What Popular Comparisons and Destinations Are Featured on MyLifeElsewhere.com?

Updated

MyLifeElsewhere.com highlights two main sets of content on its homepage: a list of popular country comparisons (mostly United States vs. other countries) and a ranked list of top destinations for United States residents, based on foreign-born population figures from UN DESA (2020). If you want to see how the U.S. stacks up against another country, or find where Americans most commonly move abroad, these two sections are the fastest entry points.

Popular Comparisons

The site's "Popular Comparisons" section is dominated by United States vs. other countries. The listed comparisons include:

  • United States vs. Ecuador
  • United States vs. Canada
  • United States vs. Greece
  • United States vs. Egypt
  • United States vs. Spain
  • United States vs. Australia
  • United States vs. Russia
  • United States vs. Ireland
  • United States vs. Poland
  • United States vs. Peru
  • United States vs. Turkey
  • United States vs. United Kingdom
  • United States vs. Italy
  • United States vs. France
  • United States vs. Thailand
  • United States vs. China
  • United States vs. Germany
  • United States vs. Austria
  • United States vs. Iceland
  • United States vs. Vietnam

The page also offers a "Load more" option and a "View all" link, plus a "Random Comparison" button for users who don't have a specific pair in mind. Each comparison covers statistics such as cost of living and geographic size.

Top Destinations for United States Residents

This section ranks destinations by the number of U.S.-born residents living there, using foreign-born population data from UN DESA (2020):

Rank Destination Residents (UN DESA 2020)
1 Mexico 799,248
2 Canada 273,226
3 United Kingdom 170,771
4 Puerto Rico 159,515
5 Germany 152,639
6 Australia 116,620

Note that Puerto Rico appears in this list as a destination, reflecting how the site presents the data rather than a statement about its political status.

Other Tools and Content on the Site

Beyond the two featured lists, the homepage surfaces several related tools:

  • Quality of Life — compares healthcare, education, and safety across territories.
  • Cost of Living — compares prices for groceries, rent, and more, across countries, cities, and U.S. states.
  • Size Comparison — overlays countries, states, and cities on a map to show true relative size.
  • Salary Estimator — calculates the salary needed to maintain your current lifestyle after moving.
  • Build Your Own True Size Map — a drag-and-drop interactive map for comparing real area.
  • Best Country For... — composite rankings across quality-of-life and cost metrics, with categories for digital nomads, retirement, and families.

The site also features a daily "Size Comparison of the Day" and a blog with insights on topics like cost of living and map projection distortions.

How to Use These Sections

  1. To compare two specific places: Pick a pair from the Popular Comparisons list, or use the search/random comparison option if your pair isn't listed.
  2. To browse where Americans move: Check the Top Destinations table for population-based rankings, then click through to a full comparison for any destination.
  3. To explore by topic instead of by country: Use the tool links (Quality of Life, Cost of Living, Salary Estimator) when your question is about a specific factor rather than a head-to-head matchup.

The comparisons are presented as statistics rather than recommendations, so treat the rankings as a starting point for your own research rather than a verdict on where to live.