These Are the Countries Americans Want to Relocate To

Becoming an expat is a big decision, and the list of where to relocate to can be very long. But turns out, the country Americans are drawn to the most isn’t that far after all.

Canada was the top country Americans targeted when hoping to move abroad, according to a new study from moveBuddha, which serves as an online resource for moving and storage services. In fact, 24.4 percent of the survey’s respondents picked the neighbor to the north.

“We’ve helped thousands of people move across the country for all kinds of reasons—to chase a job, start a family, or just get closer to the beach. But what we’re seeing now is very different,” Ryan Carrigan, moveBuddha’s founder, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. “With rising costs, job uncertainty, and concerns about health care and safety, more people are looking for somewhere that just feels livable.”

Runner-up was England (another English speaking destination) with 12.2 percent of those surveyed picking the European country. That was followed by Japan, Ireland, and Switzerland rounding out the top five.

Overall, the company said nearly one in 10 Americans was “actively researching a move abroad” and nearly 60 percent said “they’ve considered leaving the country at some point.”

When it comes to choosing a spot to land, the cost of living was the highest concern (34 percent said it was the No. 1 consideration), followed by financial security and political stability. And what are they hoping to escape? That would be high living costs in the United States, America’s health care access, and crime.

For its survey, moveBuddha interviewed 1,000 U.S. residents in September.

Moving abroad is a big decision and comes with a lot of factors to think about. Experts recommend first researching any relevant visa requirements and saving up so you make sure to start on the right foot (six months of savings is the general rule). Expats should also register with the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which offers safety and security alerts and allows the government to contact them in an emergency.

Connecting with fellow expats can also help new residents settle in to a new destination, and they’re usually happy to help with any sticky questions that come up along the way.

These are the top countries Americans are looking to move to, according to the study.

1. Canada
2. England
3. Japan
4. Ireland
5. Switzerland
6. France
7. Costa Rica
8. Mexico
9. New Zealand
10. Thailand
11. Germany
12. Portugal