Have you ever considered moving abroad to a new country? Whether it’s to work abroad, volunteer abroad, or study abroad, moving to a new country means new changes for your life! To help you better prepare for this adventure, we bring you a guest post from Arjun Rajkumar, in which he details some of the pros and cons associated with moving to a new country.

Living abroad for many people is a dream, representing years of work and saving just to secure an ideal living situation in the country of their choice. Usually, the average person in this situation doesn’t just decide on a whim to pack up and leave; weighing the pros and cons can help in deciding whether or not to proceed with this plan.

The Pros

Particularly if you speak a foreign language, developing professional skills in another country could be worth its weight in gold on a resume or CV. In addition, as a foreign worker from a highly educated country, you might be more valuable to employers in the country you’re staying in. Make sure to do your research, and spot opportunities where your skill will be in demand.

In many countries, the cost of living is far lower than in Western countries, allowing you to stretch savings far further than you might in your home country – this also extends to things like housing and transportation.

Many people enjoy the profound feeling of freedom they get when they have the chance to make a truly fresh start, away from their old life and the problems that come with it. Starting over is perhaps the most common justification for moving overseas.

Meeting new people in an exciting locale is why many people go on vacation and decide to expatriate. With this new life comes endless opportunities.

The Cons

Money is by far the biggest issue when moving to another country, because in many cases, you’ll either need or want to sell or get rid of all your property, assets and anything else that either you can’t or won’t bring with you.

This also means you’ll need to have some means of supporting yourself once you’ve relocated, whether through savings or having work secured for you in your new host country. In many countries, this can help you maintain savings reserves if the cost of living is significantly lower.

While you may be moving in order to create new relationships, both personal and professional, there are issues that this can create with your existing relationships. Being away from family and friends can be unexpectedly stressful, even for short periods of time.

Acclimating to a foreign culture can also be very stressful, even if you’ve visited a country before. It may take a few months to feel comfortable in your new surroundings, but if you’ve planned properly, there doesn’t need to be a rush to get your life going immediately after you move.

All in all, this is an incredibly risky decision and one best undertaken with the consideration that it is an expensive, difficult and pressured situation. It takes commitment and certain amount of self-sufficiency to make a new country your home, but if planned correctly, it could be one of the best decisions you ever make!

What other pros and cons would you add to these? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Arjun Rajkumar is a writer for Feedbacq, a platform that connects expats and repatriates with international moving companies. Arjun is currently based in Bangalore, India.