Hi, I’m from South Texas, an area considered “poorer” than national average, and my husband is Dutch.
Pros:
Honestly, I think we have it pretty good here. The cost of living is ridiculously cheap. We paid off our home last year (it took us 4 years to pay off), we don’t have have great jobs yet we can still save up lots of money. Even if we find jobs at Walmart we can save up at least 1,000 a month easily. We’re currently taking a sabbatical this year traveling around the US from all the savings and I want to spend 3 months in Mexico too. Also, I really love the food down here (Mexican food galore and you can get a box of 20 mangoes for $4 bucks), I like the people, how friendly, family-oriented and chill everyone is (sometimes my badass neighbor helps me mow my grass for free), and most importantly: my family is here and I’m used to seeing them every week and have BBQs (carne asada every week). Also, the proximity to Mexico allows for daytrips for cheap dental and medical procedures plus cheap flights.
Cons:
Well, it’s still Texas! The politics, the heat, machismo, the ignorance, and stupidity of some people really bug me. Although I got to say that this area is 90% Mexican and I personally think there’s a difference with Latino conservatism. It’s not really pretty and secluded and the rest of the nation. Not much to do although not nearly as bad as living in bumbutt, Kansas. No nature around, just ugly streets, stroads, and infrastructure. Car dependency, etc.
Why I want to move:
It’s honestly me. my husband says he doesn’t want to go back but it can be discussed if I really want to do it. And honestly, I don’t know if it’s a smart choice. I’m aware of the housing crisis in NL that’s why I’m also thinking about other EU countries. I want to know what it feels like to work and live in another country, fully experience another culture, and also I want to experience this “European lifestyle” everyone keeps talking about. I also speak Spanish and French (not fluent but I can get by an understand everything).
Concerns:
Although what concerns me the most is the worry that we won’t be able to find housing, save up as much money (hence no more constant sabbaticals), and having to live check by check, or if I’ll be exposed to racism since I’m not White, or feeling super lonely, etc. Basically end up with a lower quality of living.
I lived in the Netherlands for the past 7 years. Yeah, the housing crisis is real, but if you can stand the climate I think it’s a great place to live nevertheless. I don’t really do well with dark, gloomy, cold weather, so for me it was a real challenge making it through Dutch autumn and winter each year, but I gotta say the infrastructure, the general quality of life, availability of services, salaries and so on are great.
You’re going to have much less options for quality fruit and vegetables though. Also, consider that the Netherlands just had elections, and the anti-immigration anti-expat far right candidate won in a landslide victory, so the political climate may change in the near future. Racism exists in the Netherlands as it does everywhere - I’d say the Netherlands are on the more politically progressive side in Europe, but the recent election has me questioning that.
If you’re also considering other places in Europe, well, Spain has much more agreeable weather (to me at least), but you said the heat in Texas was something you wanted to get away from? Also the quality of food dining out and the availability of fresh ingredients is going to be significantly better in Spain, France, Italy.
I don’t know what field you’re in, but generally salaries are better in the Netherlands, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries, and lower in southern Europe. But then again the cost of living is different as well. I definitely wouldn’t move without having at least visited for a few weeks beforehand, and do a lot of research about job opportunities and salaries.