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    The only honest answer is, we have no idea. And neither does anyone else. The only one who can answer that question is you. Here’s the most important thing to understand about budgeting your new life overseas…

    Super Cheap

    • Chitré, Panama
    • Santa Marta, Colombia
    • Phuket, Thailand
    • Dumaguete, The Philippines

    Cheap

    • Medellin, Colombia
    • Boquete, Panama
    • Kyrenia, Cyprus
    • Hua Hin, Thailand
    • The Algarve, Portugal

    Affordable

    • Valencia, Spain
    • Cascais, Portugal
    • Las Terrenas, The DR
    • Pisa, Italy
    • La Rochelle, France
    • Mazatlán, Mexico

    Luxury

    • Ambergris Caye, Belize
    • Kotor, Montenegro
    • The Panama City Beaches
    • Paris, France
  • Resources

    Global Living

    • Living & Retiring Overseas
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    • Investing

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    Buying Real Estate For Cashflow

    • Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

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    Offshore Wealth Summit

    Greece Workshop

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    Sep. 17-19, 2025

    PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

    Oct. 15-17, 2025

    VIRTUAL

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  • Home
  • Countries

    Top Destinations:

    Whether you’re looking for fun and sun, a peaceful retirement, or the chance to earn some extra income, you’ve got a real world of opportunity open to you… In short, we’ve done our best to narrow down your best options, but only you can decide the right country for you.

    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • Panama
    • Belize
    • Colombia
    • Cyprus
    • Mexico
    • France
    • Montenegro
    • Browse All Countries

    Best For:

    • The Best Places To Retire
    • Health Care Abroad
    • Cost Of Living
    • Investing in Real Estate
    • Establishing Residency
    • Gun Laws In The World
    • English-Speaking Countries
    • Safest Places For Retirement
    • Best Places In Latin America
  • Budgets

    How Much Will It Cost You To Live Overseas?

    The only honest answer is, we have no idea. And neither does anyone else. The only one who can answer that question is you. Here’s the most important thing to understand about budgeting your new life overseas…

    Super Cheap

    • Chitré, Panama
    • Santa Marta, Colombia
    • Phuket, Thailand
    • Dumaguete, The Philippines

    Cheap

    • Medellin, Colombia
    • Boquete, Panama
    • Kyrenia, Cyprus
    • Hua Hin, Thailand
    • The Algarve, Portugal

    Affordable

    • Valencia, Spain
    • Cascais, Portugal
    • Las Terrenas, The DR
    • Pisa, Italy
    • La Rochelle, France
    • Mazatlán, Mexico

    Luxury

    • Ambergris Caye, Belize
    • Kotor, Montenegro
    • The Panama City Beaches
    • Paris, France
  • Resources

    Global Living

    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore & Diversification

    Making Money

    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing

    Follow Us:

    • Meet Our Experts
  • Real Estate

    Buying Real Estate For Cashflow

    • Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

    Explore Our Latest Posts

    • Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

    Go To The Overseas Property Alert Site

    • How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams
  • Conferences

    Upcoming Events

    • Explore Our Events Site

    Live and Invest In Spain Conference

    Offshore Wealth Summit

    Greece Workshop

    VALENCIA, SPAIN

    Sep. 17-19, 2025

    PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

    Oct. 15-17, 2025

    VIRTUAL

    Nov. 13, 2025

    Learn More About This Event
    Learn More About This Event
    PRE-REGISTER
    Learn More About This Event
    PRE-REGISTER
    • MORE EVENTS

    Contact Our Events Team

    Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
    1 (888) 627 8834
    From Outside North America:
    1 (443) 599 1221
    Working Hours
    Monday – Friday 08:00 am – 17:00 pm EST.

    Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com

  • Store

    Unlock The World

    • Access Your Library

    Overseas Havens Reports

    • Expats' comprehensive destination guides

    Conference Kits

    • Hours of coverage  from our latests conferences

    Lahardan Books

    • Titles on living and investing around the world
    • Explore Our Store
    Your passport to a life well-lived abroad

    Services

    overseas living letter offers affordable retirement guidance
    The Simon Letter Wealth Protection Insights
    Global Property Advisor Global Investment Opportunities

    Our Customer Service team is here to assist with any questions or concerns CustomerService@LiveandInvestOverseas.com

  • My Library
Live and Invest Overseas
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Home Retirement/Living

Expat Community Share Their Biggest Fears Of Moving Overseas

Overheard In Our Clubhouse—Fellow Readers Share Their Greatest Retire Overseas Fears

by Kathleen Peddicord
Feb 14, 2021
in Retirement/Living
0 0
Paradise beach on Koh Kood island, Thailand.

Alamy/Anna Berkut

What is your biggest fear related to the idea of moving overseas?

That’s the question we put to members of our Overseas Living Clubhouse.

I thought I’d share some of their responses with you, as their concerns might be your concerns, too, and just knowing you’re not alone can be enough to help you put your worries aside.

Here’s what’s keeping some of your fellow Live and Invest Overseas readers awake at night as they work to push ahead with their plans to realize their dreams of a new life overseas…

David T.:

My worry is having to come back to the States someday…

Dawn F.:

Right! It’s great to go back and see family and friends, grab stuff to bring back that we can’t get or is more expensive here where we’re living. But then it is time to go back home to Belize!

David T.:

One-hundred percent agree. Repatriation back to (especially provincial parts of) the United States is much harder than assimilating into a new expat community anywhere.

Bruce P.:

My biggest concern is medical care.

Carol Anne B.:

I’d be more afraid of affording adequate medical care in the United States.

Me:

Good point. The United States is the most expensive place in the world to seek medical care. Health insurance is far more expensive in the States than anywhere else in the world, as well. Good international health insurance can cost as little as US$100 per month… and medical care some places in the world is so affordable that it can make more sense to pay for it out of pocket rather than insuring against it.

For major medical care, we recommend keeping Medicare, if you qualify. That way you have a backup in case of a serious or long-term medical situation.

Frances O.:

I have no fear! Was sent to France to study at age 14 for the summer—no parents and no cell phones, but I survived!

Kevin P.:

My biggest fear is waiting too long and missing out on years of good health in our dream location by staying here and going through my regular hassles and stress. Debt is the biggest reason for staying put. The actual relocation is no concern to me or to my wife. In my younger days I worked in 12 different countries, including Spain and Colombia (Bogotá in the mid-90s!). My wife uprooted and moved to the United States from Germany at 38. She had a windsurfing school in the Greek Islands before we met. So we both have no fears of living elsewhere.

Darren H.:

We have lived in Medellín, Colombia for six-and-a-half years now. I can’t remember what our fears were, if we even had any. We probably did, but they are gone now. We were never concerned about safety here. It’s far, far more dangerous in Chicago or Rockford, Illinois, where we lived. Medical care is actually far better here than in the United States and costs about 10% to 20% of what it cost for comparable care in the States. That was never a concern either. Most people we have shared our story with have many concerns or even fears, but we find that most if not all of them are either irrational or based upon false information or possibly based upon the Colombia of the 1980s. We live in Colombia 2021. It’s a much better version.

Dawn F.:

Well done!

Linda T.:

Glad to hear good things about Medellín. I’ve been trying to get down there for three years to check it out. First two, caregiving issues, then COVID-19! Maybe late this year or 2022. In the meantime, have to work on my Spanish!

Patricia B.:

My concern is getting my three big dogs over there safely. Besides COVID-19, it’s our only hang-up to move to France.

Jim L.:

My fear is going alone…

Marsha F.:

I’m not exactly afraid of going alone, but I think in many ways it would be easier to have a companion. On the other hand, a companion would make it easier to not mix with the locals, so there are pros and cons.

Linda T.:

I’d be going alone, too. One thing to do is join an expats group for your possible destination(s) and make some contacts in advance. Already have a FB friend in Oaxaca, Mexico!

Rich M.:

I worry about being able to communicate.

Mike A.:

My worry is dealing with government offices.

Dwight G.:

My concern is that I didn’t do it sooner!

Arlea S.:

I worry about people not speaking English. And about leaving my relatives.

Donald W.:

Finding a town with English expats and nearby hospitals yet close enough to catch a plane back to the United States in a rush.

Dawn G.:

Like others have already said, my fear is going it alone.

Meger A.:

I’m loving doing it alone!

Rick M.:

Wondering if we have enough to live there 12 months a year.

Robina U.:

Health care. I am presently living in Canada.

Joseph J.:

Health care. I am a U.S. veteran.

Leslie Y.:

The Philippines has veteran care.

Bill M.:

I fear the lines at immigrations and customs.

Janie D.:

No fears… just not excited about the hassle involved.

Kay B.:

No fear, just frustration that the travel advisory has discouraged travel for going on a year with no change in the near future.

Diana H.:

Finances and all the legalities of getting residency in another country.

Arlea S.:

Yes, my concern also.

Mike M.:

My fear is trying something completely new and getting out of my comfort zone. What if it doesn’t work out? But if COVID-19 wasn’t here, I know right now I would be there on vacation, trying out the idea. I’m doing this.

Paul C.:

Personal safety.

Jamie S.:

Getting authentic Mexican food. ?

Tyler S.:

Not knowing anyone, starting over, and medical care.

Sara M.:

Feeling overwhelmed by all the details required to actually move and get settled.

Lisa S.:

I don’t have a worst fear yet! We move at the end of next month!

Sincerely,
Kathleen Peddicord
Kathleen Peddicord
Founding Publisher, Overseas Opportunity Letter

Tags: 'moving overseas'expat communityexpatsfears of moving abroadliving abroadmoving abroad
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Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen Peddicord has reported on opportunities for Americans to live, retire, and do business overseas for 40 years. She has traveled to more than 75 countries, invested in real estate in 24, established businesses in 7, renovated and built properties in 6, and educated her children in 5.

Kathleen has moved children, staff, enterprises, household goods, and pets from the east coast of the United States to Waterford, Ireland, then to Paris, France, and finally to Panama City, Panama, where she has based her Live And Invest Overseas business. Peddicord and her husband, Lief Simon, now divide their time between Panama and Paris.

Peddicord was a partner with Agora Publishing’s International Living group for 23 years. She opened, staffed, and operated International Living publishing and real estate marketing offices in Waterford, Ireland; Panama City, Panama; Granada, Nicaragua; Roatan, Honduras; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Quito, Ecuador; and Paris, France. Peddicord launched Live And Invest Overseas group in 2008 and has built it into a successful multimillion-dollar business. Today, she shares her firsthand experience of expat life with more than 500,000 readers of her publications, including Overseas Opportunity Letter and Overseas Living Letter.

Kathleen has been featured often in The New York Times, MSNBC, AARP, CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, and more and writes monthly about expat matters, international real estate, and offshore diversification for Forbes and U.S. News.

Kathleen has written several books including the memoirs “At Home In Ireland” and “At Home At Los Islotes” and her latest title “At Home Abroad,” all published by Lahardan Books. Her best-selling "How To Retire Overseas: Everything You Need To Know To Live Well (For Less) Abroad” was published by Penguin Random House in 2018 and her “Buying Real Estate Overseas For Cash Flow (And A Better Life)” was published by Wiley in August 2020.

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HOME

Top Countries

  • Spain
  • Portugal
  • Panama
  • Belize
  • Colombia
  • Cyprus
  • Mexico
  • France
  • Montenegro

Best For:

  • Health Care Abroad
  • Retirement Living
  • Cost Of Living
  • Investing in Real Estate
  • Establishing Residency
  • Gun Ownership
  • English Speakers
  • Safety
BROWSE ALL COUNTRIES

Budgets

How Much Will It Cost
To Live Overseas?

Super Cheap

  • Chitré, Panama
  • Santa Marta, Colombia
  • Phuket, Thailand
  • Dumaguete, The Philippines

Cheap

  • Medellin, Colombia
  • Boquete, Panama
  • Kyrenia, Cyprus
  • Hua Hin, Thailand
  • The Algarve, Portugal

Affordable

  • Valencia, Spain
  • Cascais, Portugal
  • Las Terrenas, The DR
  • Pisa, Italy
  • La Rochelle, France
  • Mazatlán, Mexico

Luxury

  • Ambergris Caye, Belize
  • Kotor, Montenegro
  • The Panama City Beaches
  • Paris, France

Resources

Global Living

  • Living & Retiring Overseas
  • Raising A Family Abroad
  • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
  • Offshore & Diversification

Making Money

  • International Real Estate
  • Banking
  • Employment
  • Investing
Meet Our Experts

Real Estate

Overseas Property Alert 

 

How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams

VISIT SITE

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Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

READ MORE

Explore Our Latest Posts

 

Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

EXPLORE

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Live and Invest In Spain Conference

VALENCIA, SPAIN Sep. 17-19, 2025
Learn More About This Event

Offshore Wealth Summit

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA Oct. 15-17, 2025
Learn More About This Event
PRE-REGISTER

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VIRTUAL Nov. 13, 2025
Learn More About This Event
PRE-REGISTER
MORE EVENTS

Contact Our Events Team:

Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
1 (888) 627 8834

From Outside North America:
1 (443) 599 1221

Working Hours
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Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com

Store

Overseas Havens Reports

  • Expats' comprehensive destination guides

Conference Kits

  • Hours of coverage  from our latests conferences

Lahardan Books

  • Titles on living and investing around the world

Services

  • Overseas Living Letter: Affordable Retirement Guidance
  • The Simon Letter: Wealth Protection Insights
  • Global Property Advisor: Global Investment Opportunitites
VISIT OUR STORE

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THE 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE IN 2025

FREE REPORT: The 10 Best Places To retire in 2025

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