For decades, the word expat carried a certain glamour — luxury apartments, private schools for the kids, a car and driver, and generous bonuses on top of a Western salary. Companies offered these “expat packages” to attract foreign talent willing to move halfway across the world.
But times have changed.
While expats are still often seen as highly qualified — bringing in specialized skills, international experience, and leadership potential — the era of massive housing allowances and cushy perks is fading fast.In the past, companies had to pay big to convince professionals to relocate to unfamiliar countries. Today, globalization has made that talent far more replaceable. Many local professionals now have similar qualifications, speak multiple languages, and understand local markets better than their foreign counterparts.
As a result, most modern expat roles offer “local-plus” packages — modestly higher salaries or minor benefits compared to local hires, but nothing close to the old-school expat lifestyle. The company might cover relocation and basic housing support for the first few months, but gone are the days of a $5,000 rent allowance and first-class flights home twice a year.
This shift has made international work more merit-based. Companies are no longer paying for nationality — they’re paying for performance.If you’re thinking about moving abroad, this isn’t bad news — it’s just a new reality. You’ll need to weigh opportunities based on long-term growth and lifestyle fit, not temporary perks.
The modern expat is no longer a corporate VIP — they’re an adaptable global worker. And while the benefits might be smaller, the opportunities for personal and professional growth have never been larger.