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Welcome to ForeignLifeGuide
Experience Life AbroadBefore You Go.
Discover what life could really look like in another country, from costs and housing to work, study, travel, culture and everyday life.
Everything you need to know before you move
- Immigration & VisasUnderstand the requirements
- Jobs & CareersFind opportunities abroad
- Study AbroadExplore schools and scholarships
- Cost of LivingSee what things really cost
- Housing & AccommodationFind a place to live
- Banking & MoneyBank, pay and send money
- HealthcareStay covered and healthy
- TransportationGet around like a local
- Travel & TourismPlan your trip
- Laws & RegulationsKnow your rights and duties
- Culture & LifestyleLearn about everyday life
- Countries & CitiesCompare destinations
- Guides & How-ToPractical tips and advice
Popular Destinations
Explore guides, costs, jobs, visas and real experiences from around the world.
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Canada
High quality of life and diverse opportunities.
Explore Canada 3.7average rating from 6 reviews
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United Kingdom
A global hub for education, work and culture.
Explore United Kingdom 4.3average rating from 4 reviews
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United States
Endless opportunities and diverse cities.
Explore United States 4.0average rating from 2 reviews
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Australia
Great lifestyle, sunshine and strong wages.
Explore Australia 4.7average rating from 3 reviews
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Arrivals
- ARRIVEDMaya → Tokyo‘My first month in Tokyo: the ward office, a bank and a bicycle’7 hours ago
- ARRIVEDTran → Kyoto‘Studying in Japan: what I wish I knew before coming’2 days ago
- ARRIVEDJoy → Toronto‘Finding a room in Toronto on a caregiver's salary’3 days ago
- ARRIVEDClaire → Busan‘Teaching in Busan: the culture shocks nobody warned me about’4 days ago
- ARRIVEDValentina → Montreal‘My experience as an international student in Canada’5 days ago
- ARRIVEDDiego → Chicago‘What an ER visit in Chicago taught me about US health insurance’7 days ago
- ARRIVEDMegan → London‘2 weeks in the UK: my honest experience’8 days ago
- ARRIVEDAmara → Berlin‘Finding an English-speaking doctor in Berlin’16 days ago
- ARRIVEDLucas → Lisbon‘Renting in Lisbon: what it actually took’1 month ago
- ARRIVEDThabo → Singapore‘Two years in Singapore: the good, the humid and the expensive’1 month ago
- ARRIVEDSarah → Melbourne‘Relocating to Australia with my family’2 months ago
- ARRIVEDWanjiru → Amsterdam‘What it really costs me to live in Amsterdam’2 months ago
Plan Your Journey with Our Tools
Use our interactive tools to calculate costs, compare countries and prepare for your move or trip.
Cost of Living Calculator
Calculate your monthly expenses in any city.
Try nowSalary & Take-Home Pay
Estimate your net pay after tax and social contributions.
Try nowCurrency Converter
Convert between 25 currencies at reference rates.
Try nowCountry Comparison
Compare the cost of living between two cities.
Try nowMoving Budget Calculator
Estimate the one-off cost of relocating.
Try nowReal Stories from Our Community
Read experiences from people who have lived, worked, studied or travelled abroad.
My first month in Tokyo: the ward office, a bank and a bicycle
Week one was all about the residence card and registering my address at the ward office. Bring your passport, your lease and a lot of patience, but the staff were kind and spoke s…
MayaJapan0 likes0 comments
Studying in Japan: what I wish I knew before coming
I came to Kyoto from Da Nang in 2023, first for one year at a Japanese language school and then for a master's degree in civil engineering. I love this city. But there are things I wish someone had t…
TranJapan7 likes2 comments
Finding a room in Toronto on a caregiver's salary
When I came to Toronto as a home support worker, I lived with my employer's family for the first year. It was convenient and saved money, but I wanted my own space and more privacy. Last spring I sta…
JoyCanada10 likes1 comments
Teaching in Busan: the culture shocks nobody warned me about
After two years in Tokyo, I thought moving to Korea would be easy. Both are East Asian countries, both have excellent public transport and a love of convenience stores. I was wrong. Korea surprised m…
ClaireSouth Korea10 likes1 commentsTop rated by people who live there
Honest ratings of cities, employers, universities, banks and landlords.
Destination
Amsterdam· Amsterdam
Compact, international and easy to live in, if you can find a home
Wanjiru Kamau6 found this helpfulDestination
Kyoto· Kyoto
The best city in Japan for students
Tran Duc Minh5 found this helpful
Destination
Singapore· Singapore
Safe, efficient and delicious, but not cheap
Thabo Mokoena5 found this helpful
Destination
Melbourne· Melbourne
A brilliant city for families
Sarah Hughes5 found this helpful
Questions from people planning a move
Ask anything about visas, work, housing or daily life. Answers come from people on the ground.
1answer
Can I open a Japanese bank account before my residence card arrives?
MoneyJapanMaya Lindqvist
2answers, answered
Is it easier to find part-time work in Kyoto or Osaka as a student?
StudyJapanTomasz Nowak
2answers, answered
Do I need a car in Chicago?
TransportUnited States
Valentina Rojas
Valentina Rojas2answers, answered
Brisbane or Melbourne for a family with young children?
PlacesAustraliaYoussef Hassan
1answer
How do you rent in Lisbon without a Portuguese guarantor?
HousingPortugalDiego Ramírez
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