When people think about relocating to another country, they often brace themselves for the cost of airfare. After all, international flights can easily run into the thousands of dollars, especially when you’re looking at long-haul routes or traveling during peak season. It’s natural to assume that getting yourself across an ocean or two would be the biggest financial hit you’ll take during an international move.
But here’s the thing: the flight is usually just the beginning, and in most cases, it’s far from the most expensive part of moving overseas.The reality is that while a plane ticket might cost you anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on your destination, the other costs associated with an international move can dwarf that figure pretty quickly. Shipping your belongings overseas, for instance, can easily cost several thousand dollars even for a modest amount of stuff. If you’re moving the contents of a one-bedroom apartment, you might be looking at costs ranging from three to six thousand dollars or more, depending on the distance and the shipping method you choose.
Then there’s the matter of housing. Many countries require proof of accommodation before they’ll even grant you a visa, which means you might need to pay several months’ rent upfront before you’ve even set foot in your new home. First month, last month, security deposit, and sometimes even agent fees can add up to a significant chunk of change. In expensive cities like London, Singapore, or Tokyo, this initial housing cost alone can exceed the price of your flight by a factor of five or more.
Visa and immigration fees represent another substantial expense that catches many people off guard. Depending on the country and the type of visa you’re applying for, you could be looking at application fees, health examination costs, background check expenses, and legal fees if you’re working with an immigration attorney. Some work visas cost several thousand dollars just for the application, not to mention the time and money spent gathering all the required documentation.
Healthcare is another consideration that varies dramatically depending on where you’re moving. If you’re relocating somewhere without universal healthcare or before you’re eligible for local coverage, you’ll need comprehensive international health insurance. These policies can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per year, and that’s money you’ll need to have ready from day one.
Don’t forget about the costs of setting up your new life once you arrive. You’ll need to furnish an apartment if you didn’t ship furniture, which means everything from a bed to kitchen supplies to basic electronics. You’ll need to open bank accounts, get a local phone plan, possibly buy a vehicle or transportation pass, and handle countless other small expenses that add up quickly when you’re starting from scratch in a new place.
The flight itself is actually one of the most predictable and controllable costs in the entire process. You can shop around for deals, use travel points, choose budget airlines, or select less popular travel dates to bring down the price. But many of the other expenses associated with moving overseas are less flexible and can balloon unexpectedly based on circumstances beyond your control.
This isn’t to say that flights are cheap or insignificant in the grand scheme of things. For a family of four moving from the United States to Australia, airfare alone could run ten thousand dollars or more. That’s certainly not pocket change. But when you add up shipping costs, housing deposits, visa fees, insurance, initial living expenses, and all the other financial demands of an international relocation, that flight cost often represents just ten to twenty percent of the total moving budget.
The key takeaway here is that when you’re planning an international move, you need to think well beyond the price of getting yourself there. The flight might be the most visible expense and the one that feels most immediate when you’re booking it, but it’s rarely the thing that will make or break your moving budget. Understanding the full scope of costs involved in an overseas relocation will help you prepare adequately and avoid any nasty financial surprises when you’re already dealing with the stress and excitement of starting a new chapter in a foreign country.