My Best Options For Living In EASTERN EUROPE | Low Cost of Living, Low Taxes + Upgraded Lifestyle

[@AlinaMcleod]

Hope you enjoyed the video! Download the Airalo app HERE: go.airalo.com/AlinaMcleod Use code ALINA3 to get $3 OFF your next eSIM purchase!

[@InternationalHealthCoach]

Enjoy 🇧🇬 As I Know Your Choice 🙏Slava Ukraini 💪🇺🇦💙💛🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

[@lyhjiba]

What's the city at 1:43 ?

[@giovannydiaz3934]

The people of these countries want escape from there but she is looking for them, it's funny hahaha

[@shapeoftimes]

@@lyhjiba I want to know that too. Doesn't really look like Eastern Europe.

[@Okiejayjay]

@@giovannydiaz3934your way behind the times.

[@andromeda-p8b]

For me, Bulgaria is the country. Geographically, it has the best location in the Balkans. Bulgaria itself is uniquely beautiful, with the highest mountains on the Balkans, it is practically the center of ski sports in the Balkans, with the best resorts on the Black Sea. Albania, Greece, Turkey and Romania are at arm's length from Bulgaria. Many Bulgarians visit Istanbul on weekends just for the market. Geographically and as a combination of mountains and sea, Bulgaria has no competition. Greece has no ski resorts, Romanians go to the sea in Bulgaria. In Bulgaria you have everything for a comfortable life. The country is a member of the EU and NATO, which makes it very safe. They have a flat tax of 10%. The lowest indebted country in the entire EU. The prices are lower than those in Greece, many Greeks go to Bulgaria to refuel. The best thing about Bulgaria for you will be the Cyrillic alphabet and the language, and the fact that they are a Slavic people. That's why hundreds of thousands of Russians, Ukrainians and people from the former Soviet republics buy properties by the sea, many russian speaking people from Israel buy in Bansko - it's easy to move and live in Bulgaria. The language and cultural barrier is absent.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Very good points made!

[@ypruss]

25 ski resorts in Greece served by 117 ski lifts. 23 ski resorts in Bulgaria served by 98 ski lifts. Just for the info

[@qwertyqwerty-zi6dr]

Romanians are going to Bulgaria cuz it s way cheaper and the mountain parts of Bulgaria are not a match for Romania s mountain parts. Romania is the overall better option if u ask me, Bucharest alone has a GDP almost on par with the whole Bulgaria with 3 times more people, Hungary is also a good options cuz of the low cost for living and its beautiful cities, but it s her choice after all

[@traveler9283]

Well said ​@@ypruss

[@gabilaiou]

Romania also has a flat tax of 10%

[@sergeboudreault1627]

We lived in Bulgaria, Romania and Georgia. Loved all 3 countries. Romania was my favorite place to lived of all 3. My Wife loved Georgia. We, both Canadians, left Canada for mostly the same reason as you. Canada is an amazing and fantastic country. Just too expensive...

[@AlinaMcleod]

Good for you!

[@jglee6721]

Canada was great but has fallen to socialism.

[@ekesandras1481]

I think for people with an Eastern Slavic background Romania might be a bit more difficult than Bulgaria, because of the language barrier. If you don't speak any Slavic language and don't know the Kyrillic alphabet, but probably you have some knowledge of a Latin based language (French, Spanish, Italian), than Romania is certainly better.

[@ItemOwner]

I'm Moroccan and immigrated to Canada in 2015. However, by 2022, I decided to leave because I no longer saw a future for myself there. Many new immigrants may not realize how much Canada has changed; the once high quality of life is now harder to maintain due to rising living costs, housing issues, and an increasingly strained system. I'm planning to move to Dubai and secure a resident visa by purchasing property there. I have a deep appreciation for Canada, having lived in the Uxbridge, Oshawa area where I encountered wonderful people, especially in small towns. However, I believe Trudeau's leadership has significantly harmed the country. I completely understand why you’re considering leaving Canada. You might be grappling with the same question I’ve asked myself countless times: “Why should I stay in Canada?” Unfortunately, it seems that the benefits of staying are diminishing.

[@AminAwan-t5n]

My friend can you help for Visa for Russia

[@sorinjasoncnd5560]

@@AminAwan-t5n 😂😂😂

[@sorinjasoncnd5560]

@@ItemOwner so you left Canada for Dubai? Dubai what? 😂😂😂… Is that even a country? A liveable place? That place is just a fake Disneyland … you gonna get toasted there in 20 years … Man you must be kidding !

[@ItemOwner]

@@sorinjasoncnd5560 Toasted there in 20 years, maybe :) I had a depressed life in Canada; maybe Dubai will bring a fresh start and new opportunities.

[@Varonno]

So much crime in Dubai. Govt aligned with Russian oligarchs. Harsh laws. Lotsa of ladies of the night. No thanks.

[@rachelsplanet6282]

Thank you Alina, you hv been v generous in your sharing and am impressed by the amount of effort put into this so that where you eventually end up in is the most optimum choice! Best!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you so much! :)

[@stefk]

If you choose Bulgaria, don't worry, you can just road trip down to Halkidiki in Greece and enjoy the beautiful beaches

[@TalkingPoint773]

bulgaristannnnn they dont have 5 dollars in their pockets, its only the Gypsies in Bulgaria who have money, they rule the place now.

[@saveandinvestwithgiorgiolo8375]

A very interesting video. As someone who has invested in Bulgaria I can only say good things about the country. Sofia is a wonderful city with 4 metro lines and a great night life. I personally love Varna because of the Sea Garden and the beach and the fact that from the Cathedral all the way down to the entrance of the sea garden it is pedestrianized. An advantage of Bulgaria is that government debt is very low (the second lowest after Estonia in the EU) so it is unlikely that Bulgaria will have to raise general taxation which is already very low at 10%. Good luck Alina

[@AlinaMcleod]

Glad you liked it as well! Didn't know that about their government debt, thank you for sharing!

[@saveandinvestwithgiorgiolo8375]

@@AlinaMcleod My pleasure.

[@airgaborpara3824]

23432M dollars were of Bulgaria national debt in 2023 and rapidly groving due tio lack of taxpayers. All of my bulgarian friends live abroad. $3,635 per Capita

[@rbvan]

Did you see her smile and eyes light up when Bulgaria was mentioned in the presentation? Nuff’ said. 😊

[@TalkingPoint773]

Fooled by the propaganda thinking they are some slavic peoples....they are Tatar-Mongols mixed with some Macedonians in the west. Even their flag is the same as the republic of Tatarstan. Proxy western nation thats why they are in the EU

[@DanN-x6f]

I would say Bulgaria is the place for you, Alina and i was sure you loved it. You've got more to explore in our country and of course i'm glad to see your mountain driving again :)

[@stevan2399]

@@DanN-x6f Bulgaria is so amazing. Wonderful people, mountains, and beaches.

[@costasworldofmusicmemories5792]

To have Marchela as a point person for doing the research for you in making those choices easier is invaluable. It's getting closer to fruition. Best Wishes in renewing your passport (just renewed mine) . Hopefully, it goes smoothly in Toronto. As always, sending much love😍 from Harriet, Jim and Yuki Richmond, Va.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you! Yes, Marchela has absolutely streamlined everything for me and is so good at her job. If I was doing it all myself I would have still been in the research stage and super overwhelmed lol.

[@irenmolnar221]

I born in the cold carpation mountains in Transylvania and the natural beauty is amazing!!!!!

[@petyobenov]

So happy to see you picked my country -- Bulgaria as one of your shortlisted counries. Me and my partner went through same process as you in 2019, whereas we had to chose between Canada, New Zealand (was my favourite back then), Ireland (she had an job offer for work in Dublin), Australia (where I lived for a while and had a really good time) and Malta. We marked many different criteria apart of taxes and cost of living, as such as weather and how good is to spend as much time out, how long is to get back to BG to visit friends and family, environment for raising kids and so on. After our estimations we picked Bulgaria, because of many benefits for mothers and raising kids, family nearby to help with it, relativily cheap housing, beautiful nature and climate, possibility to camp free (still an option), and overal not bad standard of living. I cannot imagine other place in the world where you could easily go out for dinner every second evening without spending fortune. On the other side we can afford a house, new car and other basic things. And if you finally decided to go with Bulgaria I could recommend few places to settle: * If you like seaside -- both Burgas and Varna are seating on the Black sea, had all you need from a city, including international airports (which are mostly busy during summer though); * If you like being near mountains -- Bansko, it has a big digital nomad community there, it is just 2 hours driving from Sofia, and may be that much from Greece, it is a small and lovely town, which might become a bit too busy in the winter for people going for skiing; * Something in the middle Plovdiv (where I am currently living) -- it is right next to mountains and 2:30 driving to Black sea coast, 3:00 hours to North Greece, cool culture vibe, many shared co-working spaces... Whatever you decide to go for, the most important is to feel happy! So pick your final decision with your heart!

[@TalkingPoint773]

Bulgaristanaaaaa hahaha tatar-mongol nation mixed with some slavic Maceodnians int he west. Proxy western nation for supply route to the middle east oil fields.

[@AlinaMcleod]

That's wonderful you decided to go with Bulgaria! Thank you for the suggestions :)

[@TalkingPoint773]

@@AlinaMcleod bulgaristaaaan haha MACEDONIA will be united,

[@stgeorge7379]

@@TalkingPoint773Hahahaha you wish😂NEVER FORGET!!!!

[@PoweredEvents]

Hi Alina, I'm moving from Australia ((too expensive!) and in the process of gaining my TRO for Bulgaria. Definitely a raving fan of Eastern Europe and found BG as my favourite after Montenegro. Best wishes for whichever country you choose!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Amazing to hear! Thank you and hope your move goes great!

[@martinstoilov7923]

I'm Bulgarian and lived abroad for eight years, across different continents. I moved back home two and a half years ago, but one thing I can’t stand and will never get used to is the lack of discipline and disregard for others' comfort (this mostly applies to all Balkan countries). However, if you can create a personal bubble and tune that out, this place becomes a paradise. I love the nature, history, weather, and food. Edit: I live in Varna, but I also love Burgas, Plovdiv, Bansko, Sandanski, Tryavna, Dryanovo, Troyan, and many more beautiful places.

[@Caitlinsway]

Wow! Marchela is SO knowledgeable and helpful. I hope to use her services in the future.

[@AlinaMcleod]

She absolutely is! Would highly recommend 🙂

[@GS-uk3ml]

​@@AlinaMcleod I would be careful using the services of people who desperately spam countless strangers on social media in order to fish for clients and customers. It`s a big red flag. I`ve done some research on your tax consultant and there are many warning signs that you are completely ignoring. Blindly trusting a random stranger with your taxes and future will be a very expensive lesson for you. No matter if they are legit and have the best intentions or are faking it and have all the wrong intentions. This can and often will have severe consequences. Be careful my friend.

[@yankeesfanadventures6174]

I've been to Tirana, Albania twice and will return 11/20/24 for good .Low cost of living, friendly people and great food. It is also modernizing with new apartment developments. great place for a home base. Take care.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Glad you liked it as well!

[@User12345fan]

@@AlinaMcleodyou haven’t been in 3 years and I think it has gotten better, currently they are developing a fast train line to the airport and Durres

[@SlowTravelWithUs]

Great video and breakdown! Bulgaria does stand out! 👍🏼

[@eliso5973]

I did travel to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 2017. I like all three countries, especially Estonia. Very safe and the local people were super friendly to me.

[@balajib1406]

More importantly, no peaceful community 😅

[@rokasdobrovolskis]

Baltic countries are the least corrupt compared to other ones listed in the video (Check out European corruption index). One step away from Scandinavia. Baltic/nordic/slavic/germanic mentality. A lot more reserved. Brutal winters, but it's easy to hop on the plane and spend this time traveling (Off season tickets are a lot cheaper). Other bigger airports are at arm's reach. Euros. Preferably local language (Just like in any other European country), Russian or English isn't enough if considering a permanent place to live. "Nomad bubbles" are shrinking especially when you get older.

[@michaelg6641]

Estonia supposed to be the friendliest

[@TalkingPoint773]

@@michaelg6641 Yeah sure. thats what they used to say about Sweden, most livable, most friendly, most smart....when in fact, non livable, not friendly, and foolish!

[@user-l4y7r04wy6iv]

@@balajib1406 Cretin can take over all 3 states in one swoop.

[@abbasahmed6374]

Lots of love from Montreal so happy to see you hope you will enjoy staying there

[@ramonavlaicu6620]

We moved from Canada to Romania a year ago (our native country) and we are not looking back. We love it here and the quality of life is so much better. We are mortgage free, have a much better social life, we are enjoying delicious food and can enjoy life all year round! It is a safe and beautiful country that is also very affordable. Good luck with your choice!

[@AlinaMcleod]

That's wonderful to hear!

[@sorinjasoncnd5560]

I moved from Toronto to a middle size town in Romania in 2016 and it’s been great. I think that the best fit for you with your background and lifestyle would have been Romania or Moldova. The life in Romania is great if you have a stable income of 1500 cnd dollars per month for 1 person and own an apartment or a house and a car. Prices are half or more from what you get in Toronto for everything , main food quality is much higher and way fresher than in Canada … Here people are nice and very open and also aesthetically way more beautiful and fit than the people who inhabit Toronto . Good luck w everything! 👍

[@AlinaMcleod]

Romania is a lovely country. Thanks for sharing!

[@mendjelire8392]

Going to Toronto to apply for your visa rules out Albania as its ambassy is in Ottawa not Toronto. That lives Bulgaria and Greece. You will surely choose Bulgaria as it is easier for you because they speak a Slavic language and you will surely settle in one of its Black Sea coastal towns.

[@TalkingPoint773]

Bulgaristan is a former Tatar-Mongolian nation created by Germany, their flag is also the same as Tatarstans......the remainder of mongol-tatars mixed with some Macedonians in the west, Pirin must be returned as bulgaristan is another proxy western nation just like grease

[@leoprg5330]

What about Monte Negro or North Macedonia? I just returned from vacation on Bulgarian coast (Sunny Beach, Sv. Vlas, Nesebar, Ravda, Pomorie, Burgas). I was questioning if I can imagine having a second home there (I am from Prague, CZ) and I came to a conclusion that no I wouldn't. Summer in too busy with tourists out there, but the winter is not a mediterranean mild winter and there isn't much to do at all during the winter. Next time I try Varna as it is the biggest city on the coast.

[@TalkingPoint773]

@@leoprg5330 Its MACEDONIA, and the other two parts the British took away in 1913 and gave to their minions greece and bulgaristan must be returned, and will be

[@JimMork-r9u]

@@leoprg5330 Everyone remember her list. She has to find a place to accommodate all those things. Taxes, culture, climate. I forget them all. I was going to say "Patagonia". It might be cheap, I don't know, but would it be even close to fulfilling her needs? She's doing diligence. She'll "take the leap" when it looks probable for success.

[@mendjelire8392]

@@leoprg5330 North Macedonia is land locked, she said she wants to be on the coast. Varna would most likely be her final choice.

[@Molloy1951]

Super useful and illustrative video. Thank you, Alina

[@annastayziaa]

YAY ALINA THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!!!! I HOPE EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY FOR YOU IN THE COMING WEEKS!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰😘😘❤❤❤

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you so much 😊

[@stevan2399]

@annastayziaa How is Armenia? Seems like lots of problems there now 😔

[@Resmith18SR]

Hey Alina, All great choices. I've been looking into Albania as a place to retire. I'd like to visit soon and check out the country. Bulgaria, Romania, also look interesting. XOXO

[@mohdyaseendaud7801]

very impressive and informative video. U R helping a lot of people in understanding all these thing which involve in immigration. All the best for everything you do❤ God bless you😇

[@newlifesteev]

I think the conversation around Greece, shows that it's not just countries you need to think about, but particular locations within those countries. I spent 3 months in Greece at the turn of the year, initially in Corfu, which I found expensive, difficult to navigate and just too small for my taste. Then after a month travelling around I spent another month in Thessaloniki and what a difference. Prices much lower, easy to get around and people much more friendly (in my experience) to boot. I guess I was treated more as a visitor than as a tourist. I'm currently in Sofia Bulgaria, which I think is going to be your choice ... only been here for 2 weeks but enjoying it and hope it works out for you.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Yes, absolutely. There can be a big range in lifestyle and cost in between cities in a country.

[@cruisingwithcaptaincliff]

I recently visited Prague, Krakow, Vilnius, and Riga. I flew in from Texas to Amsterdam then rode the bus/train to Eastern Europe 🇪🇺. I've done the walking tours and also explored on my own. After I completed my career with the us 🇺🇸 military, I started traveling/cruising and now completed almost 70-cruises and 65 UN countries. I was stationed in Germany 🇩🇪 before so I'm open to the idea of possibly living in one of the European countries again:) Thanks for sharing!

[@velocita6907]

Marchela is amazing. I am putting her name in my notes.

[@AlinaMcleod]

She absolutely is! Let her know you're coming from my recommendation if you do reach out to her :)

[@davidellis5141]

Hi Alina 😊 ! I have been to both Bulgaria & Romania & certainly found both very potentially wonderful places to reside. Beautiful countries & friendly people in abundance. Good Luck !

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you so much!

[@Name-pb7gf]

Hey Alina, I'm Georgian living in Germany. I will be visiting home in Spring and would be awesome to see you there if you decide to visit. Taxes are pretty straightforward and don't let the banking scare you, as I know it's one of the best systems in the world and usually your card is with you in just 3 days of time. Anyways if you have some questions related to business I could also easily contact the city hall, just let me know. Have a nice hunt!

[@voice.of.reason]

Georgia is a great country and the banking system is not scary. I would move there but there are a few things putting me off and that is how safe your house would be if you were to leave for months away with it empty. And can you trust property agents to rent your house out if you are away?

[@Name-pb7gf]

Sure, if that was the deal, I don't see why would it not be safe, especially if the property has a security system. Just make sure you take the recommended agent officially. Good luck!

[@fleursmith5761]

I'm so happy you have Marchela for advice. What great groundwork she did along with your own. My guess would be Bulgaria, your face lit up about it. I'm excited for you. It is amazing to see the percentage of living costs compared to Toronto. That would make anyone happy.

[@AlinaMcleod]

She definitely did an amazing job! Yeah honestly wherever I would choose in Eastern Europe would be SUBSTANTIALLY less expensive than living in Toronto.

[@Tripreporternet]

Hoi, Alina, well done, as usual and really informative/interesting to follow. Been to all the five countries mentioned for myself. Hope you will find the right place for you. You know my personal preference!. Greetings, Markus

[@vladovlado9614]

Good luck, Alina! Whatever is your choice, I wish you to have a life in peace and love! ❤

[@toumpanis]

Greece doesn't belong to Eastern Europe, we are Southern Europe. Nothing against Eastern Europe though. I can't say about life in Thessaloniki, I have been there only as a tourist, the city rhythm was slower than in Athens. Athens is nice to live in but not in the centre. I live in the South suburbs of Athens which is lovely but rents are higher, the sea is within walking distance and if I need to visit the centre for official affairs or for the archeological sites, with my scooter its about 30 minutes. Mass transportation (tram) can be like 1 hour but first half of 2025 we will have metro in my suburb so it will be faster and cheaper. Not that I need to there often. I wish you good luck with whatever you choose as your new place of living Alina

[@AlinaMcleod]

We were being generous with 'Eastern Europe' but it is still more East than West :)

[@User12345fan]

If Abania is called Eastern Europe, so should Greece. You are south east of Albania. Sure, southeast Europe.

[@toumpanis]

@@User12345fan I am sorry but this is not how Europe is being administered. You should educate yourself further before making embarrassing public statements like this. For example look where Czech Republic is on the map and it is still called East Europe while it is next door to Germany which is west Europe. Understandable but not excusable mistake by a non EU citizen

[@toumpanis]

@@AlinaMcleod look my other reply here. This is not how Europe is being administered. More East than West depends on perspective if you are using a map and you are not in the specific location. We do not see ourselves as East Europeans, we are Mediterraneans, more or less the same with Italians, Spaniards and Portuguese

[@TalkingPoint773]

Grease is a fake nation created in 1832 by the British, Lord Palmerston. Gave the Hellenic refugees a country so they can place their naval bases in the Agean, control the Suez Canal and be close to Israel. The whole Macedonian coastline was then given to 'greece' in 1913, thanks again to the world ruler of that time the British, the people there still speak Macedonian and are returning to their roots...

[@abrahamlevi3556]

About Greece: Assuming that you are not after the Golden visa which has recently become very expensive in the five designated municipalities deemed by the government as municipalities in great demand, for example Athens and Corfu, you should take into consideration the following factors: 1. It could take well over three months to get a taxpayer number and open a bank account; 2. Greece very rarely naturalizes applicants who are not ethnic Greeks. Also if you chose Crete or other islands that have an airport, bare in mind that during the off tourist season when charter flights no longer fly in and out, connectivity becomes a major issue as everything, in a spoke and hub configuration, goes through Athens international airport. Best of luck.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thanks for sharing!

[@User12345fan]

And ethnically Greek means, you could be born and raised in Greece but you will not get Greek citizenship.

[@bobbybeast1000]

@@User12345fan So is that the country Alina is moving too? Greece?

[@User12345fan]

@@bobbybeast1000 no, I think it will be Bulgaria, though I would have wanted her to move to Albania, Bulgaria is also an excellent choice.

[@tombuddy100]

@@User12345fan So, how is someone ethnically Greek? Last name ends with "is" or "ou"? 😄

[@anne__peri]

Bulgaria, Romania and Albania are definitely my top 3 too!!! As soon as I arrived in Sofia I wanted to stay. Same goes for Bucharest and Tirana! Absolutely love all 3!

[@AlinaMcleod]

I felt the same way 🙂

[@jfarras]

Hello Alina, nice video! Just to give my 2 cents as I do that for a living having helped +1000 clients: creating a non-resident US LLC will not give you a 0% corporate tax rate on EU, those countries have permanent establishment rules, cfc rules, hybrid missmatch rules and the majority (with the exception of Bulgaria and Estonia) management & control rules, making that US LLC taxable at the normal corporate rate of that country. If you look for tax optimization the best in EU are Bulgaria (you could reach 7,5%) and Cyprus (you could reach 0-2,65%), for this reason I relocated in Cyprus 2 years ago!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you! Yeah we weren't looking for zero percent but whatever could be the most reasonable while fitting my lifestyle factors as well.

[@2Rugrats9597]

Eastern and Central Europe is gorgeous, awesome, historic and very down to earth.. My favorite part of Europe

[@westernwanderer8397]

I could have sworn you've been to Georgia before... Pierogi? It's got to be Poland! I had started looking at Poland several years ago, even learning some Polish. Recently, I have been looking to it again. Time is coming to an end for me, maybe only a couple years left. Poland has always made sense to me. It's somewhat centrally located so I can have a home base and travel as much as I can. Even just day trips by car to neighboring countries or overnight trips. Wherever you choose, I wish you the best Alina. This has been a wonderful six or seven years I have been watching you sharing your life and travels. Looks like you're going to be taking us house-hunting with you next! ❤🌏

[@AlinaMcleod]

Aw thank you! I agree, Poland is lovely!

[@qwertyqwerty-zi6dr]

The only things about of Poland is the cost of living are way higher than the Central-Eastern Europe excepting Czech

[@2GringosOnTheGulf]

Awesome video ❤❤ Thank you so much for sharing. ❤❤ Cheers from 2 Canadians 🇨🇦 living in Mexico. 🇲🇽✌🏼🥰

[@AlinaMcleod]

My pleasure!

[@Maryb-j5k]

Alina, this was another wonderful video! ❤ I’m also thinking of and trying to leave Canada 😢 I would live to know where you’ll choose to move to!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Will be announcing in the coming months!

[@dannychhann6917]

Hi Bulgaria cost of living is low the capital is lovely

[@Chercheure_Indépendante]

# 1 Bulgaria # 2 Albania # 3 Georgia # 4 Estonia # 5 Romania

[@Coeditor4089]

Yay. More european train journeys coming! Can't wait ;)

[@AlinaMcleod]

Heck yes!

[@CuteGirl-ch1ee]

I traveled to Georgia 🇬🇪 in 2019 . Amazing country !!!!! Love it

[@svetlayordanova7217]

Congratulations , Урааа! България❤

[@gabriellagirardi4741]

I think that you will move to Bulgaria. Marchela is really an important point of reference fir your research. Good luck Alina in renewing your passport. Thank you for sharing 🍀💕🪻

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you so much, Gabriella! Hope you are doing well!

[@jglee6721]

My guess was totally wrong because I thought she needs to be by a major airport in a city like Prague which is much more expensive. Unknown country like Bulgaria should be cheaper. lol

[@ps7880]

Hi Alina! I just came back yesterday from our 3+ weeks of Balkan trip, including Albania 🇦🇱, Bulgaria 🇧🇬 Poland 🇵🇱 Romania 🇷🇴 and several ex-Yugoslavia countries. People there were very friendly, the cities were beautiful and developing quickly, and they all had rich history and culture, yet the cost of living is only half of the US or Canada. I also visited the 3 Baltic countries last year and they were very nice too. I hope you can make your big decision, and find a place that suits you best. Good luck!😊😊😊

[@balajib1406]

More importantly, no peaceful community 😅

[@AlinaMcleod]

Glad you had a wonderful time!

[@nayac7615]

Nice video and great ideas and place to live. Hi. Alina thanks to shared about eastern Europe. Great places. Thanks again

[@DanN-x6f]

Here are some current prices in Bulgaria, Alina Electricity - 0,25 leva/kwh Water - 3,43 leva per cubic meter (2.94 lv in Sofia) Health insurance - 37,32 leva/month Internet - 30 - 50 lv Taxes - low People - friendly Weather - 4 seasons :)

[@leoprg5330]

Taxes low but Taxis expensive, at least in Sunny Beach haha

[@tomaud]

In the Azores electricity cost 9c per kWh which is almost half of Bulgarian cost. Water €0.32 per cubic meter.

[@danguelph2676]

Average salary is 1k euro.

[@tomaud]

@@danguelph2676 Bulgaria average salary €1000 per month? really that much?

[@chrisb4377]

As Alina said in the previous video she wants the learn the language of the country that she will live. She already knows rusian and cirilic alphabet, so the best option for her will be Bulgaria bcs Bulgaria uses cirilic and rusian language is similar to bulgarian language. Alina will needs few monts to become fluent in bulgarian.

[@GaryAJMartin]

Oh baby, just landed in Georgia again today. You need to come, ASAP.🙂

[@josephj6521]

Looks like either Bulgaria or Greece are fantastic options. Both safe too. Both next to each other. You can drive between them easily. If you want a Mediterranean holiday in the summer, you can drive from Bulgaria into Greece or live in Greece. I saw many Bulgarians in beaches in northern Greece. Greece has a stable currency, the Euro. Big advantage. You can easily travel to Western Europe from Greece when you need the French or Italian “fix”. Bulgaria and Greece offer many flights to Asia via Dubai, Doha, etc. Thessaloniki or nearby in a village would be really nice. There are stunning coastal locations within a couple of hours of Thessaloniki. Infrastructure in Greece has dramatically improved the past 20 years. Sofia seems like a great city, not too big. Let’s see what you have chosen. Both great options.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Bulgaria just switched over to Euro this year as well! Agreed, both are great and easy to travel between the two.

[@josephj6521]

@@AlinaMcleod wow, fantastic regarding the Euro in Bulgaria. Difficult decision.

[@tomaud]

@@AlinaMcleod No, they did not. Their currency is Lev(itation).

[@jglee6721]

@@tomaud Big mistake to go to a Euro country. It's always going to be more expensive.

[@СилвияИванова-з1р]

Actually, Bulgarian currency is as stable as the Euro cause we have a currency board since 1997. Our lev is connected to the euro at a fixed rate 1 euro is 2 BG leva.

[@darellnewsome4459]

Another excellent and informative video Alina! That lady is excellent and I'm sure very worth whatever her services cost. Thank you for the video and am continuing to hope that all falls into place and goes well for you. Looking forward to your next video.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you very much and yes, she has been incredibly helpful!

[@nikor1775]

Many thanks for sharing Alina! My top 5 would be Slovakia, Chechia (except for Brno), Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia (except for Ljubljana) Choose wisely 😊

[@desssval]

I wish you luck, Alina. I am sure that the application process will go smoothly whatever country you chose. Personality matters a lot in the Balkans and your personality is of the kind that will make Bulgarians and Greeks compete to get you. Let the better country win :) And be sure to keep us informed of the process from visa to resident and hopefully citizen 🇨🇦🇪🇺

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you so much :)

[@TalkingPoint773]

Both fake nations bulgaria and grease....Western proxy nations to block Slavic people, Macedonia has land and people in both of these fading dumps that will be returned.

[@sohalvr]

I know Greece has a consulate in Toronto so if it is Greece, you will not be disappointed! Call me biased :) with your outlook on travel and your respect for people and cultures, you would be welcomed with open arms into the big Greek family! I won't get ahead of myself though 😂. All the best for your appointment! Good luck, any country would be lucky to have you!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Aw thank you so much!

[@michaelh8167]

"Alina's Bulgarian Escape" Verse : Tired of the hustle, the city's noise Craving peace, quiet, and simple joys Bulgaria's charm, it's hard to resist A cozy haven, a place to exist Chorus: Bulgaria, Bulgaria, a hidden gem Low taxes, low cost, a dream for them Slavic language, a cultural fit A perfect spot, to finally sit Bridge: She'll trade the city lights for mountain views And swap the crowds for nature's hues A Bulgarian life, a new adventure A journey filled with joy and laughter Chorus: Bulgaria, Bulgaria, a hidden gem Low taxes, low cost, a dream for them Slavic language, a cultural fit A perfect spot, to finally sit.🤨

[@AlinaMcleod]

haha thank you very much!

[@shahzadshah8889]

My best guess: you are planning to settle down in Bulgaria (EU). Having multiple nationalities is definitely a plus (specially EU and one can live in any 27 countries). Personally, I value freedom, so I split my time between Edmonton, Canada, and Europe. Currently I’m living in France for couple of months.

[@CommandoMaster]

Good informational video. I would say the play for me is probably SEA, but that's because our roots are different.

[@247TravelYT]

Hi Alina 👋 Glad that you chose Greece ⛵ Estonia is awesome and I have been trying to relocate there since 2022 but things and people too started changing there so Fast from 2023 and there's also issues related to war in the Eastern Side too. I really Wish you The Best of Luck 🙏 You made the right decision at the right moment of your life and even at the right moment of the global situation. Take Care 🤗

[@AlinaMcleod]

I didn’t say where I chose just yet 🙂

[@247TravelYT]

@@AlinaMcleod Oh! My friend 🤗 Super Cool 😎😄 So, it'll or can be Bulgaria too 😁

[@tomaud]

Estonia is awesome hahaha with a 10 month long winter...

[@obiwanbul]

From a personal experience, I can verify that you can have a very good lifestyle in Bulgaria for 3000 CAN a month. I make a little over 1/3 of that in a month and can still travel somewhat regularly. For utilities, electricity is usually the highest expense, but that is only a problem in the winter when the heating is cranked up. Summer is not nearly as bad, but the best times are in the spring when you don't spend much time at home, and you don't need to have an air conditioner on. During the spring months my electricity bills were pitiful at around 25BGN. Water bill ranges from 5 to 8 BGN per cubic meter. You can probably find a phone plan under 40BGN per month with unlimited data, and Internet coverage is all over the country. You can also get Giga Fiber Internet for a similar price. Last time I paid for monthly health insurance was in 2019, and then it was under 30BGN; they've probably bumped it up a bit by now, but it won't be too drastic.

[@AlinaMcleod]

That’s fantastic to hear! I know rents have gone up in Sofia but other expenses seem very reasonable.

[@protonmarine3047]

Thanks for your nice informative video dear Alina. Best choice I guess is Bulgaria. Cheap life, very close to Greece (you can visit Thassos island in Greece frequently) and also Turkey, Romania and N. Macedonia... Wish you all the best dear...

[@thomasmaloney843]

Daughters have taken classes in Spanish and Latin. They can understand Romanian. I can usually read signs that are in Romanian.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Oh wow, didn’t know they were that similar

[@user-l4y7r04wy6iv]

@@AlinaMcleod Romania especially Transylvania is centrally located at the crossroads of the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe. Throughout its history, various peoples have inhabited the region, including Thracians, Dacians, Romans, Wallachians, Moldavians, Germans, Hungarians, Jewish. In addition, different religions have been practiced in Romania, which is reflected in the architecture: Catholic, Reformed Church, Lutherans cathedrals; synagogues, as well as various styles of Orthodox Churches, ranging from Byzantine and Gothic to Renaissance, Baroque and neo-Byzantine. Regarding geography, the Carpathian Mountains and Transylvanian Alps cover much of Romania, along with one of the largest forests reserves in Europe. And the Danube River flows into the Black Sea. With Romania as a base, you can easily travel to neighboring Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine, Russia, the Balkans, and Mediterranean, Black, Aegean, and Adriatic Seas.

[@cip5949]

​@@user-l4y7r04wy6ivwrite some more and you colud praise yourself for posting a novel instead of a comment. Whats your stake in this..

[@user-l4y7r04wy6iv]

@@cip5949 Then Alina can make really great travel blogs. It sure beats being in West Virginia or Mississippi, where all they've got is bread, meat, and corn.

[@edflaherty1887]

We visited Riga - Latvia and it was wonderful . Old European charm with modern elements . Also - I really didn't feel a " tourist vibe " that may happen at the typical large cities like London, Paris, Rome , ect. The cost to live there was much cheaper than the states . Very friendly people as well !

[@cupq]

dont forget about the climate - make sure it fits you in the long run. Also the location - because you would want to travel.

[@johngreydanus2033]

Should be screening for cities with the maximum number of eligible male, multi-millionaires!!!

[@ilovetravelyeah]

Thank you for sharing, Alina I absolutely love watching your videos, and these 5 process videos are especially rewarding, as they help us plan our own moves, using your strategies and thinking. Thank you kindly!✈💖💛

[@AlinaMcleod]

I’m so happy to hear that!

[@ericnguyen2757]

I backpacked Eastern Europe and the Balkans this summer and spent 2 weeks doing NGO work in Ukraine. Eastern Europe is truly underrated and Ukraine is an amazing country!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Glad you had a positive experience!

[@teceffect9826]

Don't comment nonsense. Go to Ukraine and try to find a job just like any other Ukrainian. Then try to survive on this salary. Europe is flooded with Ukrainian widows or single moms who were desperate to leave Ukraine. And lots of them try to scam the European system as well by getting welfare and then go back to their village and pretend they still refugees. We don't need this shit.

[@love_for_travel]

❤️💙💛

[@bensanderson7144]

NGO work. … promoting birth control, increasing access to abortion, and raising awareness of the 2slgbtq+ communities?

[@ericnguyen2757]

@@bensanderson7144 No..... more like construction, repairs and demolition work for the bombed out buildings by the Russian aggressors.

[@OverflowCafe]

😍🇷🇴Romania is lovely with plenty of Canadians and Americans!

[@tomaud]

Romania earthquakes and bears...

[@georgesbv1]

for Romania the health insurance on dividends is 10% of the minimum wage, not the total sum. So if you earn more you only pay up to 2 times 10% for minimum wage.

[@nicholaswooley5491]

Alina! If you aren't able to obtain a visa for Eastern Europe, then you should opt for Uruguay or Argentina. Both have really great economies and are mostly safe. Uruguay is the most modern country in South America, too.

[@klnrklnr4433]

Argentina has a great economy? guess their extreme inflation has come down a bit?

[@mpessan]

Uruguay is modern? What do you mean?

[@guilima3097]

Uruguay is expensive as shit and monotonous while Argentina’s economy is chaotic. South of Brazil or some parts of Chile are literally the only viable places in South America.

[@mpessan]

@@guilima3097 Good options in Brazil: João Pessoa, Cabedelo, Trancoso, Vitória, Itacaré, Cabo Frio, Búzios, Nova Friburgo, Santa Teresa, Lumiar, Nova Lima, São Roque, Americana, Campo Grande, Goiânia, Camboriú, Florianópolis + 180 options.

[@guilima3097]

@@mpessan Except for the first 3 in your list, yes, sure, the rest is great. Some of them a tad too small though. Florianopolis is the best option overall.

[@CaptainKram]

Interesting! I am actually thinking of leaving Bulgaria, but I see the appeal of the region for you. Hope you're happy wherever you end up going!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you so much!

[@ЕленаШаверина-и3к]

My guess is Bulgaria. Let's see if I'm right in your next video, Alina. 😊

[@SophiepTran]

Lifestyle is much more of a consideration besides all the benefits of the country. And that depends on what you're looking for. I've recommended Bulgaria before because we have a place there but it's a little out of the ways and quiet. If you're into city life, obviously Sofia would suit you much better but I wouldn't expect the same level of refinement as you'd get in Estonia or Canada. But it's so beautiful there and the differences can be minor and be overlooked in favour of the better benefits. Did you get to eat at happy when you were there last time? 😄It just reminded me of how ubiquitous Tim's is in Canada.

[@hopfer66]

I was reading about e-sim today, so tks Alina, great sponsor.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Happy to help! Airalo is one of the best out there 🙂

[@spiegel3269]

Hi Alina. Fellow Canadian living in Vancouver but I'm also searching for a new country to move to, and like you has also narrowed it down to Eastern Europe (I'm also still considering Bangkok). So thank you so much for showing your talk with Marchela. You saved me a lot of time researching myself. My top 3 were Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. But now after seeing your vid , I see Bulgaria and Greece should also be my top 2. Like you, I also never considered Greece could be a possibility. I've been 3X and do like it there. So I need to do more research on my new top 2. Maybe I'll do 5 years in Bangkok and then move to the Eastern Europe choice? Thanks again for your videos on this subject that is so relevant to my life.🤗👍

[@AlinaMcleod]

My pleasure, glad you found it helpful!

[@danguelph2676]

Bangkok and Bulgaria or Greece - all of these are very very different countries. Completely different languages. How are you planning to learn language?? Либо ветер в голове, либо как цыган по миру скитаться. Трава всегда зеленее там где нас нет.

[@reneerikolsen9694]

Great video....narrowing it down....Any of the places sounds great. I am sure the ultimate choice will be a fantastic place.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Glad you liked it!

[@nikor1775]

Marcella's statement about Bratislava airport is correct but the reason is that people take a bus from Bratislava to Vienna airport (45 min.) and from there you have many flight options worldwide.

[@MilanDW77]

actually both are partially incorrect about Marcella yes must of us travel to Vienna (very $ airport hub) im a local born Bratislava, Slovakia and live/work here in BA and a Canadian citiizen past 40 years Toronto) we improved our BA airport now past 6 months, better connections through out EU, Turkey etc

[@vaska1999]

Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia. Not necessarily in that order, although I do like Greece best. It has a great health care system, as does Serbia (the private sector and very affordable).

[@User12345fan]

Interesting why yoi skipped Albania. Are you Serbian?

[@stan_doucet]

As always, research, research, relax. I've spent many months in Romania and the black sea beaches aren't bad. Bulgaria seems to put you in a better place though.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Absolutely, need to know as much as you can about potential places before making the move!

[@michaelwaters1040]

Love the Sophia Opera and Ballet.

[@richardfazliu5260]

Bulgaria!? Good grace! As a Bulgarian , all I can say is: Good luck! 🤞

[@mpessan]

Please elaborate on that.

[@tomaud]

Hahaha!

[@georgibraykov3715]

Глупак.

[@pistolpete7280]

You're very lucky that your job/business is not tied to a specific location. The world is your oyster!

[@dreamthedream8929]

opera singers also can have this although its more specific as they go to those opera houese where they are invited for work. of course many of them decide to work in one opera house but many of them also frequently (living out of a suitcase) move from one to the other. for example tenor michael fabiano has been too all the countries in europe.

[@AlinaMcleod]

I am incredibly grateful for that! Makes moving abroad much easier.

[@rachelfowler9937]

Tourism has grown in Eastern Europe. A lot of my friends have travelled there. A lot of people are moving there at the mo

[@marcwolman2719]

I can't wait for the denouement! As a lover of languages, music, song and dance from Albania, Bulgaria and Greece, with many friends and teachers in these countries or expat in N America, these are all exciting options to me. All neighboring one another, if you'll give North Macedonia an honorable mention. If you are not already a fan, I highly recommend Kapka Kassabova's books on Bulgaria and historic Thrace and Macedonia. I've commented before about our memorable trip around Lakes Prespa and Ohrid; loved your KZbin about cycling to Sveti Naum from Ohrid!

[@AlinaMcleod]

North Macedonia is lovely but sadly isn't as digital nomad friendly as other options!

[@Damian_Petreski]

@@AlinaMcleod In what way isn't Macedonia digital nomad friendly?

[@BrettBerryum]

Poland, Montenegro and Albania seem like places I'd personally like to check out

[@qwertyqwerty-zi6dr]

You should also check Romania and Hungary

[@tracyshannon1795]

Such an exciting process, Alina! I'm curious, there are many people and companies offering international re-location services. How did you choose Marchela - who seems capable and wonderful, by the way. Or was it that you appreciated her initiative and it just felt right? Wll definitely continue to follow your journey.

[@AlinaMcleod]

I did actually receive a couple offers from other individuals (who are great in their own right), but from our first consult I could just tell she knew what she was talking about, she had a broad tax background, she was from Eastern Europe (which REALLY has helped in my case) and she herself is a nomad business owner who has travelled a lot so she understands my situation MUCH BETTER than some corporate firm based only in one place. And she also just seemed very trustworthy and kind! Highly recommend :)

[@tracyshannon1795]

@@AlinaMcleod Definitely a lot of the "right" plusses. I think a lot of us really appreciate the insights in this video and your introducing Marchela to us. We look forward as you LOOK forward

[@lindadorman2869]

I loved Tallinn Estonia and Bucharest Romania, even though it snowed off-season in both countries when I was there (April in Estonia and November in Romania). There's more to see and do across Romania than Estonia, and I think Estonia is more expensive. Now I'm looking forward to going to Albania to see if that's a better fit for me.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Yeah you should definitely check out Albania!

[@nickm1187]

Of the three my concern with Greece is your climate goals as it has been getting very hot there lately and with global warming it will certainly become more of a concern going forward.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Fair concern!

[@sasho888prm]

And if you choose Bulgaria, both Romania and Greece will be neighbouring countries, easy to visit 😊

[@AlinaMcleod]

Lots to discover in the region!

[@kleerogers]

You obviously have done massive research, my wife and I have done the same, 25 years worth of research, we can't find anywhere that somes close to Thailand, but to be fair we do not consider anywhere in Europe because of cold winters, a few places like the South of Spain and Portugal come close, but we far prefer the culture and food, in Thailand, and close proximity to other SE ASian countries from the main airport in Bangkok, again nothing comes close in our research. My guess is you will be spending a lot of time and money flying out of Europe to warmer places with beautiful beaches all year around (HINT Thailand wins here). I wish you all the best

[@AlinaMcleod]

That’s wonderful you found what works best for you, love Thailand! To be honest I actually missed the winters from being in SEA lol the countries I looked into in EE were more south so much warmer!

[@tomaud]

Tropical hot and humid year round climate sucks. Madeira and Azores has cool and warm but not hot year round climate. Mountain top climate in the tropics could be a solution for some though.

[@Busha69]

Bratislava airport may not be that well connected but there is Vienna airport right across the border, so that's pretty much the reason...Vienna airport is our main airport:,)

[@DeyanPlachkov]

Hey Alina, its funny my cousins went to Ontario Canada like 20 or more years ago in search for better life (from Bulgaria, Plovdiv), but they have been struggling lately, even tho they are fully integrated. Anyway I saw your video in Bulgaria and I can already tell by your eyes ( :D ) that you are coming here. I hope you enjoy it and also keep in mind that many Ukrainians ( mostly females and children ) live in Bulgaria since the start of Russian-Ukrainian war, so you will probably find some of your people here as well. Best of luck in whichever country you choose, you can always travel to our neighbours in a matter of hours ^_^

[@JimMork-r9u]

We came there when Bulgaria was this amalgam of ancient, early 20th, and very recent. We found it exceptional. But here's the catch: No THOUGHT of settling. Your list of considerations for a "base" did not apply. If YOU create your base, it will require many other advantages. We flew in for a "taste" and just left.

[@itcu185]

my knee jerk is Bulgaria , Romania or Hungary (I know that last one gets paned a bit but I like it)

[@thomasj3421]

Regarding Greece. Athens is by far the best city to be. The rents though are not 62% lower than Toronto. You will pay at least ~600 euros for rent (without the utilities) in a kinda decent area. Albania, Bulgaria and Romania are cheaper. If i was you, i would go to Poland or Western Ukraine (Lviv for example).

[@AlinaMcleod]

I don’t think you understand how expensive rent is right now in Toronto 😅

[@LuluLord]

Poland has crazy immigration system. In some voivodeships people are waiting 1-2 years to get their residence permit approved

[@laurentiucurca900]

Come to Romania, baby. You'll love it. Great food, mountains, seaside, full of expats, open people, nightlife, plus local cheap energy and brains - great recipe for a continuous economical increase. At least try, to see how it fits.

[@ulusguy]

I thought this was the reveal video. The suspense is killin’ me here! LOL

[@AlinaMcleod]

Don't die!

[@ulusguy]

@@AlinaMcleod Well I can’t, gotta wait for the next video. 🤣

[@unknownninja4430]

looks like toronto, but has nice hills on the outskirts -- hope the dreariness of the winter doesn't dampen it (prob will).