Seems like it’s a well known fact that being poor or even middle class (if that will even exist anymore) in the US disposes one to a very low quality of life (e.g., living in areas with higher crime rates, bad healthcare, the most obvious being cost of living, …etc)
On the flip side, what are some reasons why the top 1-5% percentile would also want to leave the US? (e.g., taxes/financial benefits, no longer aligning with the culture? I would assume mainly the former)
If you are in the top 1-5%, is living in the US still the best place to live? (as many people would like to suggest)
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I’m in the category of your OP and I didn’t leave for any particular single reason. I was affected by gun violence. Tired of the constant political strife. Felt that most of my relationships with friends were artificial or superficial. There’s probably a lot more things that influenced the decision if I really think about it.
I think most rich US people who move to foreign countries might as well be moving to a 365 day cruise ship. It’s not about establishing roots in a foreign country, it’s about living in some fun tourist destination and dropping out of the rat race.
Personally I could sell my house and move to Thailand, retire, and surf to the Tom Yum shop on the daily. If I didn’t have kids I might be tempted to do just that.
It’s the excitement like you say. It doesn’t mean it’s objectively better like most in the comments seem to be arguing. In fact, the third world pretty much sucks on every metric except price. And then a lot of times the goods are poor quality and the imports have insane custom fees.
USA probably still has the best quality of life globally for middle class.
You’re right it’s not a great place to be poor (unless your goal is to get out of poverty and you’re willing to work for it then it’s an excellent place)… But it’s still great place to be middle class.
Middle class in USA can still buy a detached house with a good sized yard. Can still own a car, go on vacation, save money for retirement.
You’re lucky if you can even do one of those things as middle class in any other first world country globally.
Trump guns wildfire drought earthquake collegecost carculture moneyculture
I’m looking to leave and I’m probably in the upper 10%. The main reason is simply that America does not support a lifestyle I want to live
99% of America is big gaudy houses connected by roads for cars and no sidewalks. It’s feels so lonely here, there’s no sense of community. Driving everywhere is just part of life. Your options for a walkable urban environment are Boston (small), Chicago (medium), NYC (big). All pretty cold, and since I want a bigger city my only option is nyc and its stupid expensive
Yet lots of people raising families in 900 sq foot apartments in European cities would love to have that big house with space around it and either own a car or own one that isn’t tiny.
It is all subjective.
“the grass is always greener on the other side”… I have relatives in Europe who would kill to live in NYC
Why would anyone want to raise kids in a Mcmansion, cut off from the rest of the world, with no means for the kids to grow up independently? Here in the Netherlands kids grow up in small houses but they learn how to ride a bike at age 5, and then by age 8 they are free to visit their friends and go to sports or whatever else by themselves. In the US your kids will ALWAYS be dependent on you to drive them around which means they will socialise far less. It makes kids disappear deeper into their phones, become lonely and all other problems that come with that. I believe that any parent that wants to shelter their kids in a huge suburban house is only doing that for selfish reasons.
Because a big house has more space to enjoy, and it doesn’t mean you’re cut off from the rest of the world. There are people in big houses who socialize a lot, and people in apartments who are shut ins.
Many kids in USA learn to ride bikes at a young age and are also free to visit friends. All kids in USA aren’t dependent on being driven around.
You have a lot of misconceptions and assumptions.
then by age 8 they are free to visit their friends and go to sports or whatever else by themselves.
that’s nuts. There’s a lot predadors out there. I’d never leave my kids just like that.15-16 yes, 8… hell no.
And eat American food, dealing with a for-profit healthcare system? No thanksssssss
This is such a stupid comment. Oh my God you must suffer American BBQ and can’t go to the nearest strip mall to get Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Korean, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Peruvian, etc. you poor unimaginative sap.
I lived half of my life in North America and I would really choose Europe every day
I’ve lived in both Europe (Lyon and Zaragoza) and USA, and I can see the advantages and disadvantages of both. It really comes down to what is important to you, there is no wrong answer.
However that doesn’t make your comment about food any less stupid.
It is not a stupid comment at all. At least in Europe, the food is much healthier because of restrictions against chemical additives and heavy pesticides. And Amrican bread isn’t like real bread and tastes too sweet. So much of the food in the U.S. has too much added sugar. Try living in Eurpore for a month and you’ll see how much better the everyday food tastes and how much healthier it is, if you care about that type of thing. The groceries and fresh ingredients are higher quality.
I just told you in the last comment that I have lived in Europe. Lyon and Zaragoza. I haven’t lived in USA since 2015. Yet you are telling me I need to try living in Europe for a month to become enlightened and agree with you. You are dumb as a rock, you just pile idiotic comments on top of idiotic comments.
Even trying to roll “Europe” into one monolithic entity to declare its food tastes better is dumb. Food from Moldova is better than Louisiana? Nope. Lithuanian food better than Kansas City barbecue? Negative. You can eat healthy in USA or eat unhealthy in USA, you can eat healthy in Europe or eat unhealthy in Europe.
Stop being stupid.
Yeah, definitely, I’m not denying that. Im just saying it doesn’t fit my personal lifestyle goals. I definitely don’t plan to have kids
Many don’t plan on having them, but most aren’t celibate and the issue tends to arise. :)
This. The social isolation in the US. The car-centric design that makes going anywhere an extra effort.
I am this demographic (well, top 10%). I don’t want to even have a whiff of worry about gun violence, and I have a moral objection to the US’ attitude towards health care and treatment of those in poverty.
In my industry people work themselves to death and brag about it. It’s disgusting. I want to not be made to feel guilty when I leave work at 5:30 to spend time with my family.
Some people stay and fight the good fight. Try to change from within. While admirable, that ain’t me. I got mine, now I donate based on % my net worth to causes I believe in and say good riddance to the rat race.
(Please don’t smoke me I’ve spent years in therapy trying to disentangle my entire sense of self worth from being PrOdUcTiVe)
Because they can.
Lifestyle
For one possible reason above all others: If tRump were to be elected again America is not worth saving. Might as well leave because I can.
Philippines, Thailand, Costa Rica, Portugal. The sad fact is you cant afford to retire in the US unless youve put away $2 mil for a couple or have 2 fat pensions. Most of the western world retires earlier, gets more time off and doesn’t pay a grand a month in heath insurance. I think outside of extremely high earners there will be an exodus to lower expense countries with at least decent healthcare. Here, social security will have to be cut 25% to keep it afloat.
The high earning states will have people retiring to poor US states, those in poor states will move to cheaper countries, those people will move to the next cheaper place… its gonna be gentrification musical chairs.
Medicare reimburses nursing homes something like 130 dollars a day. Have you been in a nursing home? Sitters here cost 20 to 30 bucks an hour in home. Which is not covered by medicare. Your saving will go quick.
Something may change for the better to make it possible to stay in the US. I certainly hope so.
The United States is just a country. Sure, it has great economic opportunities if you are determined and relentless, but it’s just a country.
A country with some insane problems, criminal “health care”, high crime, etc.
If I was financially well off, I’d move in a heartbeat. I’d only do business here, living here actually really sucks compared to other western countries.
Disillusioned with US politics, lack of a social safety nets, disgruntled my taxes don’t pay much towards social services, lack of public transport in most cities, harmful pesticides on food, for-profit healthcare, school shootings, wild west gun laws, and a proudly uninformed electorate. My mental, emotional, and physical health are worth much more than a few more USD’s in my pocket. >!I pay less in tax to boot!!<
I am happiest living in the UK :)
Because it’s an easy way to go from top 5% to top 1%.
High taxes, lack of safety, disgusting politics and toxic culture.
The US has the best earning potential, but I don’t like living here. We have elderly parents on my husbands side who won’t leave with us, or can’t go where we’d like to move because of the visas. The quality of life is better elsewhere.