Recent events have made you want to leave the USA? Or maybe you just want start a new life in a destination known for its quality of life and its warm welcome for American expats. A destination with regular flights to the USA, international schools and opportunities to develop your business but also a good health care system, low taxes, an active expat community and last but not least, low crime rate?

No matter what you voted for in the last elections, you will find here destinations that will please everyone for a new life on a new continent or on an island.

Discover a selection of destinations to build new projects, spend more time with your family, challenge yourself and bring about change in your life.

Book your hotel, apartment, guesthouse, B&B at the best price and move to Europe! 

Need more inspiration? Discover the Safest Destinations to live in Europe as well as the Best Destinations to get Retired in Europe! 

1. The Azores

Portugal

Historically speaking, a large part of the Portuguese who settled in the USA come from the Azores, especially those who settled in Massachussets for the whale trade (now prohibited) making this destination one of the Best Destinations in Europe for American Expats.

The Azores were discovered by the Portuguese centuries ago and now it's your turn to discover this archipelago of 9 incredible islands. Were you planning to leave the USA to settle in New Zealand or even Iceland, but not so hot about the temperatures or the cost of living? The Azores is what you need. 

This is not a second choice, but a first-choice offer waiting for you there. Many incentives are put in place by the regional government to allow businesses and start-ups to set up. With reduced VAT (5%, 10%, 18%) the Azores are one of the destinations in Europe with the best quality of life and the best value for money for the purchase of your home. The average price per m2 in the Azores is almost 3 times lower than the average price per m2 in the USA.

Instead of buying an apartment, buy a Quinta with outbuildings that you can convert into guest rooms, tourist accommodation, etc. Unlike Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, the regional government of the Azores favors the installation of this type of accommodation and offers low tax rates. In addition to this the Azores is the region of Portugal seen as the best place to invest in with regular growth in real estate the past 10 years.

The 9 islands of the Azores are very well connected to each other by plane (very affordable ticket prices) as well as by boat. The Azores have direct daily flights to the mainland as well as to the USA.

Create your new life in the Azores by booking your flights, accommodation and tours and activities in the Azores at the best price to validate this new life project in the heart of nature.

2. Tuscany

Italy

It is not just the Kardashians who fell in love with Florence and Tuscany and many US expats have settled there for its quality of life, culture, gastronomy and the breathtaking landscapes. Although the Italian government has recently doubled the level of taxation of wealthy expatriates, it remains very low (200,000 euros maximum tax on your income from abroad, even if you have earned 1 billion dollars, this ceiling is even extendable to members of your family).

Tuscany is the preferred region of Italy for US expats. You will have no problem making yourself understood in your language in most of the big cities of Tuscany and in the most touristic areas.

If you can afford it, you can settle in the hills halfway between Siena and Florence and live with movie stars, great business leaders and famous singers. For three to five times cheaper, you can also find your little piece of paradise in small authentic Tuscan villages.

Perfect region for retired expats who will enjoy many museums, cultural events and restaurants, Tuscany will also appeal to young professionals, digital nomads and those who want to set up their tourism projects (guest houses, tours, guided tours etc) or work in real estate for example.

Rich and touristic, Tuscany offers many possibilities for those who wish to start their business. If you are looking for low prices, avoid big cities and choose smaller towns like Lucca, Pitigliano or Pistoia. 

Book your flights to Florence as well as your accommodation and tours and activities and go and see for yourself.

During your stay make sure to visit the Most Beautiful Castles in Italy! 

3. Malaga

Spain

If you love Europe for its culture, openness, solidarity, architecture, events, tradition or gastronomy, you will love Malaga one of the Best Destinations for American Expats in Europe.  

Malaga is sometimes only associated with sun and beaches but it is much more than that. City with the highest concentration of museums per km2 in Europe, Malaga offers a high quality of life, security, a rich cultural life, health care equipment and sun almost throughout the year. 

Malaga is family friendly and also very suitable for single digital nomads or couples, as well as retirees who wish to live an active and culturally rich and lively retirement. Open-minded and tolerant, Malaga also attracts gay expats who are welcome and blend in well with the locals. The City of Malaga itself is very open-minded and quite innovative in terms of town planning, culture and living together. 

The British School of Malaga will welcome your children unless you prefer to enrol them in one of the many public or private schools in Malaga. Malaga offers job opportunities in many sectors, you could telecommute or start your own business there.

Book your flights to Malaga as well as your accommodation and tours and activities in Malaga and enjoy a life under the Spanish sun.

During your stay make sure to discover the Most Beautiful Beaches in Spain! 

4. Gdansk

Poland

Particularly American-friendly, Poland is a country of great cultural, gastronomic and architectural wealth. Gdansk is one of the Best Places to Live in Poland thanks to its preserved architecture, low crime rate, and proximity to the sea.

There is no other place like Gdansk. Other cities can just resemble Gdansk. Its unique location and over a thousand years’ history shape Gdansk’s expressive and distinctive character and give it strong and implicit recognition among European cities. Nonetheless, the city holds an abundance of mysteries; it has got its own spirit which makes it impossible to mistake Gdansk for any other place.

There is no Gdansk without freedom. Courage, freshness, but first of all freedom; for centuries people of Gdansk have highly valued this virtue which in turn has shaped the city’s unique “genius loci”. Not only can one sense it among the Old Town’s patrician houses, but also amid the Young City’s shipyard cranes and on beautiful, sandy beaches as well as in post-industrial halls, in parks and tunnels. Freedom is ubiquitous in Gdansk, it is almost tangible, and it is the source of inspiration. It transforms space and people.

Contemporary Gdansk is a modern metropolis, a thriving centre of culture, science, sports and entertainment; it is also an attractive tourist destination and the world’s capital city of amber. It comes as no surprise that Gdansk, also famous for its breath-taking Stadion Energa Gdańsk was one of the host-cities of UEFA EURO. 

Compared to other American or European cities, Gdansk is affordable with moderate rents and often cheaper food than in Germany, Switzerland, England or France. 

Almost 40% of Poles speak English, an even higher percentage in big cities like Gdansk. 

Book your flights and accommodation at the best price as well as your tours and activities and discover Gdansk.

5. Madrid

Spain

A city in Europe with one of the best qualities of life, a reasonable cost of living and a low crime rate, Madrid is a good choice for US expats.

In Spain, there is a possibility to benefit from a special tax regime known as the "Beckham Law", which allows individuals to be taxed at a lower rate on their worldwide employment income. It has been adapted to lower revenues recently. If your revenue are less than €600,000 you will benefit from a flat tax rate of 24% (when it is of 47% for spanish inhabitants for this level of income).

Spain is a country which is constantly evolving and does not fall asleep. Dynamic, culturally incomparable, Madrid is a destination that will appeal to even the most demanding. Sunnier than France, Spain also has good health care reimbursements, a good school system and an overall lower cost of living than its French neighbor.

Whether you come with your own job, telework or look for a job in a small, medium or large company, or to live an active retirement, Madrid suits all expats’ profiles.

Spaniards, especially the younger generations, speak English very well, but learning Spanish will be a great help to fully integrate yourself into the local fabric of the country.

If you long for the US, there are obviously many US chains in Spain and you can get your favourite coffee at Starbucks and your fries at Mac Donald’s. You will also enjoy the famous tapas accompanied by a delicious wine and discover the delights of Spanish cuisine.

Madrid is the capital of a large country and is therefore more expensive than some other places in Spain but the cost of living is lower there than in many other European capitals like Vienna, London or Paris.

With many international schools as well as quality public and private Spanish schools, Madrid will suit expats with children but also young students, digital nomads and those looking for new challenges. Finally, Madrid Airport offers regular flights to major US airports. 

Book your flights to Madrid as well as your accommodation and your tours and activities for a stay of a few days before perhaps making the big leap for an expatriation to Spain’s famous capital.

6. Brighton

United Kingdom

Do you want to settle in Europe, for a few months, a year or the rest of your life but you don't have the energy or the time to learn a new language?

The UK is for you. While some cities like London, Manchester or Birmingham, are perfect for finding a job in a large company, others like Brighton are made for free thinkers, start-ups, digital nomads and artists.

Known for its openness and tolerance, Brighton is certainly one of the UK cities with the best quality of life. A cosmopolitan city where life is good, Brighton is perfect for a short stay on a budget or for a long term move for more comfortable budgets (Brigthon is the 7th most expensive city in the UK).

Its strengths are the cultural life, openness, great seaside, quirky shops in alleyways, international schools and the fact that nearly 100% of the population speaks perfect English.

Book your flights and accommodation in Brighton and discover an endearing city perfect for a new life project.

7. San Sebastian

Spain

Gastronomic capital of Europe, San Sebastian has one of the greatest concentrations of starred restaurants in Europe and it is one of the Best Places to Start a New Life for American Expats.

Known for its magnificent beaches, quality of life, cultural life and gastronomy, San Sebastian is a perfect destination to make a new start. 

Located close to the French border, San Sebastian is a perfect choice to have a foothold in two of the most important countries in Europe.

The Basque Country (Spanish and French) is a destination with a very marked DNA, a strong personality. Choosing the Basque Country means choosing quality of life, nature, gastronomy, outdoor sports, conviviality and family. 

With its feet in the water, San Sebastian is a paradise for surfers or those who want to soak up the sun, lying on one of San Sebastian's beautiful beaches. A word of warning: the vibrant green vegetation indicates that it can rain a little more in San Sebastian than in Barcelona, Madrid or Seville. This is the Basque Country: a beautiful storm refreshes everything and here comes the sun again.

If you come to San Sebastian as a digital nomad, avoid the summer when rentals are at their highest. If you want to settle for a year or a long and indefinite period, think carefully about the most important criteria for you, such as the proximity of international schools if you have children. As in many cities, if you move away from the city center you will have more m2 available at a lower price.

There are several international schools in San Sebastian and airports connected with the USA (San Sebastian and Bilbao). 

Book your flights to San Sebastian as well as your accommodation and your tours and activities in San Sebastian and discover a lifestyle that will seduce you.

During your stay in Spain do not miss to discover the Best Places to Visit in Spain! 

8. Paris

France

After an exceptional Olympic Games, various seasons of Emily in Paris, a ranking as "Best Cultural City in the World" in addition to its status as the Capital of Love and Capital of Fashion, Paris is a very attractive destination for Americans who want to live the Parisian dream.

Paris has a large expat community, most Parisians are themselves people from other regions of France who have come to work or live in the capital. Nearly 40,000 Americans are now living in France, half of them in Paris. That's more than double the number 4 years ago.

To enjoy a community life, you will often find them in the lively and chic neighborhoods of the Marais, the 6th Arrondissement, the very posh 16th Arrondissement or the Latin Quarter, more student, literary, arty.

Finally, with the Emily in Paris series, the 5th arrondissement has become the place to be, especially La Place de l'Estrapade, where Emily Cooper, the central character of the series, has taken up residence. Given the popularity of this location, the m2 is a little more expensive than elsewhere in the capital. Expect to pay $15,447 per m2 to live like the heroine of the series, compared to $10,000 per square meter on average in the 19th, the least expensive arrondissement in Paris.

Parisians are really warm and friendly, far from the image we have of them. They are quite good at English and are used to helping English-speaking expats since Americans and Brits are making the largest expat communities in Paris. What are you waiting for to become a real Parisian and say "J'adore Paris".

Book your flights to Paris, your accommodation in Paris as well as your tours & activities in the French Capital.

During your stay make sure to discover the Best Secret Destinations in France!

9. Luxembourg City

Luxembourg

Luxembourg City may well be among the small capitals in Europe, but it has a lot to offer in terms of diversity and quality of life. 

With almost 70% of expat, Luxembourg-city is one of the European destination with the highest rate of expatriates in Europe. 

Despite its breath-taking modernization in the last few decades, it remains a metropolis on a human scale. While its inhabitants number less than 100,000, they stem from over 150 different nations.  Among them are numerous international bankers and European civil servants who enjoy the multilingual as well as multicultural flair they find in Luxembourg.

Most of the inhabitants of Luxembourg speak English but it may be worth learning the national language, Luxembourgish to socialize more easily or do business. Here you will even find an American school for your children.

What is not negligible is also to be two hours from the Grand Place in Brussels and 1h30 from Paris, for shopping trips in France, Belgium, Germany or simply a gourmet getaway in the vineyards of Alsace or a romantic city break in Bruges.

Luxembourg City is a safe destination for families or already retired expatriates, the crime rate (Numbeo Stats) is 38%, when it is 81% in an American city like Detroit. In terms of real estate, it is one of the European destinations in this ranking with the highest prices with nearly $13,000 per square meter, expect $30 per square meter for a rental. It is easier to buy than to rent in Luxembourg City and it remains a good investment as the real estate increases each year by an average of 10%.

10. Montreux

Switzerland

Whether they lived there to escape McCarthyism like Chaplin or to have their wife treated like the author of Gatsby the Magnificent, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, as Freddie Mercury said "If you want to find peace, go to Montreux".

Montreux is a beautiful and exclusive destination located in the French-Speaking part of Switzerland. It has always attracted royal families, aristocrats and even singers like David Bowie, who came to recharge their batteries in Montreux after exhausting tours.

The health system is of a very high standard in Switzerland and Montreux also has anti-aging clinics where the wealthiest take tea between two injections with views of the lake of this sublime destination on the Swiss Riviera.

Montreux is very largely influenced by French and Italian cuisine, probably the two best gastronomic nations in the world. Finally, Montreux has international schools and Swiss schools are world-renowned for their quality. For the quality of life, the school system or the health care, but also for the cultural life, the shopping, the outdoor sports, Montreux is a destination of choice for the American expatriates in Europe.

Come admire one of the sublime sunsets of Montreux while drinking a glass of wine from the neighboring vineyards and enjoy the sweetness of life of this American-Friendly destination.