Terry Hiett
U.S. Army veteran, commercial diver, and the guy behind LeavingTheStates.com.
How It Started
Some people plan their retirement abroad for years. Spreadsheets, timelines, the whole thing. That wasn't me.
I'm a U.S. Army veteran (82nd Airborne) who spent years doing things the hard way and loving it. Before the military I worked as a commercial diver. After, I kept chasing the kind of experiences most people only watch on TV: climbing billboards, investing in real estate, building things. I wasn't looking to slow down. I was looking for what came next.
What came next turned out to be a diving trip to Coron, Palawan in the Philippines. I went for the water. I stayed for the people. There's something about the warmth and genuineness of Filipino culture that just gets under your skin. One trip changed everything. I married a Filipina, made the Philippines part of my world, and decided that early retirement wasn't a financial calculation. It was simply what I wanted to do with my life.
I now split my time between Negros Occidental and Las Vegas, two places that couldn't be more different, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
That shift in thinking is at the heart of everything on this site.
Coron, Palawan, where one diving trip changed everything.
What This Site Is Built On
“LeavingTheStates.com exists because the information gap for Americans considering a move abroad is real and frustrating. Most of what's out there is vague, outdated, or buried in someone's personal blog.”
Every figure here comes from a named source, listed below, because you deserve accurate, reliable information when you're making a decision this big.
How We Research Each Country
Each data point on a country page comes from a specific source:
- Cost of living: Numbeo, which collects prices reported by people living there. Figures are for one person in a city center.
- Healthcare quality: OECD Health Statistics, supplemented by regional health sources.
- Health insurance: published premiums from international insurers and expat insurance guides.
- English: the EF English Proficiency Index 2025.
- Safety: U.S. State Department travel advisories.
- Taxes: IRS guidance and U.S. tax treaty status.
- Visas: official government and consulate sources.
Every country page shows the date it was last fully reviewed. Our numbers won't always match other sites, because sources measure different lifestyles, exchange rates move after figures are published, and small samples skew averages. When sources disagree, we use official sources first, then the most recent.
The $2,000, $3,500, and $5,000 income tiers show what a modest, comfortable, and premium life costs in each country. Smaller towns usually cost less than the city-center figures.
Treat our data as a starting point, not a final answer. Always confirm visa requirements with the consulate before you apply.
Get in Touch
If you're sitting on the fence, curious, or already half-packed, I'd love to hear from you. Reach out anytime.
terry@leavingthestates.com