Best Countries to Move to from the US in 2026: Relocation Guides for Investors and Business Owners

The best countries to move to from the US are the ones that improve your balance sheet, protect your assets, and fit the way your household actually lives.

This guide compares nine jurisdictions our clients ask about most, using 2026 figures checked against current sources. Use it to build a short list, then test that list against your own facts with licensed professionals in each country.

What this guide covers

• A nine-point framework for ranking any destination before you visit
• A master comparison table of residency minimums, tax systems, and budgets
• Country guides for Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Portugal, Uruguay, Paraguay, Spain, Italy, and Malaysia
• The United States tax rules that follow you wherever you land
• Answers to the questions investors and business owners ask first

How to choose among the best countries to move to from the US

Most relocation mistakes happen before the first flight. Families choose on lifestyle, then test the legal structure too late. Reverse the order: rank the structure first, then choose where to live within the shortlist that survives.

We apply three questions to every decision. Does this move make the household wealthier? Does it protect assets? Does it lawfully remove a government claim on income or capital? Everything in this guide concerns legal structure, disclosed and reported. Concealment is evasion, and evasion is a crime in every jurisdiction listed here, including the one you are leaving.

The nine factors we weigh

1. Tax system. Territorial systems tax only local-source income. Worldwide systems tax residents on everything, often with special regimes for newcomers. Know which one you are entering and how long any incentive lasts.
2. Residency route and cost. Passive income, pension, investment, or remote work. Each route has a minimum, a renewal cycle, and a path (or no path) to permanent residency and citizenship.
3. Safety. Read the U.S. State Department travel advisories at the regional level, then spend time in the specific neighborhood.
4. Healthcare. Public system access, mandatory enrollment rules, and the quality of private hospitals within a reasonable drive.
5. Banking access for Americans. FATCA reporting makes many foreign banks cautious with U.S. persons. Ask which local banks open accounts for Americans before you commit.
6. Time zone to the US. A founder running a U.S. company from Central America keeps a normal workday. The same founder in Kuala Lumpur works nights.
7. Cost of living for an upscale household. Rent in the right neighborhood, private schooling, insurance, staff, and travel.
8. Property rights for foreigners. Some countries grant foreigners full title. Others restrict coastal or border land, or require a trust or local company.
9. Flight connections. Direct routes to the U.S. cities where your family, clients, and doctors are located.

The United States keeps its claim

The United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of residence. Moving abroad changes your foreign tax picture, and U.S. filing continues every year. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion rises to $132,900 for tax year 2026, according to the IRS inflation adjustments reported by CPA Practice Advisor. The exclusion applies only to earned income, and you must meet either the bona fide residence test or the physical presence test of 330 full days abroad in 12 consecutive months, as the IRS explains. Dividends, interest, and capital gains remain fully in the U.S. system. Our pillar on lawful tax reduction abroad covers the structures that work with this reality.

Master comparison table: best countries to move to from the US in 2026

The budget column uses Numbeo data published in November 2026 for the main city: rent for a three-bedroom city-centre apartment plus estimated living costs for two adults. For Portugal we used Lisbon rent with national living costs, and for Paraguay national figures. Treat these as a floor. Private health insurance, schooling, household staff, and travel often add as much again for the households we work with.

Time zone gaps shift by an hour when the U.S. moves to daylight saving time and the destination does not, or the reverse. English prevalence is high in Malaysia and in the expatriate and business communities of Panama City, Costa Rica, and Lisbon. Elsewhere, plan on Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian for daily life and for every government office.

Latin America. Several of the best countries to move to from the US sit in this region. It gives Americans the shortest flights, workable time zones, and three territorial tax systems in this guide. Costa Rica, Panama, and Paraguay tax local-source income and largely leave foreign income alone. Mexico and Uruguay take a broader view, with important exceptions.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is home ground for us. I relocated permanently in 2021, and Expat Expert keeps its office in Liberia, Guanacaste, a short drive from the Daniel Oduber international airport.

Residency route

Three routes cover most of our clients. The investor category requires $150,000 under Article 8 of Law 9996, and the immigration authority (DGME) checklist still listed that figure in September 2026, with a two-year permit renewable while the investment is maintained. Rentistas show $2,500 a month in stable passive income for two years. Pensionados show a lifetime pension of at least $1,000 a month. One change matters for 2026 filers: the five-year window to claim the extra Law 9996 incentives, including duty-free household goods and vehicle import, closed on July 14, 2026. Some Costa Rican firms now report that new files need $200,000 after the sunset date. No official notice confirms that, so confirm the current figure with DGME before you commit capital.

Taxes

Costa Rica taxes income on a territorial basis. PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries describe individual income tax as levied on local income, with a top rate of 25% for self-employed income above 20,442,000 colones in 2026. Foreign investment income and foreign salaries generally sit outside the Costa Rican net, although the U.S. return still captures them. Every legal resident must enroll in the national health system, the CCSS or Caja, and non-employed residents contribute a percentage of declared income.

Cost of living

Numbeo puts a three-bedroom city-centre apartment in San José at about $2,000 a month and two adults at roughly $2,000 in living costs, for a baseline near $4,000. Coastal Guanacaste, where many of our clients settle, prices higher for ocean-view homes and imported goods.

Real estate and business

Foreigners hold titled property on the same terms as citizens and can buy on a tourist entry. The exception is the coast. Under the Maritime Zone Law, the first 50 meters from the high-tide line are public, and the next 150 meters are typically held by government concession. A foreigner with fewer than five years of legal residency generally cannot hold a majority interest in a concession, so buyers either partner with a Costa Rican majority holder or wait.

What to watch

Property crime in tourist areas, slow municipal permitting, and title diligence on rural land. Use an independent attorney for every purchase, and confirm whether a coastal listing is titled or concession land before you negotiate price.

Panama

Residency route

The Qualified Investor program grants permanent residency for $300,000 in real estate, $500,000 in approved securities, or $750,000 in a fixed-term bank deposit, under Executive Decree 193 of October 15, 2024. The Friendly Nations visa, open to U.S. citizens, requires economic ties through Panamanian employment, $200,000 in real estate, or a $200,000 fixed-term deposit, and leads to permanent residency after two years of provisional status. The Pensionado visa requires a lifetime pension of $1,000 a month, plus $250 for each dependent.

Taxes

PwC confirms that Panama taxes citizens and residents on Panamanian-source income only. Rates run from 0% up to $11,000, 15% to $50,000, and 25% above that.

Cost of living

Numbeo lists Panama City at about $2,245 for a three-bedroom city-centre apartment and about $1,700 for two adults, a baseline near $3,950.

Real estate and business

Panama City is a financial center with a large private banking sector and the Copa Airlines hub at Tocumen, with direct service to many U.S. cities. Foreign ownership of titled property is broadly permitted. For founders, the territorial system means a company billing clients outside Panama can be structured so that its profits are not Panamanian-source income.

What to watch

Banking onboarding for U.S. persons is slower than marketing materials suggest, and source-of-funds documentation going back years is standard. Program thresholds have changed by decree before, so confirm the rule in force on your filing date.

Mexico

Residency route

Mexico issues temporary residency to applicants who prove financial solvency at a consulate before arrival, and thresholds vary by consulate. Published 2026 figures sit around $4,300 to $5,000 a month in income over six months, or roughly $73,000 in average savings over twelve months. Direct permanent residency requires about $7,300 a month in pension income or roughly $293,000 in savings, and is generally reserved for retirees.

Taxes

Mexico taxes residents on worldwide income. PwC lists a top marginal rate of 35% for 2026. A Mexican home and a residency card can make you a Mexican tax resident even if you think of yourself as a part-time visitor, so confirm your status with a Mexican accountant. The U.S.-Mexico tax treaty and foreign tax credits mitigate double tax, but planning is required before the first full year.

Cost of living

Numbeo places a three-bedroom city-centre apartment in Mexico City near $2,520 and two adults at about $1,535, a baseline near $4,050.

Real estate and business

Foreigners cannot hold direct title within 50 kilometers of the coast or 100 kilometers of a border. Inside that restricted zone, buyers use a bank trust, the fideicomiso, which runs up to 50 years and is renewable, or a Mexican corporation, which can be fully foreign-owned.

What to watch

Regional security varies sharply by state. Read the State Department advisory for the specific state, not the country headline. Real estate fraud aimed at foreign retirees is common enough to warrant a notary-led closing and an independent title review on every purchase.

Uruguay

Residency route

Uruguay grants legal residency through the National Migration Directorate on proof of lawful means of support. Tax residency follows either more than 183 days of presence, a center of vital interests in Uruguay, or qualifying investment. Naturalization is available after three years of residency for applicants with families and five years for single applicants.

Taxes

Uruguay rewrote its tax holiday through Law 20.446, the 2025 to 2029 budget, effective January 1, 2026. New residents who qualify receive a full exemption on foreign dividends and interest for the year residency begins and ten more years. Qualifying now requires more than 183 days of presence each year, real estate above roughly $2 million (12.5 million indexed units), or contributions of about $100,000 a year to a national innovation fund. The older route of about $590,000 in real estate plus 60 days of presence no longer opens the holiday for new applicants. After the holiday, foreign passive income is taxed at 12%, and from 2026 that rate also reaches capital gains on assets held through non-resident entities. EY reports that implementing regulations were issued in September 2026, and residents who arrived before 2026 have until December 31, 2026 to opt in.

Cost of living

Numbeo shows Montevideo rent near $1,260 for a three-bedroom city-centre apartment, with two adults at about $1,950 in living costs, for a baseline near $3,200.

Real estate and business

Uruguay has strong property rights, a reliable registry, and no restriction on foreign ownership. The country participates in CRS automatic information exchange, so foreign accounts are reported to the tax authority.

What to watch

The 2026 reform cuts both ways. The holiday is simpler to reach for full-time residents, but the investment route now costs far more, and foreign capital gains held through offshore entities are now taxable after the holiday.

Paraguay

Residency route

Paraguay launched the Investor Pass in April 2026, effective April 28, 2026, under Resolution 283/2026 of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. It leads directly to permanent residency without a temporary stage. The routes are $70,000 in a productive investment that creates at least five formal jobs, $200,000 in financial instruments held two years, $200,000 in real estate for economic use (personal homes do not qualify), or $150,000 in a tourism project. A standard temporary residency route also remains available for applicants who are not investing.

Taxes

Paraguay taxes individuals on Paraguayan-source income at progressive rates of 8%, 9%, and 10%, according to PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries. Income earned outside Paraguay generally falls outside the system, which makes Paraguay one of the lowest-tax residencies in this guide.

Cost of living

Numbeo national figures put a three-bedroom city-centre apartment at about $860 and two adults at about $1,050, a baseline near $1,900.

Real estate and business

Foreigners may own property, and the agricultural sector draws serious investors. Permanent residents may apply for naturalization after three years, though approval is discretionary.

What to watch

Paraguay rewards households that can tolerate fewer direct flights to the U.S., heat, and a Spanish and Guaraní environment.

Europe. Europe offers rule of law, world-class healthcare, and a Schengen residence card. It also offers worldwide taxation, and in two of these countries a wealth tax or a very expensive flat tax.

Portugal

Residency route

The D7 passive income visa requires €920 a month for a single applicant and €1,380 for a couple in 2026, with savings of €11,040 for one person. The golden visa survives in narrower form: €500,000 in a qualifying Portuguese fund or a €250,000 cultural donation, with about seven days a year of required presence. Roughly 29,000 golden visa applicants were still waiting as of August 2026, with reported waits of 12 to 18 months.

Taxes

Portugal taxes residents on worldwide income at progressive rates from 12.5% to 48% for 2026, plus a solidarity rate of 2.5% to 5% on high incomes. The former Non-Habitual Resident regime is closed to new applicants. Its replacement, IFICI, targets specific professions in research, technology, and startups, and does not cover pensions or other passive income.

Cost of living

Numbeo lists a three-bedroom city-centre apartment in Lisbon near $2,490, and national living costs for two adults near $1,520, a baseline near $4,000.

Real estate and business

Foreigners buy freely. Running an active business from Portugal at standard rates is costly, so model it with a Portuguese tax adviser first.

What to watch

The nationality law changed. Lei Orgânica 1/2026, in force since May 19, 2026, extends the citizenship residence period to ten years for most nationalities, from five. Permanent residency remains available after five years. If a second passport is the goal, read our pillar on residency and second passports before you choose Portugal for that reason.

Spain

Residency route

Spain ended its golden visa on April 3, 2025, when Organic Law 1/2025 repealed the investor residence provisions. The main route for financially independent households is the non-lucrative visa, which requires €28,800 a year for the main applicant and €7,200 for each dependent, with no work permitted in Spain and a 183-day presence requirement. Remote workers can use the digital nomad visa, at roughly €2,849 a month, with at least 80% of work serving clients or employers outside Spain.

Taxes

Spain taxes residents on worldwide income and levies a wealth tax on worldwide net assets, with a state exemption of €700,000 and rates from 0.2% to 3.5% where a region does not set its own scale. A separate solidarity tax on large fortunes applies to net assets of €3 million or more and is now permanent. Executives and employees who relocate to work in Spain may use the impatriate regime, often called the Beckham Law: a flat 24% on Spanish employment income up to €600,000 for up to six years, with most foreign investment income outside Spanish tax.

Cost of living

Numbeo shows a three-bedroom city-centre apartment in Madrid near $2,860 and two adults near $1,815, a baseline near $4,650.

Real estate and business

Foreigners buy freely, though political pressure on short-term rentals and foreign buyers continues.

What to watch

Spain can be the most expensive country in this guide for a wealthy passive investor who does not qualify for the Beckham regime. The combination of worldwide income tax and wealth tax requires pre-arrival planning, including the timing of gains and the valuation of assets on the first December 31 of residence.

Italy

Residency route

The elective residence visa requires passive income of at least €31,000 a year for a single applicant, or €38,000 for a married couple. Savings alone do not qualify, and work is not permitted.

Taxes

Italy taxes residents on worldwide income at progressive rates. Its alternative for wealthy newcomers is the flat tax on foreign income. Knight Frank reports that from January 1, 2026, the annual charge rose to €300,000, from €200,000, and to €50,000 for each qualifying family member. The regime runs up to 15 years and is open to those who were not Italian tax residents in at least nine of the previous ten years.

Cost of living

Numbeo lists Milan at about $3,470 for a three-bedroom city-centre apartment and about $2,325 for two adults, a baseline near $5,800, the highest in this guide.

Real estate and business

Foreigners from countries with reciprocity, including the U.S., may buy property. Italy appeals to families with substantial foreign investment income who want European schooling and culture under a fixed, predictable tax charge.

What to watch

The flat tax makes sense only when foreign income is large enough that €300,000 a year costs less than ordinary rates would. For most households that means foreign income well into seven figures, so model both outcomes before you apply.

Malaysia

Residency route

The Malaysia My Second Home program, MM2H, runs on tiers. Silver requires a $150,000 fixed deposit for a five-year renewable pass. Gold requires $500,000 for fifteen years, and Platinum requires $1 million for twenty years. Applicants must be at least 25. Participants under 50 must spend 90 days a year in Malaysia. Each tier also carries a minimum home purchase: RM600,000, RM1 million, and RM2 million respectively.

Taxes

Malaysia taxes income arising in or derived from Malaysia, and residents pay up to 30% on the top bracket. Foreign-sourced income received by resident individuals is exempt through December 31, 2036, provided it has already been taxed in the country where it was earned. For a U.S. person whose foreign income is already taxed by the U.S., that condition deserves careful review with an adviser.

Cost of living

Numbeo lists Kuala Lumpur at about $1,245 for a three-bedroom city-centre apartment and about $1,160 for two adults, a baseline near $2,400.

Real estate and business

Foreign buyers face minimum purchase prices that vary by state, in addition to the MM2H tier minimums.

What to watch

The time zone is the main cost. Kuala Lumpur sits twelve to thirteen hours ahead of New York, and flights to the U.S. require a connection. For founders who run U.S. operations live, that gap is decisive.

Banking, digital assets, and the paperwork that travels with you

Most countries in this guide exchange account information automatically, and every one of them will ask where your money came from. U.S. persons also file FBAR and FATCA reports on foreign accounts. Assemble a clean file before you apply: three years of bank statements, tax returns, sale documents for major assets, and corporate records for any entity you own.

Digital asset holders face extra scrutiny at local banks and real estate closings. Our pillar on crypto and global wealth covers how to prepare that record and how different jurisdictions treat digital asset gains.

For a structured version of the full relocation sequence, our free course Full 180: Guide to International Relocation walks through each stage in ten chapters.

Frequently asked questions about the best countries to move to from the US

Which country has the lowest residency cost for an investor?

Paraguay has the lowest investment-based minimum in this guide, at $70,000 for a productive investment that creates five formal jobs. For a passive investor, Costa Rica at $150,000 (confirm the current figure with DGME) and Paraguay at $200,000 are the most accessible. Pension and passive income routes in Costa Rica and Panama cost less still, if your income qualifies.

Does moving abroad end my U.S. taxes?

No. The United States taxes citizens on worldwide income wherever they live. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion shelters up to $132,900 of earned income in 2026, but investment income stays fully taxable.

Which countries tax only local income?

Costa Rica, Panama, and Paraguay tax individuals on local-source income. Malaysia exempts foreign income received by residents through 2036 if that income was taxed abroad. Uruguay exempts foreign dividends and interest during its eleven-year holiday, then taxes them at 12%.

Is the Spain golden visa still available?

No. Spain closed its golden visa on April 3, 2025. Financially independent households now use the non-lucrative visa, and remote workers use the digital nomad visa.

Can Americans own property in these countries?

Yes, with limits. Mexico requires a bank trust or Mexican company within 50 kilometers of the coast and 100 kilometers of a border. Costa Rica restricts majority ownership of coastal concession land for foreigners with fewer than five years of residency. Malaysia sets minimum purchase prices for foreign buyers.

How long does residency take?

It ranges from weeks to more than a year. Panama Qualified Investor approvals can be fast once the file is complete, Paraguay estimates three to six months, and Portugal golden visa applicants report waits of 12 to 18 months.

Further reading

• How to Move Abroad in 90 Days: Documents, Money, Housing and What Nobody Tells You
• Mastering the Basics of Relocation Planning for International Living
• What Are the Essential Elements of a Solid Exit Strategy for International Entrepreneurs?
• One Wrong Form
• The American Dream Has Moved
• What You Need to Know About International Private Healthcare for Global Mobility
• What Factors Should Families Consider When Choosing a Private School Abroad?
• Healthcare Directives Abroad: Why Every Expat Needs One
• How to Plan an Effective Evacuation Strategy in a Global Mobility Context
• What Are the Key Considerations When Hiring Staff Overseas?
• What You Need to Know About International Real Estate Investing as a Moving and Growing Opportunity

Next steps

No list of the best countries to move to from the US can rank your household for you. The right jurisdiction is the one where your income type, asset base, family needs, and business model line up with the local rules.

Subscribe to The Dispatch, our twice-monthly briefing on residency programs, tax changes, and market conditions across these jurisdictions.

If your household has net income or net worth above $500,000 and you are ready to compare destinations against your own facts, write to chris@expatexpert.co to request a relocation evaluation. We provide relocation assistance, planning, and management, and we coordinate with licensed attorneys and tax professionals in each jurisdiction.

This guide is educational and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or immigration advice. Consult a licensed attorney or tax professional in the relevant jurisdiction before acting.

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