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The 10 countries with the best quality of life

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-move-family-kids-to-dubai-similarities-to-america-2024-8">moved my family of five</a> from Connecticut to Switzerland in 2016.</li><li>We were welcomed into our new community with open arms, and it's so easy to get around.</li></ul>In 2016, my family was eager for change. We were having a hard time finding an <keyword id="23304879" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inclusive-school" source="keywords">inclusive school</keyword> for my 9-year-old <keyword id="23304878" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="neurodivergent-son" source="keywords">neurodivergent son</keyword>, who was depressed from years of bullying and exclusion. On TV, politicians also continued to fight to keep assault rifles legal in homes four years after the mass shooting of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a short drive from my house. Just before the presidential election, my husband's employer offered him an opportunity to move to Switzerland. At first, the move felt too wild to consider. But as political tensions in the US continued to rise, we only felt more depressed and isolated. Families and friends fought over how the country should be run, and we still had no school for our son. By the end of the year, my husband took the offer and we officially decided to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mistakes-i-made-switzerland-first-time-airbnb-restaurants-buses-2024-7">move abroad</a>. <h2>We folded seamlessly into our interconnected Swiss community</h2> <div type="image" title="amy's daughter walking along the water in switzerland" height="3024" width="4032" msid="113637041" hostid="261"></div>Because of my husband's job, we quickly obtained resident permits to live in Switzerland and acquired health insurance. I also found an international school that was willing to work with our son. When we arrived in our hilly Swiss neighborhood a mile from Lake Zurich, it felt like we were welcomed with open arms — especially by local expats. All around me were families from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America who were also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/typical-immigrant-united-states-jobs-construction-food-services-florida-california-2024-4">new immigrants</a>. When I got lost in parking lots, tunnels, and tiny streets and constantly misinterpreted cultural signals, I expected to be scolded, but I wasn't. Our international community offered helpful tips and advice. On the days I was hopeless at learning German, couldn't unlock a grocery cart, or failed to interpret labels on cereal boxes, someone was there to help. Though our backgrounds and beliefs varied widely, we united in our general awe of our new, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-beautiful-places-to-visit-from-expert-2024-6">beautiful country</a>. Most of us had no family nearby, so we became each other's people. <h2>Many aspects of life are just easier here</h2>In our suburban Connecticut neighborhood, there were no sidewalks, accessible bike paths, or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-public-transportation-new-york-city-ferry-opinion-2023-8">public-transportation</a><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-public-transportation-new-york-city-ferry-opinion-2023-8"> options</a>, so we had to drive everywhere. Having the freedom to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/car-free-in-the-suburbs-happier-healthier-2024-3">get around without a car</a> in Switzerland has been life-altering for us. It eases our days and helps us stay connected to the beautiful nature around us. Here, most people stroll down long wanderwegs (paved trails) lined with trees and primroses on their way from home, school, or the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-vs-target-grocery-shopping-which-is-better-review-2024-9">grocery store</a>. If walkers need to rest, there are red benches perched beside fields full of happy cows. We can swim, walk dogs, run, and hike pretty much anywhere on pristinely maintained paths. And if we're traveling a little farther, the local <keyword id="20415868" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="public-transportation" source="keywords">public transportation</keyword> is clean, safe, and convenient. Bus stops and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/traveling-with-kids-first-amtrak-train-new-york-worth-it-2024-5">train stations</a> sit on most corners. Beyond being physically connected here, there's a communal responsibility for people of all ages. That means it's even pretty <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tips-keep-children-safe-disney-world-2024-8">safe for my children</a> to get around by themselves. Independence is highly valued. I often see young kids — usually wearing bright-orange lapels so others know they're traveling alone — walking along sidewalks or hopping onto public transit to get to school. <h2>As the US continues to deal with extreme political divides, we're staying abroad</h2> <div type="image" title="amy's kids looking at a field of cows" height="3024" width="4032" msid="113637035" hostid="261"></div>The US will always have a special place in my heart. But, for now, it's not somewhere I want my family to call home. Earlier this year — almost eight years after <keyword id="23304877" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="moving-to-Switzerland" source="keywords">moving to Switzerland</keyword> — I returned to the US to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/weekend-trip-new-york-city-on-budget-not-worth-it-2023-12">stay in Manhattan</a> with my youngest daughter. It was strange to be back; I felt like a foreigner. I had fun showing her our homeland, playing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-rent-out-my-pickleball-court-to-strangers-made-money-2024-9">pickleball in Central Park</a>, visiting writer friends, touring artists' studios, listening to live jazz, and feeling nostalgia for the version of America that's been inaccessible to me for a long time. But then, I stumbled upon a wall of barricades in front of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue — people were furiously shouting at each other about contrasting political views right on the street. Sadly, that scene was the only reminder I needed of why I left in the first place. Correction: September 24, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated when the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting happened. In 2016, it had been four years since the shooting, not five.

I moved my family from the US to Switzerland 8 years ago. The difference in our quality of life is astounding.     

Over three-fourths of wealthy Indians have sent or are planning to send their kids overseas for education, according to an <keyword id="19916458" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hsbc" source="keywords">HSBC</keyword> survey. The survey of 1,456 Indians, having investable surplus between Rs 84 lakh ($100,000) and nearly Rs 17 crore ($2 million), conducted in March found a strong urge for overseas education with 78% of the respondents saying they are keen on a <keyword id="382324" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="foreign-education" source="Orion">foreign education</keyword> for their children. Investable survey is the amount set aside for investment from overall net worth. The <keyword id="23129277" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-quality-of-life" source="keywords">Global Quality of Life</keyword> 2024 survey commissioned by foreign lender HSBC said the <keyword id="19900781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-states" source="keywords">United States</keyword> is top overseas destination for Indians, followed by the <keyword id="19956320" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-kingdom" source="keywords">United Kingdom</keyword>, <keyword id="19896882" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="canada" source="keywords">Canada</keyword>. <keyword id="19895799" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="australia" source="keywords">Australia</keyword> and <keyword id="19895045" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="singapore" source="keywords">Singapore</keyword>. So strong is the urge for foreign education for the child that the parents are willing to suffer financial strains as well, the survey said, pointing out that the investment in education may come at the sacrifice of retirement savings. The expected or actual annual cost of overseas education works out at $62,364, and may use up to 64% of parents' retirement savings. Parents resort to dipping into general savings, taking loans and selling assets to fund the overseas education, the survey said. The quality of overseas education tops the list of primary reason for considering the overseas education, followed closely by the possibility to specialise in an area, the survey said. The survey said that financial concerns are the biggest worry for parents when the kid flies out for education, and followed by others like social or mental concerns and physical or health concerns.

Wealthy Indians send kids overseas for education, says HSBC Survey

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Anaïs Felt took a "micro-retirement" back in March from her Silicon Valley tech job.</li><li>The time off on her extended leave healed her burnout and changed her relationship to work, she said.</li></ul>Anaïs Felt was exhausted at the start of the year.As a senior product manager at a Silicon Valley tech firm, Felt, 31, commuted an hour to and from her home in San Francisco each day. Her hours in the office on top of a two-hour commute were a stark contrast to the work-life balance she had when she worked remotely during the pandemic."I would come home and be so exhausted that I would just lay on the couch to recuperate, eat dinner, and then go to bed," she said of her routine. "I didn't have the energy to go for a run or spend time with my partner or laugh."It wasn't just the commute wearing on Felt. She told Business Insider that she was also finding work itself more stressful, which came as a surprise to her being 10 years into her career in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktoker-sparked-conversation-not-able-to-leave-work-early-2024-3">corporate America.</a>"I was crying a lot," she said. "I had a harder time moving through difficult situations at work."Felt decided to meet with a career coach, who quickly "diagnosed" her with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burnout-is-now-a-clinical-syndrome-2019-5">burnout</a>, a syndrome due to "chronic workplace stress."The diagnosis was a welcome confirmation since Felt recognized the symptoms after reading "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle" by Emily and Amelia Nagoski and Mckinsey's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace-2023">2023 Women in the Workplace</a> report. She knew experience wasn't uncommon in<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mental-health-crisis-great-resignation-tech-industry-silicon-valley-2022-4"> Silicon Valley, particularly for women.</a>Rather than trying to power through her stress or leave tech altogether, Felt decided to take what she called a micro-retirement — or extended break — to address her burnout.<h2 id="eda9f511-a527-4394-ad17-9bf9f3039ece">Taking a break</h2>Felt spent her 20s prioritizing her career, she told BI. She was the first person in her family to attend college, starting her first business when she was an undergrad at Hope College in Michigan. After she graduated from the liberal arts college, her early adult years solely revolved around her job."I was brought up in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rise-and-fall-girl-boss-analysis-2020-7">girlboss</a> era," she said. "I worked extremely hard and was high-achieving."But a decade later as Felt came to terms with her burnout and thought about what she wanted out of the next phase of her <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quit-big-tech-dream-job-pay-perks-not-worth-it-2024-5">career</a>, she decided she needed to take a break from work before moving forward."It felt like it would be good for me — but also good for my future employer — if I went into my next role feeling fully energized and feeling conviction in that next step," she said.Felt <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quit-job-travel-after-stress-burnout-at-big-tech-company-2024-8">quit her job</a> in March with the intention of taking up to a year off, thinking of her break as a micro-retirement or a sabbatical. "It's intentional breaks throughout my career where I can just take time to enjoy and live life and recharge for my next role," she said of her definition of micro-retirement. "I'm gonna plan to keep doing this throughout my career every five to 10 years instead of deferring all of it to the end of my career."A September <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@anaisfelt/video/7419143704482499882">video</a> Felt made about her micro-retirement started a conversation on TikTok, garnering over 189,000 views and racking up more than 500 comments as of Tuesday.<h2 id="8bd54dbe-99f3-4208-b09e-d9ef2d144737">Prepping for her micro-retirement</h2>Felt said she properly planned to be able to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-goldman-sachs-wealth-advisor-money-advice-ultrawealthy-2024-10">afford a year off</a> before putting in her notice. She made a habit of saving as she settled into her career. The former senior product manager did not share her salary at her most recent job with BI, but <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.levels.fyi/t/product-manager?countryId=254&amp;country=254&amp;search=senior+product+manager">according to Levels.FYI</a>, which collects salary information for tech professionals, the median salary for a product manager was $211,000 as of October.Felt also said she did an audit of her spending before leaving her full time position. "That was really helpful because it helped me pare back in some areas where the spending was more unnecessary," she said. "It improved my relationship with money, and it's made me a bit more diligent with my finances."Felt took care of some regular medical expenses before leaving her job as well, like ordering contacts for the year and going to the dentist. Once she left her company, she joined her partner's health insurance.By March, she was ready for her micro-retirement.<h2 id="d8bbaaaf-2619-4847-a1be-eda023b4faa4">Felt needed more rest than she realized</h2>Felt told BI that she initially planned to take a big trip once she left her job. But <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-to-quit-six-figure-job-for-mental-health">burnout</a> hit her "like a brick wall" once she actually started micro-retirement."I think the first couple of weeks I actually had to accept the fact that I was burned out," she said. "I needed to just sit and relax and rest."Felt said she took it easy for a month before the "burnout cloud" started to lift."I'm so glad that I just sat down for a month because that equipped me to move into the next phase of my micro-retirement, which was doing things I loved and cared about without the excessive burnout," she said.Every day of Felt's micro-retirement looks slightly different, though she tries to stick to a schedule Monday through Friday to give herself some structure. Some days, Felt creates content on TikTok that shows peeks into her life through outfit-of-the-day videos or snippets of her home decor. On other days, she spends her time with her dog or maintains her house. Felt also spends time volunteering in her community and participating in mentorship work."I'm not getting paid for those things, but they're just really energizing because they're connected to purpose and meaning that really resonates with me and my value system," she said.Six months after she left her job, Felt said her mental health has improved, and her burnout is gone.<h2 id="00b03381-aadd-4ccc-ab9d-e412bf96c584">Micro-retirement has changed the way Felt sees her future</h2>Felt told BI that her extended break from work has given her the time and mental space to reevaluate what she wants out of her <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quitting-corporate-job-content-creator-reseller-side-hustles-retire-early-2024-7">career</a>. She said "work-life balance and scheduling flexibility" will be a priority moving forward since her community has become more important, and she wants to be a mom someday."Maybe I'll work from home and continue on the corporate path, or maybe I'll start my own business," she said. "There's so much life to be lived outside of my office desk, and life really starts to get richer when it's more diversified."Felt started taking informational interviews six months into her micro-retirement. Still, she doesn't see herself seriously applying for roles until January 2025, partly because she wants to<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/egg-freezing-fertility-clinics-targeting-gen-z-women-high-cost-2024-6"> freeze her eggs</a> before returning to a full time position.Felt wants others female employees to know they don't have to sacrifice their personal lives for professional success."You can still be high achieving and successful as a woman and intentionally choose work-life balance," she said, "there needs to be harmony there."

After 10 years in corporate America, one woman took a 'micro-retirement.' It reversed burnout and improved her quality of life.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>After years of living in highly populated cities, my husband and I moved to <keyword id="22983204" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Raleigh" source="keywords">Raleigh</keyword>, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/surprising-things-moving-to-asheville-north-carolina-from-nyc-2023-5">North Carolina</a>.</li><li>I was worried I wouldn't like living here, but Raleigh has exceeded my expectations.</li></ul>I grew up in a small city in South Carolina and went to college in rural Virginia. But after graduating in 2008, I wanted to experience <keyword id="23623514" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="big-city-living" source="keywords">big-city living</keyword>. This desire led me to cities like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-things-to-do-washington-dc-what-to-skip-family-2024-8">Washington, DC</a>, Sydney, San Francisco, and New York City. Though I didn't necessarily love the price tags associated with living in these places, I loved that they gave me access to a wide variety of things to do. My run of living in big, highly populated cities finally came to an end in 2020 after a year and a half in <keyword id="20418528" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NYC" source="keywords">NYC</keyword>. The COVID-19 lockdowns left my husband and me feeling trapped in our <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-design-small-space-for-style-and-function-photos-2022-7">small apartment</a>, so we decided to head south to spend some time with <keyword id="19895682" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="family" source="keywords">family</keyword>. After a brief stay at my parents' house in the mountains of western North Carolina, we decided to move to Raleigh, the state's capital. I knew it would be a big change, especially given that NYC has an estimated population of 8.26 million people and Raleigh is home to fewer than 500,000. I was worried that the city would quickly start to feel too small, and there wouldn't be enough things for us to do. I also dreaded not being able to find some of our favorite cuisines we had easy access to in New York. However, after four years of living here, I see why Raleigh has been named one of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cities-to-live-in-the-south-united-states-2024-7">best places to live in the South</a>. Here are a few of my favorite things about life in the <keyword id="23623512" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Southern-city" source="keywords">Southern city</keyword>. <h2>There's a lot to do in Raleigh</h2> <div type="image" title="The author sits on a blanket in a park with her toddler daughter on her tap. In the background, there are trees and skyscrapers." height="2268" width="3024" msid="114251820" hostid="261"></div>Though Raleigh's population is smaller than that of other cities I've lived in, it's still big enough to attract fairly big headlining artists (though sadly we didn't get any dates on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-leaving-us-first-time-for-taylor-swift-eras-tour-uk-2023">the Eras Tour</a>). There's also a professional hockey team and three major universities for college sports, so we have lots of opportunities to attend games. My husband and I love visiting William B. Umstead State Park just outside the city limits for hiking, and there are 180 miles of greenways for biking and walking in Raleigh. There's always something fun to do, and we have way more options for activities than I imagined. <h2>I've found it easier to get around Raleigh than New York City</h2>In New York, it took me 50 minutes by subway to travel 6 miles from my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-ways-i-use-space-and-decorate-nyc-rental-2022-4">apartment in Brooklyn</a> to my sister's place on the Upper East Side. In Raleigh, I can get to most places in under 20 minutes. I did have to buy a car to get around in North Carolina, but I don't mind driving, and street parking in my neighborhood is free. When I lived in bigger cities, traveling from point A to point B often felt like a lot of work. But here in Raleigh, the easier <keyword id="20573647" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="commute" source="keywords">commute</keyword> means I'm more likely to go out and do things in my spare time. <h2>We get more bang for our buck in Raleigh</h2> <div type="image" title="The author and her husband stand in front of the foundation of a house that is being built." height="2268" width="3024" msid="114251814" hostid="261"></div>When my husband and I lived in Brooklyn, we rented a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. But one of the bedrooms could barely fit a bed. Now we own a four-bedroom, five-bathroom house and have an additional 2,800 square feet of space. The best part is that we pay less a month for our mortgage than we did for our small NYC rental. Overall, we've found that the <keyword id="20307950" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="cost-of-living" source="keywords">cost of living</keyword> is lower, and our salaries (the same ones we had in NYC as we now work remotely) go much further here. Going out to eat or grabbing cocktails is significantly less expensive than it was in New York. Our gym membership is half of what it used to cost up north. Things like swim lessons and ballet classes for our daughters are also cheaper. <h2>The food scene isn't the same, but we still have access to many <keyword id="23623513" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="high-quality-restaurants" source="keywords">high-quality restaurants</keyword></h2>It would be hard for the restaurant options in Raleigh to rival those in New York. We still haven't found great <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-and-worst-foods-to-order-at-thai-restaurants">Thai food</a> yet, and our takeout options are way more limited — but my fear of finding only Southernfood in Raleigh was unfounded. Restaurants and chefs from Raleigh are routinely nominated for James Beard awards, and I'd pit some of our favorite eateries against NYC hot spots. I do wish I could find a great bagel here, but outside that, I don't miss anything about living in a bigger city. We're staying put in Raleigh for the foreseeable future, and I'm excited to see the area continue to grow. Correction: October 15, 2024 — An earlier version of this story stated that a Sweetgreen location has opened in Raleigh. However, this location will be opening soon.

We moved from NYC to Raleigh. I didn't think I'd be happy in a smaller Southern city, but it's exceeded my expectations.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>In 2023, Suzy Cubberley moved from Texas to Colorado looking for a change in careers and politics.</li><li>Cubberley said housing is more expensive in Colorado, but the quality of life is better.</li></ul>Suzy Cubberley, 26, has been a longtime advocate for women's rights.Cubberley was born and raised in Texas but didn't feel happy living there. She said she was at odds with the state's conservative culture and restrictive stance on abortion — in 2022, after <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/supreme-court-abortion-decision-final-ruling-scotus-roe-v-wade-2022-6">Roe v. Wade was overturned</a>, the state's "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trigger-law-states-failed-to-plan-for-end-of-roe-v-wade-2022-5">trigger law</a>" went into effect and banned almost all cases of abortion.When <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-job-satisfaction-unhappy-work-salary-promotion-loyalty-2024-2">looking for a new job</a> last year, Cubberley decided it was time to move elsewhere. She left Frisco, a city part of the Dallas-Forth Worth metro area, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-california-to-denver-colorado-best-choice-2023-12">settled in Colorado</a>. The state enacted a statutory protection for abortion as a fundamental right in 2022 and passed a shield law strengthening protections in 2023. What's more, this year, Coloradans will vote on whether to amend the state's constitution to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://reproductiverights.org/maps/state/colorado/">protect abortion rights</a> further."Being pro-choice, that was the biggest thing that influenced my choice to come here," she said of moving to Colorado.While it's difficult to track how many people left Texas because of its abortion policies, the state has seen substantial migration patterns in recent years. For example, more than 668,300 people <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-texas-from-california-florida-ny-generations-income-2023-12#:~:text=A%20Business%20Insider%20analysis%20of,a%20year%20than%20those%20leaving">moved into Texas</a> between 2021 and 2022, about 494,000 people <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-leaving-texas-moving-to-california-census-2023-12#:~:text=Between%202021%20and%202022%2C%20about%20494%2C000%20people%20moved%20out%20of,homes%20and%20new%20life%20experiences.">moved out</a>, according to Census data."I don't have to be just right where I was born," Cubberley said. "I can choose to move on to better things, new experiences, and happier memories."<h2 id="245b3f34-3403-4467-b5ae-67ba22d89d2e">Colorado's politics are appealing, but life is expensive</h2>Cubberley was born in Richardson, Texas, a small city in the Dallas area.She graduated from the University of North Texas in 2020. After working at a comic book store and then in mental healthcare, she felt emotionally drained and knew she needed a change.In April 2023, Cubberley drove to Colorado and started a new career in retail. She said her job is enough to get by, but she's unsure what career path she may eventually pursue. She lives with her boyfriend, who she met in Colorado, and a roommate in Broomfield, a city about 15 miles north of Denver.<div type="image" title="Photo shows Suzy Cubberley." height="3088" width="2316" msid="112606912" hostid="261" sizebytes="484822"></div>And while she celebrates the state's stance on abortion, she said everything from groceries to housing in Colorado is more expensive than in Texas. But she's willing to make it work to live in the state.In Broomfield, Cubberley, her boyfriend, and their roommate split the $2,500 monthly rent for a 1,508-square-foot townhouse with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a two-car garage, and an outdoor patio.In Frisco, Cubberley lived alone and paid $1,225 for a 1,014-square-foot townhouse with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small backyard, and a two-car driveway."I was going to do what it took to live where I wanted, and I figured that if I'm only paying for myself and no kids, there has to be a way for me to afford it," she said.<h2 id="aeb58375-289f-41fb-8fb3-1ede1a1e77be">A DINK lifestyle provides financial freedom</h2>Cubberley said the quality of life in Colorado is worth the high prices. What's more, she and her boyfriend are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/alices-dinks-henrys-fires-economy-guide-2024-6">DINKs</a>, an acronym that stands for double income, no kids. Business Insider has reported on DINKs, who said that being child-free has enabled them to focus on their careers and afforded them financial stability.Cubberley said she enjoys the spontaneity of being a DINK, such as being free to travel and spend nights out with her partner without concern or the extra cost of childcare."We do get to enjoy much more disposable income than we would if we had a child," Cubberley said. "We go out at a moment's notice and enjoy our freedom and our ability to do whatever we want."Yet, Cubberley said being a DINK doesn't just mean having money to spend frivolously. The couple strategizes how they spend their money. For example, her partner covers their dates while she covers the groceries.She said she takes a weekly trip to the grocery store and spends about $400 on food a month. Meanwhile, she said their usual dates are mini golf or going out to bars, and they spend around $100 on each outing.The financial freedom is appealing, and Cubberley said she doesn't want children after growing up in a divorced household and experiencing a tough upbringing."If you don't have that burning desire to be a parent, then perhaps you shouldn't just do what society is telling you to do," she said. "You should look into yourself and actually ask, 'Why am I doing this? What do I actually want out of my life?'"Did you move states, and did it improve or damage your finances? Did being child-free factor into your decision? This reporter wants to hear your story. Please reach out at <a target="_blank" class="" href="mailto:jtowfighi@businessinsider.com">jtowfighi@businessinsider.com.</a>

A Gen Zer moved to Colorado from Texas because of its restrictive abortion laws. She said life is more expensive but the quality of life is worth it.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Xyndi Lomboy and her family moved to the Bay Area from Atlanta for a better quality of life.</li><li>Lomboy said most things are more expensive in California, but it's worth it for the lifestyle.</li></ul>Xyndi Lomboy and her family <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-family-michigan-california-best-decision-ever-bilingual-diversity-2024-6">moved to California</a> from Georgia in 2023. She said they couldn't be happier with the decision, despite the increased costs.Lomboy and her husband Eric briefly lived in the Bay Area from 2014 to 2017, before relocating to Roswell, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. While in Roswell, they bought a home and had a son, but something didn't feel right, Lomboy said."We were not really happy," Lomboy said. "We just felt like we were stuck."When they made the decision to move back to California, they sold their Roswell home and drove across the country to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-california-weather-minneapolis-minnesota-cost-of-living-boomer-2024-1">start anew on the West Coast</a>. Now, the family resides in Millbrae, a city near San Francisco. And while things like groceries to housing are less affordable, the family feels much happier <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-seattle-leaving-georgia-atlanta-cost-of-living-millennial-2024-1">than they did in Georgia</a>.While the Lomboys moved last year, California has seen an influx of new residents between 2021 and 2022 — 475,803 people moved into the state during this time, including 11,002 people making the journey from Georgia, according to the most recent available data from the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/geographic-mobility/state-to-state-migration.html">US Census Bureau</a>. California had the third-largest influx of residents behind Florida and Texas during that time.To be sure, 817,669 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-states-americans-are-moving-to-florida-texas-california-2023-10">people left California</a> between 2021 and 2022, according to Census data.The Lomboys <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/leaving-california-moving-to-las-vegas-living-in-seattle-2023-12">moved</a> to California because they said they enjoyed the Bay Area's tame weather, diversity of cuisines, and access to state forests and parks.Furthermore, as they raise a family, Lomboy said she prefers California's policies toward maternity leave and healthcare to Georgia.<h2 id="cf38f0e7-bf8d-4b72-903d-edc546da64d1">Real estate in California is more expensive than in Georgia</h2>The Lomboys bought their home in Georgia for about $455,000 in 2018. It was a 4,200-square-foot house with five bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms. They paid a monthly mortgage of about $2,300.Lomboy said they enjoyed living in Roswell because of the school system and pleasant neighborhood. However, she said the family felt stuck and were uncertain about their long-term careers in Georgia. In 2021, they began conversations about moving.While they love Georgia, she said they frequently reminisced on life in California and wanted their son to experience the West Coast. Lomboy is from the Philippines and said the diversity in the Bay Area is more reflective of home.In 2023, they sold their house in Roswell for $655,000. Lomboy said they sold for $15,000 less than their asking price but were able to sell the home in just a week."We were just kind of ready to go, so we were OK with it," Lomboy said.Eric is from Georgia, and his family lives throughout the state. Lomboy also has family in Georgia, and living further away from them was the most difficult aspect of moving, she said.<h2 id="15dab06e-e6ae-4c98-bedc-881b1e1dc716">Life in California is costly but worth it</h2>In Millbrae, the Lomboys rent a 1,380-square-foot townhouse with three beds and two bathrooms. They pay $4,700 monthly, more than double their mortgage in Georgia.Groceries are more expensive, too. For example, their son drinks soy milk, which costs about $5.49 in California compared to about $4.39 in Georgia, Lomboy said. Gas in California is also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/">more expensive than in Georgia,</a> she said.What's more, California has the highest state-level sales tax at 7.25%, compared to Georgia's 4%, <a target="_blank" href="https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/2024-sales-taxes/">according to the Tax Foundation</a>, a policy institute.<div type="image" title="Photo shows Xyndi and Eric Lomboy with their son and their two dogs in their home in Millbrae, California." height="1737" width="2316" msid="112836887" hostid="261" sizebytes="124450"></div>Lomboy and her husband both work at Sutter Health, a healthcare company that operates clinics throughout Northern California. Lomboy is an occupational therapist who treats hand injuries, while Eric is a gastrointestinal nurse.She makes 50% an hour more in California than in Georgia, and Eric makes 76% an hour more, which slightly eases their concerns about the cost of living.However, to adjust to higher expenses, the Lomboys have also learned to scale back. She said they love to eat out but have cut back on restaurant dining since moving to California.<h2 id="c16685da-7298-4c68-9304-60b8890e9b08">The influence of state politics</h2>Lomboy said one of the most unexpected parts of moving states was the practical cost of the move, from boxing up the house to transferring their belongings to California from Georgia.Nonetheless, Lomboy said they feel they made the right decision as they feel happier and more fulfilled in California.While they'd like to eventually own a home, they are set on renting for the foreseeable future. And Lomboy said there are positive surprises to renting.As homeowners, repairs and maintenance were much more of a headache, she said. Having a landlord in Millbrae has helped simplify things as they adjust to new jobs.In California, the Lomboys are active and spend time outdoors, which has improved their quality of life. The year-round weather is more tame in California than in Georgia, and they enjoy camping, hiking, and snowboarding.One of the biggest benefits of California is the state policy toward paid maternity leave, Lomboy said, especially since Georgia does not have a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/07/24/paid-family-leave-laws-us">mandated state-wide paid parental leave law</a>.She also said she felt her family had <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/health-care">better healthcare insurance options in California</a> than in Georgia. As she and Eric raise a family, she said state policies toward employees were paramount.Are you a new parent managing maternity leave? Is it paid or unpaid?This reporter wants to hear about your experience. Please reach out at <a target="_blank" class="" href="mailto:jtowfighi@businessinsider.com">jtowfighi@businessinsider.com</a>

A family moved to the Bay Area from Georgia for a better quality of life. They pay more than double for housing but they're happier.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Many Americans are struggling to afford a fun lifestyle amid the high cost of living. </li><li>But just north of the border, Montreal offers residents a balance between high quality of life and low prices. </li></ul>Many of the world's most exciting and beautiful cities are also the priciest to live in.But one Canadian city has found the perfect balance between offering its residents a great quality of life for a relatively low cost, according to Mercer's 2024 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mercer.com/insights/total-rewards/talent-mobility-insights/cost-of-living/">cost of living report</a>.The study compared 226 cities worldwide according to their cost of housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment.Montreal ranked 118th in the world for its overall cost of living but came in 20th for quality of life, giving it the best overall score.While Hong Kong, Singapore, and Zurich ranked as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-expensive-cities-to-live-expat-cost-of-living-2024-6">three most expensive cities</a>, they did not perform as well on quality of living.Montreal is Canada's second-largest by population size, with 1.78 million residents.Sitting close to the border of the US state of Vermont, it is known for its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/montreal-canada-things-to-do-reasons-to-visit-2022-9#i-recently-traveled-from-my-home-in-nyc-to-montral-qubec-for-the-first-time-during-a-train-trip-through-eastern-canada-1">vibrant cultural scene</a>, great food, tree-lined streets, and providing high-quality education and healthcare."It's extremely cultural, great food scene, safe, bilingualism is an asset," <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-millennial-moved-canada-from-texas-healthcare-weather-housing-culture-2024-4">one US expat</a> who relocated from Texas to Montreal previously told Business Insider.The cost of living in Montreal is cheaper than in 74% of cities in North America, according to comparison site <a target="_blank" href="https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/montreal?currency=USD">Expatistan</a>.Estimated monthly costs for a single person living in Montreal add up to $2,374. Compare that to New York, where a single person can expect to pay $5,412 a month on average, according to Expatistan data.Mercer found that only seven other cities in the world achieve a similar balance to Montreal — Warsaw, Budapest, Ljubljana, Kuala Lumpur, Zagreb, Panama City, and Santiago."This list of eight cities should be of interest to families looking for a better lifestyle, remote working/digital nomads, and companies looking for locations that will be attractive to top talent," Mercer noted in its report.

This Canadian city has found the sweet spot between low cost of living and high quality of life

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="23944870" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sonya-Moore" source="keywords">Sonya Moore</keyword> decided that if Trump won in 2016, she would leave the US.</li><li>She followed through and has been living abroad for seven years.</li></ul>"If Trump wins this election, I'm <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-reelected-americans-are-planning-to-flee-in-droves-2024-3">moving out of the country</a>." I said those words in November 2016. So did a lot of other Americans: so many, in fact, that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/canadian-immigration-site-crash-election-2016-11">Canada's immigration website crashed</a> as votes were being tallied due to increased traffic. No joke. I don't know how many others <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-who-left-us-because-of-trump-talk-biden-presidency-2020-12">followed through on that declaration</a>, but I did. Trump won the election, and 9 months later, I left the US. Full disclosure: Trump becoming president was not the only reason I left — it was also about being fed up with my corporate job, coupled with a strong desire to explore the world. I was 37, single, with no children or pets, so I was free to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/working-mom-quit-job-expat-move-abroad-qatar-singapore-2023-12">quit my job</a>, uproot myself, and take off. I did own a house at the time, which I sold a few months after I left. Upon my departure, I didn't have much of a plan other than the intention to spend some time slowly exploring Asia and teaching English when I needed to make money. This no-plan thing was out of character for me, but I was very comfortable with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/southeast-asia-travel-mistakes-packing-weather-clothing-traditions-medicine-2024-4">solo international travel</a>, thanks to previous study abroad experiences and 14 years of intensive overseas work-related travel. <div type="image" title="Sonya Moore in Siem Reap, Cambodia" height="1280" width="1600" msid="115071450" hostid="261"></div><h2>The move opened a new chapter in my life</h2>As months unfolded, I discovered that when you leave space for it, life guides you to the places, people, and opportunities that are meant for you. Seven years later, I'm still living <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boomer-couldnt-afford-retirement-in-california-moved-abroad-travel-happy-2024-10">happily outside the US</a>. While my decision to leave opened up a horizon of experiences beyond my wildest dreams and led me to the man of my dreams, it hasn't all been a bed of roses. The first year, I lived off savings while traveling slowly through Asia. I started my travels in India, where I spent 10 days at a silent meditation retreat, attended teachings by the Dalai Lama, and took a <keyword id="20626363" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="yoga-teacher-training" source="keywords">yoga teacher training</keyword>. I promptly got hooked on teaching yoga. After four months in India, I continued <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-pack-traveling-in-southeast-asia-singapore-thailand-bali-2023-9">making my way through Asia</a> for eight more months. I swam in the crystal clear waters of the Maldives, visited healers in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-family-kids-bali-decompress-relocate-slow-life-work-remote-2024-10">Bali</a>, witnessed breathtaking sunrise views from mountaintops in Laos, went island-hopped through the Philippines, rode motorbikes around Thailand's islands, and discovered ancient pagodas in Myanmar The cost of living in much of Asia is so low that savings can stretch a long way. I have high standards for my accommodations, and while traveling, I usually spent around $20 to $25 per night on hotels. Lower-maintenance friends of mine found simpler places for $6 per night in India. Meals usually cost around $3. After six weeks in India, I considered a lunch bill of $5 to be expensive. <h2>There have been times along the way when I've felt lost </h2>From time to time, I experienced stretches of feeling <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/relocation-moved-to-milan-living-abroad-emotionally-exhausting-unspoken-truths-2023-9">unsettled and lacking a sense of purpose</a>. Over the years, I learned that those periods of doubt and uncertainty will continue to surface. But I also learned to just keep trusting, and the way forward would eventually reveal itself. People often ask me if I was ever afraid while <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-women-need-to-know-traveling-solo-southeast-asia-tips-2022-12">traveling alone through Asia</a>. I never was — except a couple of times in India when riding on some precariously high Himalayan roads with no guardrails. But of people? I never had a reason to be. After a year away, I found an opportunity to teach yoga in a small mountain town in Myanmar. Life there was quiet, simple, and beautiful. I lived there for 9 months, and I was profoundly happy most of the time. But there were times <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/loneliness-how-to-make-friends-remote-worker-freelancer-new-city-2024-2">I felt lonely</a>. The locals were sweet and kind, with love in their eyes and actions, but I missed friends who spoke my language fluently, with whom I could have deep conversations over a glass of wine. And the dating scene? Nonexistent. <div type="image" title="Sonya Moore kissing a man at the airport" height="2118" width="1754" msid="115071453" hostid="261"></div><h2>I found love during my travels</h2>Another yoga teaching opportunity took me to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Siem Reap is not a big city, but after my small-town Myanmar life, it felt like Manhattan. There were so many restaurants, bars, social events, friends, and even some attractive single men. I fell in love with the town, the quality of life, and the locals. It was easy to get a tourist or work visa to live here long term, and it was almost as inexpensive as India and Myanmar. I was living in Siem Reap when COVID-19 hit. By that time, I was in a <keyword id="20752574" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="long-distance-relationship" source="keywords">long-distance relationship</keyword> with a French man I met during my travels. After the closed borders of the pandemic kept us apart for 7 months, I moved to France to be with him. Our story was long and winding, but it felt like destiny. He <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/my-partner-couple-travel-together-full-time-one-date-2024-5">loves global travel</a> like I do. We've been together for four years and are living together in Papua New Guinea. Our plan is to go back to a nomadic slow-travel lifestyle. My career has gradually evolved to encompass creative pursuits that light me up inside: retreats, writing, photography, and yoga. I am deeply grateful to my former self for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/live-abroad-cheap-low-cost-living-high-quality-life-2024-1">choosing to leave the US</a>. I sometimes miss family and friends, but thanks to technology, our connection stays alive across the distance, and I go back to visit once a year. I still love America and feel lucky to have been born and raised there. But there's a big world out there waiting to be discovered. Do you have a personal essay about relocating to Asia that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:akarplus@businessinsider.com">akarplus@businessinsider.com</a>. November 11, 2024 — An earlier version of this story mentioned Trump becoming president was not the reason Moore left, it was not the only reason.

You Searched For "Quality of life" and got 9 results

The 10 countries with the best quality of life

Noah Sheidlower

I moved my family from the US to Switzerland 8 years ago. The difference in our quality of life is astounding.

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Wealthy Indians send kids overseas for education, says HSBC Survey

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After 10 years in corporate America, one woman took a 'micro-retirement.' It reversed burnout and improved her quality of life.

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We moved from NYC to Raleigh. I didn't think I'd be happy in a smaller Southern city, but it's exceeded my expectations.

Elliott Harrell

A Gen Zer moved to Colorado from Texas because of its restrictive abortion laws. She said life is more expensive but the quality of life is worth it.

John Towfighi

A family moved to the Bay Area from Georgia for a better quality of life. They pay more than double for housing but they're happier.

John Towfighi

This Canadian city has found the sweet spot between low cost of living and high quality of life

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I swore I would leave the US if Trump won the 2016 election. Here's how that worked out for me.

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