Inflation
2.95 %2024 · latest annual observation
Exact values
- 2020
- 1.23 %
- 2021
- 4.7 %
- 2022
- 8 %
- 2023
- 4.12 %
- 2024
- 2.95 %
YOUR COUNTRY GUIDE
🇺🇸 United States
View on Google MapsOpportunity with a longer horizon
Start with a cityCost
Austin · example rent $1700/mo.
Residency
Document-intensive
Jobs
Employment-based immigration: EB-1, EB-2 or EB-3
Safety
No formal advice-against-travel flag — not a safety guarantee · FCDO · 2026-09-12
Economy
Inflation 2.9% · 2024 · World Bank
Climate
Austin · 9–30°C · monthly means, 2001–2020
Healthcare
Compare premium, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum and network. A low premium does not necessarily mean low healthcare costs.
Taxes
Green card or substantial presence: 31 current-year days and 183 weighted days—current year + ⅓ previous year + ⅙ two years ago, subject to exceptions.
EXPLORE THE UNITED STATES
Start with a state
10 states · cities, climate and household budgets
A CLOSER LOOK
Cities & places
- Austin · skyline from the Colorado River
Quintin Soloviev · resized / WebP · 2026 · Author website · CC BY 4.0 - Miami · view from Biscayne Bay
P. Hughes · resized / WebP · 2011 · Author website · CC BY 4.0 - Los Angeles · downtown skyline
Levi Clancy · resized / WebP · 2012 · Author website · CC BY-SA 4.0 - New York · Lower Manhattan from Liberty Island
Percival Kestreltail · resized / WebP · 2021 · Author website · CC BY-SA 3.0 - Seattle · view from Kerry Park
Guywelch2000 · resized / WebP · 2026 · Author website · CC BY 4.0 - Boston · Charles River Esplanade
King of Hearts · resized / WebP · 2018 · Author website · CC BY-SA 4.0 - Chicago · lakefront skyline
Alvesgaspar · resized / WebP · 2016 · Author website · CC BY-SA 4.0 - Denver · city and mountains from City Park Golf Course
David Herrera · resized / WebP · 2009 · Author website · CC BY 2.0 - Charlotte · Uptown panorama
Precisionviews; perspective/color edits: Cmao20 · resized / WebP · 2018 · Author website · CC BY-SA 4.0 - Philadelphia · view from the Schuylkill River
颐园居 · resized / WebP · 2024 · Author website · CC BY-SA 4.0
Guides & practical tips
All destination guides
USA · flying
Flying with a dog: why an online certificate is not enough
Separate pet travel from trained assistance-dog rules and prepare by route.
USA
Moving within the US: USCIS and mail forwarding are separate
Keep immigration correspondence from disappearing after a move.
Inside this destination guide
Housing & everyday life
Open the housing section for rental considerations and living conditions.
TRAVEL SAFETY
Before you travel
No advice against travel
This is not a safety guarantee: risks vary by area and route.
About this warning
Source: the UK Foreign Office. Advice is for British nationals; entry rules for your passport may differ. This is travel advice, not crime statistics.
Publisher updated: 2026-08-18 · Retrieved: 2026-09-12 14:49 UTC
Warning in English
This travel advice also covers American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands.
Latest change (English)
Updated information about US Hurricane season predictions (‘Safety and security’ page).
© Crown copyright · OGL v3.0
Everything for your decision
Open a topic. Details and sources are inside.
Overview
Opportunity with a longer horizon
Significant career opportunities, with residence eligibility, healthcare and car costs raising the entry barrier.
Visas & residence
Residence routes, documents, family and arrival steps.
Read the detailsEveryday life
Housing, schools, healthcare, pets and transport.
Read the detailsWork & taxes
Employment rights, tax residence and banking documents.
Read the detailsSafety & rules
Crime, regional conflict, driving and local restrictions.
Read the detailsVisa & residency
Employment-based immigration: EB-1, EB-2 or EB-3
Residence & citizenship
Residence and citizenship are separate procedures. A passport follows a separate citizenship decision.
Permanent residence through employment-based immigration
EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 depend on qualifications and the petition basis. An employer and I-140 are normally required; extraordinary ability and a qualifying National Interest Waiver permit self-petitioning. Visa availability depends on category and queue.
- After petition approval: an immigrant application, civil documents, medical examination and interview. Petition approval is not visa issuance.
- Admission on an immigrant visa establishes permanent status and the ability to work. A B1/B2 visitor visa does not replace it.
Checked: · Primary source
Eligibility depends on nationality, status, family and documents. Years are a pre-application residence condition, excluding time to obtain the initial status and processing.
Tourist entry does not permit indefinite living or work. Employment, study and immigration grounds require separate eligibility.
Permanent residence after admission on an approved immigrant visa
Tourist status is not a general expat visa
- Establish the EB category and prepare Form I-140, normally filed by an employer; extraordinary-ability and NIW applicants may self-petition. The immigrant visa application follows when a visa is available.
- Passport, qualification, employment-history and family-relationship documents for the chosen category.
- Visitor status does not permit employment, ordinary study programs or permanent residence.
- For school and healthcare, bring immunization history, medical records, translated school documents and insurance evidence.
Cost of living
City, household, monthly and one-off expenses
An editable scenario, not a market average. Set your city and household needs.
Your family and routines
Citizenship and purpose are saved with your profile; this calculator does not determine visa eligibility. Check route conditions separately. Conditions
Who's coming
Adults
2
Children
1
Child 1
Housing & bedrooms
Bedrooms, excluding living room
2
Suggested bedrooms: 2. Adults in pairs; children under 8 can share, older children follow your room preference. A planning suggestion, not a legal rule.
Transport & pets
Cats
0
Dogs
0
Jobs & business
Work permission, the local market and earning routes
Tourist entry does not permit indefinite living or work. Employment, study and immigration grounds require separate eligibility.
Detailed guide and sourcesEconomy
Currency, inflation and investment with observation dates
ECONOMY & CURRENCY
What the annual data shows
Historical World Bank observations. Not today’s exchange rate or an assessment of current military or political conditions.
Real GDP growth
2.16 %2025 · latest annual observation
Exact values
- 2020
- -2.08 %
- 2021
- 6.15 %
- 2022
- 2.52 %
- 2023
- 2.93 %
- 2024
- 2.79 %
- 2025
- 2.16 %
Local currency per dollar
1 LCU/USD2025 · latest annual observation
Exact values
- 2020
- 1 LCU/USD
- 2021
- 1 LCU/USD
- 2022
- 1 LCU/USD
- 2023
- 1 LCU/USD
- 2024
- 1 LCU/USD
- 2025
- 1 LCU/USD
Foreign direct investment
1.3 % GDP2025 · latest annual observation
Exact values
- 2020
- 0.64 % GDP
- 2021
- 2.01 % GDP
- 2022
- 1.6 % GDP
- 2023
- 1.3 % GDP
- 2024
- 1.01 % GDP
- 2025
- 1.3 % GDP
How to read these indicators and their limits
FX is an official annual average; parallel markets, fees and restrictions are excluded. FDI measures net investment flows, not the appeal of a property or business; values can be negative. Inflation and GDP growth do not measure personal living costs, safety or hiring prospects.
World Bank · 2020–2025 · CC BY 4.0
Taxes & money
Tax residence and income obligations
Green card or substantial presence: 31 current-year days and 183 weighted days—current year + ⅓ previous year + ⅙ two years ago, subject to exceptions.
Federal 2026 bands: 10–37%, excluding state taxes and social payments. US citizenship can maintain filing obligations while abroad.
Tax sourceCheck federal and state obligations, worldwide income and account-reporting requirements.
Detailed guide and sourcesHousing
Rent, deposits and inspecting a home
Prepare income evidence and a plan without a credit score. Budget separately for deposits, renter insurance and utilities setup.
Detailed guide and sourcesSafety
Crime, scams and regional differences
SAFETY, NOT A SINGLE SCORE
Three different risks
Crime & scams
Compare cities and neighborhoods by crime type. A national average poorly describes an individual school district.
Conflict & regional warnings
Mass violence, natural hazards and international conflict should be assessed separately.
Roads & transport
In Austin, a car is often part of the basic budget: purchase, financing, insurance, maintenance and parking. Our estimate excludes purchase.
Warnings change quickly. This is not a live conflict feed: open the current advice for the actual region before travel. Official travel advice
Climate & surroundings
Temperature, heating, coast, humidity and wildlife
CLIMATE & HOME
What the seasons feel like
A daily mean includes the night. It is not a heat ceiling: individual days can be much hotter.
NASA POWER: modeled outdoor relative humidity, roughly 50 km grid. Not an apartment sensor or a particular day’s weather. 2001–2020 · Data
NASA POWER · 2001–2020. Temperature is a daily mean, not a daytime high. Climate, not a forecast. A model grid cell, not an urban station. Terrain and neighbourhoods can differ.
Austin · long-term climate, not a forecast
Warmest month · daily mean30.1°C
Coldest month · daily mean9.3°C
Winter comfortCheck heating
Jan9.3°C daily mean72% outdoors · NASA model1.9 mm rainfall / day
Housing: questions before signing
There is a cool season here; heating provision varies by home.
- How is the bedroom heated, and can you control the temperature overnight?
- What did electricity and heating cost in winter? Request actual bills.
- Are there drafts, wet walls or a musty smell? Request video of corners and cupboards.
- When was the boiler or heat pump last serviced, if installed?
SETTING & EVERYDAY LIFE
Near the sea. But easy to live?
Look at the city and the actual home, not a whole-country label.
Nearby water
River and lakes, no coast
Setting
Urban life
A city by a river and lakes, without a sea coast.
Wildlife: what to consider
Local species for this destination are not verified yet. Tropical wildlife is not assumed to be present everywhere.
City encounter frequency is not quantified: no percentages or frequent/rare rating is available. Inspect the property, screens, drains, waste, standing water and seasonal warnings. Sources of differing dates checked 12 September 2026; categories can overlap.
Property check: screens, damp and cleaning
Cockroaches & ants
Inspect the kitchen after dark, under-sink cupboards, pipe gaps and waste areas. Ask for pest-treatment history and who pays for control.
Mosquitoes
Check intact window and door screens, standing water in trays and containers. Pools and landscaping need maintenance. A/C does not protect an open window.
Snakes, spiders & other wildlife
For homes beside vegetation, ask about actual sightings on the property, door gaps, open bathrooms and local removal services. A species being present in the country does not measure risk in your apartment.
Humidity & mold
A musty smell, dark spots in corners and bubbling paint are warning signs. Before travelling, request video of cupboards, ceilings and walls after rain, leak-repair information and laundry-drying arrangements. A humidity meter is optional, not a relocation requirement.
Quiet, not just a listing promise
Visit in the evening, on a weekend and on a school morning. Check bars, dogs, construction, traffic and neighbor noise with windows closed.
Separate: outdoor and indoor humidity
Outdoor monthly averages do not tell you bedroom humidity. EPA recommends below 60% indoors, ideally 30–50% where possible, and repairing leaks. A dehumidifier does not repair a wet wall.
Waterfront does not mean a swimming beach. Verify access, seasonal conditions, water quality and lifeguards. Check quietness at the address, not by country name.
Checklist sources
Sources underlying the checklist: EPA · moisture · CDC · mosquitoes · WHO · snakes · CDC · spiders · NWS · beaches. An editorial inspection checklist, not animal-encounter statistics.
Natural risks & signals
Dated observations, not a safety forecast
What is happening in this country
GDACS · source snapshot 2026-09-12. An event in the country does not imply a threat to every city.
Earthquake
2026-09-11 · GDACS Green
Source report (EN)
Green earthquake (Magnitude 4.5M, Depth:43.105km) in United States 11/09/2026 07:31 UTC, 4 thousand in MMI>=I.
Earthquake
2026-09-05 · GDACS Green
Source report (EN)
Green earthquake (Magnitude 4.9M, Depth:35km) in United States 05/09/2026 18:00 UTC, Few people affected in MMI>=I.
Tropical cyclone
2026-08-27 · GDACS Green
Source report (EN)
Green notification for tropical cyclone LOWELL-26. Population affected by Category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 2381 .
Healthcare & insurance
Access to doctors and coverage conditions
Compare premium, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum and network. A low premium does not necessarily mean low healthcare costs.
Detailed guide and sourcesFamily & children
Schools, housing and everyday needs
Public schooling depends on the address. Check district, daycare, family insurance and daily driving before renting.
Detailed guide and sourcesTransport & infrastructure
Local licences, cars, motorcycles and children's activities
DAILY LIFE
Not a holiday. An ordinary Tuesday.
Schools and activities: questions to ask
Infrastructure near home
Before renting, request the school transport route, paediatric urgent-care address and nearby activities. Our directory does not yet establish walkability for individual rental addresses.
Activities by age and language
0–3: parent-and-child playgroups. 4–6: swimming, music, motor skills. 7–12: team sport, arts, robotics. Teens: sports, language and social clubs. These are search ideas, not confirmed vacancies.
What to ask an activity provider
Teaching language, age/height rules, trial lesson, group size, subscription and joining fee, holidays, equipment, supervision and travel. Enter household activity costs separately in the calculator.
Children’s venues in Austin: the directory is not available yet.
Driving licences
CarMotorcycle / scooter
In Austin, a car is often part of the basic budget: purchase, financing, insurance, maintenance and parking. Our estimate excludes purchase.
The licence exchange process has not been verified yet. A car licence does not confer motorcycle entitlement.
Laws & documents
Status conditions and what to arrange before departure
Tourist entry does not permit indefinite living or work. Employment, study and immigration grounds require separate eligibility.
Detailed guide and sourcesDocuments and power of attorney before departureCities
Austin · Miami · Los Angeles · New York · Seattle · Boston · Chicago · Denver · Charlotte · Philadelphia
Choose a city, not a country average. Climate, surroundings and household budgets differ.
Austin
River and lakes, no coast
A city by a river and lakes, without a sea coast.
Climate, surroundings and family budget
Miami
Miami
Climate, surroundings and family budgetLos Angeles
Pacific Ocean; beach access depends on your address
Climate, resources and a planning budgetNew York
Harbor and rivers; ocean beaches require their own journey
Climate, resources and a planning budgetSeattle
Puget Sound and Lake Washington; not the open ocean
Climate, resources and a planning budgetBoston
Boston Harbor and the Charles River
Climate, resources and a planning budgetChicago
Lake Michigan; freshwater, not the sea
Climate, resources and a planning budgetDenver
South Platte River; no seacoast
Climate, resources and a planning budgetCharlotte
Inland city; regional lakes require a separate trip
Climate, resources and a planning budgetPhiladelphia
Delaware and Schuylkill rivers; no city ocean beach
Climate, resources and a planning budgetPractical tips
Preparation and everyday decisions
Rule updates
Visas and expat life: date, source and next action
Sources checked: 2026-09-12. An editorial selection, not automatic monitoring of all legislation.
Seven calendar days through 2026-09-12 · by primary-source publication or update date. Newly published verified records reload every five minutes; sourcing and review are currently editorial.
Sources & data coverage
Original sources
Conditions depend on citizenship, pathway and date. Budgets are editable examples, not market statistics. This summary is not a substitute for individual legal and tax review.
Practical answers before moving
United States: what goes into a family living budget?
Example for two adults and a seven-year-old: a two-bedroom rental, private school and public transport. These are editorial assumptions, not verified prices. Deposits, relocation, vehicle purchase and taxes are excluded.
- Austin: 7,613 USD/month: housing 2,346 USD, groceries 1,170 USD, utilities 299 USD, education 1,300 USD. The remainder covers transport, insurance, leisure and reserve.
- Miami: 8,962 USD/month: housing 3,174 USD, groceries 1,300 USD, utilities 286 USD, education 1,450 USD. The remainder covers transport, insurance, leisure and reserve.
- Los Angeles: 9,726 USD/month: housing 3,588 USD, groceries 1,352 USD, utilities 312 USD, education 1,600 USD. The remainder covers transport, insurance, leisure and reserve.
Which cities should I compare before moving?
Significant career opportunities, with residence eligibility, healthcare and car costs raising the entry barrier.
- Austin: A city by a river and lakes, without a sea coast.
- Miami: Opportunity with a longer horizon
- Los Angeles: Choose Los Angeles around a daily journey: the Valley, downtown and the west side create different commutes. Connect work, school and housing before deciding on a car.
Where should residence planning start?
Tourist entry does not permit indefinite living or work. Employment, study and immigration grounds require separate eligibility.
What should families with children consider in this country?
Public schooling depends on the address. Check district, daycare, family insurance and daily driving before renting.
Country sources and recorded review dates · Methodology and limitations