17 Best European Countries to Move to from the USA

Published on November 29, 2023 at 4:57 pm by Zarah Hamid in Business, Economy, Lists, News

In this article, we will be navigating through the living conditions across Europe while covering the 17 best European countries to move to from the USA. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis, you can move directly to the 5 Best European Countries to Move to from the USA.

Life in Europe: An Overview

On October 20, Eurostat reported about the living conditions across Europe. The overall life satisfaction was highest in Austria, Finland, Poland, and Romania. Health also played a substantial role in bringing the living standard up in the region. In 2022, 67.8% of the population in the EU aged 16 and above perceived their health as good or very good. Belgium, Greece, Malta, and Cyprus had a higher proportion of these people. This can also be attributed to the established healthcare systems in these countries. Life expectancy in Europe has also seen a rise as a result of better living standards, quality education, advanced medicine, and health.

American Expats in Europe

Many Americans move out of the US to seek an equivalent quality of life at an affordable price. Better career opportunities also motivate people to relocate. Since the work-life balance tends to be compromised in the United States, European countries that offer a laid-back lifestyle offer an attractive option to settle in. Numerous countries in Europe have welcomed Americans in the past. As reported by the UN’s International Migrant Stock, some of these European countries hosting Americans include Switzerland, Netherlands, Ireland, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Europe: Home to Leading Multinationals

Amidst a favorable business climate, Europe houses several reputable multinational firms including SAP SE (NYSE:SAP), AstraZeneca plc (NYSE:AZN), and Nestlé S.A. (OTC:NSRGY). Let’s take a look at what these companies have been up to.

SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) is a German multinational software company. The company is known to be one of the leading vendors of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software across the globe. On November 21, SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) announced its partnership with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Under this partnership, SAP S/4HANA Finance solution will be utilized to allocate and save resources efficiently while SAP Business AI will enable forecasting budget needs and optimizing the supply chain. The partnership will begin in 2024.

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) is an Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical and biotechnology company that serves worldwide. The company offers products for diseases in areas such as oncology, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neuroscience, and inflammation. On November 20, AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) reported the launch of Evinova as its separate health-tech business within the firm. Evinova will be providing globally-scaled digital products and services to the life sciences and healthcare sector. This new development will reduce the time taken to make medicines while decreasing the burden on health systems.

Nestlé S.A. (OTC:NSRGY) is a multinational food and drink processing corporation based in Switzerland. The company offers products including baby food, bottled water, breakfast cereals, coffee and tea, confectionery, dairy products, frozen food, and snacks. Nestlé S.A. (OTC:NSRGY) is the first company to introduce a milk product that has prebiotic fibers coming from the intrinsic lactose found in milk. On November 29, the company reported the development of N3 milk which has been made from cow’s milk and contains all necessary nutrients. The firm has reduced the lactose which is present in cow’s milk. This generates prebiotic fibers that result in gut microbiome benefits in adults. The milk has been first launched in China in a new range of powdered milks including a full cream and a skimmed milk product.

Now that we have taken a look at the standard of living in Europe and discussed some business updates from companies in the region, let’s discuss the 17 best European countries to move from the USA. Meanwhile, you can view some of the best European stocks to buy and the largest European companies by revenue.

17 Best European Countries to Move to from the USA

Our Methodology:

In order to compile a list of the 17 best European countries to move from the USA, we acquired data from the 2023 version of the Expat Insider survey from InterNations. This survey provides comprehensive information on living and working abroad. More than 12,000 expats living in 172 countries or territories were included in the survey. Factors such as quality of life, ease of settling in, career prospects, and expat essentials are considered for this purpose.

We screened all the European countries from the list of the best destinations for expats. Americans were one of the nationalities moving to these expat destinations. Since American expats tend to move out of the United States in search of improved living conditions, we focused on the quality of life. In order to further quantify the quality of life in the shortlisted European countries, we sourced the Human Development Index for each country from UNDP. HDI takes into account the health dimension, assessed by the life expectancy, the education dimension, found through expected years of schooling, and the standard of living, which is measured by gross national income per capita. The most recent data on HDI was available from 2021.

Finally, we ranked the most attractive European countries for those moving out of the US in ascending order of their Human Development Index, as of 2021.

17 Best European Countries to Move to from the USA

17. Portugal

Human Development Index: 0.866

Portugal is an attractive European country to move to from the USA since expats can enjoy an affordable cost of living, a mild climate, and quality healthcare. Portugal is home to diverse expat communities which can facilitate settling in. Places popular among those moving to Portugal include the Algarve, Lagos, and Lisbon.

16. Poland

Human Development Index: 0.876

Accommodation in Poland is relatively cheaper as compared to other countries in Europe. The overall cost of living is also low in the country. Expats can access cultural events and outdoor activities. The public transportation system is also well developed thereby ranking Poland as another suitable living destination for Americans.

15. Greece

Human Development Index: 0.887

Greece offers a growing international community, travel opportunities, and historical attractions. English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas. The country’s lifestyle and climate make it popular among retirees. Some of the best places to live in Greece include Athens, Sparta, and Poligiros.

14. Czechia

Human Development Index: 0.889

Czechia is centrally located in Europe which makes traveling around easier. Attractive places to settle in the country include Prague, Brno, and Ostrava. The country is generally safe and employees get to enjoy attractive salaries and benefits. The cost of living is also low.

13. Estonia

Human Development Index: 0.89

Estonia has a friendly community which welcomes expatriates. English is also widely spoken in the country. Estonia offers good medical care and a low crime rate to its residents thereby making it another attractive European destination to move from the USA. Many expats who have moved to Estonia also believe that services are normally free of bureaucratic hurdles and require less paperwork.

12. France

Human Development Index: 0.903

France is one of the 17 best countries in Europe to move to from the USA. Paris is an economic center in the country which has bright job prospects to offer. Highly developed infrastructure and education systems also contribute to the high quality of life in France.

11. Spain

Human Development Index: 0.905

Spain hosts many expats from North and South America. It promotes a laid-back lifestyle. The local community is also welcoming which makes settling in easier. The country is also a known retirement destination. These factors rank Spain high on the 2021 Human Development Index.

10. Austria

Human Development Index: 0.916

The 17 best European countries to move to from the US include Austria as well. Efficient transport, quality healthcare, and jobs in sectors such as construction, healthcare, tourism, and hospitality are accessible. Some of the popular cities among people moving to Austria include Vienna, Salzburg, and Graz.

9. United Kingdom

Human Development Index: 0.93

The United Kingdom provides decent employment opportunities and a high quality of life thereby ranking as another European country where Americans can live permanently. London, Birmingham, and Bristol are suitable places to settle in where numerous industries offer employment.

8. Luxembourg

Human Development Index: 0.93

Luxembourg is another European country suitable to move to from the US. The job market is flourishing while the unemployment rate is low. Remuneration is high for employees in Luxembourg as compared to neighboring countries. Healthcare and education are also developed sectors.

7. Belgium

Human Development Index: 0.937

Belgium also makes it to the 17 best European countries to move to from the USA. It is comparatively easier to live close to work since the country is small. Commuting around Europe is also convenient. The cost of groceries and public transportation is lower as compared to other countries in Western Europe.

6. Finland

Human Development Index: 0.94

Finland ranks as another country deemed good to move to from the USA. The nation also enjoys a good work-life balance. The education system is recognized worldwide. Public transportation makes moving around easier.

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