Practical articles for planning a longer stay abroad.
Browse guides on destinations, first-stay logistics, documents, healthcare, phone service, internet, budgeting, apartments, and the everyday systems that make a temporary life abroad easier to manage.
Newest practical articles
Recent destination, setup, health, document, budget, and arrival guides from Settling Abroad.
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Portugal, Spain, and Panama for Americans Who Want an Easier First Base
A practical comparison of Portugal, Spain, and Panama for Americans choosing a lower-friction first base abroad.
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Cost of Living in Alicante for Americans: What $1,800, $2,400, and $3,000 a Month Buys
A practical Alicante cost-of-living guide for Americans, with realistic monthly budget bands for rent, transport, food, workspace, healthcare, and first-month setup costs.
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Cost of Living in Valencia for Americans: What $2,000, $2,600, and $3,200 a Month Buys
A practical Valencia cost-of-living guide for Americans, with realistic monthly budget bands for rent, transport, food, workspace, healthcare, and first-month setup costs.
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Cost of Living in Ho Chi Minh City for Americans: What $1,200, $1,900, and $2,700 a Month Buys
A practical Ho Chi Minh City cost-of-living guide for Americans, with realistic monthly budget bands for rent, transport, food, workspace, healthcare, and first-month setup costs.
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Cost of Living in Hanoi for Americans: What $1,100, $1,700, and $2,400 a Month Buys
A practical Hanoi cost-of-living guide for Americans, with realistic monthly budget bands for rent, transport, food, workspace, healthcare, and first-month setup costs.
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Cost of Living in Da Nang for Americans: What $1,200, $1,800, and $2,500 a Month Buys
A practical Da Nang cost-of-living guide for Americans, with realistic monthly budget bands for rent, utilities, food, coworking, healthcare, and first-month setup costs.
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Da Nang vs Hanoi vs Ho Chi Minh City: Which Vietnam Base Fits a Longer Trial Stay?
A practical Vietnam city comparison for Americans choosing between Da Nang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City for a one- to three-month trial stay.
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How to Build a Shortlist of 3 Cities Before Booking a Month Abroad
A practical three-city shortlist method for choosing where to test a month abroad before booking anything expensive.