I'm a first-generation American who moved to the UK. I don't plan on going back.

• Kasia Kovacs moved to Budapest from the States in her 20s and then to London five years ago.
• She was born to Hungarian and Polish parents in the US, but doesn't plan on moving back.
• Kovacs loves living in London regardless of the relatively high income tax and lower wages.

I'm the daughter of immigrants, born and raised in the US.

Seven years ago, I scrapped the American dream and moved back to the continent my parents left just before I was born.

I lived in Budapest for two years, improving my language skills and connecting with my family in Hungary and Poland. Then, in 2020, I moved to London.

Recently, several other Americans have had a similar idea.

Google searches for "dual citizenship," "expat," and "citizenship by ancestry" spiked the week after Donald Trump won the US election in November.

The UK Home Office released data in March showing that 6,100 US citizens applied for UK citizenship in 2024. 1,700 of the applications came in the last three months of the year, coinciding with Trump's reelection. This marked a significant jump from 2023 when fewer than 5,000 US citizens applied.

I've been in the UK for nearly five years — which means I can apply for British citizenship next year — and I've learned a lot about living as an American emigrant in that time.

Moving to the UK may not be the most financially savvy move

Wages are on average lower in the UK. In spring 2024, the median weekly salary in the US was $1,143, compared to $917 in the UK, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and Office for National Statistics, respectively.

My friends ask how I make a smaller salary stretch in the city. London can be expensive if you want to live alone in an fancy area, but it doesn't need to be.

My lifestyle choices keep my costs manageable. I share a flat and walk, or take the bus wherever I go. I've learned which local pubs have the most affordable pints and rarely go to fancy restaurants.

I work in the news industry, and I was lucky enough to find both full-time jobs I've had in London within a few months. Ultimately, I didn't find job hunting more difficult in the UK than in the US. But it helped that I have a right to work in the UK with the pre-settled status I got through my EU citizenship.

There's another big financial factor to consider in the UK: taxes

In the US, you could pay anywhere from 10 to 37% in federal income tax; however, these jumps are incremental. In comparison, income tax ranges from 20 to 45% in the UK and 40% taxation applies to annual income over £51,271, around $65,750.

As an American citizen, I need to pay US tax on my UK income during the years when I don't qualify for the foreign-earned income exclusion. The silver lining to paying double tax is that I don't have to calculate and file my taxes in the UK; they are filed automatically through my employer.

I'm OK with paying the higher income tax rate in the UK because I know a good chunk of my taxes go to a social safety net, including the National Health Service (NHS), education, and welfare services.

I don't want to imply that the UK is a utopia.

For instance, the UK conservative party's austerity measures have hollowed out the NHS, leading to overworked doctors and long wait times. The current Labour government announced significant cuts to the welfare budget in March.

But in my day-to-day life, I appreciate the things my taxes fund: public transportation so I don't need a car, sidewalks, lots of green spaces so movement is integrated into my daily life and public healthcare. I also worry about my safety much less than when I was in the US.

For me, all this makes living in the UK worth it.

My life feels more fun and fulfilling on this side of the Atlantic

People often ask me when I plan to return to the US, the answer is: I don't. I feel like I live a good life here.

I love London. I have a much better work-life balance than in the US, so I can immerse myself in the city's history, parks, and pub culture.

My favorite time of year is summer when the sun appears, and the whole city vibrates with excitement for the European or World Cup football games — soccer to Americans.

I'm also grateful for the ease of travel. I've eaten tapas in Madrid on Thanksgiving, watched the sunrise in the Alps, and lounged in an Italian villa in the summer.

I try to keep my travel costs low by typically booking a budget airline and staying in modest accommodation or with family and friends.

The UK is a worthy travel destination too. There's a comprehensive train system that makes traveling around the country easy, and I often explore walking trails.

These aren't the hikes I'm used to in the US, but there's something charming about a long muddy walk ending with ice cream by the Cornish sea or a hot meal in a Lake District pub.

The key to feeling like you belong abroad is building community

Having lived in three countries during my adult life, I've learned a somewhat unwelcome secret: You must put yourself out there to meet people in a new place, even if it's nerve-racking.

I found some of my closest friends by showing up to meetups solo. I joined the 'London New Girl' Facebook group, attended events through a women's group called New Circle Society, and organized a meetup for fans of the Who Weekly podcast.

Over the years, strangers I've met at those events have become my community. I've grown to believe that cultivating meaningful relationships is a factor of a life well lived. These connections are part of the reason I'm staying put.

My advice for people considering living abroad is don't just think of it as a fresh start but as an opportunity to integrate yourself into another culture and community.

Sometimes, I wonder what life would have been like if I had stayed in the US. I miss my family and friends in America every day.

Truthfully, I feel more at home in the UK than I ever did in the US.

I feel lucky to make this choice — and anyone who can move abroad should acknowledge the value of that opportunity.