He's right about finances, vacations, lazy Sundays...friends, the laughs, more connections, languages, architecture, walkable cities, cafes, the Unis, and the healthy quality of life i.e. food, water, transport, cost of living, and so much more. There are things one would miss about America, but things he mentions makes living abroad the better option really. Openly, I had a great experience in that way including other details he mentions. You get your moneys worth and while travelling it was great meeting so many people just living, laughing and not living to work and more. Leave the states for a couple of years, it's refreshing, but you'll miss some things. Still for me the benefits and peace of mind abroad out weighed returning which I personally shouldn't have done. It was nice not seeing a gazillion America flags, negativity because you wanted to grow, gross racism and gender issues, financial stress, food that'll kill you and medication that will too...and so on. Everyone's experience is different, but if you like absorbing fresh air, good water, see new cultures being able to embraces and not hide it as much and more travel. Especially to some of the countries listed as the happiest. Being in an antique book store, eating at a traditional tavern, the fields of flowers and such...yiur able to breathe and think. You realise how oppressive and smothering America can be, but you will miss some things. There's cultural different that work and don't work. I fit mostly abroad. I had moments, but not like I do here.
This year I was in Tokyo for a month and I didn't want leave. Food was great and affordable, people were warm and friendly, lots to do, safe, no need for a car, beautiful scenery, etc. I was less stressed and less lonely than in the US. If I didn't like my friends in the US I'd move there ASAP and never look back.
I kind of wanted to hate this video as an American but he is right about pretty much all of it. The healthcare / taxes are debatable but the quality of life and loneliness issues are right on.
He's really talking about the big blue cities, plenty of places with a low cost of living in the US. If your a big city kind of person than europe is probably more affordable.
The way I see it. America is a great place to make money. The school system sucks(almost every group of people from different Asian countries out earn us). Health care sucks. We are the most expensive while being 37th in outcomes. Etc. I can go on and on. Great place to make money but other than that, millionaires/billionaires, politicians have ruined the country. And I served. Went to Iraq. But America just ain't it
@@dj-yv7oihe said loneliness and not singleness. you don't need a gf to not be lonely. you really need to fix the idea that you need a woman to be happy. or anyone. happiness starts within. + if you don't have friends A it would be harder to get gf and keeping her you will struggle in the relationship because you don't know how to deal with regular relationship. C going in a relationship with a woman without friends it may give you high expectations (and they are wrong too) and you may use this relationship as coping or alternative for the other relationships with other friends. i highly recommend learning more about that topic away from "alpha male" gurus
As a European, it's interesting to hear American impressions of life in Europe. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. As kids we always dreamt of leaving the old world & going to America, the land of the free, of opportunity, a real meritocracy & full of dynamic, straight talking Americans who didn't care about social class & background as long as you could get the job done, a true melting pot where a foreigner could feel he belongs. No matter if Americans live in Europe for 50 yrs, they'll always be considered outsiders, too larger than life for stifling, squabbling little Europe. But as I get older, a shared cultural history & common roots are more important to making me feel Europe, despite her faults, is where I belong, my true home. Maybe this will happen to you too, America will call you back home, no matter the taxes! There's far more to life than money. PS to make Americans feel better, we don't all get free higher education - most European countries have adopted the crippling American style student loan system & even in countries where it's free, they still charge foreigners exorbitant fees
I love the direction you're going with the channel! I see traveling as my next goal after I break in the tech industry. I'd love to see more videos of you talking about your experiences abroad, but also don't forget the tech videos, they're still important with how volatile and demotivating trying to get a job is now. I would like to see a video about adapting for a front end dev trying to break in, like what full stack languages one could learn to branch out for more opportunities, or how to get your feet wet with A.I.
Great video Aaron. Glad to see you back on youtube. You've got me intrigued. I grew up in europe but moved to the US for the better pay. Now I'm here and tbh, if I could get the same pay but in europe, theres a good chance I'd go back. Last year I explored using platforms like upwork but just ended up getting another job from it instead of being a freelancer. I might give that a shot again and see if I can make it as a freelancer... but I'll probably still just get a 9to5. We'll see.
I think the point is solid about the mixed use of residential and commercial space that leads to far better walkability in many cities. US cities have largely regulated this away. The US is younger and geared around cars so great walkability and bustling neighborhoods are hard to find there. FEIE is also a strong incentive to stay out of the US for a bit.
Love these videos Aaron, Ive been following you since the early days! Love your content, I need to find my way back to Freemote and keep pushing but youre entirely accurate about your assessments of life outside the pressure cooker, processed, exploitative culture America has turned into...
Nah, there is an exemption. Régimen Especial para Trabajadores Desplazados (aka Beckham’s Law). Just got better too actually. He does have to pay US taxes tho even with feie.
@@benchoflemons398 He doesn't necessarily have to pay US taxes. What he has to do is to FILE a tax return, but that doesn't mean he ends up paying taxes to the US.
Love the topic and your perspective. It’d be great to hear you talk much longer on it. I work remotely but it’s a corporate job so I can’t really live abroad for the time being.
Great for you. But comparing your American big city experience is a little misguided when compared to the smaller towns of the US. Most of the amazing quality of life perks you mentioned about a strong social support system exist in the smaller towns where I’ve lived. Love the points on taxes though. Astute!
I don't thnk any place in the US has the same urban or city planning that the rest of the world has. If you haven't experienced it you cannot fathom it.
@@Alexa808baby I’ve got a lot of experience with Spain and Italy, and nothing compares to them, they are uniquely beautiful in their own way. No argument there. Even though southern Europe is my mother land. The USA is my home. But my admiration for the US is not subjective. The very same social ties and relationships mentioned in the main video are what I love about the small towns that I live in. New York City, LA, Miami, these cities are not representative of the US in anyway. The main thesis of the video is a guy trying to setup roots somewhere, and he chose the hustle bustle cities, the worst spot to set up roots. Then judging the entire experience of the United States by those small little places, its just not accurate.
Thats exactly what I was thinking; the US is not a huge monolithic "big city"; half the country is pretty rural and with "small town vibe" all over. If you want to live a 'quite life" and "breathe fresh air" there are places in America to do that exactly. Even some people from media and hollywood have bought acres and live in (million-dollar) farms today. But City boys won't do it and prefer to go across the pond to find that special town, when it might just be in another state. Taxes are the main problem; let's face it. Paying 30% for "nothing" doesn't sound much when you work in McDonalds; but when you are raking in 6 figures and up as a developer or else, THEN you start to feel ripped off and want out LOL
Definitely like to see more videos like this to get more info regarding expat living. I plan to do so in a few years after my kid finishes high school. Thankfully, I have a remote job currently and hope to live abroad
I want to experience Europe. I'm a Nigerian and in tech. But I have not gotten successful in landing a job at the moment. But when I do., and I have the finances, I will visit Europe. Thanks Jack for sharing this.
I remember your videos where you moved back (if I remember correctly) and wondered why after your video explaining why you moved from SF to Prague during the Pandemic. As an American there are good things about the US like the having higher salaries than the rest of the world (which is becoming less true now due to inflation and wage stagnation) and consumer oriented conveniences. But most things are more indeed more expensive in the US than other countries (beside Switzerland and Norway) Americans pay a lot more for housing and groceries than we should be... and we don't have the social safety net, healthcare or work/ life balance that many other OECD countries have. My goal for next year is to leave the US and become a digital nomad with the longterm goal of becoming an expat.
EU's inflation rate is aprox 9.2% because Europeans are not as dependent on auto, which brings down inflation do to gas prices. Living in the US I have purchased less than 3 gallons/mo and I live in a rural town, where walk to the market. And don't go out much. I live on less than $400/mo while Saving the World by lunchtime,,,,, which is taking longer than I anticipated. I'm thinking of getting a free sailboat and anchor somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. It takes 3 weeks to sail to Europe, and just as slow anywhere in high seas at 7 knots.
Born and raised in the United States my entire life. Been feeling for a long while doing something similar to what you had done. But sometimes I think, can I actually do that? Life in the US financially has gotten much harder over time. Miss Italy haven't been there since 2009. I need to go back again. Wish you all the best!
I also did the digital nomad thing the last 5 years. Europe is great and I had a blast. Only thing is there's no one particular city I'd say I really love there. Also without speaking the local languages, your experience will be fairly limited. That being said I def enjoyed my time, and would be happy to spend my summers there.
My view on life is "Sometimes life is a bitch, sometimes life is a joke. In the end, life is what YOU make of it". I (10+ years experience working and living abroad) believe that's true regardless of where you live. All it takes is the right mindset, a certain willingness if you will, to see what interests you, suits you, and go out and make the most of it.
i left the US and was gone for years and loved every bit of it, only i had to come back was because of covid, if that would of never happened, i would of never came back, i miss my home in asia so much, it was sooo much more comforting and relaxing, for the first time in my life, i had 0 worries, wasnt worried about police pulling me over and beating me up, wasnt worried about rent, wasnt worried about people judging me everywhere i go, it was literally a worry free zone outside the US, and cant wait to get back outta here
@@bk1507 my rent in asia was $50 a month mate, you can have the $1200 rental bills in the US, i had the same accomodatioins for less than $200 a month with all bills included, including my internet bill and xbox gamepass membership in that as well
Very accurate video. I live in three different countries and at one time tax savings was a factor, but now I use America as a base simply because I have to look after our real estate being in the 1% with 40% of our > $13M net worth in US rentals. Hard to manage real estate remotely. But we travel overseas all the time, delegating the real estate stuff to trusted people for up to 6 months at a time.
Awesome video man. I am a die hard patriot even though things are looking grim at times. I will say, that living abroad like this sounds very appealing to me especially as an aspiring developer. Keep up the great content.
Great video! I think most, if not all, of what you mentioned is objectively true. I consider myself patriotic, but I know all of us (Americans) have this gut feeling that we're being taken advantage of with no ROI when it comes to taxes. Family is the only thing that would keep me from living abroad. I'd also have to study other cultures to determine where I'd want to live... I'd prefer a place with freedoms similar to US, decent economy, religious tolerance, and a decent night life. I understand that no country is perfect, and sometimes theres compromise. I always thought that Japan would be to visit.
I've lived in Japan for the last 11 years and don't plan to return to the U.S. Much lower cost of living (I live near a nice beach and pay around $900/month for a nice 3 bdr apartment). Much, much better food (yet much cheaper). An excellent national healthcare system. Very little crime (especially violent crime, because virtually nobody owns a gun). Towns and cities that put all your daily necessities within walking or biking distance. And a much stronger sense of social responsibility on the part of the citizenry (which served Japan very well during the coronavirus pandemic). Of course, Japan has its flaws, too, but I think they are far outweighed by its many positive aspects. One thing, though: You'll be at a real disadvantage in Japan if you haven't mastered the Japanese language.
Eh I mean. If you’ve money it makes you free in a shithole. Or if you want a nice country with American style conceptions of freedom you have Czech republic or Switzerland. Not much to say.
I would love to get a full run through of working a US based job remotely, any job I've found has been at best hybrid, seems like purely online jobs are hard to come by
I was in England for 12 years, with a leg remaining in Canada. I loved it so much! However, relenting - coming back - and only living in one place was a relief. Canada is clean, safe, and most of all... it's home.
The majority cities are expensive in the US. Not like the small states and towns, but you'll still need to look for high paying remote job if you can. Or start some sort of high paying business.
4:40 just FYI it’s not being out of the US for 330 days, it’s being in a foreign country for 330 days a year. So planes, cruises, etc can mess you up. Also if you’re visiting a doctor for an appointment or something in the us you can get that exempt so you don’t have to pay the $50 or per day youre home but still qualified for feie.
Two websites/channels reinforce the ideas Aaron puts forth here - BlueZones and Nomad Capitalist. I only wish I had heard of these ideas earlier as it's easier to do this type of travel/lifestyle before deep roots are planted. However, there is still time and still ways to do it.
I went to Prague for study abroad and it was a great experience. Also traveled to Austria and Germany during this time. What you said is accurate. I loved the European lifestyle. Transportation was nice. Food was great and cost less. Other cultures and countries were close enough to be convenient for a weekend trip. It generally felt happier and safer. Only complaint really was that water was not always free at restaurants and that public restrooms are not free (but really, the US just assumes these factors into your bill automatically). I would choose to live in Europe fully if it was my choice. However, I will not leave my family and few close friends behind in the US. My conclusion came to this (granted I was only overseas for 1.5 months): If you manage to make it financially within the top 1-10%, the US will provide more opportunities, and the financial setbacks from the US will not hinder your lifestyle. You’ll also have the freedom to travel elsewhere anyway. If you’re middle class or lower in the US, Europe has many opportunities that allow you to cut costs and enjoy your life without worrying about work nearly as much. Food is cheaper and better for you. You don’t need cars in many areas thanks to safe and cheap public transport (and if you do need a car, it isn’t as expensive).
Being a European one generation older than you, I can just agree. I love Americans and I made part of my PhD there. But I could never live in a country where the cities all look the same and I can hike only in natural parks. Europe is far more satisfying for the whole person and for a whole family. Plus social safety net. In the US, winner takes it all (at least among us professors) whereas in Europe, the second rate talents or the less lucky guys do not end up losers.
For the next 8 years ... flee Canada, UK, Germany, France, USA, NZ, AUS (in that order) if you want any sort of livable, enjoyable freedom && prosperity
No your NOT a traitor! If huge markets can outsource their work on the penny instead of supplying jobs for Americans, you know the who's, as the small fish, get your fill of joy and happiness. Your channel and teachings on Freemote have altered my reality for the better.
Great video. Very great that you found this out for you...and awesome you made a video. USA is down, completely. Many just don't realise because "being proud to be....blabla...." and their ego is much higher than facts. To me, it is so devastating when looking at the USA....their are so many fundamental huge problems there, which cannot be solved quickly....but people getting angry reading this, will not understand...since they have never experienced something different. Great comment about "the patriots" talking about the revenue of paying taxes...haha...you literally get NOTHING in the USA for your taxes! No social security, no unemployment insurance, no health care, no (free of charge) higher education, a completely broken infrastructure, massive huge social problems and the government wasting all that money for the army..... People still getting angry reading that....still don't know anything about greatly fully functional systems for example here in Europe. But hey, easy, no problem if you get upset and play the "patriot" we life in the best country, we are the best, america first card....you will not understand....and with this limited mindset, "we" are happy that you stay where you are. Aaron, I am really very positively surprised about this video - awesome to see you making your way!
Spain's national tax rate on $100k is 45% plus a regional tax, so you aren't pocketing $30k legally. What you thought we didn't have the internet? Perhaps if you traveled in and out of EU, you might avoid a national tax, but you will be lonely, with short term friendships?
Also, I would subscribe, but I actually love seeing your videos pop up and if I subscribe then youtube will stop showing me your videos lmao Great system huh?
@@sanzharnaizabekov8166 Last time I checked minimum wage was 7.25 dollars ( in some jobs that can be even be legally lower ) and in germany it is 12 euros or 12.86 dollars but tell me again how much americans earn.
As a European that moved to the US, I hear what you're saying. However, there are still many benefits of America that you only experience by living there: most notably the freedoms you don't get anywhere else, the *significantly* lower tax rate, and most importantly, the social cohesion and true community you get from living in a country where your social safety net is not left to bureaucrats, but to the actual people around you. Still, the walkable cities and beautiful architecture is definitely something I dearly missed. But I solved this by moving to one of the oldest cities in the US; which has all of this to a significant degree as well. Best of both worlds, if you ask me.
The low taxes in the US only benefit those with an income over $150k/year. The tax savings for those making below that amount will never offset the medical and schooling costs over a lifetime. Also the high crime and high incarceration rate in the US completely disproves your idea of social cohesion and true community due to a lack of government sponsored safety net. I love my country, but I'm not blind to its faults.
@@conchobar ehhh, plenty of salaries below this threshold are higher in the US and you have lower taxes as well, and especially for younger or healthier people this results in a lot more money in your own pocket to decide what you'd like to do with. there are hobbies i do in the US specifically around car things that are very expensive if able to do at all in europe while people with pretty modest non-professional jobs in the US can even afford to do (although sometimes more financially recklessly than i'd advise) - in any case you certainly don't need to hit 150k in the US to have a larger amount of disposable income compared to a euro peer.
To be honest, the European Countries are rooted in deep History, they go back thousands of years, while America is only like 247 years old. America doesn't have that long history, classical architecture, shared culture and values, and also America is very Racially & Ethnically diverse. It's easy to make friends in Europe because everyone is of the same Race & Ethnicity in your country. Plus, American mindset is heavily "Leave me Alone" "Personal Responsibility" "Individuality" etc., that's why many People lack a big Social Friend Circle in America, because most People would rathe be by themselves. At the end of the day, it comes down to what you Value & Care about the most in the World, if you are able to create a Lifestyle around that, then you will be happy in Life and leave the world a little better when you leave.
I have digital marketing and web developer skills and just started making online money not much in america but a Good life in Europe. I want to save up and go at 27 I am 25 now. The issue is I have a girlfriend who is an engineer and thinks the usa is amazing although she is open to Germany or Switzerland. Finally, the main reason I want to go is for the healthy people and for me to lose weight I am skinny fat, and caffeined out I need to lose 20 pounds and lower caffeine. If my girlfriend gets a remote job and I continue to freelance we would be 1% in Europe how can I explain this to her and pitch how amazing our life would be.
If you don't know how to explain that and have to resort to the internet, maybe you should be single and working on yourself - Just an opinion from limited info.
The best moment of my life was when I lived in Spain for 4 years. Those are personal preferences, but it opens your mind to a better future as a person when you explore other cultures. AMAZING VIDEO BRO
I spent my whole life looking for opportunities to immigrate to Murica and made it in my late 20s. Now I am not content anymore after watching your videos lol
Just one thing for clarification - in the most of EU countries the health care system is not for free. But it's obligatory to pay it - if you are employee, your boss lowers it from salary, if you are self-employed, you pay monthly to the insurance company.
The patriots are actually gonna say you're doing a good job by evading taxes. The problem is Europe is very very bad economically. The jobs in tech are absolutely bad over there and pay really poor salaries.
As an European its so odd seeing this from your perspective, have you even explored entire USA? I am sure there are more peaceful cities and Europe like cities there, for example Amsterdam is really crowded, unhealthy looking people, graffiti everywhere too.
Yeah, right. Business, business, but how does it feel to not have health inssurence? Capitalism is just extreme in U.S. And in some pleaces in Europe as well, though...
I'll also note your FEIE math is probably a bit off, in that you can hit AMT, and you are still responsible for filing federal taxes as well as state for whatever state residence you supposedly maintain, and there will be a tax burden there unless you are able to relocate your home state to one that does not have taxes, although there are a short list of options to do so. Note however that CA is famously known for going after people for taxes once they move to other states.
@@hmd2372 I'm Algerian too I applied for so many jobs and I always get rejected because I don't have any permit to work with US or Canadian companies. What have tou tried so far
Yeah, you Americans get screwed on that tax thing. If you never plan to go back anyway, renounce your citizenship, see if you can grab a citizenship in pretty near any other country. Prove your out of country more than 65% of the year, have no residential ties to the country, earn no income within the country, and you don't owe any tax at all. Then incorporate somewhere like Hong Kong which has 0% corporate income tax and allows non-residents to incorporate,grab accounts at HSBC one of the biggest banks in the world, grab some personal accounts in other countries around the world, pull some money into the country you're residing and pay tax on that, and good to go.
I feel the need to add some "reality" to this: Europe is terrible if you're not making seriously good money, or are retired with a seriously good pension. Spain for example, is a hell hole for any newcomer that doesn't arrive with outside money. Many latin americans go to Spain allured by the "first world" siren songs and end up as bad or worse than their 3rd world city: No jobs, hard to open a business, high rent, 3rd world-style crime, politicians and pensioners eating all the tax money so no public investment. And if you make good money, they will try a mafia shakedown on you with " unpaid taxes" to fix the govt balance sheet; just ask Shakira and Cristiano Ronaldo. At some point the Spanish government offered Ecuadorian migrants a bunch of cash and a free flight to go back home. Bruxelles has a permanent piss stench on the streets and a homelesness crisis, Amsterdam goes through a housing crisis, Paris is a dirty ghetto and also the french HATE americans or the 'american english' for unknown reasons, Stockholm and Malmo are the murder capitals of the West, London is 30% (I was there recently and did the math) costlier than the US in pretty much anything including rent; Germany has a terrible train system where they are old and late all the time, Austria is rationing gas and people are having a hard time in winter because lumber is hard to get and it's illegal to put down trees for a fireplace. And I am purposefully avoiding speaking about muslim culture taking over the classic european lifestyle, and the refugee crisis. I mean, central Europe "feels nice" when you have money to do "Airbnb tourism" staying there but living "above" the real locals; otherwise it is a nightmare that young europeans are trying to escape themselves from. Maybe eastern european countries like Hungary, Poland and Czech Republic are in a bonanza right now and you can go there and live a decent life without "american money" helping you stay afloat. But they aren't as welcoming to expats as you might expect; may not even speak proper english to deal with you, on purpose. So yeah, focus on earning a "high american salary" first and THEN you can go live anywhere; otherwise just stay where you are and recognize it isn't that bad after all
well you're not paying federal income taxes because your paying income taxes in a foreign country.... no one would work overseas otherwise i'm not sure this is even a selling point
I have not benefitted from the system. I pay them to repeatedly attempt to kill me. So far they have the upper hand but things are just starting to get interesting.
Bro, so if you truly have USA clients, then I think what you are doing is not legal, and you probably should not be admitting this in a YT video. lol From ChatGPT: Self-Employment Income: If you are self-employed and have U.S. clients, the income you earn from those clients is typically considered U.S. source income, not foreign-earned income. This means that income earned from U.S. clients may not be eligible for the FEIE.
Yes, some founders intended the states to be more independent, but that was when most of what is now America was populated with indigenous peoples, they wanted to keep slavery, and before the British burned down the White House in the war of 1812. Great video though, it's really interesting to hear your experience and perspective, and I think you give a very balanced opinion on it all without causing a meltdown in the comments hahaha.
He's right about finances, vacations, lazy Sundays...friends, the laughs, more connections, languages, architecture, walkable cities, cafes, the Unis, and the healthy quality of life i.e. food, water, transport, cost of living, and so much more. There are things one would miss about America, but things he mentions makes living abroad the better option really. Openly, I had a great experience in that way including other details he mentions. You get your moneys worth and while travelling it was great meeting so many people just living, laughing and not living to work and more. Leave the states for a couple of years, it's refreshing, but you'll miss some things. Still for me the benefits and peace of mind abroad out weighed returning which I personally shouldn't have done. It was nice not seeing a gazillion America flags, negativity because you wanted to grow, gross racism and gender issues, financial stress, food that'll kill you and medication that will too...and so on. Everyone's experience is different, but if you like absorbing fresh air, good water, see new cultures being able to embraces and not hide it as much and more travel. Especially to some of the countries listed as the happiest. Being in an antique book store, eating at a traditional tavern, the fields of flowers and such...yiur able to breathe and think. You realise how oppressive and smothering America can be, but you will miss some things. There's cultural different that work and don't work. I fit mostly abroad. I had moments, but not like I do here.
What things would you miss?
You don’t like American flags? Weird
This year I was in Tokyo for a month and I didn't want leave. Food was great and affordable, people were warm and friendly, lots to do, safe, no need for a car, beautiful scenery, etc. I was less stressed and less lonely than in the US. If I didn't like my friends in the US I'd move there ASAP and never look back.
I love Japan, lived there for a year
u were on vacation bro
@@bk1507 I've been to vacation in other places and after a few days I'm ready to go home. Japan was different.
American dream ? No, American nightmare.
I kind of wanted to hate this video as an American but he is right about pretty much all of it. The healthcare / taxes are debatable but the quality of life and loneliness issues are right on.
If you see the statistics,
loneliness is a issue for men only but not for women
@@satyam168 hmm, that would mean that multiple women share one man
He's really talking about the big blue cities, plenty of places with a low cost of living in the US. If your a big city kind of person than europe is probably more affordable.
The way I see it. America is a great place to make money. The school system sucks(almost every group of people from different Asian countries out earn us). Health care sucks. We are the most expensive while being 37th in outcomes. Etc. I can go on and on. Great place to make money but other than that, millionaires/billionaires, politicians have ruined the country. And I served. Went to Iraq. But America just ain't it
@@dj-yv7oihe said loneliness and not singleness. you don't need a gf to not be lonely. you really need to fix the idea that you need a woman to be happy. or anyone. happiness starts within. + if you don't have friends A it would be harder to get gf and keeping her you will struggle in the relationship because you don't know how to deal with regular relationship. C going in a relationship with a woman without friends it may give you high expectations (and they are wrong too) and you may use this relationship as coping or alternative for the other relationships with other friends. i highly recommend learning more about that topic away from "alpha male" gurus
As a European, it's interesting to hear American impressions of life in Europe. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. As kids we always dreamt of leaving the old world & going to America, the land of the free, of opportunity, a real meritocracy & full of dynamic, straight talking Americans who didn't care about social class & background as long as you could get the job done, a true melting pot where a foreigner could feel he belongs. No matter if Americans live in Europe for 50 yrs, they'll always be considered outsiders, too larger than life for stifling, squabbling little Europe. But as I get older, a shared cultural history & common roots are more important to making me feel Europe, despite her faults, is where I belong, my true home. Maybe this will happen to you too, America will call you back home, no matter the taxes! There's far more to life than money. PS to make Americans feel better, we don't all get free higher education - most European countries have adopted the crippling American style student loan system & even in countries where it's free, they still charge foreigners exorbitant fees
I love the direction you're going with the channel! I see traveling as my next goal after I break in the tech industry. I'd love to see more videos of you talking about your experiences abroad, but also don't forget the tech videos, they're still important with how volatile and demotivating trying to get a job is now. I would like to see a video about adapting for a front end dev trying to break in, like what full stack languages one could learn to branch out for more opportunities, or how to get your feet wet with A.I.
Always love when you drop content. It always inspires me.
Great video Aaron. Glad to see you back on youtube.
You've got me intrigued. I grew up in europe but moved to the US for the better pay. Now I'm here and tbh, if I could get the same pay but in europe, theres a good chance I'd go back. Last year I explored using platforms like upwork but just ended up getting another job from it instead of being a freelancer. I might give that a shot again and see if I can make it as a freelancer... but I'll probably still just get a 9to5. We'll see.
I think the point is solid about the mixed use of residential and commercial space that leads to far better walkability in many cities. US cities have largely regulated this away. The US is younger and geared around cars so great walkability and bustling neighborhoods are hard to find there. FEIE is also a strong incentive to stay out of the US for a bit.
This is the only correct perspective. Because newer builds in Europe are almost as bad: single use and car dependent.
Love these videos Aaron, Ive been following you since the early days! Love your content, I need to find my way back to Freemote and keep pushing but youre entirely accurate about your assessments of life outside the pressure cooker, processed, exploitative culture America has turned into...
So you don't pay any European income taxes?
Nah, there is an exemption. Régimen Especial para Trabajadores Desplazados (aka Beckham’s Law). Just got better too actually. He does have to pay US taxes tho even with feie.
@@benchoflemons398 He doesn't necessarily have to pay US taxes. What he has to do is to FILE a tax return, but that doesn't mean he ends up paying taxes to the US.
@@therealgoldomenso3864 yeah but he has to pay socials on earned incomes… so basically guaranteed he has to pay
Love the topic and your perspective. It’d be great to hear you talk much longer on it. I work remotely but it’s a corporate job so I can’t really live abroad for the time being.
Great for you. But comparing your American big city experience is a little misguided when compared to the smaller towns of the US. Most of the amazing quality of life perks you mentioned about a strong social support system exist in the smaller towns where I’ve lived. Love the points on taxes though. Astute!
I don't thnk any place in the US has the same urban or city planning that the rest of the world has. If you haven't experienced it you cannot fathom it.
@@Alexa808baby I’ve got a lot of experience with Spain and Italy, and nothing compares to them, they are uniquely beautiful in their own way. No argument there. Even though southern Europe is my mother land. The USA is my home. But my admiration for the US is not subjective. The very same social ties and relationships mentioned in the main video are what I love about the small towns that I live in. New York City, LA, Miami, these cities are not representative of the US in anyway. The main thesis of the video is a guy trying to setup roots somewhere, and he chose the hustle bustle cities, the worst spot to set up roots. Then judging the entire experience of the United States by those small little places, its just not accurate.
Thats exactly what I was thinking; the US is not a huge monolithic "big city"; half the country is pretty rural and with "small town vibe" all over. If you want to live a 'quite life" and "breathe fresh air" there are places in America to do that exactly. Even some people from media and hollywood have bought acres and live in (million-dollar) farms today. But City boys won't do it and prefer to go across the pond to find that special town, when it might just be in another state.
Taxes are the main problem; let's face it. Paying 30% for "nothing" doesn't sound much when you work in McDonalds; but when you are raking in 6 figures and up as a developer or else, THEN you start to feel ripped off and want out LOL
Good to see you back, man. Production and content still on-point.
Definitely like to see more videos like this to get more info regarding expat living. I plan to do so in a few years after my kid finishes high school. Thankfully, I have a remote job currently and hope to live abroad
excellent content, liked and subscribed!
Great to see you're doing well Aaron.
I want to experience Europe. I'm a Nigerian and in tech. But I have not gotten successful in landing a job at the moment. But when I do., and I have the finances, I will visit Europe. Thanks Jack for sharing this.
I remember your videos where you moved back (if I remember correctly) and wondered why after your video explaining why you moved from SF to Prague during the Pandemic. As an American there are good things about the US like the having higher salaries than the rest of the world (which is becoming less true now due to inflation and wage stagnation) and consumer oriented conveniences.
But most things are more indeed more expensive in the US than other countries (beside Switzerland and Norway) Americans pay a lot more for housing and groceries than we should be... and we don't have the social safety net, healthcare or work/ life balance that many other OECD countries have. My goal for next year is to leave the US and become a digital nomad with the longterm goal of becoming an expat.
EU's inflation rate is aprox 9.2% because Europeans are not as dependent on auto, which brings down inflation do to gas prices. Living in the US I have purchased less than 3 gallons/mo and I live in a rural town, where walk to the market. And don't go out much. I live on less than $400/mo while Saving the World by lunchtime,,,,, which is taking longer than I anticipated. I'm thinking of getting a free sailboat and anchor somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. It takes 3 weeks to sail to Europe, and just as slow anywhere in high seas at 7 knots.
Born and raised in the United States my entire life. Been feeling for a long while doing something similar to what you had done. But sometimes I think, can I actually do that? Life in the US financially has gotten much harder over time. Miss Italy haven't been there since 2009. I need to go back again. Wish you all the best!
Great video Aaron! If you could touch on topic of maintaining U.S. major healthcare insurance coverage while abroad that would be great.
Why on God's green earth would you want to do that?
I also did the digital nomad thing the last 5 years. Europe is great and I had a blast. Only thing is there's no one particular city I'd say I really love there. Also without speaking the local languages, your experience will be fairly limited. That being said I def enjoyed my time, and would be happy to spend my summers there.
My view on life is "Sometimes life is a bitch, sometimes life is a joke. In the end, life is what YOU make of it". I (10+ years experience working and living abroad) believe that's true regardless of where you live. All it takes is the right mindset, a certain willingness if you will, to see what interests you, suits you, and go out and make the most of it.
i left the US and was gone for years and loved every bit of it, only i had to come back was because of covid, if that would of never happened, i would of never came back, i miss my home in asia so much, it was sooo much more comforting and relaxing, for the first time in my life, i had 0 worries, wasnt worried about police pulling me over and beating me up, wasnt worried about rent, wasnt worried about people judging me everywhere i go, it was literally a worry free zone outside the US, and cant wait to get back outta here
people pay rent in asia mate
@@bk1507 my rent in asia was $50 a month mate, you can have the $1200 rental bills in the US, i had the same accomodatioins for less than $200 a month with all bills included, including my internet bill and xbox gamepass membership in that as well
Very accurate video. I live in three different countries and at one time tax savings was a factor, but now I use America as a base simply because I have to look after our real estate being in the 1% with 40% of our > $13M net worth in US rentals. Hard to manage real estate remotely. But we travel overseas all the time, delegating the real estate stuff to trusted people for up to 6 months at a time.
Awesome video man. I am a die hard patriot even though things are looking grim at times. I will say, that living abroad like this sounds very appealing to me especially as an aspiring developer. Keep up the great content.
Are you saying you don’t pay taxes in Spain or wherever it is that you are?
Great video! I think most, if not all, of what you mentioned is objectively true. I consider myself patriotic, but I know all of us (Americans) have this gut feeling that we're being taken advantage of with no ROI when it comes to taxes.
Family is the only thing that would keep me from living abroad. I'd also have to study other cultures to determine where I'd want to live... I'd prefer a place with freedoms similar to US, decent economy, religious tolerance, and a decent night life. I understand that no country is perfect, and sometimes theres compromise.
I always thought that Japan would be to visit.
I've lived in Japan for the last 11 years and don't plan to return to the U.S. Much lower cost of living (I live near a nice beach and pay around $900/month for a nice 3 bdr apartment). Much, much better food (yet much cheaper). An excellent national healthcare system. Very little crime (especially violent crime, because virtually nobody owns a gun). Towns and cities that put all your daily necessities within walking or biking distance. And a much stronger sense of social responsibility on the part of the citizenry (which served Japan very well during the coronavirus pandemic). Of course, Japan has its flaws, too, but I think they are far outweighed by its many positive aspects. One thing, though: You'll be at a real disadvantage in Japan if you haven't mastered the Japanese language.
Eh I mean. If you’ve money it makes you free in a shithole. Or if you want a nice country with American style conceptions of freedom you have Czech republic or Switzerland. Not much to say.
I would love to get a full run through of working a US based job remotely, any job I've found has been at best hybrid, seems like purely online jobs are hard to come by
when do you people work when u travel all around? specially in the field which requires constant learning
I was in England for 12 years, with a leg remaining in Canada. I loved it so much! However, relenting - coming back - and only living in one place was a relief. Canada is clean, safe, and most of all... it's home.
Thx for the video, it gives you more to think about when planning your future.
thx again
The majority cities are expensive in the US. Not like the small states and towns, but you'll still need to look for high paying remote job if you can. Or start some sort of high paying business.
Great video! Would love to see you elaborate on this part 😅@6:20
4:40 just FYI it’s not being out of the US for 330 days, it’s being in a foreign country for 330 days a year. So planes, cruises, etc can mess you up. Also if you’re visiting a doctor for an appointment or something in the us you can get that exempt so you don’t have to pay the $50 or per day youre home but still qualified for feie.
what a great channel
Two websites/channels reinforce the ideas Aaron puts forth here - BlueZones and Nomad Capitalist. I only wish I had heard of these ideas earlier as it's easier to do this type of travel/lifestyle before deep roots are planted. However, there is still time and still ways to do it.
Rural America is another world. Love it.
As a Dutch viewer, I've never had any interest going to the US, I just can't stand car centric places
I went to Prague for study abroad and it was a great experience. Also traveled to Austria and Germany during this time.
What you said is accurate. I loved the European lifestyle. Transportation was nice. Food was great and cost less. Other cultures and countries were close enough to be convenient for a weekend trip. It generally felt happier and safer. Only complaint really was that water was not always free at restaurants and that public restrooms are not free (but really, the US just assumes these factors into your bill automatically).
I would choose to live in Europe fully if it was my choice. However, I will not leave my family and few close friends behind in the US.
My conclusion came to this (granted I was only overseas for 1.5 months):
If you manage to make it financially within the top 1-10%, the US will provide more opportunities, and the financial setbacks from the US will not hinder your lifestyle. You’ll also have the freedom to travel elsewhere anyway. If you’re middle class or lower in the US, Europe has many opportunities that allow you to cut costs and enjoy your life without worrying about work nearly as much. Food is cheaper and better for you. You don’t need cars in many areas thanks to safe and cheap public transport (and if you do need a car, it isn’t as expensive).
your not a traitor🤣so many people are living outside the country they are born in. if it makes you happy its achievement!
Where do you live right now? I thought that cost of living in major European countries is higher than in the US
Basically, make American money and spend it outside of America and the value on your money you’ll experience will be higher.
Keep uploading dem videos man!❤
Being a European one generation older than you, I can just agree. I love Americans and I made part of my PhD there. But I could never live in a country where the cities all look the same and I can hike only in natural parks. Europe is far more satisfying for the whole person and for a whole family. Plus social safety net. In the US, winner takes it all (at least among us professors) whereas in Europe, the second rate talents or the less lucky guys do not end up losers.
For the next 8 years ... flee Canada, UK, Germany, France, USA, NZ, AUS (in that order) if you want any sort of livable, enjoyable freedom && prosperity
why do you say "for the next 8 years"?
@@cabji the great reset
pfft put on a comfortable VR headset like the Bigscreen Beyond and you can spend all day in any part of the world or any video game environment
No your NOT a traitor! If huge markets can outsource their work on the penny instead of supplying jobs for Americans, you know the who's, as the small fish, get your fill of joy and happiness. Your channel and teachings on Freemote have altered my reality for the better.
So what does this mean for FREEMOTE? It’s very important I get this answer
Great video. Very great that you found this out for you...and awesome you made a video. USA is down, completely. Many just don't realise because "being proud to be....blabla...." and their ego is much higher than facts. To me, it is so devastating when looking at the USA....their are so many fundamental huge problems there, which cannot be solved quickly....but people getting angry reading this, will not understand...since they have never experienced something different.
Great comment about "the patriots" talking about the revenue of paying taxes...haha...you literally get NOTHING in the USA for your taxes! No social security, no unemployment insurance, no health care, no (free of charge) higher education, a completely broken infrastructure, massive huge social problems and the government wasting all that money for the army.....
People still getting angry reading that....still don't know anything about greatly fully functional systems for example here in Europe. But hey, easy, no problem if you get upset and play the "patriot" we life in the best country, we are the best, america first card....you will not understand....and with this limited mindset, "we" are happy that you stay where you are.
Aaron, I am really very positively surprised about this video - awesome to see you making your way!
Spain's national tax rate on $100k is 45% plus a regional tax, so you aren't pocketing $30k legally. What you thought we didn't have the internet? Perhaps if you traveled in and out of EU, you might avoid a national tax, but you will be lonely, with short term friendships?
Also, I would subscribe, but I actually love seeing your videos pop up and if I subscribe then youtube will stop showing me your videos lmao
Great system huh?
He is basically passport bro using American passport and its advantages to get ahead in Europe. Try to live on European salary bro
You realize depeding in which country you are salaries can be very different in europe ?
You realize American salaries are almost Swiss level, Americans think that even France and in some cases England is cheaper than US
You realize American salaries are almost Swiss level, Americans think that even France and in some cases England is cheaper than US
@@sanzharnaizabekov8166
Last time I checked minimum wage was 7.25 dollars ( in some jobs that can be even be legally lower ) and in germany it is 12 euros or 12.86 dollars but tell me again how much americans earn.
it's important what you said.
As a European that moved to the US, I hear what you're saying. However, there are still many benefits of America that you only experience by living there: most notably the freedoms you don't get anywhere else, the *significantly* lower tax rate, and most importantly, the social cohesion and true community you get from living in a country where your social safety net is not left to bureaucrats, but to the actual people around you.
Still, the walkable cities and beautiful architecture is definitely something I dearly missed. But I solved this by moving to one of the oldest cities in the US; which has all of this to a significant degree as well. Best of both worlds, if you ask me.
The low taxes in the US only benefit those with an income over $150k/year. The tax savings for those making below that amount will never offset the medical and schooling costs over a lifetime. Also the high crime and high incarceration rate in the US completely disproves your idea of social cohesion and true community due to a lack of government sponsored safety net. I love my country, but I'm not blind to its faults.
What freedomS are we talking about?
@@filip380PL "Screw your freedom" - arnold schwarzenegger
what city did you move to?
@@conchobar ehhh, plenty of salaries below this threshold are higher in the US and you have lower taxes as well, and especially for younger or healthier people this results in a lot more money in your own pocket to decide what you'd like to do with. there are hobbies i do in the US specifically around car things that are very expensive if able to do at all in europe while people with pretty modest non-professional jobs in the US can even afford to do (although sometimes more financially recklessly than i'd advise) - in any case you certainly don't need to hit 150k in the US to have a larger amount of disposable income compared to a euro peer.
To be honest, the European Countries are rooted in deep History, they go back thousands of years, while America is only like 247 years old. America doesn't have that long history, classical architecture, shared culture and values, and also America is very Racially & Ethnically diverse. It's easy to make friends in Europe because everyone is of the same Race & Ethnicity in your country.
Plus, American mindset is heavily "Leave me Alone" "Personal Responsibility" "Individuality" etc., that's why many People lack a big Social Friend Circle in America, because most People would rathe be by themselves.
At the end of the day, it comes down to what you Value & Care about the most in the World, if you are able to create a Lifestyle around that, then you will be happy in Life and leave the world a little better when you leave.
love the line "not just the topless girls" LOL what are you talking about bro.
I have digital marketing and web developer skills and just started making online money not much in america but a Good life in Europe. I want to save up and go at 27 I am 25 now. The issue is I have a girlfriend who is an engineer and thinks the usa is amazing although she is open to Germany or Switzerland. Finally, the main reason I want to go is for the healthy people and for me to lose weight I am skinny fat, and caffeined out I need to lose 20 pounds and lower caffeine. If my girlfriend gets a remote job and I continue to freelance we would be 1% in Europe how can I explain this to her and pitch how amazing our life would be.
If you don't know how to explain that and have to resort to the internet, maybe you should be single and working on yourself - Just an opinion from limited info.
Take Israel off the list
Oh shit I thought to myself "Oh the video seems to be more than a week old" until I saw it came out 2 days ago
I like this editing and the graphics. Hope youre doing well Aaron!
I’m living in Vietnam now. I enjoy it
In America, taxes are too high for the level of service....
The best moment of my life was when I lived in Spain for 4 years. Those are personal preferences, but it opens your mind to a better future as a person when you explore other cultures. AMAZING VIDEO BRO
Walkable cities and nude women. This is cringe
come on dont you wanna see some tay tays!
@@odcrl1 that’s what google is for 😂 don’t need to stare at strangers
Literally my dream to do all this lol!
Hi
I spent my whole life looking for opportunities to immigrate to Murica and made it in my late 20s. Now I am not content anymore after watching your videos lol
You apperently need to go to South America or to ex-USSR countries. It can be dangerous, but...
hard.
Just one thing for clarification - in the most of EU countries the health care system is not for free. But it's obligatory to pay it - if you are employee, your boss lowers it from salary, if you are self-employed, you pay monthly to the insurance company.
I tried New York. Still Trying New York. Still not working, lol. Hold up. FREE UNIVERSITY?
The patriots are actually gonna say you're doing a good job by evading taxes. The problem is Europe is very very bad economically. The jobs in tech are absolutely bad over there and pay really poor salaries.
As an European its so odd seeing this from your perspective, have you even explored entire USA? I am sure there are more peaceful cities and Europe like cities there, for example Amsterdam is really crowded, unhealthy looking people, graffiti everywhere too.
Nope
Yeah, right. Business, business, but how does it feel to not have health inssurence? Capitalism is just extreme in U.S.
And in some pleaces in Europe as well, though...
Not all of Europe is like this only the southern part of Europe.
I was never considered American nor do i considered myself American....flee this place
How do you feel about Guyana? English speaking country. Western hemisphere. COL comparable to other LatAm countries.
I'll also note your FEIE math is probably a bit off, in that you can hit AMT, and you are still responsible for filing federal taxes as well as state for whatever state residence you supposedly maintain, and there will be a tax burden there unless you are able to relocate your home state to one that does not have taxes, although there are a short list of options to do so. Note however that CA is famously known for going after people for taxes once they move to other states.
Go where you are treated best.
Have you renounced your citizenship yet?
You can get a CBI in Saint Kitts
Americans are like NBA All Stars and every other country is D1 at best. To get the best out of being an American, you have to leave America 😂
US is expensive. I just want a green card so that I could work from home in Africa while having the ability to work for US companies as a Laravel dev.
You can t work remotly without green card ? Tell me more pls . I am algerian btw
@@hmd2372
I'm Algerian too
I applied for so many jobs and I always get rejected because I don't have any permit to work with US or Canadian companies. What have tou tried so far
Topless women walking around is definitely a significant factor why bro's there
"I benefited from the system"
The lies they spread around
How old are you and how old were you when moved to Europe? Does age matter in your opinion?
Yeah, you Americans get screwed on that tax thing. If you never plan to go back anyway, renounce your citizenship, see if you can grab a citizenship in pretty near any other country. Prove your out of country more than 65% of the year, have no residential ties to the country, earn no income within the country, and you don't owe any tax at all. Then incorporate somewhere like Hong Kong which has 0% corporate income tax and allows non-residents to incorporate,grab accounts at HSBC one of the biggest banks in the world, grab some personal accounts in other countries around the world, pull some money into the country you're residing and pay tax on that, and good to go.
I feel the need to add some "reality" to this: Europe is terrible if you're not making seriously good money, or are retired with a seriously good pension. Spain for example, is a hell hole for any newcomer that doesn't arrive with outside money. Many latin americans go to Spain allured by the "first world" siren songs and end up as bad or worse than their 3rd world city: No jobs, hard to open a business, high rent, 3rd world-style crime, politicians and pensioners eating all the tax money so no public investment. And if you make good money, they will try a mafia shakedown on you with " unpaid taxes" to fix the govt balance sheet; just ask Shakira and Cristiano Ronaldo. At some point the Spanish government offered Ecuadorian migrants a bunch of cash and a free flight to go back home.
Bruxelles has a permanent piss stench on the streets and a homelesness crisis, Amsterdam goes through a housing crisis, Paris is a dirty ghetto and also the french HATE americans or the 'american english' for unknown reasons, Stockholm and Malmo are the murder capitals of the West, London is 30% (I was there recently and did the math) costlier than the US in pretty much anything including rent; Germany has a terrible train system where they are old and late all the time, Austria is rationing gas and people are having a hard time in winter because lumber is hard to get and it's illegal to put down trees for a fireplace. And I am purposefully avoiding speaking about muslim culture taking over the classic european lifestyle, and the refugee crisis.
I mean, central Europe "feels nice" when you have money to do "Airbnb tourism" staying there but living "above" the real locals; otherwise it is a nightmare that young europeans are trying to escape themselves from. Maybe eastern european countries like Hungary, Poland and Czech Republic are in a bonanza right now and you can go there and live a decent life without "american money" helping you stay afloat. But they aren't as welcoming to expats as you might expect; may not even speak proper english to deal with you, on purpose.
So yeah, focus on earning a "high american salary" first and THEN you can go live anywhere; otherwise just stay where you are and recognize it isn't that bad after all
well you're not paying federal income taxes because your paying income taxes in a foreign country.... no one would work overseas otherwise
i'm not sure this is even a selling point
So what he said in short was " i can't move back to america because of topless girls of all ages"
Does Aaron still own Freemote? He never talks about it anymore
I have not benefitted from the system. I pay them to repeatedly attempt to kill me. So far they have the upper hand but things are just starting to get interesting.
We need a place that has freedom and beauty at the same time
Are you still living in Ukraine now?
I couldn’t live in Europe. The “hate speech” laws are ridiculous
They are not and even in the US there are many things you can´t say without getting into trouble.
I can assure you. Things are getting much worse in europe pretty fast. And they will get much worse than in us.
Is this video just you trying to make money online? Talk of connecting the dots :)
After watching this video, I'd be interested if you start vlogging.
Bro, so if you truly have USA clients, then I think what you are doing is not legal, and you probably should not be admitting this in a YT video. lol
From ChatGPT:
Self-Employment Income:
If you are self-employed and have U.S. clients, the income you earn from those clients is typically considered U.S. source income, not foreign-earned income. This means that income earned from U.S. clients may not be eligible for the FEIE.
Yes, some founders intended the states to be more independent, but that was when most of what is now America was populated with indigenous peoples, they wanted to keep slavery, and before the British burned down the White House in the war of 1812.
Great video though, it's really interesting to hear your experience and perspective, and I think you give a very balanced opinion on it all without causing a meltdown in the comments hahaha.
Will return to Ukraine someday?
When is Aaron Jack going to settle down and start a family?