Choosing The Right Place To Live As A British Expat

People choose to leave their home in the UK for many different reasons and sometimes, they just fancy a change of scenery. When you’re not moving for work or you don’t necessarily want to live somewhere specific, the world really is your oyster and you have so many different amazing countries to choose from when you’re deciding where you’d like to be your new home. 

As you may expect, some countries are much more popular than others with British expats and a few that see the highest level of migration include; Australia, Canada, Spain, Dubai, France and the USA. All of these countries have their own pros and cons, and people are drawn to them for a number of different reasons, yet choosing between them isn’t always as easy as people may think. 

It goes without saying that deciding where you’re going to live is completely different from deciding where to go on holiday and it is undeniably important to do all you can to ensure that you make the right choice. To help anyone who is currently considering relocating and attempting to choose between the dozens of countries that they have to choose from, we have looked into the most important factors to think about when making your decision. 

The climate 

This is often one of the first things that people will think about when wanting to live in another country and the weather often plays a big part in the way that people feel on a daily basis. If you’re wanting to leave the UK specifically because of the miserable weather, then it is undeniably important to look into the climates of different countries and think about what would be ideal for you. But, always think practically and realistically about this. 

The time difference 

Many overlook the time difference when thinking about whether or not a country would be a good place for them to live, but we think that is always worthwhile bearing in mind. If you are really close with your family and friends and you’d like to easily chat to them, you may want to look at places that have less of a time difference. Only being able to call at specific times doesn’t work for everyone long-term, so be sure to take this into consideration.

The visa rules and restrictions

Arguably, this is one of the most important factors to consider and living somewhere isn’t the same as visiting somewhere for a few weeks as far as visas are concerned. Things such as your right to reside and work will differ from county to country and it is undeniably essential to be aware of visa restrictions. Some countries have specific requirements, such as time frames and monthly incomes, and you need to be aware of these before deciding where you’re going to live. 

The cost of living 

Again, this is something that many forget to look into when they’re wanting to move abroad. Whilst you may look at the cost of getting an apartment or a house, it is also important to ensure that you’re looking at the general cost of living too. Finding out things such as the average wage and the cost of a standard food shop can help you to ensure that you will have a comfortable life wherever you choose. Of course, remember to look at things like different taxes too. 

The culture 

It is highly likely that this will play a huge role in the decision that you make and ultimately, if you feel uncomfortable with a country’s culture you shouldn’t move here. Many love experiencing the way of life in different countries when they go on holiday, but when living here, you will have to fully embrace the culture and potentially make drastic changes to your day-to-day life. Be sure to think about everything from a country’s language and cuisine to religion and laws. 

How easy it is to get home

Unfortunately, this is something that lots of British expats don’t think about until it is too late. If you’d ideally like to come back to the UK to see family and friends a few times a year, think about how easy it is for you to do so and also how expensive it is to travel back as well. You should also bear this in mind for people who will want to visit you too and you will probably find that the less accessible your new home is, the less likely people are to come. 

Deciding where to start life as a British expat 

It is fair to say that there are so many important factors and key criteria to carefully consider when you’re wanting to start a new life abroad. Hopefully, by taking the time to think about everything mentioned above you can start to figure out exactly what you’re looking for in a new home and this can help you to narrow down the vast number of incredible options that you have. Remember, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution in this regard and the country that is perfect for you might not be for someone else, so stay true to yourself and be selfish when deciding where you’re going to live. 

Thankfully, no matter where you choose to live next, one thing that you won’t have to worry about is British food imports. Here at British Essentials, we have been exporting the most-loved British brands and products for over a decade now and you can always rely on us to deliver everything you need to you, whether you live in New Zealand or Morocco. We understand that being able to easily get British food imported is incredibly important to many living outside of the UK and for this reason, we have made it our mission to ensure that both food and drink which is loved by everyone here in the UK is easily accessible to everyone around the world.