How Can You Move Places Abroad Easily as a Family in 2026?
You can make moving places abroad in 2026 easy by setting clear family priorities, researching visa rules and childcare early, booking short-term housing first, joining expat groups, and keeping your move flexible. Use modern tools for travel booking, rely on recommendations from local Facebook groups, and plan step-by-step to reduce stress for everyone.
Moving places abroad as a Digital Nomad involves much less effort than moving while being in a conventional life. You can do your jobs from anywhere, and the luggage is limited to a few suitcases instead of a truckload of moving boxes. But especially when you’re moving as a family, it’s still a lot of work.
What needs to be planned in advance? Are there decisions you can make on the spur of the moment? What does a family have to consider to start a new life? In the past few years, we have experimented a lot. I have compiled the perfect procedure, including checklists for you here. Let’s dive into the optimized way of moving places abroad!
1. How Do You Choose a New Place Abroad That Works for the Whole Family?
The first step sounds easy, but it’s not. Because when choosing the next place to live, the interests of all family members come together. For example, when we lived on the Thai island of Koh Phangan for a long time, my husband was drawn to the snow, and I wanted to stay warm. In the cold countries of our choice, the cost of living is very high. So we had to find a compromise: Vacation in Finland and Switzerland, then go back to Southeast Asia.
You should ask the following questions when choosing a place:
- What are the cost of living and rental prices?
- What are the current climatic conditions (rainy season, dry season, etc.), and can all family members cope with them?
- Are there enough childcare facilities? If so, are they good?
- Are there coworking spaces? If not, how could you set up a workday on site (e.g., a bigger house with room for your own office)?
- Do you even come to the country with your nationality?
- What about the general security in the country? Of course, you do not want to travel with children to a war zone.
Once this initial research is complete, you can compare your favorite places and weigh the pros and cons. If still no place has emerged as a clear winner, then see how it stands regarding the flight or travel costs there. This actually helped us once when we just couldn’t decide.
What Are the Easiest Countries to Move to in 2026?
If you want the smoothest relocation, consider countries with friendly visa rules for families and digital nomads in 2026. Portugal, Spain, Thailand, and Mexico often top the list for their flexible digital nomad visas and relatively low paperwork. For English speakers, New Zealand and Ireland are welcoming with straightforward processes.
Can You Really Live Abroad on $1000 a Month in 2026?
Yes, it is possible to live in certain countries abroad on a $1000 monthly budget in 2026, but lifestyle expectations matter. Countries like Vietnam, Indonesia (Bali), parts of Thailand, and even some cities in Portugal or Mexico allow frugal nomads to cover basics, housing, groceries, simple health insurance, and transport. Urban centers are pricier; rural areas can stretch your money much further. But I don’t think any family can live on that thight budget.
Which Countries Will Pay You to Move There?
If you’re adventurous, in 2026 a few countries and regions offer cash, tax breaks, or property incentives to attract new residents. Italy, Spain, and some Greek islands sometimes launch programs for remote workers willing to settle in less-populated towns. These schemes change fast and have fine print. Always read the details and verify the offer before packing your bags.
2. How Should You Prepare for Moving Places Abroad?
Some things you should plan in advance. Because even though the nomadic life is much more flexible, you will make your life much easier with some preparations. As a backpacker couple, you went door-to-door after a 20-hour flight looking for the cheapest hotel room. Today, with two toddlers, more luggage, and fewer nerves, that’s no longer an option!
Necessary planning for moving places:
- Apply for a visa, if necessary.
- Join Facebook groups for local families as well as rental properties.
- Book a hotel room for the first night after arrival, including transfer from the airport (order baby crib or other amenities from the hotel if necessary). This only applies if you are landing in a city a little further from your future home.
- Pro tip: Pack so that you only need one suitcase/bag for this one night. This will save you from rummaging around in different suitcases.
- Book childcare, choosing the perfect school significantly impacts the location of your future home (we avoid having to drive more than 15 minutes to the daycare). So far, posting in the respective Facebook groups and asking for recommendations have helped me with the choice. The same goes for nannies and babysitters.
- Interview online and get to know the people or institutions.
- Book or reserve a house/apartment. And this is where it gets tricky. Because no one wants to commit to something for several months they’ve only seen in photos. Especially not in an unknown place in a country you have never been to.
- Pro tip: Rent something nice from a reputable platform like Airbnb for the first 2-4 weeks. You need a base to get to know the new place first and recover from the travel stresses. In parallel, check Facebook groups or broker sites for rentals and contact landlords. We had the best of luck with making appointments to view the properties in advance and then looking at and choosing them on the spot.
- Book air/train/car/boat for the trip. Travel costs can go up quickly these days. I recommend watching ticket prices, for example, with Google Flight Tracker.
One of the significant advantages and, at the same time, disadvantages of nomadic life: Nothing is forever, therefore relax! If you make a terrible decision that can’t be reversed, it soon will be over! Airfares can skyrocket these days, so it’s wise to keep an eye on prices in the medium term.
3. The Move, How Do You Actually Start Your New Life Abroad?
When you arrive in the evening, rest for the time being. Let the new culture, the environment, the people, and the climate work their magic on you. If you arrive during the day, then you can start right away. From now on, it’s better to get your new life up and running in 24 stressful hours than to spend weeks moving from one temporary solution to the next.
The following approach has worked well for us:
- Arrange with the nanny you’ve chosen online in advance to come over shortly after you arrive (about an hour after your scheduled check-in). This way, you have the onboarding and getting to know each other right behind you and can decide if it should really be this nanny. In addition: If it works out well, you can unpack in peace and perhaps even do everything else without children.
- Sort your transportation. Do you know which means of transportation is best for you in the new place? Good, then head to the next rental with good reviews! As a rule, the prices are always better if you rent long-term. So take the risk and pay for the first month in advance. Mobility is now guaranteed!
- Visit your shortlisted homes. Now it’s time to look at the houses/apartments you are interested in. In the best case, you can already make a final decision.
- Find your work base. You need a place to work. Visit coworking spaces and choose the one that offers the most advantages. Try out the new office for at least one day before you sign up for a monthly subscription. After all, essential things like good Internet, comfortable chairs, good table heights, a pleasant working atmosphere, and a good community must be tried out.
Pro tip: No matter where you are newly arrived, ask the local people! “What’s it like here?”, “What are the pros and cons?”, “What’s your favorite restaurant nearby?” You’re guaranteed to get the best insights.
- Buy some groceries. Because nothing is worse than hungry kids (except tired kids, maybe). Make it easy on yourself and order snacks, fruit, water, and toilet paper through delivery services like Grab or Foodpanda.
- Split up! We’re doing great with this tactic. Because not everyone has to be involved in every little decision. One goes shopping, and the other chooses the coworking space. Then you meet again for lunch.
- Mark important places on Google Maps. These include: daycare/school, current home, coworking space, nearest grocery store, restaurants you want to visit, and attractions on your bucket list. This will not only help you get your initial bearings but also allow you to spontaneously visit places you happen to be near.
Moving day is also a day of rewards. Are the kids craving fries? Are your feet hurting? Feast together and treat yourself to a massage afterward!
4. How Do You Build a Comfort Zone After Moving Places Abroad?
Congratulations, you have successfully settled in a new place. The kids go to daycare, you go to the office, and you’ve already found the best coffee shop. But one crucial point is still missing: social contact.
As a Digital Nomad Family moving abroad, you are not as dependent on other people as a single traveler. But after a particular time, everyone needs other people around him. I will go into this topic in detail in another blog entry, but here are the most important tips:
- Post in the leading Facebook group of your new place of residence that you are there and interested in contacting. Sounds weird, but it’s not. As a parent, you can easily ask for kids’ playdates. You will be amazed at how many people will respond! We met a lovely couple on our first post, and they still belong to our closest friends today.
- Could you find someone nice and imagine a friendship could develop? Jump over your shadow and exchange contacts. The world of digital nomads is fast-paced. Nothing is more annoying than ruining your chance for a meaningful friendship because you’re too shy to ask. Unfortunately, that happened to us a lot in the beginning.
Key Takeaways
- Plan every step in advance, arriving without a plan is much harder with kids in tow
- Book short-term housing first, then decide on long-term accommodation once you’ve explored
- Join expat and local Facebook groups before you arrive for real-time, boots-on-the-ground advice
- Budget-conscious destinations in 2026 include Vietnam, Thailand, Mexico, and parts of Indonesia
- The easiest countries to relocate to include Portugal, Spain, Thailand, and Mexico thanks to flexible visa options
- Some countries and regions do pay newcomers or offer incentives, but rules change often, so always verify before committing
Final Thoughts
Have I forgotten anything? What are your experiences moving abroad with kids? I look forward to your comments!
Thank you for reading and for making me part of your day!
Yours, Lulu
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest country to relocate to in 2026?
Portugal is often cited as the easiest country to relocate to in 2026, thanks to friendly digital nomad visas, straightforward paperwork, and a welcoming culture. Other easy options include Spain, Mexico, and Thailand, always check the latest embassy requirements before planning your move, as rules can shift quickly.
Can you live abroad on $1000 a month in 2026?
Yes, you can live abroad on $1000 a month in 2026 in countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, or certain parts of Mexico and Portugal, especially if you choose less touristy areas and focus on basic comforts. Families may need to stretch this budget quite a lot, but it remains achievable for singles with smart choices around housing and groceries.
Which countries pay you to move there in 2026?
In 2026, Italy, Spain, and some Greek islands occasionally offer incentives for remote workers and families willing to relocate to quieter towns. These programs tend to have specific requirements, limited duration, and plenty of fine print, so always do your homework and verify the offer is still active before packing your bags.
What are the most important things to plan before moving places abroad?
Key steps before moving places abroad include researching visa requirements, securing short-term housing, arranging childcare or schooling, joining local expat groups, and booking initial transport. Planning these in advance reduces stress and eases your family’s transition enormously, especially if you’re arriving with young children who need routine quickly.
How do families choose the best country when moving places abroad?
Families should list their essential needs, budget, climate, schools, safety, and research options using expat communities online. Comparing visa policies, weighing travel costs, and reading real experiences from other nomadic families in Facebook groups will give you a much clearer picture than any travel blog alone. When you still can’t decide, flight prices have a funny way of making the choice for you.
