Source-checked guides for Americans moving abroad
Expat Cove turns the official rules — visas, the €30,000 insurance requirement, banking and taxes — into plain-English guides. Every figure is dated and drawn from primary government sources, so you act on what's true in 2026, not a blog from three years ago.
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Popular destinations for Americans at a glance (2026)
The three corridors most US citizens choose, with the entry visa, its income bar and what a single person spends per month:
| Country | Main visa | Income required /mo | Cost of living /mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | D7 / D8 | €920 / €3,680 | ≈ €2,155 (Lisbon) |
| Spain | Non-Lucrative / Digital Nomad | €2,400 / €2,849 | ≈ €2,185 (Madrid) |
| Mexico | Temporary Resident | ≈ $4,400 | ≈ $1,890 (Mexico City) |
Where do most Americans move abroad?
Mexico hosts more US citizens than any other country, Spain has issued more first residence permits to Americans than any other EU nation in recent years (Eurostat), and Portugal is the destination Americans search for most. Our guides focus on these three high-demand corridors.
Do Americans pay US taxes while living abroad?
Yes — the US taxes by citizenship, so you keep filing with the IRS wherever you live. But the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion ($132,900 in 2026, per the IRS) and the foreign tax credit usually erase the US bill, even though you may owe tax locally.
How much income do you need to move abroad?
It ranges widely — from about $995/month (Portugal's D7) to $5,000/month (Bali). Retiree and passive-income visas sit lowest; digital-nomad visas run higher. Check your number against 12 countries with our visa income calculator, and review entry rules on travel.state.gov.
How we keep these guides accurate
- Primary sources only — IRS, consular portals, AIMA, the BOE and Numbeo, never a recycled blog.
- Every figure is dated to the month we checked it, so you act on 2026 rules.
- Written for Americans — including the US taxes that follow citizens abroad.
- More on our method in about Expat Cove.