One of the biggest roadblocks for men that desire a life abroad is indecision. Not knowing where to go. I know guys who have watched 1000s of Youtube videos on different places but never bought a plane ticket to any of them. And not making a decision is, in itself, a decision — usually the decision to stay stuck.
Picking countries isn’t hard, it’s actually quite easy once you know what you’re looking for. And you don’t need the “perfect” country. You need a starting point. A direction to go. A move.
The good news? You have a lot more flexibility than you think. You can go full-time and build a new base. You can split time — six months here, six months there. You can go seasonal. Winter abroad, summer back home. You’re a man with more options than you think.
Define Your Top Lifestyle Priorities
Before you start looking at cities and countries, the best starting point is to define your top lifestyle priorities. If you don’t know what you’re optimizing for, every country will look both good and bad, and you’ll take on bad advice from guys who have totally different priorities than you do.
Based on expat surveys and discussing these topics with 1000s of other men, the most common reasons men consider moving abroad are: lower cost of living, better lifestyle quality, and a desire for a fresh start. Dating and relationship opportunities are often mentioned — just not always publicly.
Be honest with yourself. It’s your life and nobody else can live it for you. Therefore, you should not feel any shame in pursuing the exact countries that’ll fit you best.
Is it:
- Lower monthly expenses?
- Dating or a new relationship?
- Better weather?
- A healthier lifestyle and new habits?
- Culture fit?
- Feeling alive again?
- Longer visas and less bureaucracy?
- English widely spoken?
- Food quality?
- More adventure?
- Exploring ancient history?
- Safety?
Your priorities determine your destination.
If you’re financially comfortable and want ultra-clean infrastructure, places like Singapore, Dubai, or London may suit you.
If cost efficiency is your priority, Southeast Asia, parts of Latin America, and sections of Africa become far more attractive.
If dating and relationship opportunities are high on your list — and for many single men they are — countries like the Philippines, Colombia, Thailand, and Kenya consistently come up in conversations.
There’s no moral high ground here. Just alignment.
Also see: Why Move Abroad?
The Men Before You Were Smart
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
The most popular expat destinations didn’t become popular by accident. Thousands, perhaps millions, of men tested them out before you and liked their experience. They compared costs, healthcare, dating culture, safety, infrastructure, visa policies. The open market sorted itself out.
So where do a lot of men go?
- Thailand – Strong infrastructure, excellent food, vibrant cities, established expat communities.
- Philippines – English widely spoken, friendly culture, island lifestyle.
- Vietnam – Low cost of living, strong café culture, dynamic growth.
- Colombia – Spring-like climates in certain cities, passionate culture, growing digital nomad scene.
- Brazil – Massive country, diverse regions, strong lifestyle culture.
- Panama – Retiree-friendly policies, U.S. dollar economy.
- Costa Rica – Nature-focused, stable, but rising costs.
- Dominican Republic – Caribbean lifestyle with relatively accessible cost structure.
- Mexico – Close to the U.S., easy logistics, varied lifestyle options.
- Kenya – English-speaking, strong energy, emerging expat curiosity.
Therefore, let’s run some examples, comparing your priorities to ideal destinations.
- If you’re a serious foodie, Thailand might beat the Philippines.
- If English fluency matters, the Philippines and Kenya are easier than Vietnam or Brazil.
- If you’ve got grandkids and proximity to the U.S. matters, then Mexico and Panama simplify logistics rather than living in Thailand permanently
These are data driven patterns made by generations of like minded men that came before us. Use them.
Also see: When Is The Right Time To Move Abroad?
If You Like ‘The Road Less Traveled’
You don’t have to follow the crowd.
Trends rise and fall. Exchange rates shift. Governments change visa rules. Cities get popular, others become ghost towns. Costs get out of hand and then the attention moves somewhere else.
I remember when Da Nang, Vietnam felt like an undiscovered, hidden gem. Then YouTube discovered it. It’s still fantastic – just not undiscovered anymore. That’s the natural cycle.
If you prefer quieter, less saturated destinations, for example, consider places like Albania, Laos, Montenegro, Latvia, Rwanda, or Paraguay, to name a few. There are dozens more.
The point isn’t to chase hype. It’s to align geography with your values.
If You’re New To International Travel
If you’re a newbie to international travel, you don’t need to make a permanent decision. I suggest to do what I did and do a “trial run” to test the lifestyle. But make sure that it’s at least one month minimum so that you escape past the tourism bubble.
Pick somewhere that excites you. Somewhere you’ve always been curious about. Maybe it’s Bangkok, electric, alive, and cheap. Maybe Tokyo, structured, futuristic, and expensive. Maybe Mombasa on the Indian Ocean. Or Kraków, old world charm with European infrastructure.
You can’t fail on a trial run. Why?
You’re not selling your house. You’re not rehoming pets. You’re not saying goodbye to friends and family permanently. You’re gathering data. How do you feel waking up there? Do you like the pace? The people? The culture? The energy? The cost of living?
A trial run removes the burden of doing a dramatic life-altering permanent decision. It’s just a test run.
My first serious trial run was in Cebu City, Philippines for one month in 2019. It left me with an insatiable thirst for international travel that fundamentally change me forever. It was the best decision I ever made and I’ve never looked back other than to do so with gratitude.
But here’s the key: at the time, it wasn’t permanent. I knew I could go back. That safety net makes the first step easy.