Americans Are Moving To These High-Risk Climate Zones

The cost of living has been continually rising in many places throughout the world. In the United States, prices have climbed steadily almost yearly for the past 30 years. This rise is even more significant in urban areas where, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, prices rose 2.5 percent in the past year alone. This is leading many Americans to consider other, less expensive, regions to relocate to. But many of the areas they're choosing are high-risk climate zones.

Moving to an area versus vacationing in an area can be completely different and Americans often opt for mini-vacations to see if they'd like the full-time move. Many regions high on their list are known for their warm weather and relaxed vibe, areas that are almost opposite of the urban areas they've grown accustomed to. But great weather often comes at a price.

These areas are high-risk climate zones with the potential for drought, fire, floods, and heat. But many of these areas have natural beauty or a relaxed lifestyle that beckons to most. Which may just make the risk worth the reward.

To compile a list of high-risk climate zones Americans are moving to, 24/7 Tempo consulted several travel-centered sources. These include the International Rescue Committee, World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, and World Food Program USA. (While we're on the topic of weather, click here to uncover details about extreme weather phenomena you didn't know existed.)

Some Americans are considering Costa Rica a place to relocate since it's a climate-vulnerable destination that's doubled as a vacation hotspot for many years. There's a lot to uncover about Costa Rica including the fact that the national animal is an adorable monkey, and the entire country was built on what locals called the "golden grain." Golden grains are coffee beans that have amounted to a massive cash flow for locals living on the land.

Whether you're a tourist or a local in Costa Rica, you know for certain that you'll always have access to a delicious cup of coffee whenever you're craving one. Multiple indigenous groups reside in Costa Rica based on the indigenous law that was passed back in 1977. There's a lot to learn about Costa Rica beyond its climate vulnerability, which is what makes it such an exciting destination to choose.

It seems that Brazil has always had a fabulous reputation among tourists. Americans who are thinking of relocating to Brazil permanently are on a good track. The current population of Brazil sits at more than 180 million people with the official language being Portuguese. Americans who want to live in Brazil for good must certainly take the language barrier into account.

There are two breathtaking mountain ranges to lay eyes on in Brazil: the Serra do Mar and the Serra do Espinhaço. These mountain ranges are perfect for people who love hiking in nature and people who simply enjoy admiring the great wonders of the world. There are four major rivers people can take splashes in while living in Brazil: the Amazon, São Francisco, Paraná, and Tocantin.

Americans might consider relocating to Ethiopia permanently because of its slower pace. For starters, Ethiopia does things a little differently with the way they honor and reflect time. They have a 13-month calendar, while every country goes by a 12-month calendar. Since they're on a 13-month calendar, they are technically a few years behind the rest of the global population.

For this reason, the people who live in Ethiopia are "younger" than everyone else since their birthdays roll around at a more distanced pace. Ethiopia is one country that never dealt with colonization by Europeans, which means a lot of the original culture still exists the way it was always intended from the beginning.

Bangladesh is a high-risk climate zone that Americans are considering for multiple reasons. The South Asian country is where you'll stumble upon the largest mangrove forest on the entire planet. The forest isn't a place you'd want to get lost inside because several different animal species live inside of it.

Still, it's a beautiful and natural wonder that plenty of Americans might hope to see in person at least once in their lives. Some of the wildlife you might cross paths with in Bangladesh include birds, dolphins, and colorful lizards. Folks who love beach days will also appreciate the fact that Bangladesh offers one of the longest beaches in the world stretching 75 miles in length without any interruptions.

There's much to uncover about Nigeria beyond the fact that it is a high-risk climate zone. The West African country has a population of more than 203 million residents as it stands today. There's only one major mountain range in Nigeria, and it's called the Cameroonian Highlands. The existence of that sole mountain range is certainly enough for folks who love spending time outdoors, hiking, and admiring beautiful views from up above.

There are two major rivers in Nigeria: the Niger and Benue. The former has historically been used as a major route for merchant travelers and product trading. Nigeria is affectionately nicknamed the "Giant of Africa" based on how much land it covers as a whole, and the fact that the people who live there are so diverse.

Plenty of people automatically think of Panama as a wonderful place for a vacation. Whether you're a solo traveler, someone interested in going to new places with a romantic partner, or someone excited to see new views with your whole family, Panama might already be on your radar.

The Central American country has about 4 million residents with the official language being Spanish. Since Spanish is already such a popular language spoken across America, the language barrier issue might not be too much of a hassle for bilingual Americans looking to relocate.

The most interesting detail about Panama is that more than 1,000 species of birds live in the area, flying across the land every single year. This means that there are more birds in Panama than all the birds currently residing in both Canada and the United States.

Pictures of the Maldives are often used by people who are excited about manifesting their upcoming vacations. One example would be a couple with wanderlust covering their vision boards with blissful photos of the Maldives in an attempt to bring that type of experience to their realities. Beyond thinking of a vacation hot spot, the Maldives are also thought of as a hotspot for Americans looking to relocate to a high-risk climate zone.

The Maldives is a South Asian country that's super relaxing and calming. It's the best place to go if you're in need of a mental reset and some true rejuvenation. Less than a fifth of the islands in the Maldives are inhabited by human beings, which means there's tons of open space just about everywhere. The Maldives has only been a great place to travel for the last few decades, but within the last 50 years, the reputation it's built for itself has been phenomenal.

Thailand is considered one of the cheapest and most delightful high-risk climate zones for Americans to relocate to. Americans who choose Thailand as a vacation destination know they'll be able to live like royalty on a small amount of money while spending time in Thailand. The amount of cash you'll drop on dinner reservations, couples massages with your partner, and a day full of public transportation is a fraction of the amount you'd spend in America.

The natural wonders of Thailand are a big draw for non-locals who've never seen so much lush greenery in their lives. There are plenty of forests and jungles in Thailand to explore. Of course, if you plan to hike through the jungles and forests of Thailand, you shouldn't do so alone to maintain a high level of safety. The national flower of Thailand is the orchid, and there are lovely orchids planted all over the country.

The Philippines is an Asian country that is a high-risk climate zone, but Americans are still super interested in moving there. That's probably because there's so much to do in the Philippines that brings locals and tourists so much joy. For starters, karaoke has been labeled the most popular national activity in the Philippines. People love doing karaoke in America, so it's great that such a fun nightlife activity has translated over to a place like the Philippines.

Another detail to note is that the Philippines boasts the third-largest Catholic population on the planet. There are millions of Catholics currently living in America, which means the religious connection between America and the Philippines is there already. Anyone who loves shopping will also have a field day in the Philippines since five of the largest shopping malls in the world were built there for anyone who adores retail therapy.

There's nothing secretive about the bliss and wonder of Fiji. There's a reason thousands of college kids book trips to Fiji when celebrating spring break every year. Whether you're a college kid or not, Fiji should be on your radar as a climate-vulnerable destination that you might want to move to as an American.

Fiji is home to tons of temples, churches, forests, coral reefs, sugarcane plantations, and more. Sports lovers will appreciate the fact that the people of Fiji are head over heels in love with rugby. Rugby might not be too common of a sport in America, but it's certainly beloved in Fiji.

About 80,000 people are registered as official rugby players in Fiji, which means one out of every 10 residents plays the sport. Americans are super invested in sports like football, baseball, and basketball. Rugby is the sport that grabs everyone's attention in Fiji, though. The multicultural nation gives outsiders a truly welcoming place to feel settled.

Another common vacation destination for Americans is Mexico. Mexico is a high-risk climate zone that Americans can potentially move to permanently in the coming years. Some folks might be under the assumption that Mexico isn't the safest place to live, but there are definitely parts of Mexico where tourists feel totally at home without any concerns.

One interesting detail to note about Mexico is that it is home to the second-largest coral reef in the world, stretching 1,000 km long. There are 68 different languages recognized in Mexico, which serves as proof that it is a melting pot of diversity.

There are also loads of museums to analyze in Mexico City full of artifacts and historical items to keep visitors super captivated. One of the largest pyramids in the world was built in Mexico, which means any Americans who move there will be able to see it with their own two eyes. It's called the Great Pyramid at Cholula.

A famous fictional character who plenty of Americans are familiar with came straight from the heart of Colombia. We're referring to Gloria Pritchett from "Modern Family." The show writers shed light on Gloria's Colombian culture to give Americans a better sense of what her life was like growing up in the South American country.

One interesting fact about Colombia is that it is the second most biodiverse country in the world after Brazil. Its biodiversity is certainly a draw that attracts and entices Americans in a significant way. Colombian pride is strong there. It is mandatory for all TV sets and radio stations to play the Colombian national anthem every single day – twice a day. Americans who live there will hear the Colombian national anthem at 6 am and 6 pm on a daily basis.

Armenia is also known for being a high-risk climate zone, a country famous for its culture and history. The breathtaking landscapes and delicious cuisine of Armenia are also worth exploring for Americans everywhere. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion and the first church in the world was built there in the year 303.

Faith is a very big deal in Armenia, which means Americans who want to feel more closely connected to God might benefit from migrating over to Armenia permanently. Another interesting fact about Armenia is that the Armenian alphabet is considered one of the most advanced alphabetic lists in the entire world. Learning the language might be a bit challenging for Americans, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.

Another high-risk climate zone that's on the radars of Americans everywhere happens to be Croatia. Croatia is a country in the Balkans that will potentially remind you of episodes of "Game of Thrones." The new HBO show, "House of the Dragon" may also remind you of Croatia since a lot of the beautiful and blissful backdrops are used to film different episodes.

In Croatia, there are eight national parks that visitors can frolic through. Interestingly enough, Dalmatian dogs originated in Croatia before being shipped to other places around the world. Without the Dalmatian origin story in Croatia, it's possible that Disney would've never been able to come up with a movie like "101 Dalmatians" for young children to enjoy.

Americans interested in moving to Indonesia have a long list of reasons why. For starters, Indonesia is where more than 100 endangered animals are located. Curious individuals who want to cross paths with animals that might go extinct forever will have the opportunity to come face-to-face with those animals while living in Indonesia.

More than 165 million people under the age of 30 can call Indonesia home, which means it has the world's largest population of young people. Older Americans with younger family members know their younger family members will feel right at home in Indonesia among their peers.

Younger Americans who want more of an opportunity to meet friends or romantic partners will be able to do that as well. More than 700 languages are spoken in Indonesia, which is a sign that there are tons of different people from varied walks of life living there.

Another high-risk climate zone in South America is Chile, home to the world's largest swimming pool. This particular swimming pool holds 66 million gallons of water and stretches as far as 20 Olympic-sized pools. Since it's so long, it broke a Guinness World Record. Americans who love splashing around on a hot summer day will easily be able to do that in Chili.

The oldest mummies on the planet were dug up in Chile, as well. This means history buffs have a lot to be excited about in this particular country. Americans who enjoy learning about ancient history will find everything their heart desires in Chili if they choose to permanently relocate. The tallest building in South America was built in Chili. No matter what other South American country you might travel to, you won't come across another building as tall as the Costanera Gran Torre.

Albania is a country in the Balkans that Americans are showing an interest in beyond its climate vulnerability. In Albania, the locals have a lot of respect for Mother Teresa. She's considered one of the most noteworthy figures in the country, who left a wonderful impact on the world.

Another interesting fact about Albania is that the country functions without any traffic lights at all. For this reason, Americans moving to Albania might want to second-guess purchasing a car or driving a vehicle anywhere. The smartest move would be opting for a residence that's walkable to all the places where you need to go.

There's a lot to appreciate about these high-risk climate zones and destinations for Americans. (Before fully narrowing down your options, click here to find out more about countries that suffer the most from extreme weather events.)