Growing up in Australia in the 90s, the Great American Dream was not an unfamiliar concept. Many people from all over the world move to the United States every year in hopes of a better life for themselves and their families. Unfortunately, the Great American Dream no longer exists for the majority of Americans, so will it work for me as an expat?
In 2021, I moved to the United States from Peru because, during the pandemic, things got a little tricky. At the time, my husband and I had only recently gotten married on paper (wedding to come in October!), and we needed somewhere to live. Australia was closed to everyone, and another foreign country would require both of us to get a visa. Moving to the States was the best option for us, as hubby is from Springfield, MA.
After living here for 4 years, I’ve come to realize that, in my opinion, the American Dream doesn’t exist. So let’s break down why it’s no longer possible.
Income
Living comfortably, the American Dream seemed possible. I am a veteran teacher with years of international experience under my belt, and my husband also holds a bachelor’s degree, so earning a sufficient income should be possible. Yet we struggle. Coming to Central Mass without much of a support network and prior work experience in the state doesn’t exactly set you up for success. All our savings quickly disappeared on lawyers’ fees, and on buying a house and a car.
Minimum wage is a joke. Beginning in July 2025, the national minimum wage in Australia will be $24.95 per hour, equivalent to approximately $16.40 US. The federal minimum wage in the US is $7.25; in Massachusetts, it is $15. How is it possible to earn enough to survive without going into debt?
Housing
Navigating today’s housing market is challenging everywhere. With high prices for rent, soaring interest rates, and increasing mortgage costs, homeownership is a difficult goal for many Americans to achieve. While a significant cash down payment from savings or a home sale can help, it’s still common for people to struggle.
Healthcare & Insurance
Maybe you have healthcare insurance connected through your job, but not every job offers insurance. Expensive copays and medical bills. Medical costs can be in the thousands, even with insurance, so the costs are definitely adding up. Factor in that each person in your family will get sick and need various kinds of doctor visits, many of which are not well covered by insurance. It’s exhausting.
Now, no one country is going to be absolutely amazing, and it is not always possible to move internationally. So what can we do about it? Perhaps not much, but we can live within our means, not outside of them. It might take some uncomfortable changes for a while, but it will be worth it to be more financially stable.
As for me, for a multitude of reasons, we’ll be making the move back to Australia in the near future. I’ve lived overseas for close to 20 years, so it’s about time I headed back home. Will it be any better there? The Great Australian Dream? Perhaps not, but my kids will grow up with their cousins, and you can’t beat that.
