees with passive income and remote workers who are thinking five to ten years ahead and want the broader European Union as their home base.
Which Country Is Right for You?
Before You Make the Move
A few things every American citizen needs to sort out before going, regardless of which new country you choose:
US taxes. The US taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live. Americans living abroad still file a US return. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) lets you exclude up to $132,900 of foreign-earned income if you spend 330 days outside the US in a 12-month period, which significantly reduces the double-tax burden for most American expats. Get proper tax advice before you go.
Health insurance. Check whether your target country's healthcare system covers legal residents from day one, what the enrollment process looks like, and whether you need private insurance during the visa application period. Most visa requirements include proof of health coverage before approval. Affordable healthcare is one of the biggest quality of life improvements Americans living abroad report after the move.
The visa timeline. These are among the easiest countries to navigate visa requirements for, but the process still takes three to six months from application to approval. Start earlier than you think you need to.
The practical side of actually moving. Choosing between the best countries for your situation is the enjoyable part. The apostilled documents, bank account setup, shipping logistics, cultural differences, language barriers, and tax planning that come after it are where most people hit walls. StartAbroad helps Americans moving abroad work through all of it, with guidance on visa options, residence permits, relocation planning, and getting settled once you arrive. Exploratory Glory readers get a discount using code EXPLORATORYGLORY.
Life abroad is genuinely different from planning it from a distance. The four best countries covered here have a track record of delivering on quality of life and affordable living for American expats, and 2026 is as good a time as any to take it seriously.
