Free interactive toolExplore the finder →
Your next chapter starts with a choice

Find a place that fits your life.

A thoughtful starting point for choosing where to live abroad. Set what matters to you, see a focused shortlist, and understand the tradeoffs behind each match.

Find your places
The BooksOfTay country finder

Start with your everyday life.

Explore city starting points, including each country's capital or federal city. Choose a country and city, or search by name, then adjust four priorities.

Your priorities

Monthly budget

An approximate total for one person, including rent and day-to-day spending.

$2,200
$1,000$6,000
What kind of place feels right?

Pick the lifestyle you want most often.

Infrastructure needs

How much do you rely on convenient services and connectivity?

How long might you stay?

Entry and residence rules depend on your passport and circumstances.

Planning estimates and editorial fit scores are illustrative, not quotes or guarantees. Stay notes are a U.S. passport starting point; verify work permission, entry rules, safety, and local costs before making plans.

Your shortlist

Places worth exploring

How to read your matches

A starting point, not a verdict.

The fit number is a relative editorial score across these cities. The finder weights budget, lifestyle, infrastructure, and longer-stay outlook; a destination above your planning budget appears as an alternative. The newer city profiles are initial research leads. Compare favorites, then investigate neighborhoods, actual rentals, healthcare, internet, safety, and legal status.

Plan your next steps with the free 7-Step Workbook →

Before you decide

  • Monthly figures are rough editorial planning estimates in USD for one person, including rent and routine spending. They are not live prices and exclude flights, insurance, visas, and taxes.
  • Longer-stay scores are preliminary research cues, not a visa eligibility assessment. A tourist entry is not permission to work or settle.
  • Capital labels reflect current roles: South Africa has three capital functions, Bern is Switzerland's federal city, and Bolivia lists Sucre as its constitutional capital and La Paz as its government seat. Recheck these details if relevant to your decision.
  • Official links lead to U.S. State Department country guidance. The score does not include safety, healthcare, or your individual eligibility. Recheck current local rules before travel.