We tried living abroad for 6 weeks: Proved we could do it; liked it
Summary
Two New Yorkers spent just over six weeks in Mexico as a trial run for full-time life abroad. They left their Brooklyn flat, flew their cat south, and split time between Puerto Escondido and Mexico City to test whether they could handle the practical and emotional sides of being digital nomads.
The trip delivered clear upsides — much lower living costs, restored creativity, and a slower pace of life — alongside real challenges, like healthcare logistics, moments of isolation, and relationship strain from relying on each other as primary support systems.
Key Points
- They quit/paused life in NYC and moved to Mexico for a six-week trial of living abroad.
- Puerto Escondido offered a slower pace, cheaper groceries and dining, and helped rekindle creativity.
- Mexico City presented practical tests: a health scare handled affordably and efficiently without US-style insurance.
- Logistics mattered — flying a cat, visas and long-term planning are non-trivial hurdles.
- Emotional costs included loneliness and putting disproportionate emotional labour on each other, which required deliberate communication to resolve.
- After returning to the US, they plan to continue travelling and are exploring next steps for full-time nomad life.
Context and relevance
This first-hand account reflects growing interest in leaving high-cost US cities for better quality of life abroad, especially among remote workers. It ties into trends around digital nomadism, cross-border healthcare costs, and people re-evaluating where they feel at home in light of political and social shifts.
Why should I read this?
Want a quick, honest snapshot of what trying out living abroad actually feels like? This piece saves you the scrolling: real costs, the emotional curveballs, and the nitty-gritty logistics — all from a short, practical trial. It’s useful if you’re daydreaming about moving abroad or weighing whether to swap a pricey city for a slower life.
Author style
Punchy and personal — the writer mixes practical takeaways with emotional beats. It’s not a how-to manual, but it’s a solid, time-saving read if you’re considering the nomad route: they’ve done the trial so you don’t have to start from zero.
