Americans Abroad Find U.S. Return Too Costly

TL;DR

Americans working remotely abroad afford upper-middle-class lives on modest U.S. salaries due to lower costs and tax breaks.
Nino Trentinella earns under $40,000 yearly in Georgia but has a housekeeper twice weekly, daily cabs, and restaurant meals.
Returning to the U.S. feels unaffordable despite family ties, locking expats into overseas lifestyles.

The story at a glance

Americans who moved abroad for remote work now live better than they could at home but hesitate to return due to high U.S. costs. The article profiles Nino Trentinella, a 46-year-old freelancer in Tbilisi, Georgia, earning under $40,000 a year. This comes amid rising remote work and post-pandemic expat trends.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/19/business/americans-abroad-cheaper-living-costs.html)

Key points

Trentinella, an American citizen who grew up in Baltimore, has lived in Tbilisi over two years with her husband and children.
Her freelance art education work pays under $40,000 annually; husband earns variable mid-five figures.
They benefit from U.S. foreign earned income exclusion: first $130,000 (2025 tax year) plus housing portion exempt from U.S. taxes.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/19/business/americans-abroad-cheaper-living-costs.html)
Georgia's tax laws for remote workers mean she pays just 1 percent local tax.
Lifestyle includes housekeeper twice a week, daily cabs, regular restaurant meals, and six months maternity leave—impossible on her income in the U.S.
She wants to return for her child's opportunities and family retirement but finds U.S. costs too high.

Details and context

Trentinella once emigrated from Tbilisi as a child and now enjoys luxuries there like a cook preparing meals a few times weekly. Remote work enables this nomadic life, amplified by Georgia's appeal to digital nomads with low taxes and costs. The U.S. exclusion helps expats keep more earnings, but it underscores the gap: her friends in U.S. corporate jobs lack similar perks.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/19/business/americans-abroad-cheaper-living-costs.html)

Such moves surged post-pandemic as Americans sought affordability amid inflation. Countries like Georgia draw freelancers with visas and tax incentives tailored for remote workers.

Key quotes

“We had a cook. She came to the house and prepared food for us a few times a week. We had a housekeeper.” — Nino Trentinella[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/19/business/americans-abroad-cheaper-living-costs.html)

Why it matters

Higher U.S. living costs push more remote workers abroad, widening lifestyle gaps between expats and stay-at-homes. For Americans considering moves, it means potential for luxuries like help at home on the same pay, but family returns grow harder. Watch if tax policies change or U.S. costs ease, though expat numbers may keep rising.