Move to United States
10 cities, one country, zero sugar-coating. Residency paths, real costs, and whether the government will leave you alone.
United States at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Path to PR
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
Visa routes we know about
10 years
to permanent residency
13 years
to citizenship
⚠️ H-1B lottery → EB-2/EB-3 green card (current for most nationalities; 12–20+ yr backlog for India/China), then 5 yr residency before citizenship. Requires English proficiency and passing a 128-question civics test (12/20 to pass).
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
H-4 spouse can work only if H-1B principal has approved I-140. EAD processing takes 6–12 months (standalone), no auto-extension since Oct 2025.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in United States
10 cities ranked by Livability Score — the one number that rolls up rent, safety, democracy, and internet
Seattle
62/100Tucson
61/100Los Angeles
58/100New York
58/100San Francisco
58/100Honolulu
57/100Las Vegas
56/100Chicago
54/100Phoenix
54/100Miami
50/100Compare cities in United States
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$4,281
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 10 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$85,810
GDP per capita
21%
Corporate tax
4.2%
Unemployment
2.9%
Inflation
High inequality — gated communities exist for a reason.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
7.85/10
🏚️ Flawed democracy
80
/100Freedom House score
#128 of 163
Global Peace Index
#55
Press freedom rank
Is United States safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Mixed bag. Some cities are perfectly fine, others need homework.
Safest tracked city: Honolulu (1.5 per 100k)
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
English
Primary language
Very High
English proficiency (#1 globally)
English is the main language. One fewer excuse not to move.
❓ Moving to United States — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in United States?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Seattle ranks #1 in United States with a score of 62/100. City-centre rent starts around $2442/month.
How much does it cost to live in United States?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $1322 to $4281/month across our 10 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $3,742.
How do I get permanent residency in United States?▾
The path to permanent residency in United States typically takes 10 years. Citizenship is possible after 13 years. Note: H-1B lottery → EB-2/EB-3 green card (current for most nationalities; 12–20+ yr backlog for India/China), then 5 yr residency before citizenship. Requires English proficiency and passing a 128-question civics test (12/20 to pass).
Is United States a democracy?▾
United States scores 7.85/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Flawed democracy." It ranks #128 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is United States safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in United States is 7.1 per 100,000 people. Research specific neighborhoods before committing.