Have you ever lived abroad? Do you dream of doing so? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
A growing number of Black women are seeking their American dream overseas, says Roshida Dowe, a consultant who helps clients experience the freedom and empowerment of designing their own life abroad.
While no U.S. government agency tracks the breakdown of Americans exiting the country by gender, or race and ethnicity, anecdotally, across social media, there is an extraordinary movement of African Americans in general—and Black women in particular—leaving the United States. Their reasons vary, ranging from work-life balance to cultural exploration to a desire for a different type of lifestyle and dream that many view as inaccessible in the United States.
According to the Federal Voting Assistance Program, an estimated 4.4 million U.S. citizens live around the globe.
The U.S. State Department updates information on its website regarding the risks of traveling to other countries based on factors ranging from crime to natural disasters to current events such as civil unrest and terrorism. There are four categories, ranging from Level 1, “Exercise normal precautions,” to Level 4, “Do not travel.” You can easily filter and research any country you’re traveling to on the department’s website.
I spoke with expats in five of the top destinations appealing to Black American women to gain a sense of what is fueling the trend. The internet is overflowing with guides, group meetups, and social media pages of individuals sharing information about transitioning to life overseas. I also asked interviewees to share their experiences related to housing costs.
Do your homework carefully because there is much to know before you leap.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
Roshida Dowe, 45, Career Break Consultant
Dowe is a former lawyer who retired to Mexico City. The Southern California native decided to re-evaluate her life’s priorities after a job layoff in 2018. Dowe took a trip around the world and found her nirvana in Mexico’s capital, where she says she was drawn to the city’s vibe. “I visited once and kept returning for the food, the culture, the museums, and the people.” Now, Dowe works as a consultant, advising other Black women on how to move abroad, take career breaks, and remake their lifestyles.
Safety: Level 2
Hours of sunshine per year: 2529 (as a comparison, San Francisco averages 3072 hours of sunshine annually)
Average cost of apartment rental: $1,000 - $2,000 US dollars
How to connect with Black ex-pats here:
PANAMA CITY, PANAMA
Mary Goff, 62, Luxury Group Travel Advisor
Goff says a desire to learn Spanish, coupled with Panama’s attractive retirement program, “Pensionado visa,” which offers numerous benefits including significant discounts on airfare, entertainment, and restaurant dining, led the retired government worker, from Wilmington, Delaware, to the country. It also boasts beautiful beaches, a cosmopolitan lifestyle, and idyllic natural settings. “Pensionado visa,” says Goff, “is one of the best programs for retirees, offering an affordable cost of living, allowing my retirement dollars to stretch further,” Goff says Panama boasts affordable, high-quality health care, a tropical climate year-round, a welcoming expat community, and proximity to the United States. “I can easily explore city, beach, and mountain areas within one country,” says Goff.
Safety: Level 2
Hours of sunshine per year: 1748
Average cost of apartment rental: The cost of renting an apartment or home in Panama is elastic, starting as low as $300 per month, with the median being around $1,200 to $1400, US dollars, depending on the location, size of the property, and other amenities.
How to connect with Black ex-pats here:
- Black Women Expats in Panama (Facebook page run by Goff)
- Black Expats in Panama
MILAN, ITALY
Thea Duncan, 41, Consultant on all Things Italia
In 2003, during her sophomore year of college, Duncan spent a semester studying in a Villaggio called L’Aquila, located one hour outside Rome. She fell in love with Italy. “The town was so small that, on a few occasions, strangers would stop me and say, ‘So you’re the exchange student from Miami,’ says Duncan. “It was the perfect experience for a young student trying to immerse herself in Italian life and culture. Few people spoke English, and my Italian language skills improved rapidly out of necessity.” During the early 2000s, Duncan spent periods in Italy and Florida, finally committing herself to her Italian husband and the country in 2013. Duncan consults others seeking to move to Italia, seeking la dolce vita!
Safety: Level 2
Hours of sunshine per year: 1974
Average cost of apartment rental: $600 – $1600 US dollars depending on how much luxury you’re seeking and whether you’re open to living further out from the city center.
How to connect with Black ex-pats here:
- Doing Italy (Duncan’s website)
- Black ex-pats in Italy
PARIS, FRANCE
Latrice Darlène Shepherd, 45, Expat Consultant and Personal Shopper
A Bay Area native, Shepherd was working for a luxury retailer first in San Francisco, then in New York City. In 2013, her employer sent her on a business trip to Paris. She fell in love with the city of lights. “Paris felt lighter than New York, where I’d been living. I loved the culture and the ability to get lost in the city. I knew I would one day move here,” says Shepherd, now an expat consultant and personal shopper.
Safety: Level 2
Hours of sunshine per year: 1725
Average cost of apartment rental: $1500 to $3,000 US dollars depending on location and lifestyle.
How to connect with Black ex-pats here:
- Paris chic code (Shepherd’s website)
- Black everywhere (Meetup group of Black and African Diaspora People living in Paris)
LISBON, PORTUGAL
Chrishan Wright, 50, Chief Freedom Advocate & Founder, Blaxit Global
Originally from the birthplace of Hip Hop, the former digital marketer says life in Lisbon has been “transformative.” She relocated in 2023. “Moving here has allowed me to enjoy a slower pace of life; to savor the finer things and truly enjoy the moments that matter. The city’s vibrant and diverse culture, stunning architecture and beautiful topography provide daily inspiration.” Further, the country’s rich history and renowned cuisine, combined with “Lisbon’s cosmopolitan atmosphere and the warm and welcoming nature of the Portuguese people, has enabled me to thrive,” says Wright. “It’s also one of the reasons I and other Black American expats are choosing to move to Portugal,” she says. In her new role as Chief Freedom Advocate & Founder, Blaxit Global, Wright enjoys fostering interaction and connection with diasporans from Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe. She finds the role “educational and uplifting, affirming my decision to choose myself and embrace a life of freedom and possibility.”
Safety: Level 1
Hours of sunshine per year: 2828
Average cost of apartment rental: $1500 for a one-bedroom
Connecting with Black ex-pats here:
- Blaxit Global (Wright’s website)
- Black in Portugal
Are you curious about becoming a digital nomad rather than settling in a single foreign city?
The adage “I’d rather be a wanderer all my life than cross the wrong threshold every day” could be attributable to Wanda Duncan, a native of Marion, Illinois. She left her career in television production a decade ago to embrace life as a digital nomad roaming the globe. Duncan presently resides in Albania, where she landed after being in Malaysia for a stay that coincided with the global Covid-19 pandemic. Her criterion for remaining in a country “depends on how much I like the location and what my visa allows.” Generally, she says, “I’m a slow traveler, so I stay two months or longer,” says Duncan. “I love being able to explore places over time, get a deeper sense of the culture, and learn more about the people,” says Duncan, referring to a lifestyle that, to many, seems inconceivable. Over the past two years, she’s also ventured to Scotland, England, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands.
To sustain her adventurous lifestyle, Duncan saved a few thousand dollars and conducted extensive online research about traveling, working, and living abroad. She has since built a community and business, coaching and encouraging other Black women to do the same. What’s in her future? “I’d love to visit Cuba, Nepal, and Iceland. I tend to visit places I’m curious about,” says Duncan.
Resources helpful for learning more about becoming a digital nomad:
- Blackwomentravl.com (Duncan’s website)
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/bwdne/ (private Facebook page operated by Duncan).
- TheBlackExpat.com (Black Identity and International Living)
Have you ever lived abroad? Do you dream of doing so? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
