Expat Articles
Move Abroad | Work Abroad
These articles are dedicated to helping you Move Abroad or Work Abroad to attain a higher quality of life for a lower cost of living.
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UPDATED: Our Thoughts About Ecuador Right Now
/in Blog, Ecuador/by JP StonestreetIt has been a little over a month since President Noboa declared a state of emergency and signed the decree he called the Phoenix Plan.
In that time, the military and police have carried out 99,000 security operations nationwide. More than 8,000 people have already been arrested, many of them are from other countries.
The Pros and Cons of Porto, Portugal
/in Blog, Move Abroad, Portugal/by Amelia BasistaPorto, Portugal is a city with a history that predates even the Roman Empire and it continues to captivate people from all around the world.
Despite our arrival coinciding with one of the worst rainy seasons in recent memory, we were lucky enough to have a few hours of sun and blue skies to explore the city. We didn’t let the weather stop us!
Porto is extremely popular with tourists and foreign residents but it isn’t perfect. In this article, we share what we love about Porto, as well as some of the downsides, to help you decide if it is a good fit for you.
What Still Shocks Us in Ecuador After 6 Years
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by Amelia BasistaLiving in Ecuador for over six years has been an incredible journey, but at times we still experience culture shock.
In this article, we share some of the cultural nuances that continue to baffle and surprise us, including several things that are shocking in a good way, to help you better prepare for your visit or move to this amazing country.
Moving Abroad in 2017 Changed Us (a lot)
/in Blog, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetMoving to Ecuador in 2017 transformed our lives. In more ways than one.
These pictures are from our exploratory trip in March 2017. We don’t have many photos from that trip because we were both so self conscious about our appearance that we didn’t like having our pictures taken.
We’ve changed a lot since then.
Cumbaya Ecuador Pros & Cons
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by Amelia BasistaCumbayá is one of Ecuador’s most popular expat cities and for good reason! It has a lot of modern amenities, including excellent healthcare, shopping, and restaurants!
It’s a suburb of Quito and functions as a bedroom community for many people who work in the city center. A good comparison in the U.S. would be the Denver suburb of Cherry Creek.
We lived in Cumbaya for almost 2 years and loved it, but there are some downsides. In this article, we’ll share the pros and the cons to help you decide if it is a good fit for you.
Loja Ecuador Pros & Cons for Expats & Tourists
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetNestled within the picturesque landscape of Ecuador lies Loja, a city that has increasingly captured the attention of both tourists and long-term residents.
Having lived in Ecuador for several years, we finally made it to the city for a deeper exploration to discover why so many people recommended we spend time there.
In this article, we provide an overview of this beautiful Andes mountain city and cover both its strengths and its areas for potential improvement.
Working Remotely From Colombia – A Perspective From A New Expat
/in Blog, Colombia, Move Abroad, Work Abroad/by Daniel ArthurIn this guest post, Daniel Arthur shares his journey from office job to remote worker, which allows him to live his Unconventional Life in Colombia. Here is his story…
My remote work journey began long ago, several years into my career, and shortly after graduating from college. I’ve been working remotely for over twenty years, long before it became popular.
Back then, there were only three options for folks who wanted to work from home. They consisted of people who owned their businesses or were self-employed, freelancers, or W-2 wage-earning employees who worked for companies who valued their employee’s contributions to the company, invested in their success and career trajectory, and were sensitive to their employee’s overall quality of life.
I was very fortunate to convince my employer back in 2007 to agree to this arrangement. My experience could be a model for current and future expats wishing to work abroad.
AirBnB Alternatives for Digital Nomads
/in Blog, Move Abroad, Travel Tips/by JP StonestreetAs numerous cities worldwide enact stricter regulations or outright bans on short-term rentals available on platforms like AirBnB, VRBO, and Booking.com, long-term travelers and digital nomads are feeling the crunch.
The recent near-total ban in New York City is just the tip of the iceberg with similar regulations already enacted in Vienna, Florence, Paris, Berlin, Bali, and other popular destinations.
While platforms like AirBnB were once the go-to solution, offering affordability and a chance to live like a local, the surge in extra fees, decreasing customer focus, and gentrification have travelers exploring other avenues.
Living Among the Coffee Bushes near Boquete, Panamá
/in Blog, Day In The Life, Move Abroad, Panama/by Warren R. JohnsonI lived a comfortable life in the United States, enjoying a cabin in the woods. I had a nice kitchen and good friends nearby.
Yet, in 2020, I grew concerned with the politics and cost of living and decided to look elsewhere for a new life. I took tours of Panamá and Mexico to explore going south.
I chose the Republic of Panamá because it required the shortest time to secure a Permanent Visa. Hurtling through the skies was brisk. Far from brisk was dealing with airports and QR scanning codes. I arrived intact but exhausted—I slept 11 hours the first night.
Yet, if you had told me I would be living in a yurt at 5,260 feet above sea level on a tropical mountainside among coffee bushes, I would have asked if you were crazy.
My Unconventional Marriage In Colombia: Celebrating Marriage Across Borders
/in Blog, Colombia, Move Abroad/by Daniel ArthurIn September 2017, I met my lifelong partner in the most unconventional way. We met online through a language-learning mobile app called Tandem.
I suppose it isn’t unconventional to meet someone online, especially in these times! Many successful couples have met online, formed an immediate connection, and subsequently married four years later.
We took the conservative approach to marriage in the beginning. About the three-year mark in our relationship, we contemplated marriage. We decided to delay it to allow us to complete our academic endeavors. I was finishing my Master’s while my partner was completing his Bachelor’s.
Why Josh & Kalie Moved to Portugal
/in Blog, Move Abroad, Portugal/by Kalie - ExpatsEverywhereI get asked this question a lot: Why Portugal?
Obviously there are a variety of reasons that someone chooses to move somewhere, whether that’s in their own country or abroad.
There are a lot of great options for places to move abroad, but we are extremely happy to currently be in Portugal.
10 Things We Miss About the United States (as Expats in Ecuador)
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetSeveral of our most-viewed videos are about things we DON’T miss about living in the United States (and we catch a lot of flack for talking about that). So in this article, I want to share some of the things we DO miss about the U.S.
If you’re planning a move to Ecuador, this article will help you mentally prepare for the differences, and remind you to bring a few things with you.
Here are 10 things we miss about living in the United States.
10 Countries Where You Can Live for $1,000/mo (or less)
/in Blog, Cost of Living, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetInflation and stagnant wages are dragging down the quality of life for millions of people in “1st world” countries. Thankfully, there are more affordable places to live.
The developing world, and even some developed countries, offer a much lower cost of living, while at the same time offering a much higher quality of life full of adventure and new friendships.
In this article, we share 10 countries where a single person can live on $1,000/month or less, and a couple can live on $1,500/month or less.
Each of these locations offers affordable housing, food, utilities, and healthcare, along with exciting cultural experiences and a welcoming expat community.
REAL Cost of Living in Ecuador for 2023: A Guide for Expat Budgeting
/in Blog, Cost of Living, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetOne of the main reasons expats leave home is to save money while also being able to afford a higher quality of life. The low cost of living in Ecuador and other popular expat destinations makes that possible.
In this article, we’ll share how much you can expect to pay for necessities in Ecuador, like rent, utilities, healthcare, transportation, food, appliances, and more.
Kristen Shares Her Story About Living In Ecuador as a Single Woman from the United States
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by Kristen CrawfordWe’re often asked if there are single women living in Ecuador, so we’re excited to share Kristen’s story because she is a single retired woman living in Cuenca.
We met Kristen through Amelia’s belly dancing studio when we lived in Cuenca. She is one of those people who lights up a room when she enters it. She never meets a stranger and makes everyone feel welcome.
If you’re a single woman considering a move to Ecuador, you’re certain to appreciate Kristen’s perspective. Here’s her story…
The Bowens Share Their Insightful Story About Raising Children in Ecuador
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by Blake & Brittany BowenThe Bowen Family (La Familia Bowen) is from Washington State via Arizona in the United States, but now they live in southern Ecuador with their young children.
In this insightful story, they share what it’s like to raise a family in a foreign country and take grandchildren so far away from their grandparents.
How To Start a Successful YouTube Channel: A Step-by-Step Guide
/in Blog, Work Abroad/by JP StonestreetDreaming of living abroad and funding your expat lifestyle by starting a successful YouTube channel? That’s exactly what we have done!
With over 300 videos, 90K subscribers, and 12 million views on our YouTube channel, we now earn a six-figure income that supports our life in Ecuador and our travel to other countries.
In this comprehensive, step-by-step guide, we’ll share our journey and strategies for starting and growing a successful YouTube channel. Let’s dive in!
Cuenca Ecuador Neighborhoods
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetCuenca Ecuador has several neighborhoods that are popular with expats.
We lived in El Vergel, which was more popular with Ecuadorians at the time, but now has become more popular with expats, as well.
In this article, you’ll learn about the inner and outer neighborhoods of Cuenca Ecuador that are most popular with expats.
Why Kris and Mike Moved to Ecuador from Canada
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by Kris and Mike NelsonKris And Mike left Canada and moved to a small rural beach town in Ecuador. Here is their inspiring story about Living the Life You Love!
We owned a beautiful home on a lake in northern Ontario Canada. It was our dream home.
I was retired and Kris owned and worked at her small-town decor store. We loved to travel but other than that we never even talked about moving anywhere else, even within Canada.
Why would we? We had everything and were happy.
Ecuador Gun Laws
/in Blog, Ecuador, Move Abroad/by JP StonestreetGuns in Ecuador are tightly regulated and the right to bear arms is not guaranteed by the constitution as it is in the United States.
There are several gun ownership restrictions and laws that make it difficult, but not impossible to have a gun in Ecuador.