151: Will moving abroad actually make you happier
Most of us imagine that moving abroad will make us happier. We picture the beautiful European city, the walkable streets, the better work-life balance, the weekend trips, and the amazing people. And then we move. And eventually it just becomes normal life.
So will moving abroad actually make you happier? That is the question I have been sitting with after almost 7 years of living in London. And today I am giving you an honest answer. Not a simple yes or no, because the truth is more nuanced than that. So will moving abroad make you happier? Let’s dive in and see…
Why We Think Moving Abroad Will Make Us Happier
Before answering the question, it is worth understanding why so many of us believe moving abroad will make us happier in the first place.
The promises we make ourselves before moving tend to sound something like this. Life will have better work-life balance. Travel will happen more often. More interesting people will come into your life. The food will be healthier. Stress will decrease. Fulfillment will finally arrive. American hustle culture and political noise will be left behind. And most powerfully of all, the feeling that you are finally living the life you actually want will take over.
The Psychological Trap Worth Knowing
There is a trap hidden inside all of those promises. We tend to attribute our unhappiness to our location. And sometimes that is completely correct. But sometimes the location is only one piece of a much bigger puzzle.
Here is a question worth sitting with — If you moved tomorrow and woke up in a beautiful European city with exactly the same personality, the same insecurities, the same career problems, the same relationship patterns, and the same daily habits, what would actually change?
Your environment matters enormously. But it will not necessarily fix everything. And being honest about that before you move is one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself.
What Moving Abroad Genuinely Changed for Me
Now for the part where I get personal. Because moving abroad did change real and meaningful things in my life. Here is what actually shifted.
Lifestyle
The walkability alone changed my daily life in ways I did not fully anticipate. Walking to the grocery store, to my local coffee shop, to my hairstylist. Having access to other European countries for a quick weekend trip. Traveling to different places the way Americans might drive to another city. These things genuinely improved my life and continue to make me happy 7 years in.
Work Culture
Getting away from American hustle culture was something I actively wanted. And for the most part, the shift in work-life balance has been real. More vacation days, a different relationship with work hours, and a healthier boundary between work and personal life have all made a genuine difference. That said, it always depends on the company, the industry, and the manager. Moving countries does not automatically guarantee a healthier work culture.
Perspective
This might be the area where moving abroad changed me the most. Living in another country forces you to realize that the way you grew up is not the default way humans live. Seeing different approaches to family, work, money, education, food, time, holidays, relationships, and success genuinely shifts what you value. And that shift in perspective is something you carry with you permanently.
Identity
Moving abroad quietly changed who I am. Becoming more independent, more adaptable, more comfortable with discomfort, and more willing to make decisions without needing everyone around me to validate them are all things that happened gradually over the years. That version of myself would not exist if I had stayed in Texas. And I am genuinely proud of who she became.
What Moving Abroad Did Not Fix
Moving abroad does not magically remove your problems. You can still have a bad day. Hating your job is still possible. Relationship problems still happen. Loneliness still shows up. Worrying about money, comparing yourself to other people, feeling anxious about the future, questioning whether you are doing enough, and missing your family are all still very real parts of life abroad.
When Europe Becomes Tuesday
Here is something nobody really warns you about. Eventually the extraordinary becomes ordinary. You stop waking up every morning thinking wow, I am in Europe. Instead you are just trying to get groceries or make it to your 9 AM meeting on time.
That is not a bad thing. It actually means you have built a real life there. But it is worth knowing in advance so you are not caught off guard when the sparkle starts to feel more like a Tuesday than a highlight reel.
The Bigger Question Worth Asking
Before deciding whether moving abroad will make you happier, a more useful question to sit with is this. Are you unhappy with your location, or are you unhappy with something else?
Location Problems vs Life Problems
Some problems are genuinely location-dependent. Hating that you have to drive everywhere is a location problem. Moving somewhere walkable will very likely solve it. Not having access to the lifestyle you want is also often a location problem that moving can address.
But other problems are not location-dependent at all. Feeling unfulfilled in your career and planning to move abroad while doing the exact same work is not a problem a new country will fix. Not knowing what you want from your life is a much deeper question that a change of scenery alone will not answer.
Being honest about which category your problems fall into before you move is one of the most important things you can do to set yourself up for a genuinely happy life abroad.
So Am I Actually Happier After Almost 7 Years Abroad
Here is my honest answer after nearly 7 years of living in London.
Moving abroad made some parts of my life genuinely better. Other parts had nothing to do with the move at all. Here is what my personal scorecard looks like.
Lifestyle? Better. Travel? Better. Perspective and personal growth? Absolutely better. Never having a bad day? Definitely not. Feeling like I have everything figured out? Absolutely not. Experiencing loneliness? Yes, that still happens too.
Moving abroad changed what I value, what I expect from my life, and what I consider normal. It did not make me a permanently happy person. But it did make me a different person. And honestly, I think that might be the more important thing.
The Question You Should Actually Be Asking
Here is the reframe that I think matters most when it comes to whether moving abroad will make you happier.
Instead of asking will moving abroad make me happier, try asking this instead. Will moving abroad make it easier for me to build the life I want?
That is a much better question. Because moving abroad does not manufacture happiness. But it absolutely can change the environment in which you live your life. And that matters enormously.
When Moving Can Genuinely Change Everything
If you want walkability, moving can give you that. If you want easier access to travel across different countries, moving to Europe can make that a normal part of your life. If you want a different work culture, a slower pace of life, proximity to different countries, or a more diverse social environment, moving can meaningfully change your day-to-day experience in ways that genuinely add up over time.
But here is the part that never changes regardless of where you live. You still have to build the life. Moving abroad creates the conditions. You do the building.
A Simple Exercise Before You Move
Here is something practical to try before you make any decisions. Grab a notebook or open your notes app and make 2 lists.
List 1: Things I hope moving abroad will fix.
Write down everything you are hoping will change or improve when you move. All of it. Be honest.
List 2: Things I hope moving abroad will give me.
Write down what you are genuinely excited to gain. The experiences, the opportunities, the version of yourself you are hoping to become.
How to Read Your Lists
Once you have both lists, go through them and ask which of these things are actually location-dependent.
Wanting to walk everywhere is location-dependent. Moving somewhere walkable will likely give you that. Wanting more vacation time is partly location and career-dependent. Many European countries genuinely offer more paid leave and actually take it. Wanting to make new and diverse friends is possible abroad but you still have to put in the work. Connection does not happen automatically just because you moved.
Wanting to feel more confident is probably not location-dependent. Wanting to feel fulfilled is a much bigger and deeper question that will not be solved simply by changing your address.
The goal of this exercise is not to talk yourself out of moving. It is to get clear on what you are actually asking the move to do for you. Because the more honest you are with yourself about that, the better equipped you are to build a life abroad that genuinely makes you happy.
Final Thoughts on Whether Moving Abroad Will Make You Happier
After almost 7 years abroad I do not think moving abroad made me permanently happier. It made me different. It changed what I value, what I expect from my life, what I consider normal, and what kind of life I want to keep building.
And maybe that is actually the more important outcome.
Because you are not moving abroad to become a permanently happy person. You are moving because you believe there is another version of your life that you want to experience. And sometimes changing your environment really can change your life in the most meaningful ways.
You just have to be honest about what you are expecting the move to change. And equally honest about what you are going to have to change yourself.
Could I have built a happy life in Texas? Probably yes. But I also know that not going after this dream, not doing the thing I really wanted to do for myself, would have left me with a kind of unfulfillment that no amount of staying comfortable would have fixed.
And if that resonates with you, if you are sitting there thinking I know I will regret it if I do not try, then that answer might be telling you something worth listening to.
Ready to take your first step? Grab the free guide, the 5 Exact Steps to Move Abroad, at jordangiberson.com/guide
Still figuring out which European city is the right fit for your lifestyle and goals? Take the free quiz at jordangiberson.com/quiz
Wondering what your first 30 days abroad will actually look like once you land? Read this next: The First 30 Days Living Abroad: What Nobody Tells You and Exactly What to Do
