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Americas · English · updated 2026-10

Moving to the United States: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $3,300 a month to live in Major cities, and a family of four about $7,100, including rent. The United States has no standard route to permanent residence, with citizenship after 5 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the EB-2 National Interest Waiver.

Monthly budget
$3,300
Very high cost
Safety
36
Take care
Stability
61
Stable
Family
62
Very good
Main city
Major cities
Language
English
Permanent residence
No standard route
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
No
What can your passport do in the United States?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
Open the interactive index →

Cost of living in United States, per month in US$

One person
$3,300
Family of four
$7,100
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Major cities centre
$1,800
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$3,350
Estimate
Price level
100
US = 100
Income per person
$7,401
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
36
Take care
Homicides per 100k
5.76
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability−0.30
Rule of law+0.79
Control of corruption+0.87
Government effectiveness+1.19
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Stable overall (61/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
62
Very good
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.702
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
6.5
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
78.9 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$13,473
per person / year
Education spending
5.4%
of GDP

Spouses of H-1B holders can only work in some cases; spouses of L-1 and E visa holders can work. Public schools are free.

Visa & residence routes

Talent
EB-2 National Interest WaiverSelf-petition for a green card if your work benefits the US. No employer needed; long backlogs for India and China.
Job offer
H-1B specialty occupationEmployer-sponsored and capped. Selection is now weighted toward higher wage levels, and a $100,000 fee applies to new petitions for people outside the US.
Job offer
O-1 extraordinary abilityFor top performers, filed by a US employer or agent.
Investment
EB-5 investor$800,000 in a targeted area ($1,050,000 elsewhere) creating 10 US jobs.
Investment
Gold Card$1M gift to the US government plus a $15,000 fee; launched December 2025, with few approvals so far.

Some passports also get: TN status under USMCA; E-3 visa; H-1B1 visa.

Who gets easier access to the United States

The United States is not part of a free-movement area in the index.

TN status under USMCA (2 nationalities)

TN status under USMCA: renewable 3-year work status for listed professions with a US job offer.

Flag of CanadaCanadaFlag of MexicoMexico

E-3 visa (1 nationality)

E-3 visa: 10,500 places a year reserved for Australians with a US job offer.

Flag of AustraliaAustralia

H-1B1 visa (2 nationalities)

H-1B1 visa: a separate quota for Chileans and Singaporeans, outside the H-1B lottery.

Flag of ChileChileFlag of SingaporeSingapore

Visiting: 4 passports can visit visa-free, 42 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 152 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArriveCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
No standard route
No set timeline; green card waits range from about 1 year to decades by country of birth
Citizenship
5 yrs
5 years as a green card holder (3 if married to a US citizen)
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Since 1 January 2026, visas are fully suspended for nationals of 19 countries and partly for 20 more (Proclamation 10998). Check your passport first.

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.uscis.gov

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in the United States?

About $3,300 a month for one person and $7,100 for a family of four in Major cities, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $1,800 a month and a 3-bedroom around $3,350. Prices are 100% of US levels. The United States is the 70th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is the United States safe to live in?

The United States scores 36/100 for safety (take care), ranking 64th of 76. The homicide rate is 5.76 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is the United States politically stable?

The United States scores 61/100 for stability (stable), ranking 44th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is the United States good for families?

The United States scores 62/100 for family-friendliness (very good), ranking 43rd of 76. Life expectancy is 78.9 years and under-5 mortality is 6.5 per 1,000 births. Spouses of H-1B holders can only work in some cases; spouses of L-1 and E visa holders can work. Public schools are free.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in the United States?

There is no standard route to permanent residence. No set timeline; green card waits range from about 1 year to decades by country of birth.

How long until I can become a citizen of the United States?

Usually 5 yrs of residence. 5 years as a green card holder (3 if married to a US citizen). Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to the United States without a job offer?

Yes. EB-2 National Interest Waiver: Self-petition for a green card if your work benefits the US. No employer needed; long backlogs for India and China.

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of the United States can move