The Great American Exit

Americans say goodbye to the defunct American Dream and flee for safer havens.

DAILY POSTCARD  | SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2026 Dear International Living reader, The increasing cost-of-living, medical bankruptcies, spiralling inflation, the widening schism in politics… it doesn't paint the prettiest of pictures, does it? But these are just some of the very valid reasons why Americans are choosing to leave these shores in their thousands. As America's social fabric begins to rip apart at the seams, many people are choosing to leave for bolt holes across the world in search of something calmer, more stable.  But where are they going? Read on… P.S. In the safe, secret hideaways I'd like to show you overseas, life is simpler, saner, easier… Click here to learn more about International Living's hideaways—expert picks from real people on the ground. Don't wait—this special offer ends today! Recommended Resource: In the Right Places, Life Is Simpler, Saner, Easier  Each morning, I wake up and take a look at US news, and it confirms why I'm so much more at peace living [here], away from the politics, inflation, and outrageous housing prices...," says Donna S..  Click here to learn more about IL's Safe, Secret Hideaways The New American Dream: To Get Out Jeff D. Opdyke The reason for the Great American Exit.  A trend-breaker nearly 100 years in the making—sounds like something significant is going on. Per a recent Fortune headline: "More people are moving out of the US than moving in for the first time since the Great Depression—a bad omen for the $38.8 trillion national debt" Apparently, for an increasing number of folks who once lived from sea to shining sea, home is no longer where the heart is. More like, home is where the heart… is broken. Think-tank Brookings estimates that net migration in America for 2025 was negative 295,000… meaning more people were leaving the fruited plains than arriving. The obvious reason for this is The Big Reason: political. We all know what that is, so we will just skip over that because talking about it causes much anger, angst, and consternation. Then again, on a research mission last year to the Portuguese island of Madeira, I met two retired American couples who left fled the US in recent years. One couple is hard-core Trump; the other is hard-core anti-Trump. Madeira Island, Portugal: Jeff recently met two retired American couples who left the US in recent years here. So, clearly, there's more at play than White House antics. There's America's rapidly fraying social fabric. There's the cost-of-living in America that is spiraling ever higher. Gun violence is beyond the pale, yet politicians refuse to address it beyond thoughts and prayers. There are rising healthcare costs. Medical bankruptcies that are racing higher in America. Not to mention the government's head-scratching take on health and healthcare… Then, there's Uncle Sam's monstrous debt. Though I suspect no one is leaving America because governmental debt will cross $40 trillion this year, the debt does have an impact in that it ultimately weakens the dollar (pushing up inflation at the margin) and threatens to cause a fiscal crisis that will rip through American families. So it is, then, that The Wall Street Journal published this: "The new American dream, for some of its citizens, is to no longer live there." Where might American citizens be headed, you might be wondering? All the usual spots, and then some… Portugal: 500% growth in Americans living here since pre-COVID. Family relocations have tripled since 2024. Ireland: 40,000 Americans landed Irish passports in 2025. 10,000 have made the move to the Isle of Guinness (though Kilkenny and Smithwick's are better beers, in my opinion). Spain: Roughly 50,000 Americans now chase tapas here, up 25% or so in the last two years. Mexico: One of the leading destinations for Americans, and residency applications are spiking. Canada: Upwards of 15,000 new American expats have invaded—mainly heading to Vancouver and Toronto. The unexpected spots: Germany: More Americans moved to Germany last year than Germans moving to America. Greece: Has become one of the top destinations for Americans, particularly because of tax schemes that reduce taxes on expats by as much as 50% for the first seven years. Southeast Asia: Bali and Thailand, in particular, have seen an influx of Americans, primarily because costs are so low relative to the US, but quality of life is high and a sense of overall happiness is as pervasive as palm trees. Albania: The emerging hot spot, which you might recall from an International Living cover story I wrote on Americans moving and retiring to the Adriatic country last year.  Every American alighting on foreign shores has a different story to tell… a different reason for bidding adieu to the Red, White, and Blue. But whatever the reasons, leaving America is clearly the trend. And the dream. A Gallup poll last year found that one in five Americans wanted to leave the country. In 2008, amid the financial crisis, it was one in 10. I left America in 2018—chasing a dream job and seeking new excitement and a chance to rebuild my life and my finances after a divorce. Nearly eight years on, I can say with assurance that moving to Europe—first to the Czech Republic and then to Portugal, where I now live—was one of the best decisions of my life.  I'm happier, healthier, wealthier, far more relaxed, and enjoying far more adventures and new experiences that keep my mind active and engaged as I move into my 60s now. The only regret: I didn't make the move sooner. Editor's Note: If you're at all concerned about how you'll live comfortably at home in the years to come... or if you're worried about what the future may hold for your kids or their kids if things really go sideways...  Or if you simply like the idea of maximizing your lifestyle... then you owe it to yourself to check out this special offer. You have options for good living the average Joe will never hear about—safe, secret hideaways a Google search won't dish up, like...  A 16th-century colonial gem of a city in South America where you could rent a two-bedroom river-view apartment for $550 a month. A tropical white-sand beach escape where you'll find lots of seafood restaurants and hotels. A getaway local insiders know, this friendly, tidy, well-equipped town sits well under the mainstream radar—and you could own a furnished, two-bedroom beach-view condo here for $148,000. The "Estes Park, Colorado" of Greece—that is to say, an outdoor playground with snow-capped peaks towering above a postcard-ready village (only here the Aegean Sea is just minutes from town). Lush gardens surround homes with stunning sea views. And more... But don't delay—it ends tonight. Recommended Resource: "Life is Magical Here!" 14 years ago Mike Arthur was dealing with a daily commute in Dallas. Now, he lives his best Pura Vida life in Costa Rica. Discover Mike's story…why he chose Costa Rica…and why he chooses to stay there more than a decade later… Get a discounted spot to meet Mike in person this July at the Fast Track Costa Rica Conference 2026. Details—and a BIG discount—here.   Life in Small-Town Ireland on $3,000 a Month By International Living Inbox too crowded? Don't worry—if you can't keep up with our International Living Postcards every day, click here to switch to the Weekly Best of IL Postcards instead. If you no longer wish to receive IL Postcards, click here to unsubscribe. Your feedback is very important to us, so if you would like to contact us with a question or comment, please click here. © 2026 International Living Publishing Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Protected by copyright laws of the United States and international treaties. 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