I moved from Germany to the US for my career. The high cost of living in California shocked me, but it's worth it to live here.

Tech Insider : Business
headshot of a woman with long blonde hair
Christiane Schroeter.

SLO Town Studios/SLO Town Studios

I moved back to Canada after living abroad for 5 years. The hardest part is rebuilding my social life.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
The author on a visit to her hometown in Vancouver.
The author moved back to Canada after five years of living abroad in the UK.

Courtesy of Maria Polansky

I've lived abroad for 8 years, and now too many places feel like home

Tech Insider : Travel, Business, Environment
A woman posing with the National Congress building in Brasilia, Brazil, in the background.
Amanda Molenaar spent most of her 20s and 30s living abroad; now she finds it hard to answer where home is.

Provided by Amanda Molenaar

After years abroad, they retired in Thailand instead of returning to the US. They pay $870 for a 3-bedroom.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A couple posing on the beach in Hua Hin, Thailand.
After living abroad for eight years, Kevin Elliott and his wife, Camille, decided to retire in Thailand rather than return to the US.

Provided by Kevin Elliott.

We left Texas for a year in Spain. After 3 countries and 3 school systems, we found where we belong.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A man wearing a bike helmet bike riding in Spain.
Victor Trac left Texas to spend a year in Spain with his family; they ended up settling in a new US city.

Provided by Victor Trac

I moved to California with my family for a better life. Moving back to Berlin was the real fresh start.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A woman in a black long-sleeved top and jeans leaning against a wall.
Ruth Barry and her husband moved to California to be close to his family, then decided to go back to Germany.

Robert Rieger

We moved to a care center in Thailand in our 70s. It's like an insurance policy for whoever is left.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A couple holding hands while sitting on their couch.
Peter and Rita Millard lived in countries across Europe after they retired. In 2023, they decided that Chiang Mai, Thailand, is where they want to grow old.

Amanda Goh/Business Insider.

I'm 18 and graduating in Dubai. Missile interceptions didn't scare me — I'd still come back to work after college.

Tech Insider : Business, Politics
A man sitting on rocks, looking out to the sea in the distance.
William Harper was going to high school in Dubai, and his family decided to stay.

Provided by William Harper

I run a business while traveling the world. I couldn't have afforded to scale it while living in the US.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
A man posing for a picture outdoors.
Ryan Garrido runs a business and travels the world as a digital nomad.

Courtesy of Ryan Garrido

8 people told us about the reality of life abroad — and the identity crisis that comes with it

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Vivienne Zhao (left); Duncan Forgan (center); Andre Neveling (right).

Courtesy of Vivienne Zhao, Duncan Forgan and Andre Neveling.

"H

ow long have you been living in Singapore?"

It's a question taxi drivers have been asking me since I arrived from New York nearly 20 years ago.

In the beginning, the answer was small, just a year, then two.

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