I Interviewed Over 500 Expats to Discover How They Make a Living Abroad
Living as an expat is a dream that many individuals aspire to fulfill. It offers the opportunity to experience new cultures, explore different landscapes, and build connections with people from all over the world. However, one significant concern before making the leap is how to make a living while residing in a foreign country.
To shed light on this crucial aspect of expat life, I conducted extensive interviews with over 500 expats to gain insights into their diverse employment situations. Here are the key findings from my study:
1. Remote Work: Unsurprisingly, the rise of technology and remote working has revolutionized the expat job market. A majority of those interviewed (around 40%) mentioned that they work remotely for companies in their home countries or as independent freelancers. This allows them to maintain their existing careers while enjoying the benefits of living abroad.
2. Teaching English: Teaching English as a second language remains a popular choice among expats. Approximately 25% of those surveyed cited this as their primary source of income. Many countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, have a high demand for English teachers, providing ample opportunities to secure employment.
3. Entrepreneurship: A notable percentage of respondents (around 20%) revealed that they had started their own businesses or pursued entrepreneurial ventures in their host countries. These ventures ranged from opening restaurants, cafes, or guesthouses to providing specialized services like yoga instruction, tour guiding, or consulting.
4. Remote Consulting: The gig economy has opened avenues for expats to work as remote consultants in various fields. About 10% of those surveyed mentioned using their expertise in areas such as marketing, finance, or programming to secure remote consulting contracts.
5. Job Transfers: Many expats continue their careers by transferring to a branch of their multinational companies in their host country. This option was highlighted by approximately 5% of the expats interviewed. Often, these individuals were granted relocation packages to support their move and ensure a smooth transition.
6. Local Employment: Although less common among the respondent group, some expats pursued employment within the local job market. This option required adapting to the local language and work culture, but it allowed for a more immersive experience. Examples included working as engineers, doctors, or other professionals in diverse fields.
It’s important to note that some expats diversify their income streams, combining multiple sources to make a living abroad. For instance, an expat could work remotely for a company, teach English part-time, and also run a small side business.
Overall, this survey shows that there are numerous paths available to expats seeking to earn a living abroad. The world of work is evolving rapidly, and technology has made it easier than ever to find opportunities outside one’s home country.
If you’re considering becoming an expat, take some time to reflect on your skills, interests, and the market demand in your chosen destination. With a bit of research, planning, and determination, you can find a rewarding way to support yourself while exploring the world as an expat.
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Always interesting to hear what other people are doing. I've being doing well for the last few years as an online music producer but I can't seem to scale it. I'd love to find something else – my current situation only takes up around 10 hours a week – but I just seem to make anything else stick. It's tough out there!
I'm surprised day trading didn't make the list
SO I took a left/right brain test…and it split right down the middle LOL I am currently studying web design as well as coding on Python, so I guess that makes sense
Forgot lottery winners, trustafarians and stonks (kidding).
Subscribed a Brit retired in Costa Rica.
Wow this was so interesting! I've always wondered what all digital nomads do. Thanks for doing the survey and making an informative video!
GREAT VIDEO!! I want to move outa the country soon… my living situation is going to be weird and, all I want to do is travel.. I really, want to expatriate somewhere 🙂 somewhere.. less money-obsessed.
I wanna move somewhere I can get a visa… maybe teach English in person? I have TEFL (but only an associates..) BUT, having an online back-up job seems must… I don't party, I could live on so little.. just, want to get away from Americans 🙂 no offense to any… Midlife crisis? if I could get paid to rant… they'd fire me for over-performing!
doesn't marketing and sales encompass ecommerce as well?
The west is structured as such that you cannot leave without being wealthy. Other countries won’t hire you. You wanna work remote? Better be a skilled programmer everything else is a solid path to being broke and stuck in a unforgiving eastern country
Been a digital nomad for 15 years.. since 2008
very few do it. most are middle class luvies living off daddy's credit card for a fun gap year in Thailand.
is there anything non digital?
Lol, my dog jumped when the birds sang! Hahahaha
Thank you for this video. We had make it starting with Amazon, but we had not so much Follower at our Chanel. We had made this Chanel, to learn what is important for a lucky life and what can they, if they go travel. If you have tips for us, how we can find more user for our Chanel. We say thank you. We will go retired to Thailand soon. That why I followed your Chanel. Best wishes Siri and Uwr
I trade options.
I was looking exactly for this topic, a bunch of thanks to you.
i legit stopped this video to peek outside my window cos i thought there was a lost duckling… XD
Since some years ago I wan to live as a digital nomad, I'm civil enginner (actually construction enginner) and I have been studying programming by my own, I feel like I know quite about programming but I don't feel ready to get a work yet. Furthermore, I'm not English speaker and it feel harder to become a global citizen without English.
Sometimes I feel a little sad because achive this had being really hard for me, also sometimes I just want give up, and allow myself be carry into the rat race.
High ticket closing is not easy…..at all. It's emotionally exhausting and most people will not buy and so it really really depends on the type of offer that you're selling because most people don't have five to 10 or $20,000 to drop on a product or service and to get them to spend that kind of money on a one call close or two call clothes is very very very difficult. So even though you may make a lot of money when you close when you actually close it's rare. This is coming from 3 years experience as a closer. It's also very stressful because you're completely relying on commissions so you have no stable income which is extremely disconcerting and stressful especially when you're living in another country So on this Brett I totally disagree with you and I think that most people are not cut out for that type of work
I love these birds. 🙂
Ive never been able to decide what career to do and doing that left brain right brain test really explained why, i scored smack bang in the middle, 50/50 on both sides. The search for balance continues
That doesn't sound like the same bird that I have heard on here before. It must be a buddy of the other one.
Thanks for another solid video Brett, you definitely picked on some good options there! I tend to agree that the drop shipping option has largely had its day. Getting in now is tough, the big boys with the big bucks for advertising seem to be dominating it now.
You're right about not simply chasing the money, but on the other hand, you need to make enough money to live on. A few dollars a month from affiliate marketing, or even drop shipping may not be enough to pay the bills…
Brett I tried coding Front End and Python and I am not the left-brained dude. Can a 59 year old learn the more creative marketing side and literally make a living as a digital nomad? No bull?! I am at a point where this is a direction I must go if I know for sure I can make it reasonably quickly (few months). Please advise. Thanks for your wonderful videos!
What you are saying is SOC analyst is a good job.I worked on IBM computers for ten years and cybersecurity takes considerable study and skill acquisition.
I think there's plenty of teachers they just usually don't think of themselves as nomads and are more in academia rather than business. So for them, there is no point in engaging in "digital nomad" community stuff cause they are teachers and are from a different crowd.
I'm in cybersecurity myself. Would love a video of you and that individual on like a podcast type of video explaining how he's able to work overseas. I'm cyber for a government agency right now so anything overseas is a no go. I would love the insight. I think it would be a great video idea for you to interview people in your class about their life, career, how they got to Thailand and how they are able to keep staying in Thailand. Cheers, man. Another banger video
Wouldn’t be a Brett Dev video without the bird chorus ! 😉
Solid advice Brett
If you ask the question "Can I learn how to code?" you probably can't.
I have question for Brett and everybody. How about remote SQL programming? Is anybody doing that? I'm studying that now. There seems to be thousands of jobs in that!
Awesome video Brett.
Awesome video Brett!
#5 is digital content creation
chatgpt has entered the chat
Hey Brett ~ could you please recommend the best training program for high ticket closing?
Great stuff!