- Kobi Smith, 52, moved to Germany from Washington, DC, in 2021 for a more affordable life.
- Smith quit his six-figure salary as an attorney and works at Popeyes, making $49,000 a year.
When Kobi Smith decided to move abroad, he knew he wanted to return to Germany.
Smith briefly lived in Germany in the early 2000s when he worked as a judge advocate general for the US Army.
"That trip that I took to Germany completely changed my world," Smith, 52, told Business Insider.
In 2021, when Smith hit a low point due to a divorce, he sought a change and remembered his time in Germany. He sold his home, quit his job — where he was earning $110,000 annually — and moved to Nuremberg, Germany.
Today, Smith works as a food service foreman and earns $49,000, but says he is happier. What's more, he plans on collecting Social Security in 10 years — but hasn't set a date for retiring yet — and residing in Germany indefinitely.
Smith is one of many Americans working in Germany who have no plans to return to the US and prefer the quality of life in Europe. In fact, according to the most recently available data from the Social Security Administration, 23,349 retired American workers were receiving Social Security benefits in Germany as of December 2023.
In 2022, Germany was the fifth-most popular place for American retirees abroad, following Canada, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. This comes as many Americans are struggling to afford retirement in the US.
Searching for happiness abroad
Smith was born and raised in Maryland and had a decadeslong career as a document review attorney at different firms in the Washington, DC, area.
In 2003, he was activated from the US Army Reserves and stationed in Germany. There, he met his ex-wife and said life in Germany made him realize how much he enjoyed traveling outside the US. But after two years, his contract with the Army ended and he moved back to the US.
Smith said despite holding a stable job as an attorney, he felt unfulfilled in a corporate career. At one point, he started his own business as a shoe store owner to try something new. That lasted for about seven years, but he returned to working as a lawyer because his daughter was born and he wanted a more stable income.
In April 2021, Smith landed a job at the Small Business Administration as an attorney overseeing COVID-19 pandemic-era loans. His salary rose to $110,000, he said.
However, Smith and his wife divorced during this period and said he was going through a low period in his life, especially as the pandemic made it difficult to see friends and loved ones in person.
"When people say, 'money can't buy you happiness,' it's so true," Smith said.
At that point, Smith visited the Dominican Republic with a friend. He said leaving the US made him realize he could start a new life abroad.
His friends were shocked by his decision, especially at his age. Some even said he was making a mistake, but he was determined.
Smith said one of the biggest challenges of moving abroad was saying goodbye to family, but he knew a major change in life would help his mental health.
"Fear is a dream killer," he said. "At that point, I said, 'This is what I want to do, and let the chips fall where they may.'"
A sense of financial security and personal safety abroad
Smith moved to Germany without a job, living off the money he made selling his DC home. Yet, after a few months, he was hired as a food service foreman at Popeyes, making about $49,000 a year.
"I'm working for Popeyes for half of what I was making back in the States," Smith said. "But I found relatively quickly that the cost of living is cheaper here."
Smith's job at Popeyes is at a US Military base in Ansbach, Germany, so he's on a work visa for civilians employed by the military.
Smith said his life in Nuremberg is safe, calm, and more pleasant than his experience in Washington, DC. For example, he feared gun violence and crime in DC, but feels much safer in Nuremberg.
He also said transportation is cheaper and more efficient than in the US.
Smith said his rent in Nuremberg, including utilities, is $750 a month, less than half of his monthly mortgage in DC, which was about $1,600 a month.
Smith said housing costs are the most prominent expense in his life, and by cutting them in half, he's created a sense of financial freedom he didn't have in the US.
Additionally, he said groceries are about half the price of what he was paying in the US.
Smith said the biggest comparison between the German and US economies has been the day-to-day cost of living. He has no regrets and would encourage other Americans who are frustrated with their careers to consider moving abroad.
"If you're making $50,000 in DC, you are not living comfortably, you're struggling," Smith said. "But here, making $50,000 over the past three years, I can promise you, I'm very comfortable. My bills are paid, and I have money left over."
Are you an American who moved abroad and plans to retire there? This reporter wants to hear your story. Please reach out at jtowfighi@businessinsider.com