With the economy starting to look alive once more, many people are finding that they have a little bit of extra money in their back pockets, and this means that more and more people are taking the opportunity to go on holiday. A very few lucky people are going one step further and are moving abroad; if you’re one of those lucky people, congratulations! Although moving to a new country can be a thrilling experience, there are hidden costs that could come out of nowhere and surprise you when you’re least expecting it. Don’t worry though; we’ve compiled this list of three of the considerations you might be overlooking when you’re thinking about moving abroad; here they are:
Cost of Travel
When you’re thinking about moving abroad, one of the things you’re probably not thinking about is how much the bus costs, or what price is the petrol for the car you intend to purchase on your arrival. However, there is huge variation across the globe when it comes to transport, and this should play a significant part in your process for deciding on whether a move abroad is financially viable. You might find, for example, that the bus fares are half the cost of what they are in the UK, but the train prices are much higher. With a little bit of research you should be able to extract the necessary information and come to the conclusion of whether your chosen destination is a viable one.
Learning the Language
A further consideration that might have slipped your mind is that if you go to a non-English speaking country, you’re going to have to consider learning the native language. This is easier for some than it is for others, and – in fact – some people find certain languages easier to learn than other types. On top of this, learning a language can be expensive if you’re paying for weekly classes, phrase books and online language-learning programs. It’s therefore definitely something to consider.
Transferring Your Money
Moving abroad means moving your money with you. Although you might be used to Pounds Sterling, moving abroad means getting used to another currency. Exchange rates are can be either a god send or a real pain – depending on whether they are going in your favour or not, so ensure you check them before you get your heart set on a particular destination.
So there you have it – three considerations you might have overlooked when planning your move abroad. Hopefully, you now have a more realistic sense of whether emigrating is viable.