What Is the Benefit of Living Abroad? What the Expats Say
What if the boldest decision you ever make leads to the richest experiences of your life?
For thousands of expats who’ve moved, or are preparing to move to the United States, the decision to live abroad isn’t just about chasing better job opportunities or starting over. It’s about stepping into the unknown and discovering who you are when everything familiar is stripped away.
Living abroad means more than changing your address. It means waking up in a foreign country where everything from the language on street signs to the taste of new foods challenges your assumptions.
It’s about embracing new cultures, building new relationships, and navigating everyday life in a place that rewires your understanding of the world and yourself.
Before you start packing your bags or browsing apartments, it’s worth stepping back and asking the most important question: Why do you want to move abroad?
For most people, living abroad, specifically in the US, brings visions of excitement, opportunity, and maybe even a little glamour. And while those things can be true, they are not always the full picture.
Are you looking for better job opportunities? A fresh start in a new environment? Do you want to explore different cultures, or are you chasing a lifestyle with a better quality of life? Your motivation matters because when things get hard (and they will), having a strong “why” can keep you grounded.
It’s about choosing a new way of life. From building new relationships to learning a foreign language, you’ll be challenged in ways you might not expect. But in these exact moments, personal growth happens, and the true benefit of living abroad starts to reveal itself.
However, it is also important to consider the practical side of your move, such as healthcare. A smart place to start your planning is by researching the best healthcare for expats per country, as access to quality care can significantly affect your overall experience and peace of mind abroad.
Moving in the US isn’t the same as going on vacation. You're not just passing through, you’re building a new routine, a new community, and a whole new life. The shift can be jarring at times, but it’s also where some of the most powerful moments of personal growth begin.
At first, everything feels exciting. The new smells, the unfamiliar skyline, and the quirky way people queue at the grocery store are all part of the adventure. But once the novelty fades, culture shock has a way of creeping in. Suddenly, the local culture seems confusing instead of charming.
The systems feel inefficient. You miss the small things from your home country, such as the brand of coffee you always buy, how people greet you, and even your sense of humor.
Yet, this phase is necessary. Culture shock forces you to slow down and pay attention, to understand the values and habits that shape a different country.
In doing so, you build more empathy, not just for other cultures, but for yourself, too. You realize that being uncomfortable isn’t the end of the world. It’s just the beginning of learning how to live in one.
No matter how much research you do or how many blogs you read, nothing fully prepares you for the first time you feel like a stranger in your routine.
Trying to set up a phone plan or order food in a language you barely know can be frustrating. Simple everyday interactions, like taking the bus or asking for directions, can feel like an uphill battle.
This feeling of disorientation is what many call an overwhelming experience. But here's the good news: it doesn’t last forever. Each awkward exchange, each confusing street sign, and each language misstep helps you develop new skills.
You start to rely on your instincts, trust your problem-solving, and adapt faster. Over time, being lost becomes less scary, and sometimes even exciting.
Once the thrill of arrival fades, reality sets in: everything from banking to buying groceries feels unfamiliar. You’ll quickly learn that everyday life in the US means rethinking the basics and adapting to them one step at a time.
Moving abroad means leaving behind everything familiar, including your day-to-day routines. Suddenly, you’re navigating a new healthcare system, figuring out how to open a bank account, and trying to decode local bureaucracy, all in a foreign language. Even buying toothpaste might require Google Translate.
It’s not just logistics, either. The entire pace and structure of everyday life can be different. Maybe businesses close earlier than you’re used to, or public holidays don’t align with your work calendar.
These small differences require you to stay flexible and open-minded, especially when you realize your old routine no longer works in this new country.
But here's one of the greatest benefits of living in the US: you become more independent, resourceful, and adaptable than ever.
Food is one of the most noticeable, sometimes surprising, changes in the US. From portion sizes to food labels, restaurant customs to grocery store layouts, everyday life around meals works differently here.
Maybe it’s your first time trying American diner breakfasts, regional barbecue, or even navigating the endless variety of cereal brands. Whether you’re exploring multicultural neighborhoods in New York or food trucks in Austin, the new foods you discover might just become lifelong favorites.
At the same time, feeling a little homesick for familiar flavors is normal. You might miss friends and family who knew your go-to dish or the comfort of a home-cooked meal from your home country. And depending on where in the US you’re living, certain ingredients from home may be hard to find, or more expensive than you expected.
And don’t be surprised if your mealtime routines shift, too. You might eat dinner earlier than you're used to or grab lunch on the go. These changes offer a window into local culture, helping you better understand your new environment, one plate at a time.
Building a social life in the US can be tricky at first. You might feel out of place or unsure of how to connect. But once you open up to the experience, you’ll find that the new friends you make along the way often turn into lifelong companions.
Loneliness is one of the hardest things about living in a foreign country, and something nearly every expat experiences. People in a new city might surround you, but you still feel isolated. When you can’t speak the local language fluently or fully understand the social mannerisms, it’s easy to feel like you don’t belong.
Missing the comfort of friends and family in your home country is a normal part of the process. Conversations that used to be effortless now feel like hard work, and making new friends can take more time, effort, and vulnerability than you’re used to.
But don’t let those initial doubts hold you back. Everyone goes through this. And once you accept that the awkwardness is just part of the journey, it becomes easier to open up and connect.
Here’s the flip side: the people you meet while living in the US often become some of the most important in your life. They understand your experience, struggles, and joys in ways few others can.
You’ll share meals, get lost together in new cities, laugh at translation fails, and support each other when the challenges feel too heavy.
These new relationships form in unusual but unforgettable ways, maybe through a language class, a coworking space, a random bus ride, or a mutual craving for your favorite snack from home. And because you’re both navigating the unknown, those bonds form quickly and deeply.
These friendships are comforting and offer access to different cultures, worldviews, and opportunities. One of the numerous benefits of stepping outside your comfort zone is attracting people you might never have met if you'd stayed put.
Struggling with a new language can feel like hitting a wall, but with time and effort, that wall starts to open up. Learning how people speak, joke, and connect in a local language changes everything, bringing you closer to the local culture than expected.
For many expats, language barriers are one of the biggest sources of anxiety. At first, the signs, conversations, and menus might feel like code you’ll never crack. You’ll stumble through basic phrases, mix up words, and get used to apologizing for not understanding. That’s normal.
But then something amazing happens. One day, you realize you understood a full conversation, or even had one yourself. Little by little, with each attempt and mistake, you go from overwhelmed to functional… and eventually fluent.
Learning a foreign language while managing everyday life may feel like an ultimate challenge, but it also becomes a source of pride. It proves how adaptable and resilient you are. Plus, it opens up new friendships, insider knowledge, and a new way to engage with the local culture.
Language isn’t just about grammar or pronunciation. It’s about connection. As you grow more comfortable speaking the local language, you start to notice the subtleties of how people communicate: tone, humor, body language, and unspoken social rules.
These layers help you better understand other cultures on a deeper level. You also begin to realize how language shapes thought. Some cultures value directness, while others prioritize politeness. These discoveries build empathy and help you navigate conversations and cultures with greater awareness.
And the confidence you build from learning a new language? That confidence spills into every part of your new life.
You may arrive with clear professional goals, but in the United States, the path to success can look very different. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Your career might take an unexpected turn, offering new opportunities you never considered back home.
Career transitions are another area where reality may not match your expectations. You may arrive with a solid resume, glowing references, and clear goals, only to discover that your certifications aren’t recognized or that job competition is fierce.
You might have to start over, work in a different field, or take on a role far from your dream job to get your foot in the door. It’s frustrating, yes—but also common. The good news? That detour often leads to unexpected new opportunities.
It helps to stay flexible and open to developing new skills. Whether you take online courses, attend workshops, or learn directly on the job, these efforts will help you reposition yourself in your new environment.
While your career might not follow your envisioned path, it can still thrive and become more meaningful. Living in the US gives you access to diverse industries, international markets, and unique roles you might not find at home.
You’ll develop professional connections across different countries and industries, making you more competitive globally. Employers value candidates who can work across cultures, communicate effectively with people from different walks of life, and handle the unpredictability of global business.
And who knows? That one role you took “just to get by” could turn into a long-term position or even lead you down a new career path you never considered. That’s the magic of life in the US. Its twists often lead to surprising and rewarding destinations.
When people dream of living in the US, they often focus on the excitement: new foods, new cultures, maybe even travel opportunities. But what’s often overlooked is how much your finances will shape your experience.
From the moment you arrive, everyday life becomes a budgeting puzzle. You’re dealing with currency exchange rates, setting up a bank account in a new country, possibly juggling taxes in two countries, and figuring out the cost of everything from rent to healthcare.
For example, one key cost you shouldn’t ignore is expat health insurance, which is essential for accessing care in your host country without unexpected bills.
It’s smart to have money stored before you leave. A financial cushion gives you the breathing room to adapt, deal with emergencies, and say yes to the new adventure that makes this journey worth it.
Living in the US may also shift how you think about money. You might spend less on material things and more on experiences. You might learn to live on less, or discover that investing in healthcare, language lessons, or travel brings more long-term value than expected.
When you move to the US, you’re not just changing your location, you’re changing your identity. Over time, the unfamiliar becomes familiar, and what once felt intimidating now feels like second nature.
You start to see yourself differently because you’ve had to rise to meet situations that were once far outside your comfort zone.
Every time you navigate a new system, overcome a language barrier, or figure out how to find a doctor, you grow. These aren’t just skills, they’re evidence of your ability to adapt, survive, and thrive.
That shrinking comfort zone means you can handle far more than you ever thought possible. You're more confident in decision making, more comfortable with uncertainty, and more curious about the world around you. That kind of personal growth sticks with you long after you leave your host country.
One of the most exciting benefits of living in the US is how much easier it becomes to explore the region around you. Once settled in, weekend trips to new cities, neighboring countries, or remote towns become part of your routine.
Living in a central location gives you access to dozens of travel opportunities that would be expensive or impractical from your home country. Cheap flights, train passes, or even car-sharing apps open the door to adventure.
And it's not just about crossing places off a map. It's about experiencing different cultures through festivals, food markets, local hikes, or historical neighborhoods. It’s about collecting lifelong memories, not just souvenirs.
So, after all the ups and downs, awkward moments, unexpected wins, and deep personal shifts, you're left with one big question: Is it all worth it?
That depends on what you’re hoping to gain. If you’re looking for safety, predictability, and a life where everything makes sense, life in the US might feel too much. But it is if you’re craving challenge, growth, discovery, and the chance to build something completely new.
Moving and living have numerous benefits: a deeper understanding of other cultures, rich professional connections, and the undeniable joy of knowing you leaped when many others only talked about it.
Starting over in a new country proves that life doesn’t need to follow a single script. The benefits of living abroad are cumulative: broader perspectives, stronger adaptability, and meaningful connections that stay with you. And when that journey brings you to the United States, it opens a new chapter of opportunity, challenge, and personal growth.
At WellAway, we understand the ups and downs of life in the US because we’ve helped thousands of expats protect what matters most during their journey. If you're thinking about moving, or already have, we’ve got the tools, insights, and coverage you need to make the most of your new adventure.
In the end, living in a country as diverse as the US offers more than a fresh start. It offers discovery and the chance to rewrite your story. So if you’re standing at the edge of a major decision, ask yourself: What if the best version of your life is waiting just beyond your comfort zone, and it's in a place you’re about to call home?