Why Don't More People Go Country Shopping?

Given the remarkable range of options available for choosing where to live in the world, why don't more of us actively "shop" for the best country and city to call home? If you see life as a playground with an extraordinary buffet of choices, and if the country-level environment you choose has such a sweeping impact on your daily life, why wouldn't you?

Several factors come to mind.

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1. It simply doesn't occur to us.

We know it matters which car to buy, which house to purchase, which person to marry — maybe even which city to live in within our current country. But our culture doesn't teach us, and may even quietly discourage us, from asking which country would actually be the best fit for our lives. I didn't seriously consider living in another country until I was 51 years old.

Personal note: If you've read this far, you now have the option to think about this seriously for yourself.

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2. Our appetite for adventure is low, and we gravitate toward the familiar.

The anxiety of building a life in a new country — particularly one that doesn't share our native language — can feel like too high a price. We default to what we know.

Personal note: I've lived comfortably and successfully in Japan, China, Colombia, and now Vietnam without being able to hold a conversation in any of those languages. English remains the global lingua franca, and today's translation apps fill in nearly every remaining gap. In each of these countries, I've encountered no significant communication problems.

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3. Physical proximity to friends and family matters deeply.

For many people, being close enough to show up — for a dinner, a crisis, a hug — feels non-negotiable.

Personal note: Since moving abroad, I'm actually in better contact with my American friends than I ever was when I lived in the States. Calls and video chats cost nothing and cross any distance instantly. The one genuine exception: if physical presence — hands-on help or simple human touch — is something your relationships genuinely require, this deserves honest consideration.

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4. We're uncertain how we'd earn a living somewhere else.

The income question stops many people before they ever get started.

Personal note: If your work isn't already remote, it may be more portable than you think. With some deliberate brainstorming, this obstacle can often be resolved — especially if continuing to generate income is important to you.

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5. Many countries make immigration difficult, sometimes deliberately so.

Bureaucratic barriers, restrictive visa policies, and outright hostility toward immigrants — particularly those from lower-income countries — are real. The United States is currently a prominent example of a "you're not welcome here" posture.

Personal note: Ironically, many of the lower-cost countries that represent the biggest financial upside for people from high-cost Western nations are considerably more open — and in some cases actively welcoming — to foreign residents. Several offer "retirement visas" that require only proof of a modest monthly income to qualify.

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Despite all of these reasons to stay put, the advantages available to an expat can be extraordinary. Having become one myself, I can say with confidence that many countries in the world suit me better than the United States ever did — and right now, Vietnam and the city of Da Nang are the best choice of all.