Top 10 U.S. Cities People Are Moving Abroad From in 2025 (and Why)
If you’ve noticed more friends, coworkers, or neighbors packing up and heading overseas this year, you’re not imagining it. 2025 has become one of the biggest years on record for Americans relocating abroad, and one of the first questions people ask us at SDC International Shipping is:
“Where are most Americans leaving from, and why?”
The answers tell a story. A story about the cost of living, lifestyle, opportunity, and the desire for a new chapter somewhere different.
From Los Angeles to Miami, Americans are choosing international life in greater numbers than any time since the early 2000s.
At SDC International Shipping, we’re seeing these trends firsthand every single day. Our team moves families, professionals, retirees, and students from every corner of the U.S., and certain cities consistently appear at the top of the list.
Today, we’ll walk through the Top 10 U.S. cities people are moving abroad from in 2025, why these cities rank so high, and what this means for movers planning their own transition.
1. Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles continues to lead the nation in outbound international moves. It’s not surprising, because L.A. sits at the intersection of major global flight routes, Pacific trade lanes, and some of the most diverse communities in the United States. People in Los Angeles have always been a little more internationally minded, but in 2025, the reasons for leaving are stronger and more personal than ever.
Residents cite a mix of pressures:
The rising cost of living.
Long commutes that stretch into hours.
Housing markets that make young families rethink their future.
And the appeal of a slower, lower-stress lifestyle in countries like Portugal, Spain, Australia, Japan, and Thailand.
We see entire families leaving Los Angeles for affordability. Professionals head overseas because their remote work allows them to live anywhere. Retirees choose comfort, culture, and walkability.
And because SDC is headquartered in Los Angeles, we handle more outbound L.A. shipments than any other origin. Full containers, groupage, vehicle-with-household-goods combinations — you name it, we see it. From Santa Monica apartments to Pasadena family homes, Los Angeles continues to be the unofficial capital of the American global relocation trend.
2. New York City, New York
New York is unique. It’s fast, it’s dense, it’s brilliant… and also incredibly expensive. That blend of excitement and exhaustion is fueling a massive wave of New Yorkers moving abroad in 2025.
NYC residents are leaving for two big reasons:
career and quality of life.
Many people in Manhattan and Brooklyn head to Europe, especially cities like London, Paris, Dublin, Berlin, and Amsterdam. These places offer the walkability, culture, and public transportation New Yorkers love, but without the overwhelming price pressure of the five boroughs.
And then there’s the space factor. A “large” New York apartment often feels small compared to the homes people can afford abroad. Add in the rise of digital nomad visas and long-term residency programs, and suddenly the idea of living in Spain, Portugal, or Italy feels not only appealing, but realistic.
Every week, we ship household goods from high-rises in Manhattan to charming European flats or townhomes. Sometimes we’re moving entire families, sometimes individuals looking to start fresh. Either way, New York remains one of the most globally mobile cities in the United States.
3. Miami, Florida
Miami has transformed dramatically over the last decade. It’s now a center for tech, finance, and international culture. But it’s also becoming a surprisingly high-volume departure point for Americans heading overseas.
Why?
Because Miami is a gateway city.
It’s a hub for Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond.
And many Miami residents already have strong cultural or family ties abroad.
We’re seeing retirees skip the rising heat and humidity in favor of cooler Mediterranean climates. Young professionals are embracing affordability in Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica, and Colombia. And remote workers are breaking away from Miami’s increasing cost of living.
SDC handles a growing number of door-to-door shipments from Miami to Europe, especially Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France. Miami households tend to ship fewer winter items, more electronics, and often some artwork or valuables they’ve collected over the years.
4. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago moves are some of the most fascinating to watch. Residents aren’t fleeing the city, many are simply following career opportunities abroad. Chicago has major ties to finance, engineering, manufacturing, education, and global business. That means steady streams of people heading to countries like Germany, the UK, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
We see a lot of Midwestern families moving for multi-year assignments or long-term residency. And they usually ship more. Larger homes mean larger shipments, full 20-foot or 40-foot containers, often packed top-to-bottom with furniture, appliances, and personal items.
Because of that, Chicago customers rely heavily on SDC’s professional packing services. Long-haul moves across oceans and continents require expert crating and protection, especially when winter weather and humidity shifts can affect delicate items.
5. San Francisco & The Bay Area
Tech professionals continue to leave the Bay Area, often headed to Europe, Canada, Singapore, Seoul, and Australia.
Many moves follow remote work changes or a desire for a lower cost of living after years of high rent and limited space.
Bay Area shipments frequently include artwork, electronics, instruments, and valuables, making SDC’s specialized crating an essential part of the process.
6. Seattle, Washington
Seattle’s outbound movers tend to fall into two distinct categories.
The first group is made up of tech professionals who accept international placements. Companies with offices in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, and Australia frequently transfer staff, and Seattle employees are often first in line due to the city’s global tech presence.
The second group? Families.
Many Seattle families are deciding that housing affordability abroad gives them more control over their future. They move to places where a three-bedroom home doesn’t require the salary of a software engineer.
Japan, South Korea, and Australia remain the top destinations because they’re accessible, interconnected with Seattle’s industries, and geographically practical for people who want to stay connected to the Pacific Rim.
We ship both air freight essentials and full household goods containers on these routes. Some customers send a small portion of their belongings immediately by air, then follow up with a larger sea shipment. It all depends on timing, job start dates, and family schedules.
7. Houston, Texas
Houston is one of America’s biggest hubs for energy, engineering, and international corporate assignments.
Many outbound relocations come from major employers sending employees to the Middle East, South America, and Europe.
Because Texas families often have larger homes, we see more full-container moves, sometimes with vehicles included in the same shipment.
8. Denver, Colorado
Denver is quietly becoming a major city for outbound international moves.
A mix of retirees, remote workers, and families head to Europe, Central America, and Southeast Asia for affordability, warmer climates, and slower pace of life.
Outdoor enthusiasts especially love Portugal, Costa Rica, Spain, and Thailand — places with year-round sunshine and active culture.
9. Boston, Massachusetts
With its concentration of researchers, healthcare professionals, and international students, Boston sends many of its residents to Canada, the UK, Germany, and Scandinavia.
Academic placements and international corporate assignments are key drivers.
Families relocating from Boston often use SDC’s climate-controlled storage when their new home isn’t ready yet.
10. Washington, D.C.
Diplomats, policy experts, contractors, and federal employees move overseas more than anywhere else in the U.S.
Assignments to Europe, Africa, and Asia are common, and many families ship full homes with SDC’s door-to-door service — often on strict timelines.
D.C. relocations involve detailed customs documentation, making SDC’s paperwork management and customs coordination especially valuable.
Why These Cities Top the List
Although the cities differ, the reasons people leave them in 2025 share common themes:
- Rising cost of living
- Desire for work–life balance
- Remote work is becoming normal
- International job placements
- Lower taxes or lower housing costs abroad
- Retirement in affordable, beautiful destinations
- Cultural and lifestyle exploration
Americans today are more mobile than ever — and more open to building lives outside the U.S.
SDC sees these motivations every week, from families heading to Portugal, to career movers relocating to Germany, to retirees bound for Bali or Costa Rica.
What This Means for Future Movers
If you’re planning your own move abroad, knowing where others are coming from can help you feel less alone. Entire communities are taking the leap, and doing it successfully.
Here’s what all these cities have in common:
People are not moving on a whim.
They’re planning, preparing, researching, and choosing movers who guide them through every step — from packing and ocean freight to customs clearance and final delivery abroad.
That’s exactly why people choose SDC.
With full household goods moving services,
custom packing,
air & sea freight,
vehicle shipping,
storage,
and international customs coordination,
SDC becomes the partner they rely on through the most important transition of their lives.
Conclusion – Wherever You’re Starting From, We’ll Get You Home Abroad
Current trends show one thing clearly: Americans from every major U.S. city are stepping into global life with confidence.
And whether you’re in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago, or a small town somewhere in between, your move deserves careful planning, expert packing, safe transport, and a team who stays with you from start to finish.
That’s what SDC brings to every relocation.
Ready to start your move abroad?
Let’s plan it together, from any U.S. city to anywhere in the world.
