My Expat Journey

Lessons from Living in Six Countries

Have you ever thought about buying a one-way ticket and moving somewhere new and exciting?

I've done that - six times by now.

I spent most of my childhood in Germany, with a few years in Canada. As a young adult, I moved to Singapore and Australia on a professional adventure. From here, we tried a partly financially driven experiment and moved to Cyprus. Now, I live in New Zealand.

Exciting to some and daunting to others, I've learned a lot of lessons from each move.

I'm grateful for every one of them, as they have changed me as a person. Being exposed to different perspectives and viewpoints changes one's own.

However, moving countries isn't as rosy as it first seems. I've had many challenging situations which have tested my relationships and forced me to make tough decisions.

Most recently, from our time in Cyprus, we abandoned ship after just ~five months. It was a mistake; we had to cut the losses and do something else.

I've always wanted to share some more insights into this.

I vividly remember conversations from when I was still working for SAP in Germany. I talked to consultants who lived in three or four different countries. I found that fascinating, and it was a driving force behind my pursuit of something similar.

I will publish a series of posts, so I'll keep this short and break down what I think I will cover:

Here is what I've learned from living in six different countries:

Everything is a trade-off:

There isn't a perfect country! Australia has perfect beaches but is isolated. Singapore has excellent food and travel but almost no nature. Cyprus comes with low taxes, hot summers, and crazy bureaucracy.

You'll have to define non-negotiables and sacrifice.

Cost of Living:

It's far more nuanced than you'd think. Rent and groceries are one thing, but what about all these hidden little things that will creep up on you once you've moved, like the monthly pool maintenance?

Income vs. Expenses:

Locals live there, too. The cost of living is one side. It can look daunting that rent in Sydney compared to Europe is astronomical until you find out that income in Sydney is astronomical, too, compared to Europe.

Labor Arbitrage:

Spend local, earn global. Digital nomads know this very well. Just make sure you're on the right side of this trade.

Impact on your Life:

Different cultures change you. You might not think of it this way, but if you go away for five years, your friends back home will have changed differently, possibly making you incompatible.

Moving for Taxes:

Low taxes are attractive, but sometimes there is a catch or a reason why that country has low taxes. You'll need to dig into that and the implications on your home country.

Know before you go:

Research alone isn't enough. I've had many occasions where the research was solid, but surprises quickly came up once we were on the ground. Planning an exploration trip can help.

---

These aren't just reflections of my own life. They will help anyone better navigate the common pitfalls of moving to and living in a different country.