Moving out of Florida or US entirely? (Orlando: apartments, health insurance)

[surely7]

I have lived in Orlando for over 17 years now. I will soon be 31 and have never really felt it to be "home". I'm about to graduate with my bachelors and have a Cosmetology certificate.

Rent is extremely high right now in Orlando area, and have noticed any old apartments stink of mold or new apartments are 1,400 + for a one bedroom.

My bf and I will both have bachelors and pretty good job opportunities, but the housing prices and cost of living have changed drastically in the past decade to where we simply cannot afford living on our own and making it.

We have considered either moving out of the state of Florida or US entirely for these reasons:

1. Tired of the long commutes - the US is known for urban sprawl. This drives me insane, not only do the cities look tacky but it takes you forever to go do anything.

2. Lack of public transportation - If you are moving to Florida, you best get a car. Public transportation really is terrible unless you live in some major city, which whatever you save on a car you'll probably spend on rent.

3. Lack of quality life - when my BF and I visited Europe (Germany, France & Switzerland), we saw how much more mingled stores and homes are there, and how much more compact these cities are (most likely due to the fact that most of them were build pre-transportation) but this allows for a more diverse city and less need for a vehicle.

4. Cost of living - I have researched some and have understood the importance of having not just a good income but also a good gap between income and expenses, which we don't have here but seem to be able to have in a country like say Germany.

5. Food - I cannot count the amount of times I have gone out to eat here in Orlando and how much I have regretted wasting my money. In the US it seems like quantity > quality. In Europe, Quality > quantity.

6. Housing- I am not sure what to do on this one. Should we live here and invest in property and then move? or should we move and see if it works and then invest in property elsewhere?

7. Family - we are both fine with being far away from family. Me more than him, but we are only young now and know that as time passes, our parents will need us more when they are older.

8. Kids/Pets- we only have two pets, no kids, and don't plan on having any. If we were to, for whatever reason (which I doubt) we don't really feel this whole "arm teachers with guns" law that passed in Fl. And we would prefer to have them growing up in a more diverse and culturally rich environment.

9. Education - I would probably need to get 40k into debt further for my masters vs 1.5 k in Germany.

10. Technology - I know that while we traveled we definitely missed the convenience of everything and having stores open on Sundays and late at night. However, is this what we need? to wind down a bit and relax and enjoy not being so busy and giving ourselves anxiety, stress and heart attacks?

11. Health- health insurance and health in general in the US seems only really better once things have gotten bad. For example, our food or diets suck so we get sick say we get cancer, there's plenty of advancements in medicine but not enough prevention.

12. Ease of travel- If we were in Europe we could visit a different country 3 times a year, totally different food, culture and language. In the US, we can travel but you need several days or a week to either fly drive etc, and the cost is higher.

13. Weather- Honestly, our retirement state could do with some seasons. I think it is safe to say we live in summer all year round with an exception of a few cold days in the "winter". If we moved, we are definitely looking for a place (STATE or COUNTRY) that offers seasons, hills or mountains, and some sort of water body and a city. Any ideas?

Would it be a wise choice at 31 to move to a different country? If not, would moving to another state be a better choice? and then once we are settled and have money maybe purchase overseas? but then, at this point would our parents need us here? Should we move overseas and then if our parents need us, bring them over?

We currently do not own any property and only own 2 vehicles and have some debts.

I am SO torn. Please help. Should I:

1. Stay in Florida, Invest in property, live in it, sell it later and then move?
2. Move out of Florida to another state, buy a property and save to buy property overseas after?
3. Move out of the US, start anew in another country (EI Germany) not buy a property?
4. Move out of the US, start anew in another country but first purchase a property here as investment?

[boxus]

Have you actually ever lived outside the US, or even traveled outside the US? Specifically to Europe?

[surely7]

I did mention this within my post "When my BF and I visited Europe (Germany, France & Switzerland)...". I have also lived in South America, Colombia. I found Germany to be quite similar to a mix between Medellin, Colombia and the US.

[lluvia]

A combination of all the above.
Pay off your debt, move to a state with a lower cost of living (the trade-off might be a lower salary), then retire overseas.
And forget about buying property if you're living in a place with cheaper rent.
The money you would spend in down payment, closing costs, property tax and insurance, maintenance could be better invested in something more tangible.

[FireStation46]

Join the Armed Services and get a skill for life

Good luck

[waltchan]

United States has been in a downfall yearly since former president Bill Clinton was inaugurated in January 1993. We lost patriotism, orderly, and pride, but replaced to greediness, corruptness, and rise of socialism.

[bmw335xi]

You can’t just pack up and move to Europe. There are strict immigration laws lol, so before even thinking about moving abroad look at exactly what visa (if any) you would be approved for... I’ve moved around a lot and lived overseas (Australia). Nothing wrong with moving, it’s actually good to experience. However, some of your complaints about Orlando make me question if you could handle a major city.

[Frihed89]

Originally Posted by boxus

Have you actually ever lived outside the US, or even traveled outside the US? Specifically to Europe?

Many European countries have hard requirements for residence, like Denmark. Others, like Spain, are easier for retirees and have large expat "nests" of Brits, especially in the South. But it's never a free ride. Do your research before you try to leap.

[Arcenal813]

The only place I can think of that would be a smooth transition and that might provide you with most of what you're looking for would be Canada. Compact, urban cities, much less "sprawl," and a lot of your other concerns would be addressed... That being said, taxes are much higher (as they are in most of Europe), it gets COLD in the winter, and they, too, have strict immigration laws. You can't just pack up and go.

[surely7]

Both my partner and I have bachelor degrees and certifications. We find no reason to join the US armed forces to acquire skills for life.