Why Smart People Are Moving to Jamaica Right Now

There's a conversation happening in Toronto coffee shops, Washington DC happy hours, and London pubs that nobody's having out loud: "What if we just... left?"

Not for a vacation. Not for retirement. Just... left. Now. While we still can.

Canada: Priced Out of Paradise

Let's start with the obvious: Canadian housing is broken. A teardown in Toronto costs what a mansion used to. Vancouver condos trade for millions. Even small-town Alberta is unaffordable for first-time buyers.

You're not imagining it. The math doesn't work anymore. Two professionals with good jobs can't afford a starter home in any major city. Meanwhile, you're paying $3,000/month for a two-bedroom rental with thin walls and no AC.

"People are tired. Not 'need a vacation' tired. Soul tired. And they're starting to ask the question: Why are we living like this?"

United States: The Exhaustion is Real

American expats don't talk about politics anymore—they talk about escape routes. The last few election cycles broke something. It's not about left or right. It's about noise, division, anger that never stops.

You can't scroll social media without rage-bait. You can't visit family without walking on eggshells. Every conversation is a potential argument. Every dinner party is a political minefield.

Then there's the insurance crisis. Florida homeowners are getting dropped. California wildfire insurance is unaffordable. People with money, education, and options are asking: Why am I paying to live somewhere that stresses me out this much?

United Kingdom: The Grey Sky Tax

The UK has entered what can only be described as "managed decline." Nothing works quite right anymore, but everything costs more.

British property prices are insane relative to wages. A flat in London that's affordable requires a 90-minute commute each way. You spend your entire paycheck on rent, transport, and trying to stay warm in a damp house from 1880.

And the weather—God, the weather. Grey skies from October to April. Rain that isn't dramatic enough to be interesting, just constant drizzle that soaks through everything.

Why Jamaica Makes Sense

Jamaica isn't perfect. But it offers something increasingly rare: a simple, stress-free life at a price that makes sense.

Political Stability

Boring, stable politics. Elections happen, power changes hands peacefully, life continues. No riots, no chaos, no drama.

Actual Sunshine

300+ days of sunshine. Warm water. Year-round growing season. You stop checking weather apps because it's always nice.

Real Ownership

For the price of a Toronto condo, you own a luxury villa with ocean views. Actually own it. Not finance it for 30 years.

Easy Access

Direct flights from major hubs. You're not disappearing to the other side of the world. Family can visit easily.

The Real Question

It's not "Should I move to Jamaica?"
It's "Why am I still living somewhere that makes me miserable, broke, and cold?"

Jamaica is one answer. Maybe not the only answer. But it's an answer that more and more smart people are choosing in 2026.