The Solo Expat Advantage: 6 Perks of Living Abroad on Your Own

Whether you’re looking for an adventure, or just a change of pace, becoming an expat can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime. It takes courage to move your life across the world, especially as a solo expat, but you’ll find the sacrifices are well worth the rewards.

Being a Solo Expat

Expats working abroad and digital nomads will find newfound freedom to explore the world, and become immersed in a new culture. If you’re still on the fence, these are some of the best reasons to become a solo expat.

Independence

A common reason expats move abroad is to get away from the monotony of daily life in their home countries. Moving to another country gives you the opportunity to start anew, even in a different career. Many digital nomads trade in their 9-to-5 office jobs for remote work that can be done wherever there’s an internet connection. This allows you to move as often as you like, wherever you like. Even if you’re not working remotely, workers in some countries enjoy benefits like shorter hours and more time-off, meaning you’ll be less tied to your work, and get more opportunities to live life on your terms.

Travel

As stated above, global nomads get more time and flexibility to travel, and moving abroad can get you closer to where you want to go. Are the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum on your bucket list? Moving anywhere in Europe gets you closer to both. Have you always wanted to visit ancient temples? Southeast Asia has thousands of them. You can live where some people just vacation, which means you’ll get to see so much more than the average tourist would. Plus, it’ll take less time and money than it would to travel from your home country.

Money

For many countries, the draw for expats is in the cost of living. Of course, costs vary from country to country, but it’s easy for global nomads to use favorable housing prices, healthcare costs, taxes, and exchange rates to make their income last longer. This means you can do more with a smaller income, or you can save more of your money for travel, housing or other luxuries. Living as a solo expat lowers your expenses even more, since you’ll only have to pay housing and personal expenses for one. Note that some countries have low tax rates for solo expatriates – you may want to talk to an expat tax advisor to discuss the advantages of living overseas.

Expat Community

Becoming an expat means that you are now part of a giant community of people just like you. Especially in major cities, it’s easy to find expat communities. These communities are always welcoming to those just starting out, so you even if you’re living solo, you’ll never be truly alone. Other expats can help you out with tips and tricks, or just provide a sense of community and belonging in your new home. It’s not just other expats that are friendly, either. Many cultures are very hospitable to foreigners, and are happy to welcome new residents. Plus, even if you move on later, you’ll always have a network of friends across the world.

Cultural Exchanges

Of course, it would be remiss of us not to mention the most rewarding aspect of expat life: absorbing another culture. Have you always wanted to learn a new language? When you’re hearing and practicing your target language everywhere you go, you’ll be able to learn much easier than you could at home. When you become a local in a different country, you’re able to see so much more than you would just as a visitor. You’ll get to know everything: the food, the music, the language, the people, and the way of life. Some cultures are more laid-back, some emphasize community, and some live for spontaneity. Everywhere offers something different. Wherever you choose to move, you’ll be immersed in a new corner of the world, and it may change your life for the better.

Healthcare for Solo Expats

Especially for solo expats & global nomads, it’s always important to know what the healthcare situation is in your new home. Fortunately, most countries popular with expats have robust and high-quality healthcare systems, and many offer universal healthcare. However, you’ll likely still want to invest in a private international insurance plan. Expat Financial, which is a division of TFG Global, specializes in sourcing global healthcare for expats and global nomads. We have a variety of plans to fit your circumstances and budgets and are well versed in the requirements of solo expats.

We recommend that you download our international health insurance guide if you are moving abroad or already living the solo expat life.