We moved from the US to a Greek island. Here are 5 pros and cons of raising a kid abroad.

After Cara West became a mother in 2022, she began rethinking the kind of life she wanted for her family.

She grew increasingly concerned about the cost of living in the US, the lack of community she felt in Houston, and the quality of education her child might receive. “I considered the possibility of moving abroad to live more affordably and comfortably,” West, 35, told Business Insider. “I didn’t want my child to attend a traditional public school in the US, and I wanted to teach her through travel and real-life experiences.” The following year, West and her family tested out living in Lisbon for a few months.

In Portugal, they found a lower cost of living and a quality of life that better aligned with how West and her husband wanted to raise their daughter.”After two weeks in Portugal, we knew we’d made the right decision and were ready for bigger changes,” she said.

In 2024, the family made their move to Europe permanent, choosing Syros, Greece — a small Cycladic island west of Mykonos — as their new home.

West is a travel blogger, while her husband is a stay-at-home dad.

This month, they signed a lease on a new house and renewed their visas, while their 4-year-old daughter prepares to start kindergarten.

West shared with Business Insider what she sees as the biggest pros and cons of moving across the world and raising a child abroad, from learning a new language to living far from friends and family.