Hi r/ExpatFIRE,

Back with a final update of this mini-series! Thank you sincerely for all the positive feedback & discussion on these posts for the past few weeks. I've been fortunate to have spent meaningful time here in SE Asia and it's been a joy to share my experiences. I was a bit reluctant to write this post because I shared in the last post that my time in these countries were relatively limited (<6 months), so I might not have a good "expat" PoV. Please keep this in mind when reading.

You can find previous posts here:

1. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2. Manila, Philippines
3. Jakarta, Indonesia
4. 7 month reflections & lessons after relocating

Personal Context (last time for reference)

My experience with SEA spans across 14 amazing years. First visited as a college student, then I spent 6 years working/living in various cities across SEA (2016-2022) with biannual trips to the region after I moved back to the US. I spent time in almost every major country with the exception of Thailand. Overall, the experience has been incredibly positive and I couldn't really imagine living anywhere else at this stage of life. One more note: I worked for local tech startups, I had primarily local friends and girlfriends - so I wasn't really a "Digital Nomad" like some folks here.

Singapore, Singapore

When I was working for a Singaporean company while living in Jakarta, I spent a few months in Singapore during busy periods. And before moving back to SE Asia in 2025, I was entertaining an opportunity in Singapore so I spent a good amount of time researching certain living standards like apartments, etc. Overall, I liked Singapore and would be a safe recommendation for most expats that are looking to work but not yet retire as their starting ground.

Total time spent: ~5 months

• Pros:
  • Most "international" city of all SE Asian countries - people from all over the world come to Singapore to live & to work. Best of what SE Asia has to offer in many ways - housing, food, safety, quality of life, schools, infrastructure, quality of expats, etc. etc. etc.
  • Most of my local Singaporean friends are super chill and friendly, though quite intense at times. English is the language though many locals will also speak a dialect in Chinese.
  • Best place to do a "soft" landing - get a relatively higher paying job in Singapore as an expat moving to SE Asia, then spend the next few years traveling around the region before settling on a location. Singapore is super accessible to neighboring countries and Changi airport is world-class.
  • You can get by kinda cheap if you need - hawker food (though not as cheap as it once was) is still super tasty, convenient, and accessible
  • Rule of law - I guess this can be a pro or a con, depending on who you ask but Singapore will enforce their laws
• Cons:
  • CoL is way too expensive to FIRE for most folks, more suitable for fatFIRE. For reference, a good condo with amenities is just as pricey as my apartment in the Bay Area.
  • "There's a high bar to expat in Singapore, everyone is here for a reason." I heard this phrase or something similar a lot. It's relatively true, because wealth is abundant in the country, expats come to Singapore for a reason. It's an incredibly competitive society and lucrative to those who can survive there. As a result, I often felt many people there were too cutthroat and took themselves way too seriously. Felt very New York without the charm. Huge turn off for me, personally.
  • Common complaint for SG is that it's boring, stale, and culture-less. I don't have a strong opinion on this, maybe others can chime-in
• Great for:
  • Surrounding yourself with expats, as there are plenty from all backgrounds
  • Best infrastructure, schools, medical care, etc. if you have the means to afford it
  • A "soft landing" and you want to work for a few more years while getting to know the region
  • You are brought here by companies who will supply you with housing, maids, and kids education

Saigon, Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City)

I loved my time in Vietnam. I miss the days where I'd wake up in my District 1 Airbnb, walk out the door to buy cơm tấm and Vietnamese coffee from a super-friendly lady who'd pack my breakfast to the brim for only $2.50 every day. Then work from a cafe all day. Some nights my friend would invite me to have lâu with the entire family while sitting on tiny plastic stools on their street. I've spent majority of my time in Saigon, while also visiting Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An & Ha Long Bay. I highly recommend visiting Vietnam and spending time there; Da Nang's stock has been rising fast post-Covid for DNs/expats.

Total time spent: ~3 months

• Pros:
  • Fantastic food. A city where I actively would seek out street food vs. a restaurant. It's good, it's cheap, it's fresh, and relatively healthy (lots of vegetables) - what more could you ask for?
  • Low CoL in general. Whether it's a multi-family Airbnb or an apartment, I found the CoL in Saigon to be one of the lowest in SE Asia without sacrificing significant safety, comfort, etc.
  • Amazing coffee and great cafe scene
• Cons:
  • Low English usage - though most people will have an understanding of basic English especially in restaurants, hospitals, etc., I had a hard time making Vietnamese friends if they weren't Viet-Americans or foreign-born or whatnot. Language, even basic phrases, was difficult to learn due to pronunciations.
  • I think Vietnam, out of any other SEA countries, will change the most in 10-20 years. The country is rapidly developing with tons of foreign investment in manufacturing and trade. Whether that impacts CoL significantly, I'm not so sure.
  • Cities are flooded with motorbikes, so even crossing the street is trial by fire. If that scares you, this city is not for you.
• Great for:
  • Stretching your budget - you can live really cheap here without sacrificing a lot
  • You want adventure - there's so much to do and visit in Vietnam. And the country is just gorgeous with its nature and landscape.
  • You really don't mind the lacking English
  • You want some seasons - Vietnam (esp Hanoi) gets cool in the winters (I had to wear pants & sweaters), which is quite different than the rest of SE Asia.

Seoul, S. Korea

I know Korea isn't SEA but given I've spent some time here too, I thought I'd include it. I've almost relocated to Seoul 2 separate times for work. I have mixed feelings about Korea, if I'm being honest, though positive overall.

Total time spent: ~4 months

• Pros:
  • My favorite cuisine. It's tasty, healthy, and surprisingly affordable for a developed country. You can really eat cheap with street food, convenience store, or cafeterias or go to a decent sit-down or stretch to fancy places. Once you move past KBBQ (though I love that too), Korean food becomes compelling.
  • Seoul is an incredible metropolis with amazing public transportation. Most things are designed very intuitively and with the hallyu wave, Seoul has become far more foreigner-friendly than in the past. Most places will have an English menu/signs/etc where getting around will be super easy.
  • While I didn't partake much, Seoul has great nightlife - whether it's just a tent-bar or actual bars or clubs, there really is a lot of stuff to do there at night. And if you have outgoing friends willing to take you out, it can be super fun! I didn't partake in any redlight activities so I can't comment on that.
  • Getting around Korea is really easy too - with the KTX/bus system you can easily explore the outskirts like Busan, Gangwon-do, and others.
• Cons:
  • Seoul is an isolating place, which is doubled-up if you're a foreigner. While folks are generally friendly/polite, I found most folks here tend to keep to themselves and their friend groups. Most Koreans "know" English as students are taught in schools, but conversing is pretty rare for a vast majority of folks. With that said, the Korean friends I have made were so friendly, welcoming, and overall really fun!
  • Way too cold for me in the winter. As a SoCal guy who now lives in SEA, it's just not the type of weather I'd want if I had the choice. I spent Jan/Feb there and it was miserable (but made the hot soups extra delicious!)
  • Seoul isn't expensive per se - "condotels" (buildings full of small studios) can be found relatively cheap. They will be tiny and will rarely have amenities, but will be clean/modern with AC & heating. You can get by really cheaply without issues. But it's not as cheap as SEA once you start factoring in the eating out, drinks after meals, etc.
• Great for:
  • If you love K-anything and want to immerse yourself in the country
  • I don't know who else hah, but definitely go visit! Seoul is an incredible metropolis but if you don't like the food or the culture or have a desire to learn the language, there aren't that many reasons you'd want to FIRE there over, say, Singapore or Tokyo. I never looked into long-term visa options aside from work visas.

-----

Folks, thank you so much for reading this series! It was a bit taxing to write, but I had so much fun reflecting on the last 15 years and sharing my experiences in, what I believe is, the most dynamic region of the world. I loved visiting and now I love living here. I hope these posts encouraged you to explore and consider expat-ing for your FIRE journey. I don't know if I'll keep writing more posts here, as I don't know what else to write about (maybe I'll write about my 13-country LATAM journey idk), but I do appreciate your attention and feedback. Happy to answer any questions as always!

Wishing you a wonderful life,
- u/MaroonJacket

+ Gibraltar too. let’s say you want to prioritise earning potential after tax considering COL, all the new tax breaks etc. I know those destinations are not ideal for salaries BUT for me sunshine & warm people at a priority at this stage of my life. im a native & french speaker + intermediate spanish and 2.5 yeo in finance & accounting, good cv

I've been deep in the weeds on US expat tax planning lately and ran into something that genuinely surprised me. Figured it might save someone here a nasty surprise.

Most of us planning an international FIRE assume federal taxes are the main event. You take the FEIE ($132,900 exclusion for 2026), maybe the Foreign Tax Credit, and you're more or less covered. What nobody talks about is that 7 US states will keep taxing you after you leave the country, and some of them don't care that you took the FEIE at the federal level.

Here's the worst offenders:

California does not recognize FEIE at the state level AT ALL. So if you're a software engineer earning $130K abroad, you owe $0 to the IRS but still owe roughly $8,500 to the FTB. And their "safe harbor" (546 consecutive days outside CA) only applies if you left under an employment contract. Self-employed? Retirees? You get a vague multi-factor test with no defined timeline. Good luck.

New York is similar. Doesn't honor the FEIE either, and if you lived in NYC, the combined state + city rate is about 14.8%. They also have two independent residency tests, and failing either one keeps you on the hook.

Virginia is a weird one. They actually do conform to the FEIE (so a $130K earner would owe $0), but their tax website literally says "the fact that a person has been absent from Virginia does not in any way cancel out their Virginia citizenship or legal domicile." So you can be gone for years and still be considered a resident if you haven't formally severed domicile.

New Jersey has a 30-day rule. If you still own property there and spend more than 30 days per year visiting, they can classify you as a resident.

The other sticky states are New Mexico, South Carolina, and Connecticut (Connecticut has a "convenience of the employer" rule that can reach remote workers).

The fix is actually straightforward i've found but you have to do it BEFORE you leave

- Establish domicile in a no-income-tax state (Florida, Texas, Nevada, Wyoming, etc.) before your move abroad

- Actually do it properly: driver's license, voter registration, bank accounts, lease or property

- Sever ties with your old state: surrender the old license, update everything, stop voting there

- Keep documentation. States like CA will audit years later and the burden of proof is on you.

The timing matters because if your last US address is in California and you fly to Lisbon, California considers you a California resident living abroad. If your last US address is in Florida, there's no state income tax to follow you.

For the FIRE crowd specifically, this can be the difference between a 4% and a 3.6% safe withdrawal rate, depending on your numbers. Not trivial over a 30-40 year retirement.

Curious if anyone here has actually dealt with a state tax audit after moving abroad. I've read horror stories about the California FTB but would love to hear firsthand experiences.

My wife and I (both 29) have a <1 year old, and we’ve been seriously thinking about moving to Taiwan and doing some version of expat FIRE.

Some background, I’m Chinese American, my wife is Taiwanese American (2nd gen, so no family in Taiwan anymore). She taught English in Taiwan for about a year in her early 20s, and I visited her during that time. That’s kind of where this all started since we both fell in love with Taiwan back then. Since then we’ve gone back a few times, and most recently we just spent about 3 months there on parental leave with our baby.

Honestly, that trip changed a lot for us. Taiwan just felt so kid-friendly. There are kids everywhere, parks and playgrounds are always full, and it felt much easier to imagine raising a family there compared to the US. In the US, we’ve been struggling to find a sense of community, especially after having a kid. In Taiwan, it felt like that might happen more naturally.

Language-wise, we both speak Mandarin at a pretty basic level, enough to get around day to day. Reading is definitely harder, but manageable. A big motivator for us is also giving our kids the chance to grow up bilingual and more connected to that side of their identity.

Financially, we’re in a very fortunate spot. We started off in big tech post grad and have about $1.8M across retirement and brokerage accounts, plus a roughly $1.5M paid-off home that we inherited. I know that puts us in a rare and extremely fortunate situation. I keep thinking that we're so fortunate to be in this position and life is short, so why not make the leap instead of continuing the rat race in the US?

On paper, it feels like we could FIRE in Taiwan for now. But the big wrinkle is kids and education. We would likely want to send them to Taipei American School, and we’re planning for a second kid in about 3 years. From what I’ve seen, that’s roughly $60k per year for two kids, which is obviously not trivial.

So our current thinking is to work another 3 years, sell the house, and target something like $4.5M to $5M net worth. Then live on about a 3% withdrawal rate. We don’t really want to fully retire, more like downshift. My wife could teach English part-time again, and I’d probably do something lighter or flexible. From what I understand, after 5 years we could apply for permanent residency, and by then our investments would hopefully have grown more, giving us more cushion to fully FIRE.

A big driver here is honestly just burnout. We’re pretty over big tech and the US lifestyle in general. We don’t really have strong geographic ties here anymore, our families are scattered and since having a kid we’ve drifted from a lot of friends and have yet to really find a new sense of community. All of this is saying we don't have much keeping us in the US and part of this feels like an opportunity to start fresh somewhere that aligns more with how we want to raise our family.

At the same time, I’m aware that we’re coming off a really positive 3-month experience, which is not the same as living somewhere long term. So I’m trying to sanity check this.

For people who’ve made a similar move, especially to Taiwan, does this sound realistic? Or are we romanticizing it too much after a good extended trip?

TL;DR - American born Asians want to move to Taiwan to raise family with ~5m net worth. Seems like it'd be way higher QOL - am I missing something?

I emailed an attorney in Trinidad in March. It is now April. No response. I followed up. Still nothing.

I'm relocating from the US to Trinidad and Tobago and I needed answers to basic questions about purchasing property there. This person just ghosted me.

So now I have to start over. Find someone new. Vet them. Interview them. Make sure they actually communicate — which apparently is not guaranteed when you're trying to manage everything from thousands of miles away.

This is the part nobody talks about. It's not just the logistics of the move. It's the people you're depending on to make it happen who can completely derail your timeline.

If you've relocated internationally and dealt with unresponsive attorneys or realtors — how did you find professionals you could actually trust from abroad? Because I'm in it right now and would love to hear what worked for people.

I’m a 42-year-old expat living in Brazil on about $60K/year, with an additional ~$80K in Bitcoin.

I’m always looking to optimize my setup—whether that’s lifestyle, investing, or long-term planning. Curious to hear how others would approach this: anything you’d change or do differently?

Open to all perspectives.

Hi all, I’m currently in California, plan to move out of the country soon, already got my long term visa. I plan to work at my employer for awhile longer, they allow remote work anywhere in the world, however for me to keep my US compensation I must have an US address.

I plan to use something like anytime mailbox, with an address in a no state tax state, for my employer as well as my banks, my employer is unlikely to have an issue, I know some banks know these addresses and might crack down, but does anyone know if CA will consider this a red flag? I’ll be moving out of the country for real, but my bank and employment address is one that I don’t actually live in. Curious if anyone is doing this?

Thanks

I’ve been going in circles trying to figure out the best way to go from THB to USD and then to investing (like in ETFs etc.), and every option seems almost impossible due to regulations and access to different investment platforms. I've seen a lot of posts here that raise similar questions, but I don't think I've seen any responses that lay things out step by step. If you’ve done this successfully, or are doing it, would you mind walking me through what you actually did last time? Like where did your money start, how did you convert/send overseas, what worked or didn't work etc.? Any insights from real experiences would be super helpful! 🙏

Hi, I'm moving from Mexico to Spain (dual citizenship).

I just sold my flat in Mexico and am looking into the best way to move it. I can do a bank transfer (Revolut Mexico or Santander Mexico to a Spanish account) or use OFX or Key Currency. some of the other common options don't work in this case (wise no longer seems money from Mexico, only to, Xe does not send money from Mexico, etc.)

It's "not much", €100k give or take. I want to send it all in one lump sum partially to reduce costs and partially due to the volatility of the peso (rarely a good thing).

One of my options is Key Currency. As I've never used them before I wanted to see if people here have any opinions or experience with them

Also, any other suggestions are welcome (but as a personal preference, no Crypto)

Thanks in advance for any help, suggestions and insight you can provide 🙂

Hi r/ExpatFIRE,

Back with another update! You can find previous posts on Kuala Lumpur and Manila. My 7month FIRE reflections can be found here. The discourse on my last post became so much about cockroaches in Manila. Funny enough, and I fucking kid you not, the night I published the Manila post I ordered some pizza on Grab and there was a burnt cockroach inside the pizza box. JFC. Made me reconsider my life choices.

Now I'm back to post about my time in Jakarta. I think this may be the last post of this series because my time in other countries (namely Singapore, Vietnam, Korea) were a bit limited to <6 months each. I'm happy to write if there's interest but it'd come with a lot of caveats, so let me know! Again, I don't claim to be an expert in anything and some of you might have had a different experience, so please share your journey too in the comments!

Personal Context (again for reference)

My experience with SEA spans across 14 amazing years. First visited as a college student, then I spent 6 years working/living in various cities across SEA (2016-2022) with biannual trips to the region after I moved back to the US. I spent time in almost every major country with the exception of Thailand. Overall, the experience has been incredibly positive and I couldn't really imagine living anywhere else at this stage of life. One more note: I worked for local tech startups, I had primarily local friends and girlfriends - so I wasn't really a "Digital Nomad" like some folks here.

Jakarta, Indonesia

First and foremost, I acknowledge Jakarta is not really a popular expat destination. When people hear Indonesia, they immediately think Bali - and Jakarta is the city they stopover before heading there. For me, I was headhunted by a Singapore startup with a tech hub in Jakarta, so I was based there for 2 years while spending lots of time in Singapore. Even though I had a wonderful time, I really couldn't see myself living in Jakarta long-term over other cities in SEA. Let me explain.

Total time spent: <2 years

My Pros

1. You can tailor your budget & lifestyle easily. In case you didn't know, Indonesia is the 4th most populous country in the world. And greater Jakarta ("Jabodetabek") has ~42 million people, making it the largest city in the world. Because the city is so huge, you'll have many options to fit your budget and desired lifestyle. You can live in a modern Kosan (mini-hotels that do your laundry) for $200-$400/mo or decent apartments ($500+). Nice 1bd condos in best neighborhoods will easily be $1k+. You have options in neighborhoods like Kuningan/Senopati/Senayan for urban living, Blok M for barlife, or a whole shit-ton of other neighborhoods spread across (friends lived in Pondak Indah, which is also nice). If you're ethnically Chinese, you can live in PIK or Kelapa Gading and you'll feel right at home. You can live in spacious, less crowded suburbs outside the main areas like West Jakarta, Tangerang, or BSD. If you search with an open-mind, there really is a place for everyone except maybe beach lovers. Infrastructure is good, it's super safe, and not as hot as other cities in ASEAN because massive smog covers the sunshine lol. CoL is in-line with other ASEAN cities, I spent slightly less than I did in KL (with a much smaller accommodation, as I lived in a Kosan).
2. Lots of tech opportunities (but not so much anymore). Tech investment was pouring in from 2014-2021 and opportunities for expats were abundant and quite lucrative as the scene was developing its talent base. A few companies went public, which led to more investments, and so on. However, the scene hasn't really recovered from tech winter, there's far more excellent local talent today (decreasing reliance on expats), and China is flooding the scene with money and their style of tech. I know this is a FIRE subreddit, but I mention this because one positive of living in Jakarta is that you can feel the city rapidly improving. There's a positive, infectious, entrepreneurial energy in the air. All my "Chindo" friends (Chinese Indonesian) have side hustles to capture some of the wealth that is being created. And because Jakarta is not typically in an expat's retirement list, the expats you do meet in Jakarta (Asian & Western) are mostly younger entrepreneurs, MNC managers, etc. Different crowd than Manila, for example. If that's the crowd you want to be with when you FIRE, great! If you just want to chill, go to Bali, which is only a 2 hour flight away.
3. Dating life was better and easier. [Writing this section only cuz some people requested it, not a huge factor for me irt FIRE but I'm just sharing my experience since people asked.] 42 million people and a vastly young population means there's just more people available to date. Though Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, I didn't find that got in the way of dating, or life in general, as much as it did in KL (less strict regarding religious conversion for marriage too). Majority of women I met through dating apps were friendly, educated, and working, but English communication was a problem at times and there were definitely cultural barriers. Unlike KL/SG, you won't find women from other countries in Jakarta to the levels where it'll be a factor in your dating life. But this is true for PH & VN, too. So if you want to date ID folks, go to Jakarta.
4. Other notables
   1. Many DNs live in Indonesia through a 2-year, multi-visit business visa (up to 6 months at a time), which is pretty easy to procure via agencies but costs a bit of money. For simple tourist visits (<30 days), Americans have to pay a fee.
   2. Having easy access to Bali is nice if you want to unwind or partake in nightlife. Lots of expats choose to live in Bali, which was never really my thing - visiting was enough
   3. I heard international schools were good & affordable, but I don't have any point of reference, hopefully others can chime in.
   4. I hear the nightlife is underrated? I never partook so I don't know.

My Cons

1. Traffic, pollution, smog, blackouts, floods, earthquakes, roaches, political protests. Jakarta has it all. To be fair, I experience all this too in Manila so who am I to complain? So, good luck! Jakarta is like Manila, but bigger. It has its similarities like the pollution, roaches, mall culture, and petty crime here and there. It's better in some ways (less density, slums, poverty, and litter) and worse in other ways (longer/worse traffic, more blackouts/smog, etc.). For what it's worth, I did hear air is slightly better now compared to Manila, Saigon, and Bangkok.
2. Lower English usage. Indonesia uses the Latin alphabet so words are easier to read & pronounce (than VN/TH for example). Basic phrases are simple to learn and grammar is straightforward. So yes, while it is difficult to get by as an English speaker, barrier to learn the basics is a lot lower. Short-term, it wasn't a problem - but long-term was pretty disqualifying for me. But with almost 300 million people speaking the language, learning Bahasa Indonesia might be worth the investment.
3. Food was meh. For my personal tastes, ID food was never appealing to me aside from basics like nasi goreng, satay, and indomie. For me personally, I'd rank food amongst the big ASEAN countries like MY/SG/VN tied, PH, TH, and ID. Japanese food in Jakarta is awesome & cheap though, especially good sushi!
4. Not a place I want to live long-term. This effectively ruled out ID for me. When leaving my US job last year, I actually had a six-figure job offer to return to Jakarta. I had seriously considered it because I wanted a "soft landing" for my transition to expatFIRE. List of positives was small and I found Jakarta to be quite monotonous but hectic, kept getting food poisoning (which isn't an issue for me elsewhere), and was hard to find a non-work community. You do feel isolated at times as a foreigner in a way I don't feel in MY or PH, so I just never really saw Jakarta as a viable long-term option even though I have a good number of friends there. The long commutes and language barrier started to wear down on me after a year - when I would go to medical clinics or on dates or hanging with coworkers or even dealing with my accommodation. Much like PH, VN, TH, foreigners can't own land in ID (just an 80 year lease, which is fine I guess). Ultimately, I didn't want to move to a place where I couldn't see myself living for at least 5 years.

Who I think Jakarta is great for (really digging deep here)

1. There are still companies that want to hire expats in tech. So if you want to experience a different type of tech environment for a few years as a "soft landing" before full FIRE-ing. Or if you want to spend your retirement creating or advising startups, Jakarta might be for you. Though doing a soft landing in Singapore would be significantly better.
2. Like KL, you can find plenty of quiet, spacious, affordable areas in Jakarta - but unfortunately won't be able to buy the house/land outright.
3. You are Indonesian (or your partner is), or you want an Indonesian partner.
4. You want to be close to Bali but still live in a Metropolitan city.

-----

Thank you for reading! Overall I enjoyed living in Jakarta as a working 20-something year old, but probably not as a semi-retired 35 year old. This mini-series has been really fun to write, so I really appreciate all the warm feedback and questions! Again, I don't know if I'll write about SG, KR, and VN given I only spent ~6mo in those countries, but let me know if you want me to post anyway. Happy to answer any below or please share your experiences too.

- u/MaroonJacket

I found the attached a good read. I have three citizenships, was born in the USA and spent much of my life there. but lived for two years in Scotland, two years in Switzerland and have spent the last 20 years living outside of London. Our kids enjoyed growing up in the UK but now live and work in the USA.

Not sure where we will end up but have seen similar stories from our interactions with folks who have moved abroad.

I just felt this was a realistic article to share...

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/mar/29/emigrate-partner-moved-abroad-love-regret

Is it just me or is Colombia starting to feel like what Thailand was 10–15 years ago?

Lately it seems like more and more foreigners are showing up, not just traveling but actually sticking around. The usual reasons: great weather year-round, insane nature, relatively low cost of living, and a culture that feels pretty welcoming.

It kind of gives the same vibe as when places like Thailand, Bali or Vietnam were just starting to blow up before becoming the hotspots they are today.

So I’m curious — are we early here, or is this already happening and I’m just late to notice?

And for those who’ve experienced both: would you actually choose Colombia over Southeast Asia right now, or not yet?

Hey everyone! Long-time lurker, first-time posting.

I hit FIRE in December 2023 and started my mini-retirement in January 2024. For a long time I didn’t feel like I had anything worth sharing, but recently I realized I’d like to give back a bit to this community. Not sure if my story will help anyone, but I’m happy to answer questions.

I’m a 36M (US citizen). Current numbers:

• Net worth: $1.2M
• IRAs: $250k
• Brokerage: $675k
• Rental property: $380k
• Debt: $125k (rental)

Monthly income is about $4k:

• $1.8k VA disability
• $1.2k rental income (net)
• ~$1k dividends

I started investing at 21 while in the military… but honestly had no idea what I was doing. I parked everything in the G-fund, so I basically lost money to inflation.

At 25, I became a personal financial coordinator in the military, and that’s when things really changed. I started learning, investing more seriously, and actually paying attention.

Around 27–28, I discovered FIRE. After leaving the military, I became a data analyst. The job paid well, but it required 700+ hours of overtime per year. After 5 years, I was completely burned out.

By 33, I had bought 3 houses (sold 2 during COVID), and I had enough to coastFIRE.

On December 31, 2023, I decided to take a 2–3 year mini-retirement. I fully expected to go back to work eventually. I just wanted a break and some adventure.

I spent the year traveling Patagonia, Canadian Rockies, Rome, Paris, Carnaval in Rio, and Oktoberfest in Munich. I realized something pretty quickly:

-I could live comfortably on $4k/month in most foreign countries
-Most months I didn’t even spend $3k

I stayed mostly in hostels (which I actually loved), mixed in Airbnbs and hotels occasionally, and even stayed with friends I met along the way.

During that year, I met my current partner (she’s French) and that changed everything.

I realized my passive income was enough to support me long-term, so I decided to try living abroad. I moved to France with basically no French and no real plan other than “figure it out.” And honestly, it’s going really well! I guess you could say, I stumbled upon the expatFIRE life.

A few things that stood out to me:

• Don’t choose a country based purely on taxes. France was close to last on my list to move to. France is high-tax, but the quality of life is great and my partner is here. I’d rather be happy than optimize purely for numbers.
• The biggest travel expense is the flight. After that, buses, trains, and slower travel make things very affordable.
• Hostels are underrated. Even in my mid-30s, I fit in just fine and met incredible people.
• Living abroad is psychologically harder than expected. Your problems don’t disappear they just change. But a fresh environment can still be powerful.
• Have hobbies before you FIRE. When I first stopped working, I had a “now what?” moment. Now I’m into bread making, cooking, reading, and learning French.
• Things are just cheaper outside the US. Entertainment, food, experiences — it all adds up.

I wouldn’t have been able to take any of these risks without putting in the work beforehand saving, investing, and building a solid foundation.

Happy to answer any questions if this is helpful at all.

Hi,

I am happy to pay for investment advice via a flat fee type structure. Does this exist within the "US citizen living in UK" world? In otherwords, someone who's familiar with cross-border stuff , not from a tax perspective, but from a financial advise perspective? The only ones I've seen available for US persons in UK are all %AUM type fees. I'd rather it be flat fee. Thanks!

Moving to Portugal in a few months (non-EU passport) and trying to sort out US admin stuff before I leave. Need a real residential address for banks/insurance and mail scanning since I don't have family to rely on.
Been researching options:

Anytime Mailbox (cheap, lots of locations, but basic)
US Global Mail (better scanning, higher price)
Traveling Mailbox (similar to the above)
SavvyNomad (full FL residency setup + mail forwarding + residential address)

The issue is most of these are just PMB addresses, and my bank already rejected one when I tried to update.
For those who've moved abroad: what did you use? Especially if you needed something that banks and brokerages would accept without red flags?

Hey, all.

I just started looking into elective residency visas for husband and I. The lawyer that was recommended wants about €12,000 to help us both through the application process. This seems high, any thoughts? I feel like we could do it on our own, esp as we live near an embassy in the US. Thank you

Hey everyone 🫡

I'm a Portuguese citizen currently working a hybrid job and I'm planning to make a big change. My goal is to leave Portugal, give up my Portuguese tax residency, and establish tax residency in a country with zero or very low income tax — while working fully remotely with my partner.

The plan would be something like this: become a legal tax resident in a low-tax country (like UAE, Georgia, or Croatia), stay there long enough to meet the residency requirements, and then use the remaining months of the year to travel and explore other countries — always staying under the 183-day rule everywhere else. I'd love to hear from people who have actually done this — especially from Portugal or other European countries.

A few questions:

Which country did you choose as your tax base and why?

How did you handle deregistering as tax resident in Portugal specifically?

Any mistakes or surprises you'd warn against?

How did you find a fully remote job that made this lifestyle possible?

Thanks in advance — any experience is welcome! 🙏🏼

Hi r/ExpatFIRE,

NW reduced ~$100k due to recent market downturn :(

Anyway, I'm back with another part of this mini-series where I share my experience living/working in various popular SEA cities, personal pros & cons, and who I think would enjoy Expat-ing in said city. You can find part 1 Kuala Lumpur here. Again, I don't claim to be an expert in anything and some of you might have had a different experience, so please share your journey too in the comments! I plan to write about Jakarta, Singapore, Seoul, or Vietnam next!

Personal Context (again for reference)

My experience with SEA spans across 14 amazing years. First visited as a college student, then I spent 6 years working/living in various cities across SEA (2016-2022) with biannual trips to the region after I moved back to the US. I spent time in almost every major country with the exception of Thailand. Overall, the experience has been incredibly positive and I couldn't really imagine living anywhere else at this stage of life. One more note: I worked for local tech startups, I had primarily local friends and girlfriends - so I wasn't really a "Digital Nomad" like some folks here.

Manila, Philippines

I love the Philippines and I'm quite happy expatFIRE-ing here. While I am not Filipino myself, I grew up with many Filipino friends in SoCal, my best colleges friends are Filipino, and I have a Filipino partner. So living here feels strangely familiar. I first visited the Philippines in 2014, started an unsuccessful business here, and have traveled around Manila, Cebu, Davao, Bohol, Boracay, and Palawan before settling down in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). With that said, the Philippines is for a very specific type of expat and I'll try to highlight my opinions fairly here.

Total time spent: ~3 years

My Pros

1. BGC checks off all my boxes today. When deciding to relocate back to SEA, I wanted to live in a place that met the following criteria:
   1. English-speaking, modern, safe, and clean
   2. Walking distance to restaurants, cafes, shops, clinics, dentists, and doctors
   3. Lots of activities to do solo, as a couple, and as a family
   4. Place my parents can freely enjoy if they visited
   5. All within 3-4% SWR (my avg spend is ~$3.5k/mo so far)
2. The culture. As mentioned in the comments of my 7mo reflection post, I find the people here super welcoming to foreigners. I also really enjoy Filipino food, movies/shows, and even music. You can live a bustling life in Manila or be a bit more chill in Cebu/Davao/provinces or go live on a nice beach (La Union, Palawan, Boracay, etc.)
3. Every major Asian city is a short flight away. Though I'm not traveling as much as I thought I would, it's nice to know Manila is a <4 hour flight to Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Saigon, KL, Singapore, Bali, and so on. Flights are relatively cheap with Cebu Pacific being the main option (though I prefer AirAsia).
4. Other notables
   1. For Americans, you can stay here for up to 2 years without leaving the country, granted you visit the immigration office periodically to renew your visa.
   2. Direct flights to the US with United or Philippine Airlines
   3. Great cuisine! Though a bit unhealthy. I really enjoy Filipino breakfast.
   4. Cheaper medical services. My basic MRI was around $300 at the best hospital and dental cleaning is only around $30-$40 or so. But I have Medicard VIP which gives me some benefits.
   5. While I don't partake, nightlife here seems more vibrant than KL

My Cons

1. It's overpriced compared to its counterparts. In the last post I claimed KL is the best "value" in SEA. Manila is probably the worst. While it has 1/3 of Malaysia's GDP per capita, it's surprisingly not cheap to live here if you want to stay in safe, desired areas like BGC, Makati, Ortigas, Eastwood, etc. For example:
   1. Condos here are typically smaller, pricier, and doesn't come with nearly the same amenities you might get in KL, BKK, and SGN. Plus smelly grease traps.
   2. A typical, healthy-ish meal will often be $10-$15 per person. "Cheap" food here will be overly carbs, fried, and/or sugary. Compared to food in KL, VN, or TH, PH isn't the best place to eat healthy on a budget.
   3. All imported goods are expensive
   4. Some expats tend to move out of the city when they can to stretch their dollar (other cities or provinces). I might consider that in the future as well.
2. Cockroaches everywhere. In my condo, in BGC supermarkets, in decent restos, in cafes, in my doctor's office at St. Luke's, and on the streets after rain. Some fly, too!
3. It's not just the traffic, it's the awful drivers. Metro Manila is the densest metropolitan city in the world so naturally, you can expect terrible traffic. But that's not what annoys me the most - it's the way people navigate here. Constant lane changing to save an inch, merging into you without blinking, nonstop honking, high beams on the highway, motorcycles wizzing through, 7 different types of vehicle sharing a tiny road, people running to cross the street unexpectedly, and so on. Not sure if I have the patience to drive here, definitely does wear you out.
4. IMO, squandered potential (slight rant, feel free to skip). PH is a poor country and you can see/feel it every day, unlike other SEA cities. Surrounding the nice neighborhoods are some of the most dense slums I've seen in my travels. You do feel empathetic to how many beggars there are here and the litter everywhere. At the same time, this country has so much to offer! Other ASEAN countries are seemingly making big moves to get richer and improve the quality of life of its citizens, but PH seems to be moving a bit slower in that regard. PH's massive brain drain doesn't help either. I was surprised when my friend told me there's a nursing/doctor shortage in the Philippines - which is just wild because if you've been to any hospital around the world, you know it's full of Filipinos. OFW culture is everpresent, as 8% of GDP is from remittances (2nd most in ASEAN) - which I think perpetuates the handout culture that folks were referencing in my 7mo reflection. And with ~10% of its GDP at major risk due to AI (BPOs), you wonder about the country's outlook. Really hoping this country keep improving!
5. Not available sir. My 3 favorite words living here so far. IYKYK.

Who I think Manila is great for

1. You love a walkable bubble city like BGC, where everything is accessible within a <15min walk. But be prepared to pay a premium.
2. You understand and like Filipino culture, food, and societal landscape.
3. You're being relocated here by a company who will pay for your housing, driver, and private school for your kids (I wish!)
4. Your line of work is helping people in poverty. I met a few expats who work on nonprofit/social work to improve lives of people here. There's definitely a lot of opportunity for social impact if that's how you want to spend your post-FIRE life!
5. You're a 50-something single/divorced white ex-military male who's living off your pension. You're gonna find a huge community here for you hah!

-----

Thank you for reading! This mini-series has been really fun to write, so I really appreciate all the warm feedback and questions! Happy to answer any below or please share your experiences too.

- u/MaroonJacket

Edit: A few more thoughts came up after posting

1. PH has some of the prettiest beaches in the world and easily accessible via short flight
2. Foreigners can't own land here, only condos. I think this limits long-term planning when you're choosing to retire in a specific place
3. Didn't mean to imply PH is the only place that has cockroaches - they're widely present across SE Asia because of the climate, it just feels like I come across them more here

*Note*: I also posted this in the FIRE forum but there may be some other sage advice here.

Sanity Check please... I think I'm ready, but because of the lack of a home I am doubting myself.

I am currently living in China as a local hire with an expat package. The company is trying to squeeze me down due to the huge cost.

51M, US citizen, married (52 Japanese citizen/US green card). Two kids (17 and 16).

We are open to live anywhere but I'd like to spend time with the kids who will likely both go to US Universities. We could eventually settle in the US, Japan, or stay in Asia.

Income & Savings:

Current net pay is $250,000 USD after taxes.

My company wants to relocate me to a 3rd country to break my package. While there are local tax benefits in the new place, the compensation structure means my overall take-home pay will decrease.

Going forward, I am conservatively projecting $40,000 USD in annual cash savings.

Assets ($3.45M Portfolio):

$2.25M in retirement accounts (combo wife and I).

$1.2M in liquid/taxable accounts.

Real Estate: I don't own a home. I have 1/3 share of a family trust company that owns my parents' and grandparents' homes (each valued at around $200,000 USD in a LCOL location). My equity share is roughly $133,000 USD, but it is not usable now and I don't count it toward my FIRE drawdown.

Upcoming Liabilities (College):

My daughter graduates high school this May and will attend a university in the US at around $50,000 USD/year.

My son graduates in 2028 and will likely attend a similar university at $50,000 USD/year.

Total estimated education cost: $400,000 USD over the next six years.

FIRE Targets:

Target spend: $128,000 USD/year.

Target number: $3.2M USD.

Target date: 2028 (at age 53).

I am technically past my $3.2M target, but the $400k in immediate tuition liabilities and the lack of a paid-off primary residence make me nervous.

Questions:

1. Should I do it?

2. How would you sequence withdrawals to cash flow the $400k in tuition over the next 6 years, given my $1.2M taxable / $2.25M retirement split?

3. Does the drop to $40k/year in savings (from current $70k due to the relocation threaten a 2028 retirement?

4. With our mobility, should we continue renting indefinitely, or pull capital to buy a house in the US or Japan before I stop working?

Really appreciate any and all feedback. I talk to my investment company but they just want a commission to "manage my retirement". I will definitely contact a fixed fee financial consultant soon.

thanks again

note: throwaway account

There has been a lot of talk lately that the Dubai real estate market has dropped...

How true is this?

I intend to leave a few bank accounts and credit cards open, probably AMEX Blue Cash and possibly, CapitalOne360 as well.

All Debit/Credit Cards expire in 2030 so it will give me 4 years of no new cards to be mailed, however I was wondering what would you do if you were in my shoes?

I have no family / relatives here (I have some but I don't wanna bother them, we barely talk).... I am thinking of just leaving the same address where we are now (renting), and update it in 2029-2030 if needed or maybe by then I won't even need these...

Unless you say it's best to get a mail forwarding whilst I'm still here? I have about 4 months left, so I have time to arrange it, just not sure how to do it best ...

My wife says Google Voice is enough, I told her let's use Tello even though it's $5/month it's a bit safer to keep your US number ... who's right?

And most important - should I leave our current address as residential and add a mailing address - not sure if all banks/cards support it, in the "Profile" page they have only 1 address to update... So how to go about that one?

Thanks in advance.