Global Shifts: The Journey From the West
Why people are ditching the West for cheaper homes, better lives, and new beginnings abroad.
The Western dream is crumbling. What used to mean a house, a family, a future—now looks more like $2,500 rent, a dead-end job, and a city that treats you like an extra in someone else’s movie. For Gen Z, stuck between debt and despair, the only way forward might be somewhere else entirely.
And the world is responding.
From Italy’s €1 homes to Japan’s rural immigration programs, countries are throwing open their doors, desperate to reverse aging populations and economic stagnation. They’re offering homes, visas, and fresh starts to people who feel betrayed by their own systems.
Italy’s €1 Home Program: Dirt Cheap, But Not Without Dirt
Towns across southern Italy are offering abandoned homes for €1—yes, literally one euro.
The catch?
• You have to commit to renovating the property
• You often need to live there for 1–3 years
• Renovations can run you €20,000–€40,000 or more
Still, that’s less than a year of rent in Toronto, and many Gen Z digital nomads are grabbing the offer with both hands. The idea is simple: escape Western housing hell, and in return, rebuild a dying village.
Read more on how the €1 program works
Some towns even offer grants or tax breaks to ease the transition. And for freelancers, remote workers, or artists burned out by North American burnout culture? It’s a reset button with pasta and wine.
Japan’s “Akiya” Homes: Empty Houses, Full of Promise
Japan has a problem: too many homes, not enough people.
Over 8 million houses sit empty—thanks to declining birth rates and urban migration.
So what’s Japan doing?
• Selling homes for as little as $5,000–$30,000
• Offering grants, visas, and tax breaks to both locals and foreigners
• Encouraging community renewal, not just real estate flips
And Gen Z is paying attention. From international students to remote tech workers to young tradespeople, people are moving into these quiet, overlooked towns and building low-cost, low-noise, high-peace lives.
See how one couple bought a dream home in Japan for $30k
The Great Gen Z Migration
So what’s behind this shift?
• Rent is out of control. Canada’s average rent is $2,174/month.
• Wages aren’t rising. Entry-level jobs pay less than inflation demands.
• Degrees don’t deliver. Debt is high, ROI is low.
• Mental health is collapsing. Burnout and anxiety are the norm.
Meanwhile, small towns across the world are practically begging you to show up and start over. And maybe that’s the appeal:
No prestige. No pressure. Just a life you can afford.
Countries That Want You to Move There (Seriously)
Beyond Italy and Japan, several countries are offering money, visas, or homes just to bring in new people:
• Albania, Spain, and Greece: offering digital nomad visas
• Portugal: offering rural relocation grants
• South Korea: experimenting with youth housing subsidies in depopulated towns
• Ireland and Germany: relaxing visa rules for skilled workers under 35
Full list: Countries that will pay you to move
This isn’t just a travel hack. It’s a generational migration shift. And for many in Gen Z, it’s less about running away—and more about finally finding a place to grow.
