Moving to
United States
Moving to United States: one person needs about $3,000/month in Miami (a family about $7,000), the top personal income-tax rate is 32% — roughly $50,339 take-home on a $60,000 salary — and there is no dedicated digital-nomad visa. Citizenship is possible after about 5 years of residence.
The US offers unmatched scale, opportunity, and earning power, but no nomad visa and a genuinely hard immigration system. Miami is the Latin-American gateway: Spanish-first neighborhoods, beaches, a booming tech/finance/crypto scene, and no state income tax. You pay for it in expensive healthcare, car dependence, and immigration uncertainty.
Last updated August 2026 · How we calculate this
United States by the numbers
Relative scores across cost, safety, healthcare, quality of life and connectivity (higher is better).
Why move to United States
- Highest earning potential anywhere
- No Florida state income tax
- Miami: bilingual, beaches, business boom
The catch
- No nomad visa, tough immigration
- Health insurance expensive and complex
- Car-dependent, Miami heat and hurricanes
Take-home pay
Net salary in United States on a $60k gross, after income tax and social security:
Federal-only effective rate for Miami/Florida, which levies no state income tax; the Social Security portion of FICA caps near $14,675/month.
Cost of living · Miami
Average all-in monthly cost in USD — estimates for guidance.
Compare cities →Visa & residency
No digital-nomad visa; remote work is restricted under B-1/B-2 visitor status and on-shore employment requires a work visa such as H-1B, O-1 or L-1.
No nomad visa; realistic routes are employer sponsorship (H-1B lottery, L-1 transfer), the O-1 (extraordinary ability) or E-2 (treaty investor, ~$100k+) for entrepreneurs, or EB-5 investment ($800k in a targeted area, else $1.05M). Green cards come via EB-1A/EB-2 NIW, family, or the diversity lottery.
How can I move here? → Where can my passport go? →Economy & everyday life
GDP-per-capita PPP is ~$90,000 and salaries — especially in tech and finance — are the highest of any large economy, but so are healthcare, housing and services, so high pay comes with high burn. Inflation has settled to 2.9%, steadier than the 2022 spike. Life expectancy is 78.9, low for a rich country, and care is world-class but privately paid and expensive; with no universal system, employer or private insurance isn't optional, it's essential.
Healthcare
World Bank data, most recent available — shows how well the system is resourced, not what you'll personally pay.
Education
World Bank data, most recent available — learning score reflects harmonised international test performance.
Connectivity
World Bank data, most recent available.
Getting a passport
Compare all countries →Green card is sponsorship-based (employment/family), not a fixed residence period; then 5 yrs as LPR to naturalise (English + civics test).
By residence — confirm with the official authority.
Best time to go
Full climate →Average daily temperature by month · 2023 (Open-Meteo).
Where expats live in United States
Cost of living by city
All cities →All-in monthly cost for one person — tap a city for the full breakdown. Figures are averages, for guidance.
Living in United States
Healthcare
World-class but eye-wateringly expensive and tied to insurance; a decent plan runs $400-800+/month, and an uninsured ER visit can bankrupt you.
Money & banking
An SSN or ITIN plus proof of address opens accounts (Chase, Bank of America); newcomers can start with fintechs (Wise, Mercury for business) and must build credit history from zero.
Internet
Fast, reliable broadband in cities (fiber/cable 300Mbps-1Gbps) with abundant coworking (WeWork, Industrious) in Miami, Austin, and New York.
Etiquette & culture
Greetings, tipping and the taboos to dodge — fit in fast. Open the guide →
On arrival
Full essentials →Getting there
Flight distances →Fly via major gateways like MIA (Miami), JFK (New York) or LAX (Los Angeles) — the world's densest domestic network plus long-haul to every continent.
Miami is generally safe in its main districts, though property crime varies by neighborhood.
Dial 911 for police, ambulance or fire.
Best for high-skill professionals, founders, or investors chasing the world's biggest market.
Your move to United States — roadmap
Key terms
- Effective tax rate
- The share of your gross income actually lost to income tax and social contributions combined — almost always lower than the headline top tax bracket.
- Take-home pay
- What actually reaches your account after income tax and employee social contributions are taken off your gross salary.
- Tax residency
- The country entitled to tax your worldwide income — usually where you spend 183 days or more in a year, though the exact test varies by country.
- Permanent residency
- The right to live and work in a country indefinitely — the stage before citizenship, and those years usually count toward naturalization.
- Cost of living
- The all-in monthly spend for one person — rent, food, transport and bills — in the country's main relocation city.
Moving to United States — FAQ
Is there income tax in United States?
Yes. United States taxes income on progressive brackets. On a $60,000 salary the effective rate is about 16.1%, leaving roughly $50,339.
Can digital nomads get a visa for United States?
United States has no dedicated digital-nomad visa. No digital-nomad visa; remote work is restricted under B-1/B-2 visitor status and on-shore employment requires a work visa such as H-1B, O-1 or L-1.
How do you get residency in United States?
No nomad visa; realistic routes are employer sponsorship (H-1B lottery, L-1 transfer), the O-1 (extraordinary ability) or E-2 (treaty investor, ~$100k+) for entrepreneurs, or EB-5 investment ($800k in a targeted area, else $1.05M). Green cards come via EB-1A/EB-2 NIW, family, or the diversity lottery.
How much does it cost to live in Miami?
A single person needs roughly $3,000/month in Miami, and a family around $7,000/month, all-in.
Is tap water safe to drink in United States?
Yes — tap water in United States is generally safe to drink.