10 Popular Myths About Expat Life That Aren’t True

When people hear you’re moving abroad, the reactions are almost always the same.

“Aren’t you scared?”

“What about healthcare?”

“You must be rich.”

“I could never leave my family.”

“What if something goes wrong?”

Before we moved to Thailand, we heard every version of it.

People imagined we were giving up comfort, safety, healthcare, and stability to live some chaotic fantasy overseas. Meanwhile, we were researching modern condos in Bangkok, looking at transit systems better than many American cities, and realizing we could actually lower our stress instead of increasing it.

The reality is most people only hear two versions of expat life online:

The fantasy version where influencers act like they escaped into permanent vacation mode.

Or the fear version where people assume moving abroad is reckless and dangerous.

The truth sits somewhere in the middle.

Living abroad can absolutely change your life, but not in the exaggerated ways people often think.

Here are 10 of the biggest myths about expat life and what we’ve learned actually living abroad.

1. “You Have to Be Rich to Move Abroad”

This myth stops more people than almost anything else.

A lot of Americans assume moving abroad is only for wealthy retirees with giant pensions or people making six figures online. But according to the Social Security Administration, the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit in the U.S. is around $1,900 per month. Millions of retirees abroad are living on budgets close to that or even less.

One of the biggest reasons people move overseas is because the math simply works better.

According to international cost-of-living databases like Numbeo and Expatistan, many countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America can cost 30% to 60% less than major U.S. cities depending on lifestyle.

In Bangkok, we know people paying:

• $400 to $800 for modern condos with pools and gyms

• $1 to $3 for local meals

• $7 to $15 for massages

• Less than $100 monthly for transportation because they live near transit

  
  

Compare that to many U.S. cities where:

• Rent alone can exceed $2,000 monthly

• Healthcare costs continue rising

• Car payments, insurance, and gas can easily hit $800+ monthly

  
  

Moving abroad still requires savings and planning. Flights, visas, emergencies, and setup costs matter. But many people are surprised to realize they don’t necessarily need more money to move abroad. Sometimes they simply need a different environment.

2. “You’ll Feel Like You’re on Vacation Forever”

Social media has done a great job selling the “permanent vacation” version of expat life.

Pool photos. Beaches. Cafés. Cheap cocktails. Tropical sunsets. But eventually, everyday life catches up no matter where you live.

You still wake up tired some days. You still have responsibilities. You still deal with paperwork, stress, work, taxes, errands, and relationship issues.

Research on long-term relocation and cultural adaptation often shows that many expats go through phases:

1. Excitement

2. Culture shock

3. Adjustment

4. Stability

   
   

The honeymoon phase wears off. And honestly? That’s not a bad thing.

When Thailand stopped feeling like a vacation for us and started feeling normal, we actually became more comfortable. We found routines. Favorite restaurants. Grocery stores. Gym schedules. Transportation shortcuts. Daily rhythms.

That’s when a place starts becoming home instead of just a destination.

3. “Healthcare Overseas Is Bad”

This myth shocks Americans the most once they actually experience healthcare abroad.

Thailand has become one of the world’s top medical tourism destinations, attracting millions of international patients yearly. Hospitals like Bumrungrad

International Hospital are internationally accredited and serve patients from around the world.

Many expats are surprised by:

• Short wait times

• Modern hospitals

• Affordable pricing

• Direct access to specialists

• Faster appointments compared to some U.S. systems

Simple doctor visits in Thailand can sometimes cost less than an American insurance copay.

Now obviously healthcare quality varies by country and hospital. Research matters. Insurance matters. Age and medical history matter.

But many Americans grow up believing the U.S. has the only “good” healthcare system in the world, and that simply isn’t true.

Some expats actually move abroad partly because healthcare became financially overwhelming back home.

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4. “You’ll Be Lonely”

Loneliness can happen anywhere.

In fact, studies in the U.S. have shown increasing rates of loneliness even among people surrounded by family and coworkers daily.

One thing people underestimate about expat life is how quickly communities form.

Expats tend to connect fast because many people are rebuilding social circles from scratch. There’s often a shared understanding that everyone took a risk to create a different life.

Since moving abroad, we’ve met:

• Other Americans

• Retirees

• Digital nomads

• Couples starting over

• Solo travelers

• Entrepreneurs

• Locals who became genuine friends

  
  

Technology also changes everything.

WhatsApp, LINE, Zoom, FaceTime, Facebook groups, and YouTube communities make staying connected easier than ever before.

You may physically move away from people, but you don’t disappear from their lives.

5. “Moving Abroad Means You’re Running Away From Something”

Some people treat moving abroad like it’s a midlife crisis or an escape plan.

But many expats aren’t running from life. They’re running toward a different version of it.

According to surveys from international relocation groups and expat organizations, common reasons people move abroad include:

• Lower cost of living

• Better work-life balance

• Retirement affordability

• Healthcare access

• Adventure and travel

• Less stress

• Better weather

• More freedom with time

  
  

For many people, moving abroad is actually a very intentional lifestyle decision.

Sometimes people don’t want a bigger house or more stuff anymore.

Sometimes they want:

• More time

• Less pressure

• Better mental health

• Simpler living

• More experiences

• More flexibility

That’s not failure. That’s reevaluating what matters.

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6. “It’s Too Dangerous”

This myth often comes from people who have never even visited the countries they criticize.

Every country has risks. Every city has safer and less safe areas.

But many expats report feeling surprisingly safe overseas once they settle in.

Thailand consistently ranks as one of the most visited countries in the world, welcoming tens of millions of tourists before the pandemic and continuing to rebound strongly.

In many parts of Bangkok:

• People walk around late at night

• Public transit is heavily used

• Violent crime rates are relatively low compared to some major American cities

• Families and elderly people are active outdoors constantly

Of course, scams and petty theft exist. Common sense still matters.

But many people discover their fears were based more on unfamiliarity than reality.

7. “You Need to Speak the Language Fluently Before Moving”

France consistently ranks among the best healthcare systems in the world, and healthcare alone is one of the biggest reasons many retirees seriously consider it.

France offers a lifestyle that balances culture, infrastructure, food, transportation, and healthcare extremely well.

Popular expat locations include:

• Paris: World-class city living with incredible transportation and healthcare

• Nice and the French Riviera: Mediterranean coastal living with warmer weather

• Lyon: Known for food culture and a more balanced pace than Paris

• Bordeaux: Wine country lifestyle with historic charm

• Normandy and Loire Valley: Lower-cost countryside living with quieter lifestyles

Living costs vary heavily depending on region. Paris can be expensive, while smaller towns and countryside areas are much more affordable.

Many retirees spend between $2,000–$4,500 monthly depending on housing and location.

France’s universal healthcare system remains one of the strongest globally, and many expats say daily life feels easier because of the infrastructure and public services.

8. “Expat Life Is Always Cheap”

Now let’s balance things out because social media also pushes this myth hard.

Some creators make it sound like you can live like royalty overseas for $500 a month forever. Reality is more nuanced.

Your spending depends heavily on:

• Country

• City

• Lifestyle

• Housing choices

• Visa runs

• Healthcare needs

• Imported products

• Travel habits

For example, Bangkok can be affordable, but luxury condos in prime areas can easily cost $1,500+ monthly.

Imported Western groceries often cost more than local food. And many expats spend more than expected because they travel constantly at first.

According to international expat surveys, housing remains the biggest expense for most expats worldwide.

Living abroad can absolutely reduce costs, but budgeting and lifestyle choices still matter.

9. “If You Move Abroad, You’ll Never Want to Go Home”

This is one of the strangest assumptions people make. Living abroad doesn’t automatically mean you hate your home country.

In fact, many expats develop a more balanced perspective after leaving.

You start noticing:

• What your home country does well

• What stresses you out there

• What you miss

• What you don’t miss at all

There are things we still appreciate about America.

There are also things we realized were causing constant stress that we normalized for years. Living abroad often gives people perspective more than anything else.

You don’t have to completely reject one life to build another.

10. “It’s Too Late to Start Over”

This myth quietly destroys dreams.

We constantly hear:

• “I’m too old.”

• “I should’ve done it earlier.”

• “It’s too late now.”

  
  

But we’ve met people who moved abroad in their:

• 40s

• 50s

• 60s

• 70s

• Even 80s

  
  

According to global retirement trends, more retirees than ever are exploring international living because rising costs are forcing people to rethink traditional retirement.

For many people, moving abroad isn’t about “starting over.” It’s about finally creating the lifestyle they wanted all along.

And honestly, one of the saddest things we hear is when people wait so long out of fear that they never give themselves the chance.

Final Thoughts

Expat life isn’t perfect. There are frustrating days. Language barriers. Visa stress. Homesickness. Confusion. Culture shock.

But there’s also:

• Freedom

• Simplicity

• Perspective

• Adventure

• Community

• Growth

• Possibility

The internet often shows extremes. Either people romanticize moving abroad like it solves every problem, or they act like leaving your home country is dangerous and irresponsible.

Real expat life sits somewhere in the middle. You still have a real life.

It’s just a different version of one. And for many people, that different version ends up feeling far more aligned with who they truly are.

If you want to see what everyday life in Thailand actually looks like, check out our YouTube channel where we share the real cost of living, healthcare, neighborhoods, food, transportation, visas, and the realities of adjusting to life abroad. WATCH HERE 👉 Doc and Bean YouTube Channel 

If you’re thinking about moving to Thailand, here are 3 videos you should definitely check out to better understand the real cost of living, daily life, and what to expect before making the move.

👉 You're Not Broke! How $2,000 Social Security Buys Paradise in Thailand

👉 We Left America for Thailand 🇹🇭 — Why Moving to Bangkok Was the Best Choice!

👉 Bangkok Cost of Living 2026: $25/Day Budget for a Couple (Full Breakdown)

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