I spent 30 months living in different countries. Coming back, I can't believe how expensive the US is.
Bakari Akil shares his experience traveling to a new country each month while still spending less than his rent in New York.
Bakari Akil shares his experience traveling to a new country each month while still spending less than his rent in New York. This report comes from B
Read Full Story at Business Insider Mkt →Why This Matters
The cost of living crisis in the U.S. is no longer an abstract policy debate—it’s a lived reality reshaping where Americans choose to reside, work, and even raise families. Bakari Akil’s experience isn’t just an anecdote; it’s a microcosm of how global mobility is becoming a necessity for financial survival rather than a lifestyle choice.
Background Context
The past decade has seen U.S. housing costs outpace wage growth by nearly 40%, with rent burdens now consuming over a third of household income for millions. Meanwhile, countries like Vietnam, Colombia, and Portugal have aggressively courted remote workers and digital nomads with incentives like tax breaks and low-cost visas, accelerating a brain drain from high-expense American cities.
What Happens Next
If the trend of Americans leaving for cheaper shores persists, major tech hubs and coastal cities could face a feedback loop of shrinking tax bases and eroding services, while mid-tier metros scramble to position themselves as "affordable alternatives." Policymakers may eventually be forced to confront the structural roots of inflation—or risk ceding an entire generation to overseas relocation.
Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about individual budgets; it’s a symptom of America’s widening urban-rural and generational wealth gaps, exacerbated by a housing supply crisis and unchecked corporate consolidation. The exodus to lower-cost countries may prove temporary if global inflation converges, but the damage to domestic economic confidence could linger for years.
