Top US cities for foreigners

Are you moving to the States but still not sure where to? Well, don’t worry! We made this list of the top US cities for foreigners which should help you choose the best location for your new relocation. Our list will help you get the most information about all the US cities which are popular with foreign expats. Thus, check it out before you decide where you’d like to move and before you find international movers to relocate you.

Important to know

So, what makes a single city one of the top US cities for foreigners? There are a lot of things we took into account when we considered this question. Since there are a lot of things that make a city great, we needed to separate the ones which are important for expats. So, the best cities for your new home in America should all have:

• Employment opportunities – jobs first! There’s no use in moving to a town if you can’t land a job there. So, all the best US cities for foreigners must have good and safe
• Security – safety first! We chose cities that have a low crime rate and a low violent crime rate. It’s very important to feel safe once you relocate to America. So, choose a safe town to live in, at least until you get a little more confident in a new country.
• Accommodation – you will need a place to live once you move. Thus, only the cities with affordable housing made our list.
• Entertainment – even though this may sound like the least important factor, it actually crucial. No matter what job you have, or how safe you feel when there’s nothing to do! Boredom can lead to some very dangerous extremes, especially for someone who just relocated. Alcoholism and drug abuse are common ways to entertain yourself in a boring place. This is something you should avoid at all costs!

The list of the top US cities for foreigners

1. Columbus, Ohio

• Population: 906,528
• Costs of living: $3,390 (for a family)
• Median home value: $246,515

This city’s love for sports makes the locals say they “live and breathe football”. Of course, sports fanaticism is not the only thing that makes this place awesome! Ohio’s capital is an excellent place for young adults, and this is drawing more and more expats to this town. In addition to this, if you’re a foreigner who just moved here, you will have an excellent opportunity to learn about American sports in one of the best places for this. If you’re a young adult moving to the USA, but you don’t want to live in Columbus, make sure you check out our list of the best cities for millennials and choose a city that suits you better!

2. San Francisco, California

• Population: 815,201
• Costs of living: $4,960 (for a family)
• Median home value: $1,487,728

One of the greatest cities in the States requires little introduction. The Golden State is one of the best states to live in, and this city is one of the best places in Cali. With an abundance of tech jobs, San Francisco has been one of the top US cities for foreigners for a long time. These jobs usually pay really well, so most of the people who moved here are generally very satisfied. When you add the amazing climate and beautiful beaches, San Francisco is very hard to say no to! Just make sure that you wear some flowers in your hair when going to San Francisco.

3. Austin, Texas

• Population: 964,177
• Costs of living: $3,400 (for a family)
• Median home value: $630,677

Awesome music and breathtaking nature are usually enough to entice people to move to Austin. Because of all of this, this city gains about fifty new residents every day, which is incredible. In addition to this, this city is one of the best places to invest in. Around 2/3 (two-thirds) of all investments in Austin at least get their money back. Which is amazing in itself, but when you add awesome music it becomes almost unbelievable. Finally, another reason this is one of the best US cities for foreigners is that everything’s bigger in Texas!

4. New York City, New York

• Population: 8,468,000
• Costs of living: $5,200 (for a family)
• Median home value: $781,622

The Big Apple is usually called the capital of the world. this is because it’s one of the most interesting, diverse, and famous cities in the world. In addition to this, NYC is full of job opportunities, so you won’t have any problems getting employment here. Also, you are bound to feel just at home in the most ethnically diverse city in the world. The citizens of New York sometimes even consider themselves New Yorkers before Americans. This city is excellent for meeting new people, getting to know the States, and getting to know yourself. And even though this city is number 4 on our list of the best US cities for foreigners, we still think you should at least visit it, if not move there. We strongly suggest you check out New York City when you visit the United States.

5. Los Angeles, California

• Population: 3,849,000
• Costs of living: $3,985 (for a family)
• Median home value: $966,595

The City of Los Angeles is definitely one of the best US cities for foreigners. The city provides a lot of jobs, so you will be able to find a position for yourself and your family. Also, this is one of the cities with the highest living standard in California, as well as the states. This means that housing will be good. In addition to this, crime in LA has been on a significant drop for the past few years. All in all, this seems like a perfect time to relocate to this city.

6. Miami, Florida

• Population: 439,890
• Costs of living: $4,215 (for a family)
• Median home value: $562,174

Foreigners usually want to live in places like America. And, it is completely natural. People that are coming to America want to feel the spirit and only the best the US has to offer. Well, Miami is one of the best places for foreigners to come if they want to feel everything that the US has to offer. If you decide to move to Miami, you will have the access to some of the best beaches in the world, not just in the US.

Also, you will have the chance to experience good weather all year long, even in the winter. People that live in Florida do not know what coats look like because they do not need them during the year. However, one of the main reasons why people want to come here is the fact that there is no state income tax. This is a huge relief and people usually know how to appreciate it. They spend that extra money elsewhere and that is certainly a great thing!

7. Portland, Oregon

• Population: 641,162
• Costs of living: $4,153 (for a family)
• Median home value: $572,805

Millennials are conquering the US right now. Well, Portland is the perfect example of this statement. It is one of the 15 top cities in the USA for millennials. And, there are great reasons for this. Even though this is not a small city, the lifestyle is often relaxed. People are not that stressed out over things and that means that you can enjoy life more.

Another way to enjoy life more is the fact that this is a green city. There are more than 279 green spaces or parks around the city so you can choose where you want to go. Moving to Portland is definitely a good choice because it will change your life. The best thing is that you can get wherever you want without having to spend many hours on it. Transportation or alternative transportation is definitely enough for you to get anywhere!

8. Sarasota, Florida

• Population: 54,764
• Costs of living: $3,795 (for a family)
• Median home value: $495,694

Most places we have put on this list of the best US cities for foreigners are big ones, with at least more than 500,000 people. However, it is not the case with Sarasota, Florida. This is a town close to two major centers of Florida, Orlando, and Tampa. This means that you can easily access them if you have some work that you need to do there. The great thing about the city of Sarasota is that you will experience great weather all year long. You do not have to worry whether you will have to dress up.

The best thing about Sarasota though is the fact that the art and culture scene is booming. This is becoming a bigger and bigger scene and many people come here to enjoy some of the best festivals you can find in Florida. As you can see, the size of the place does not tell you anything. With only 54,000 residents, Sarasota has a much better city feel than some places that are bigger than it!

9. Chicago, Illinois

• Population: 2,690,000
• Costs of living: $3,772 (for a family)
• Median home value: $315,429

Chicago is one of the best cities that you should consider if you are a foreigner. There are so many communities made of people of a specific ethnicity that you can’t even count them. So, if there are people from your own place, then you should have no problems adapting to Chicago. Due to its diversity, people that live here will make you no problems and you should be able to live your life just fine.

Naturally, the costs of living are higher, as is usually the case with bigger cities in the US. However, due to its size, you will have many opportunities that people in smaller places do not have. For example, Chicago is one of the best cities for job seekers in 2022. Some of the easiest sectors where you can find a job are transportation, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, and much more. So, if you want to live in a major center where everything is within your reach, then Chicago is just the right place for you!

10. Houston, Texas

• Population: 2,288,000
• Costs of living: $3,302 (for a family)
• Median home value: $272,639

Texas is a great place to start your new life as a foreigner. There are many US cities here for foreigners that you can live in and have a fulfilling life. The best thing about Texas in general is that you do not have to pay a state income tax. This is a major thing considering that all the prices are going up. You probably know that the price of real estate in the US in general is high.

However, you are in luck if you decide that moving to Houston is the right thing to do. As you can see, the median home value is lower than the national average and that is certainly a great thing. It means that you can find your dream place much easier than in other bigger cities. You will have a bigger place that you will place much lower. What else would you want from your new place of living?

11. Colorado Springs, Colorado

• Population: 483,956
• Costs of living: $3,650 (for a family)
• Median home value: $480,779

Among the best US cities for people moving from far away, Colorado Springs plays a major role. It is all because of its surroundings. If you choose, you can go to a new place in nature and you will never be bored. This will definitely impact your quality of life because you will not spend your time watching television. You will feel much better after spending some time outside enjoying the great weather. While we are on the subject, you will not have major issues with the weather. It will not cause you problems and you will be able to enjoy yourself outside during the whole year!

If you are coming here for a good education, you will be pleased to hear that Colorado Springs has an excellent educational system. Children in schools usually do well on tests and if they or you even want to continue your education, there are campuses of the University of Colorado and the University of Northern Colorado. So, make sure you find yourself the right movers, and after reading this Master Moving Guide you will have no trouble moving. Your only job will be to make plans about what you are going to do after your finish the move!

12. Grand Rapids, Michigan

• Population: 197,416
• Costs of living: $3,448 (for a family)
• Median home value: $263,768

One of the best places in the US for foreigners is Grand Rapids in Michigan. There are various reasons why we place this city on the list. First of all, this region is growing every year and that is certainly a good thing when you are deciding whether you want to move to a particular place or not. This also means that the economy is growing and you should have no problems finding the right job for you. In fact, Grand Rapids is one of the best US cities for job opportunities due to the developing economy. The unemployment rate is very low, among the lowest in the whole country. There is another statistic that we would like to mention. This was ranked one of the happiest places to live in in the previous years so you should really consider all of this when making the final decision!

13. Rochester, New York

• Population: 210,606
• Costs of living: $3,554 (for a family)
• Median home value: $218,418

The first thing people think about when talking about Rochester, New York is the coldness. Even though it will not bother a lot of people, not too many people like cold weather. However, there are a ton of things about Rochester that will make you change your mind about this place. First of all, as you can see, it is pretty affordable when we talk about housing. It is below the national average and that is certainly a great thing to hear. Also, transportation, groceries, and health care are also lower than the national average and that means that you will have more money saved.

Even though not that big, you can feel all the great things about a big city. There is a developed art scene, and food scene, there are plenty of bars to go out to when you have some free time, and much more. When we talk about the most developed jobs here, we have to mention: energy, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, life sciences, and much more. Naturally, this does not mean that you can’t find a job in any other field.

Take your time when choosing where you want to relocate as a foreigner

Moving as a foreigner to a place that you do not know is extremely hard. It is hard to even when you moving to a place that you know. This just means that you have and want to be as careful as possible when evaluating the places. You want to have as much time as possible in order to be able to make the right call. As you can see, there are tons of places where you can start your new life as a foreigner.

However, it is not just about choosing the right place. It is also about finding the right real estate where you are going to be living. You may need to find the right real estate agent in the area that can help you with this problem. You do not want to make mistakes here so make sure you use the time that you have well and evaluate everything that is important for the decision!

Find an adequate moving company to help you move to some of the best cities in the US for foreigners

The last and certainly the most important part when looking for the best US cities for foreigners is getting the right moving company to help you with the move. This is certainly a big problem if you are a foreigner because there is no chance that you can handle everything on your own. However, the path to finding the right moving company for your move does not have to be that big of a problem.

The first thing that you want to do is get a moving estimate about the move. It is basically an approximate price for your relocation. You should have in mind that the price can change because there are several important factors that determine the costs of your relocation. The key is to get more than one estimation so that you could be able to compare the moving companies. Also, you want to be sure that the company you are interested in has all the necessary experience to handle a move such as yours. You can find that by reading reviews where the previous customers of the company have written their opinions. However, use this wisely because not everything is as it may seem at first!

Summary

Our biggest problem here is the fact that the USA is such a big country. We could not place all the places on this list even if we wanted to. It is the reason why we have made a selection of the place and put only the ones that have the best statistic out there. Also, we did not want to include only the biggest cities in the US because not everything about them is great and not all people want to live there.

We find this list of US cities for foreigners the best one because it covers all of the US. There are places on the east coast as well as places on the west coast. There is something for everyone and you should be able to find something that will suit your needs. We would like to mention one thing again. Take as much time as possible when making this decision because your future life depends on it! Of course, make sure that you find several moving companies, get their moving quotes and ensure that you will have the right type of help during your move.