Moldova is a miracle of resilience and European values, if you shop from small local markets, giver of Good life at much under 7 dollars a day....Especially you are clever enough to buy your own place ( studio flats in very good areas at 10 to 20 thousand dollars ) its the Eden. We have a woman President, at her second very succesful term, and will keep pushing for even Better.
We are Romanians, Vlacks in British books :) but speak also Russian, as of ex URSS " legacy "...one day hopefully part of Romania. If you can work remotely Moldova is a dream destination, friendly people, and good weather 300 days a year..." Cheap " is not the word, affordable is the one ❤ ;)
This is a great, very helpful video, Kristin. As an FYI, I served (former U.S. diplomat here) at the American Embassy in Tirana, Albania between 2002-05. That nation couldn't be friendlier, and its natural beauty is just stellar.
@@JSBachXIV I’m looking into Albania as well. Thank you for the info. I was stationed in Europe in the 1980’s and we weren’t allowed to travel to a lot of countries in Eastern Europe for obvious reasons. I’m hearing people talk about it, but have yet to hear from people who have been there. Thank you and Kristin for all this good info!
@@TravelingwithKristin not sure when you have been last time in Budapest (if ever) but your research is sooo wrong! Make double if not triple your prices for rent and eat out
I agree I went to the Er for 2 cuts on my head from a fall ! The charge to my insurance was 23,000 and then to come back to get simple stitches removed was 400.00 I could have don’t that myself ! The nurses in the hospitals are terrible and the er doctors are rent a doc the one at the er I went to was only a DO not even a MD !
Many of these countries look very appealing visually. Could you do a follow-up video on these countries and how easy/hard they are for Americans to retire to? Also, how welcoming they are to foreign retirees. None of these ever seem to make the "Top Countries to Retire To" lists. Thanks!
Thanks for your comment! I have a new places to retire video coming soon, but you could also retire in these destinations. Particularly Albania, Bulgaria, and Montenegro.
@@TravelingwithKristin Thanks for responding -- I look forward to the upcoming "places to retire to" video from you! Having watched several of your videos, I know you're partial to warmer climes ... perhaps you could do a "cooler weather countries" for us nutty folks who like cold weather! 🙂
Inflation has hit Eastern Europe hard since 2022, grocery prices are more expensive than Germany and UK for instance and rent prices continue to climb. You are barely surviving with $1000 in these, you would need closer to $2000 these days
I'm in Croatia and food and clothes are the same price of USA. I can't understand how people survive here. I could just move back to usa and it's going to be the same living. Horrible
Thank you so much, Kristin for this awesome service you’re providing. I’m learning so much about where to go as a digital nomad and to eventually retire. Thank you for sharing your info and resources.
Romenia was not under "strict" USSR rule, it had it's own rule as it was Nicolae Ceaușescu that held the country in his hand. East European countries were like vasal states.
As a Latvian I can tell you that you need income around 2000 Euro to live comfortably in Riga. Public transport is expensive wen compared to Estonia and Lithuania. Road quality also isn't the best. Utilities changes greatly when it comes to type of house (in older home usually higher).
Thank you Kristin! I'm disabled now (wasn't always) and I'm strongly considering moving away from the US because of many things, but cost of living is high on the list. Surviving on $1100 per month alone in the US is impossible. There's a lot of us, though, that do it painfully.
I understand, and I hope this video gives you some inspiration for your next steps! Also check out my videos on places to live for $1,000 ruclips.net/video/5ht824Pk0UQ/видео.htmlsi=jTgLkSAlLp-NtrvI
@sean - there are some places in Latin America & SE Asia where one can survive on $1000, however one must be frugal (and not expect to "live like a king") Also, some (or many) of these are developing countries and they are not wheelchair or blind friendly (you said you are disabled but didn't mention the specifics). It's also best to have health insurance or funds to self insure. You must also have emergency funds in case you need to return to the US in case of family or health issues. Medicare doesn't work outside the US. It's best to visit before you decide to move anywhere (boots on the ground experience).
Fantastic video as ever, Kristine 👍. So glad hidden gems like Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and North Macedonia made the list ❤️❤️❤️. In my opinion: 1. Montenegro: No country in that region can beat Montenegro for its breathtaking nature. The capital (pronounced Pod-go-Rit-zuh) is blah and not that attractive 😂. Budva is quite touristy and pricey while Bay of Kotor’s charming Old Town and Herceg (Her-Zegh) Novi minutes drive through the winding road are grossly underrated. 2. Bosnia-Herzegovina: Totally agreed that the mixture of cultures in harmony where you would meet kids with mother and father from Islamic/Christian faith thriving. I met a young girl who sent me to her father who is the coppersmith with an incredible talent of creating symbolic artwork, showing unity between faiths depicted in his creations with the Mostar bridge as the glue of unity among faiths. Very touching art, to say the least! So true that you see bullet holes or demolished building in between two thriving businesses on both sides 😂. 3. North Macedonia: I have met very few countries where people are so peaceful. Both Montenegro and North Macedonia were the underdogs under the Serbian dominant culture of former Yugoslavia under Tito. Hence, the Macedonians are extremely tolerant and peaceful. I was vegan for 8 years. The hotel owner got up every morning early to make special vegan breakfast for me and his daughter. I gave him some gifts, and he initially refused to take it. Lake Ohrid (Okh-reed) is simply magical where in restaurants by the lake (e.g. restaurant Chun), the fish directly comes from the lake to your plate! I suppose, it doesn’t get any fresher than that 😅.
@@TravelingwithKristin-The hotel owner who made me vegan breakfast every morning was in Skopje (Scope-yeh), and not in Ohrid. The Ohrid hotel was ok next to a famous Ohrid pearl shop and 10 feet across a breakfast place on a narrow cobblestone street near the famous Pizza Nemo 🐡. The Skopje hotel name is Hotel Monako off İlinden Blvd and minutes’ walk from the Skopje Zoo and the gorgeous City Park known for its modern sculptures and nearby National Arena. Glad to know you’re vegan too 👏👏. I guess I’m not the only crazy kind to go vegan every now and then - -like a part-time pescatarian with commitment issues 😂.
One feature I haven’t noticed you reference pet ownership/transportation, for the countries you bring up. I know it’s likely too difficult, but it’s a piece of life important for many. 👍🏻 I also appreciate at this point you’re not actively traveling to destinations as much as you have earlier in your career though.
Kristin does many good videos, if you are looking for glossy overviews of various country's good points. On the other hand, she is absolutely geopolitically blind, and quite casually promotes countries that are dictatorships or adjacent to dictatorships and war zones. Why would anyone want to move into a politcally unstable area? Why wouldn't she at least put that information out there, so people can proceed with open eyes?
Terrific video, Kristin! Many new places that I'd love to check out. Spent a month just outside of Timisoara two years ago. A thoroughly delightful, pleasant mid-size city with a relaxed feel. Interesting history. City redesign by Austrians at a critical moment gives it a Vienna feel. European Capital of Culture in 2023!
No mention of Serbia? We spent a month between Novi Sad and Belgrade and found it very nice. They have a great basketball culture, kind of like WWE meets the NBA - not to mention tennis. Very family oriented. Novi Sad is great for Christmas with their festivities, to include an ice skating path through through a park - very unique experience. Bosnia likes Americans thanks to Bill Clinton. N. Macedonia/Ohrid was nice. Something to keep in mind with many European locations is air pollution, especially in winter, as many still heat with wood/fossil fuels, which can impact air quality. Also, in many areas there are older cars on the road (can you say Yugo) spewing smoke adding to this issue.. But all in all - Balkans have a lot of promise..
This is such a helpful topic, especially for anyone thinking about relocating or traveling on a budget! I’m curious-do these places offer affordable healthcare and education as well, or are those areas where costs might add up? Also, how do job opportunities or remote work options compare in these locations? It’d be great to know more about the quality of life beyond just living expenses!
HI Kristin~ Another great informative, well organized, visually stunning video. ?~ If you were a single woman your Mom's age range and traveling with a small dog, who loves temperate climate/weather, not too hot, not too cold, and more of a midsize town/village friendly vibe, what would be some of your favourite places either in this video or other videos you've shared that you would suggest to try visiting/exploring/living short or perhaps long term? ~thank you
Depending on your definition of midsize town, maybe Sarande or Vlore in Albania. The climate is Mediterranean; it rains a fair bit in the winter but isn't particularly cold. Sea breezes make the summer heat tolerable, and it's dry.
unfortunately, yes, there are problems, the economy is in the doldrums, we are the poorest country in the EU, the Forint has weakened a lot. Nevertheless, for a foreigner it's a good place to be, because it's clean, calm and quiet (except for the city centre, where there are a lot of tourists). And if you get paid in Euros or USD, you're doing well, because of the weak Forint.
We have travelled to all those countries and our favorites based on the cost of living, climate, safety and quality of life are Black Sea riviera in Bulgaria and Transylvania region of Romania. Beaches in Sarande (Albania) are beautiful but they have a very hot summers and very big parking problems. Montenegro and Lake Ohrid (North Macedonia) are also good
None of the countries mentioned in this video (except perhaps self-proclaimed Albania) was a communist country, they were socialist republics/countries. Also, its more correct to say Baltic countries (now) were part of the Soviet Union (as republics), not Russia.
Hi, @Kristin. Thanks for this video! I have lived in several of the places described here, and I believe Yugoslavia was socialist, not communist. 😏 Hvala puno, ili mnogo.
may I pinpoint two facts : if the USSR was oligarchic in nature, it means it was state capitalism and that they never "transitionned" to communism (an issue communists have but not anarchists) 2 : the representative regime, isn't a democracy, in fact you can look their creators both in the US and France (James Madison and L'abbe Seyies) who specifically said it was meant to prevent democracy. A democracy is when the population write and vote the laws itself (no government).
How is a population going to write laws without some form of government? Are 330 million Americans going to drop over someone's house, discuss an issue, and take turns editing a document? USSR was not oligarchic so much as a mob of kleptocrats.
I would be very anxious living in Moldova. If the war goes south for Ukraine with this new administration, it might just get overrun along with the rest of Ukraine, as Russia also sees it as its "own" territory and already occupies part of Moldova's territory that it calls "Transnistria".
Thank you for the suggestion. I am looking for a warm weather place to retire with beaches and the Azores sound like that fits the bill. It's good to hear that it's cheap to live there as well.
@@ADadSupreme Residency in dictatoships don't end well. Megalomania, narcississm and paranoia all go together. In the end, everyone makes the dart board. You included. Try to avoid that helicopter ride of the sea as long as you can.
@@izzytoons Or that 'remote villa' in the mountains in the 'friendly town'. 😁Things go south very fast once it goes down when governments aren't stable or aimed towards totalitarianism. I kid, but it's funny folks rarely take this into consideration. Even places like Turkey can flip in a second and all your property/interests are kaput.
Spain has moderate cost of living outside the major metropolitan areas, but the income taxes are high (everything over $70K is taxed at 47%), and they treat passive income as normal income. So it's not really that affordable. In Italy, income tax ranges froim 23% to 43%. Passive income from social security and 401Ks, etc., is taxed at a flat 26%. Some will accept that. Others narrow their search to places that do not tax passive income at all. Or have like a flat 10% or something. Some of the places Kristin mentions, like Albania, are quickly gaining in popularity, in significant part because it is not in the Schengen region. I think Montenegro is moving quickly, too, for the same reason. North Macedonia, perhaps because it is landlocked, is less competitive, as is Moldova, perhaps also because it borders Ukraine, which is at war. Moreover, if Ukraine fell, then Moldova would be on the front line... It's unfortunate, because Moldova does have good qualities.
She a global relocation expert. She's been an expat digital nomad for twenty years. She's stayed in dozens and dozens of countries. She's lived in many, too. She has a relocation business helping people relocate all over the world, helping them navigate all the issues involved. She has an extensive network of friends and associates she leverages to do all this. I've been looking at this kind of video for fifteen months now. Hers are among the very best. They won't get you through relocation, but they will give you a lot of information and ideas. There are other resources you can dig up online to fill in the blanks. You can even contact embassies. And you can contact Kristin for her assistance. No, I don't work for Kristin. I'm just familiar with her work.
Well that hits the Balkan Peninsula in toto. Beautiful countrysides. Being part Hungarian...all I can say is...good luck learning hungarian (the language). My gparents spoke it and it is extremely difficult to understand. Nice coverage tho!
Do you have insight/thoughts on Switzerland? I have been there so I know the country but each day passes and I thinking about moving there permanently. Not sure if you know much about them or if you have a video on Switzerland and relocating. I have read a lot but I am not expert.
You need to find/ have a copy of the birth certificate (also possibly death cert) of your ancestor who migrated from Hungary. You also need to find out if they naturalized (as a US citizen) before or after your next-in-line ancestor was born. (it may or may not matter) See the website of the Hungarian consulate for rules re: applying for citizenship, example - how far back it goes: parent, grandparent, great grandparent, etc. If you're granted Hungarian citizenship, you can (potentially) live anywhere in the EU.
@@scoaste I see. Check the rules & procedure at the Hungarian consulate/ embassy. See if they allow getting citizenship from great grandparents. For some (example Italian citizenship) they had to make a family tree as one of their documents.
I used to live in Vienna, Austria. The cities around there are great options; Brataslava, Brno, Budapest. Prague is great too but I think that it got saturated with too many ex-pats. Some things to consider if you move though, if you need to order from Amazon & other sites, customs with add up easily. Many of these place don't have a a Walmart. Some have some good stores but most are closed at night and on Sundays.
@radwooah , Steve clearly likes tropical or sub tropical climates. 🤔 Here in Thailand, the sun shines most of the time, even during the rainy season. Flowers and flowering trees 365 days per year. For us, this is heaven. Obtw the seasonal fresh fruit is amazing. Europe is sometimes nice but it doesn't have this kind of beautiful weather. Also we don't waist money on heat utilities and often don't need AC. Just a fan 😊 Cost of living is between 50 to 35% of usa.
If you stick to the tourist destinations in the most popular countries (Albania), it will be less and less an issue, although you will need to pick up some practical words and phrases.
Thanks a lot for this. The year is already coming to an end and I know a lot of people are depressed that they did not do well this year but this is Me trying to encourage you that it's not late. My advice to everyone is this : if you want to grow big this year especially in your finances. Be willing to make investments. Saving is great but investing puts you on a pedestal where you wouldnt have to worry about savings as you do now. Thanks to larysa Caba, my portolio is doing really great and im proud of the decisions i made last year.
I feel one Of the greatest challenges that we first timers face in the ma rket is that we end up losing all we have,making it difficult to find ourselves back to our feet. My biggest advice is to always seek the services of a professional just like I did when I ventured into it for the first time. Big thanks to Larysa Caba. I now make huge profits by weekly through her services while still learning to stand on my own.
I know Larysa Caba. she trades for everyone I meet. I met her twice at a meeting in Germany and after her lectures from Ella I had to personally ask her to be my financial advisor. she is definitely good.
I have never seen a trader as open and transparent as Larysa Caba with her clients. The way she decides to make a profit for her clients. she allows you to express your fears and she still rests your fears and that is my respect. I don't normally comment on videos, but this word should be included. she is really cool.
You are confusing North Macedonia with the Greek Region of Macedonia. North Macedonia is Slavic (Slavs came to the Balkans in medieval times, 1000 years after Alexander the Great) and the Language is basically Bulgarian but Tito (Yugoslavia) rebranded them because of fear of separatism.
I noticed Portugal isn't on that list. Is there anywhere outside Lisbon you can live on 950 euro a month? I have lived on the Portugal minimum wage outside Portugal for years so I know how to do so.
From $37K to $45K that's the minimum range of profit return every week I thinks it's not a bad one for me, now I have enough to pay bills and take care of my family.
Sounds interesting. I was planning to invest some few £ in some coins, stack them up and leave them for a few years, but seeing this changed my mindset. Thank you very much
Where does this data come from? They're just completely made up and meaningless without any context or explanation. 40% lower than the US? What does that even mean? That's a very different number for someone moving from New York vs Indiana. And what factors into these calculations? What does $685 per month actually pay for in Montenegro? Without any effort to explain the methodology, this is all just made up nonsense. Completely meaningless. Just a flimsy excuse to stitch together someone else's stock videos of scenic countries. Lazy.
She doesn't know what she is talking about. I moved to Croatia thinking it's going to be cheaper and it's the same prices like in the US. I actually can't understand how people survive here with micro salaries. Rent is cheaper But everything else is so expensive that I don't want to be here anymore
Kristin how many of these places have you lived if you have cloves in any you don’t know what you’re talking about ! You are just giving false information !
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Moldova is a miracle of resilience and European values, if you shop from small local markets, giver of Good life at much under 7 dollars a day....Especially you are clever enough to buy your own place ( studio flats in very good areas at 10 to 20 thousand dollars ) its the Eden. We have a woman President, at her second very succesful term, and will keep pushing for even Better.
Thank you for sharing your perspective on Moldova! 🇲🇩
We are Romanians, Vlacks in British books :) but speak also Russian, as of ex URSS " legacy "...one day hopefully part of Romania. If you can work remotely Moldova is a dream destination, friendly people, and good weather 300 days a year..." Cheap " is not the word, affordable is the one ❤ ;)
Thank you for the information. Does Moldova hire native English teachers in their schools?
How much sunshine does it get a year? Can anyone move there or does one need to apply for a visa?
Explain ‘European values’! Monroe Doctrine? And lack of sovereignty?
This is a great, very helpful video, Kristin. As an FYI, I served (former U.S. diplomat here) at the American Embassy in Tirana, Albania between 2002-05. That nation couldn't be friendlier, and its natural beauty is just stellar.
@@JSBachXIV I’m looking into Albania as well. Thank you for the info. I was stationed in Europe in the 1980’s and we weren’t allowed to travel to a lot of countries in Eastern Europe for obvious reasons. I’m hearing people talk about it, but have yet to hear from people who have been there. Thank you and Kristin for all this good info!
Thank you for sharing, this is truly amazing, bcuz I am tired of these u.s. prices, great information!
Me too im saving and investing hard as I can to move too Thailand r the Philippines.
You're welcome! I'm glad you found the information helpful. I hope to inspire you to travel the world and discover new places!
@@TravelingwithKristin not sure when you have been last time in Budapest (if ever) but your research is sooo wrong!
Make double if not triple your prices for rent and eat out
Healthcare is the most painful in US. Service keep on getting worse while prices keep on getting higher.
I agree I went to the Er for 2 cuts on my head from a fall ! The charge to my insurance was 23,000 and then to come back to get simple stitches removed was 400.00 I could have don’t that myself ! The nurses in the hospitals are terrible and the er doctors are rent a doc the one at the er I went to was only a DO not even a MD !
Many of these countries look very appealing visually. Could you do a follow-up video on these countries and how easy/hard they are for Americans to retire to? Also, how welcoming they are to foreign retirees. None of these ever seem to make the "Top Countries to Retire To" lists. Thanks!
Thanks for your comment! I have a new places to retire video coming soon, but you could also retire in these destinations. Particularly Albania, Bulgaria, and Montenegro.
@@TravelingwithKristin Thanks for responding -- I look forward to the upcoming "places to retire to" video from you! Having watched several of your videos, I know you're partial to warmer climes ... perhaps you could do a "cooler weather countries" for us nutty folks who like cold weather! 🙂
Inflation has hit Eastern Europe hard since 2022, grocery prices are more expensive than Germany and UK for instance and rent prices continue to climb. You are barely surviving with $1000 in these, you would need closer to $2000 these days
Thank you for sharing your local knowledge. I hope things get better for everyone.
I'm in Croatia and food and clothes are the same price of USA. I can't understand how people survive here. I could just move back to usa and it's going to be the same living. Horrible
@@Ciaccona255 I believe France is the same way
@@Ciaccona255 Excepting that I would still rather live in Croatia than the US and the lifestyle has to be so much better.
how are black americans treated in these countries Kristin ? I know that that can be subjective to a degree but in general , what would you say ?
I really want to check these places out after this video! Thank you for showing the average cost for a single person.
You’re welcome, Pam! I got you 😊
Thank you so much, Kristin for this awesome service you’re providing. I’m learning so much about where to go as a digital nomad and to eventually retire. Thank you for sharing your info and resources.
Romenia was not under "strict" USSR rule, it had it's own rule as it was Nicolae Ceaușescu that held the country in his hand. East European countries were like vasal states.
Romania under Ceaucescu was worse than anything else, it was really a shithole.
As a Latvian I can tell you that you need income around 2000 Euro to live comfortably in Riga. Public transport is expensive wen compared to Estonia and Lithuania. Road quality also isn't the best. Utilities changes greatly when it comes to type of house (in older home usually higher).
wow great video, you did all the homework for us, these are countries I would've never considered , you are opening my eyes Kristin
You’re welcome! I’m glad I could help! 😊
Bulgaria is definitely on my shortlist of places to retire. Thank you for the video!
Bulgaria is a great choice! You're going to love it.
Thank you Kristin! I'm disabled now (wasn't always) and I'm strongly considering moving away from the US because of many things, but cost of living is high on the list. Surviving on $1100 per month alone in the US is impossible. There's a lot of us, though, that do it painfully.
I understand, and I hope this video gives you some inspiration for your next steps! Also check out my videos on places to live for $1,000 ruclips.net/video/5ht824Pk0UQ/видео.htmlsi=jTgLkSAlLp-NtrvI
@sean - there are some places in Latin America & SE Asia where one can survive on $1000, however one must be frugal (and not expect to "live like a king") Also, some (or many) of these are developing countries and they are not wheelchair or blind friendly (you said you are disabled but didn't mention the specifics). It's also best to have health insurance or funds to self insure.
You must also have emergency funds in case you need to return to the US in case of family or health issues. Medicare doesn't work outside the US. It's best to visit before you decide to move anywhere (boots on the ground experience).
That’s me Sean. Only $1100 social security per month. Doesn’t get you much in the USA.
Fantastic video as ever, Kristine 👍. So glad hidden gems like Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and North Macedonia made the list ❤️❤️❤️. In my opinion:
1. Montenegro: No country in that region can beat Montenegro for its breathtaking nature. The capital (pronounced Pod-go-Rit-zuh) is blah and not that attractive 😂. Budva is quite touristy and pricey while Bay of Kotor’s charming Old Town and Herceg (Her-Zegh) Novi minutes drive through the winding road are grossly underrated.
2. Bosnia-Herzegovina: Totally agreed that the mixture of cultures in harmony where you would meet kids with mother and father from Islamic/Christian faith thriving. I met a young girl who sent me to her father who is the coppersmith with an incredible talent of creating symbolic artwork, showing unity between faiths depicted in his creations with the Mostar bridge as the glue of unity among faiths. Very touching art, to say the least! So true that you see bullet holes or demolished building in between two thriving businesses on both sides 😂.
3. North Macedonia: I have met very few countries where people are so peaceful. Both Montenegro and North Macedonia were the underdogs under the Serbian dominant culture of former Yugoslavia under Tito. Hence, the Macedonians are extremely tolerant and peaceful. I was vegan for 8 years. The hotel owner got up every morning early to make special vegan breakfast for me and his daughter. I gave him some gifts, and he initially refused to take it. Lake Ohrid (Okh-reed) is simply magical where in restaurants by the lake (e.g. restaurant Chun), the fish directly comes from the lake to your plate! I suppose, it doesn’t get any fresher than that 😅.
great
Wow thank you for sharing your experience! What was the name of the hotel you visited in Lake Ohrid? I’m vegan as well 😊🌿
@@TravelingwithKristin-The hotel owner who made me vegan breakfast every morning was in Skopje (Scope-yeh), and not in Ohrid. The Ohrid hotel was ok next to a famous Ohrid pearl shop and 10 feet across a breakfast place on a narrow cobblestone street near the famous Pizza Nemo 🐡.
The Skopje hotel name is Hotel Monako off İlinden Blvd and minutes’ walk from the Skopje Zoo and the gorgeous City Park known for its modern sculptures and nearby National Arena.
Glad to know you’re vegan too 👏👏. I guess I’m not the only crazy kind to go vegan every now and then - -like a part-time pescatarian with commitment issues 😂.
One feature I haven’t noticed you reference pet ownership/transportation, for the countries you bring up. I know it’s likely too difficult, but it’s a piece of life important for many. 👍🏻
I also appreciate at this point you’re not actively traveling to destinations as much as you have earlier in your career though.
Budapest seems beautiful, but many Americans who are considering leaving want to ESCAPE fascism, not embrace it.
Kristin does many good videos, if you are looking for glossy overviews of various country's good points. On the other hand, she is absolutely geopolitically blind, and quite casually promotes countries that are dictatorships or adjacent to dictatorships and war zones. Why would anyone want to move into a politcally unstable area? Why wouldn't she at least put that information out there, so people can proceed with open eyes?
hahahaha, never mind, half of the Americans see Hungary as a role model, the rest stay home, please
So stay in California, where all is free and beautiful!😂
@@freebozkurt9277 Why settle for a dictator wannabe? Why not just rejoin Russia and you can have the uber-fascist, Putin.
ORBAN is quasi fascist, but Budapest is very liberal and cosmopolitan city. However, prices has gone up, dramatically these days
Terrific video, Kristin! Many new places that I'd love to check out. Spent a month just outside of Timisoara two years ago. A thoroughly delightful, pleasant mid-size city with a relaxed feel. Interesting history. City redesign by Austrians at a critical moment gives it a Vienna feel. European Capital of Culture in 2023!
So glad you liked it! The cities highlighted for Europe’s Capitals of Culture are always lovely
Thanks for this overview!
What about the visa schemes of each country?
Thanx! These gave me some good inspiration!
Happy to hear it!
No mention of Serbia? We spent a month between Novi Sad and Belgrade and found it very nice. They have a great basketball culture, kind of like WWE meets the NBA - not to mention tennis. Very family oriented. Novi Sad is great for Christmas with their festivities, to include an ice skating path through through a park - very unique experience. Bosnia likes Americans thanks to Bill Clinton. N. Macedonia/Ohrid was nice. Something to keep in mind with many European locations is air pollution, especially in winter, as many still heat with wood/fossil fuels, which can impact air quality. Also, in many areas there are older cars on the road (can you say Yugo) spewing smoke adding to this issue.. But all in all - Balkans have a lot of promise..
This is such a helpful topic, especially for anyone thinking about relocating or traveling on a budget! I’m curious-do these places offer affordable healthcare and education as well, or are those areas where costs might add up? Also, how do job opportunities or remote work options compare in these locations? It’d be great to know more about the quality of life beyond just living expenses!
Definately looking to expat in the next 5 years. Thanks for the suggestions.
Lol...relax ..you aren't going anywhere
HI Kristin~ Another great informative, well organized, visually stunning video.
?~ If you were a single woman your Mom's age range and traveling with a small dog, who loves temperate climate/weather, not too hot, not too cold, and more of a midsize town/village friendly vibe, what would be some of your favourite places either in this video or other videos you've shared that you would suggest to try visiting/exploring/living short or perhaps long term? ~thank you
Depending on your definition of midsize town, maybe Sarande or Vlore in Albania. The climate is Mediterranean; it rains a fair bit in the winter but isn't particularly cold. Sea breezes make the summer heat tolerable, and it's dry.
I don't know how $500 a month rent with a budget of $1000 a month works.
It doesn't
Sugar daddy?
How is Hungary now that Viktor Orban is running it? Are there any human rights issues or restrictive laws we should be aware of? Thank you.
Yes there are restriction there, eg. people who ask such a stupid question are not welcome. 😁
not so stupid question. Stupid Orban but he is losing popularity so no problem.
unfortunately, yes, there are problems, the economy is in the doldrums, we are the poorest country in the EU, the Forint has weakened a lot.
Nevertheless, for a foreigner it's a good place to be, because it's clean, calm and quiet (except for the city centre, where there are a lot of tourists). And if you get paid in Euros or USD, you're doing well, because of the weak Forint.
...but Hungary at night is very dangerous.....there are wolves on the street and bears.... wilderness indeed...
@@uncle_matula "we are the poorest country in the EU" hahahaha you are nuts
Another great and very informative video! TY
Such an interesting and complete video. Thank you very much.
Glad you enjoyed it!
We have travelled to all those countries and our favorites based on the cost of living, climate, safety and quality of life are Black Sea riviera in Bulgaria and Transylvania region of Romania. Beaches in Sarande (Albania) are beautiful but they have a very hot summers and very big parking problems. Montenegro and Lake Ohrid (North Macedonia) are also good
None of the countries mentioned in this video (except perhaps self-proclaimed Albania) was a communist country, they were socialist republics/countries. Also, its more correct to say Baltic countries (now) were part of the Soviet Union (as republics), not Russia.
lol! Communist.....socialist....who cares, they were under totalitarian rule regardless. Terrible times, but now they're better places.
Hi Kristin. I love all these countries. So I think it's better to tour around the world before taking a decision.! And so happy to see you ☺️
You are so right! Travel is the best way to decide 😊
Hi, @Kristin. Thanks for this video! I have lived in several of the places described here, and I believe Yugoslavia was socialist, not communist. 😏 Hvala puno, ili mnogo.
How do you calculate your figures? Why no mention of health care?
What's the best place to live for a busker/street musician in ur opinion?
may I pinpoint two facts : if the USSR was oligarchic in nature, it means it was state capitalism and that they never "transitionned" to communism (an issue communists have but not anarchists)
2 : the representative regime, isn't a democracy, in fact you can look their creators both in the US and France (James Madison and L'abbe Seyies) who specifically said it was meant to prevent democracy. A democracy is when the population write and vote the laws itself (no government).
How is a population going to write laws without some form of government? Are 330 million Americans going to drop over someone's house, discuss an issue, and take turns editing a document?
USSR was not oligarchic so much as a mob of kleptocrats.
Great options that I would not have considered otherwise!
Glad to hear it! Hope you find the perfect place for you.
I would be very anxious living in Moldova. If the war goes south for Ukraine with this new administration, it might just get overrun along with the rest of Ukraine, as Russia also sees it as its "own" territory and already occupies part of Moldova's territory that it calls "Transnistria".
Azores the best cheapest, safest place to retire
Thank you for the suggestion. I am looking for a warm weather place to retire with beaches and the Azores sound like that fits the bill. It's good to hear that it's cheap to live there as well.
@@BillGreenAZ they changed their visas in 2024, and their tax regime. Hence why I will not be moving to Portugal next year, but Fance.
Stay away plz .
warm weather? beaches?
Açores????? 😀
@@lxportugal9343 Beautiful beaches, yes. Warm compared to the rest of Europe.
"Welcome to beautiful Europe! You''ll have your choice of "Dictator" or "Dictator-light" countries to suit your particular tastes! Enjoy your stay!" 🤣
Democracy is so last century.
@@izzytoons
Out: Democracy.
In: 'Luxury living' at a moderate cost of pretense.
@@ADadSupreme Residency in dictatoships don't end well. Megalomania, narcississm and paranoia all go together. In the end, everyone makes the dart board. You included. Try to avoid that helicopter ride of the sea as long as you can.
@@izzytoons Or that 'remote villa' in the mountains in the 'friendly town'. 😁Things go south very fast once it goes down when governments aren't stable or aimed towards totalitarianism. I kid, but it's funny folks rarely take this into consideration. Even places like Turkey can flip in a second and all your property/interests are kaput.
I know people talk about Spain or Italy for affordable living in Europe, but this list has me rethinking my options! 🙌
Spain has moderate cost of living outside the major metropolitan areas, but the income taxes are high (everything over $70K is taxed at 47%), and they treat passive income as normal income. So it's not really that affordable. In Italy, income tax ranges froim 23% to 43%. Passive income from social security and 401Ks, etc., is taxed at a flat 26%. Some will accept that. Others narrow their search to places that do not tax passive income at all. Or have like a flat 10% or something.
Some of the places Kristin mentions, like Albania, are quickly gaining in popularity, in significant part because it is not in the Schengen region. I think Montenegro is moving quickly, too, for the same reason. North Macedonia, perhaps because it is landlocked, is less competitive, as is Moldova, perhaps also because it borders Ukraine, which is at war. Moreover, if Ukraine fell, then Moldova would be on the front line... It's unfortunate, because Moldova does have good qualities.
"where your dollar, will go farther" ...that was smooth...
Bosnia and Herzegovina actually has a small strip of coast in the lower middle of Croatia. Nice video
I didn’t realize that! Is it Neum? I’m looking at a map :)
@ yes 👍..I only know because i went by bus from Sibenik to Kotor and we passed through 🇧🇦
How do you know this? Is this just searches online for cost breakdowns? Did you actually live in these countries?
Yes I’ve spent time in most of these countries (except Moldova and North Macedonia)
She a global relocation expert. She's been an expat digital nomad for twenty years. She's stayed in dozens and dozens of countries. She's lived in many, too. She has a relocation business helping people relocate all over the world, helping them navigate all the issues involved. She has an extensive network of friends and associates she leverages to do all this. I've been looking at this kind of video for fifteen months now. Hers are among the very best. They won't get you through relocation, but they will give you a lot of information and ideas. There are other resources you can dig up online to fill in the blanks. You can even contact embassies. And you can contact Kristin for her assistance. No, I don't work for Kristin. I'm just familiar with her work.
@@izzytoons Got that. Thanks for letting me know.
Well that hits the Balkan Peninsula in toto. Beautiful countrysides. Being part Hungarian...all I can say is...good luck learning hungarian (the language). My gparents spoke it and it is extremely difficult to understand. Nice coverage tho!
We have Trump.in the UzS so why would I want to move to Hungary
Bratislava, Slovakia, my home town and birthplace. ❤
Any country in the Schengen zone is going to be expensive. Just hope these jewels don’t become Californicated.
Adore U! ❤
Bosnia has its own coastline. It's super short (like 20km) but still counts 🙃😉
Do you have insight/thoughts on Switzerland? I have been there so I know the country but each day passes and I thinking about moving there permanently. Not sure if you know much about them or if you have a video on Switzerland and relocating. I have read a lot but I am not expert.
Switzerland is very expensive. Going there makes no sense unless you get a well paid job there.
I have ancestors from Hungary but don't know how to find the proper documentation for citizenship by descent.
You need to find/ have a copy of the birth certificate (also possibly death cert) of your ancestor who migrated from Hungary. You also need to find out if they naturalized (as a US citizen) before or after your next-in-line ancestor was born. (it may or may not matter) See the website of the Hungarian consulate for rules re: applying for citizenship, example - how far back it goes: parent, grandparent, great grandparent, etc. If you're granted Hungarian citizenship, you can (potentially) live anywhere in the EU.
@@kitty_s23456 I don't think certificates exist for these great-grandparents. Probably only church records.
@@scoaste I see. Check the rules & procedure at the Hungarian consulate/ embassy. See if they allow getting citizenship from great grandparents. For some (example Italian citizenship) they had to make a family tree as one of their documents.
@@kitty_s23456 They do and I have one 🙂
@@kitty_s23456 Sadly since they migrated before a certain date I'd have to become fluent in Hungarian.
I used to live in Vienna, Austria. The cities around there are great options; Brataslava, Brno, Budapest. Prague is great too but I think that it got saturated with too many ex-pats. Some things to consider if you move though, if you need to order from Amazon & other sites, customs with add up easily. Many of these place don't have a a Walmart. Some have some good stores but most are closed at night and on Sundays.
surprised to not see Georgia on the list
Adjacent to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and...Russia? This is not a stable region. There are reasons it's cheap. Not good ones.
Mostly places with long cloudy winters with short days, no thanks.
Short days? ....u realize winter everywhere has less daylight?..or this new to you?
The Balkans get a lot of sunshire actually. I live in Plovdiv and during winter it's almost always sunny. And it rarely drops below 0°
@radwooah , Steve clearly likes tropical or sub tropical climates. 🤔 Here in Thailand, the sun shines most of the time, even during the rainy season. Flowers and flowering trees 365 days per year. For us, this is heaven. Obtw the seasonal fresh fruit is amazing. Europe is sometimes nice but it doesn't have this kind of beautiful weather. Also we don't waist money on heat utilities and often don't need AC. Just a fan 😊
Cost of living is between 50 to 35% of usa.
Did you even look at maps? Montenegro 🇲🇪 is actually warm
I am not greek, but saying that north macedonia has anything to do with macedonia is tragic. North macedonia is just a bulgarian province
Im not ready to book that trip
These are all compelling choices but language is going to be a huge issue for Americans...We will be living on Google translator.,,,🙂
My thoughts exactly.
If you stick to the tourist destinations in the most popular countries (Albania), it will be less and less an issue, although you will need to pick up some practical words and phrases.
Thanks a lot for this. The year is already coming to an end and I know a lot of people are depressed that they did not do well this year but this is Me trying to encourage you that it's not late. My advice to everyone is this : if you want to grow big this year especially in your finances. Be willing to make investments. Saving is great but investing puts you on a pedestal where you wouldnt have to worry about savings as you do now. Thanks to larysa Caba, my portolio is doing really great and im proud of the decisions i made last year.
Making over 48k monthly is all because of her.
I feel one Of the greatest challenges that we first timers face in the ma rket is that we end up losing all we have,making it difficult to find ourselves back to our feet. My biggest advice is to always seek the services of a professional just like I did when I ventured into it for the first time. Big thanks to Larysa Caba. I now make huge profits by weekly through her services while still learning to stand on my own.
I know Larysa Caba. she trades for everyone I meet. I met her twice at a meeting in Germany and after her lectures from Ella I had to personally ask her to be my financial advisor. she is definitely good.
I have never seen a trader as open and transparent as Larysa Caba with her clients. The way she decides to make a profit for her clients. she allows you to express your fears and she still rests your fears and that is my respect. I don't normally comment on videos, but this word should be included. she is really cool.
I just looked up her name online. she is licensed with credible certificates and has an amazing track record. Thank you for the message.
What country gets the most sunshine per year in this list?
Probably Albania. It has good visa policy too - US citizens can stay on a 1 year tourist visa. I've heard that summers there can get very warm.
Let's be honest. Anyone who wants to immigrate to Hungary actually wants to immigrate to Russia, but doesn't dare admit it.
hahaha you are nuts 😅
Do you have information on types of visas and have to live there long term?
I wouldn't live in Hungary if you paid me to. But the other countries look like possibilities. Thank you.
As a Hungarian, I understand you. I also don't like Orban and his regime...
Lucky for you. Nobody's paying you.
Herzegowina has a beach around Neum
You are confusing North Macedonia with the Greek Region of Macedonia. North Macedonia is Slavic (Slavs came to the Balkans in medieval times, 1000 years after Alexander the Great) and the Language is basically Bulgarian but Tito (Yugoslavia) rebranded them because of fear of separatism.
I noticed Portugal isn't on that list. Is there anywhere outside Lisbon you can live on 950 euro a month? I have lived on the Portugal minimum wage outside Portugal for years so I know how to do so.
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Many new tra-ders face challenges without proper guidance. I found success by learning from James Clark's expertise.
@@semendxexactly that's why I always seek Mr J Clark's guidance in all I do 😊
Celebrating a $30k stock portfolio today from a $6k start. Investing wisely has given me time for family and future plans.
From $37K to $45K that's the minimum range of profit return every week I thinks it's not a bad one for me, now I have enough to pay bills and take care of my family.
Sounds interesting. I was planning to invest some few £ in some coins, stack them up and leave them for a few years, but seeing this changed my mindset. Thank you very much
Thank you for not doing the same places as everyone else!
My pleasure!
Where are the Azores??
Portugal, islands off the mainland.
Bosnia has a tiny coastline of 12 km...
Romania was never under Soviet rule.
Looking good Kristin. What's your secret?
Where does this data come from? They're just completely made up and meaningless without any context or explanation. 40% lower than the US? What does that even mean? That's a very different number for someone moving from New York vs Indiana. And what factors into these calculations? What does $685 per month actually pay for in Montenegro? Without any effort to explain the methodology, this is all just made up nonsense. Completely meaningless. Just a flimsy excuse to stitch together someone else's stock videos of scenic countries. Lazy.
She doesn't know what she is talking about. I moved to Croatia thinking it's going to be cheaper and it's the same prices like in the US. I actually can't understand how people survive here with micro salaries. Rent is cheaper But everything else is so expensive that I don't want to be here anymore
The best eastern European countries are Poland and Czech republic 😊❤❤
Expensive as hell
You are going to be in trouble for calling them eastern European. 😅
the yenta nose cheap!
Kristin how many of these places have you lived if you have cloves in any you don’t know what you’re talking about ! You are just giving false information !