For many Americans living abroad, the idea of returning home can feel exciting. Higher salaries, more job opportunities, and the promise of the “American Dream” often make the move seem like the logical choice. But one woman’s experience revealed a very different reality.
A TikTok creator named Kayleigh Donahue went viral after sharing why she regretted moving back to the United States after spending four years living in Ireland. Her honest reflection sparked a huge conversation online about work culture, cost of living, and quality of life in different parts of the world.
Key Takeaways
- Higher salaries do not always guarantee a better quality of life.
- Work-life balance and vacation time can significantly impact happiness.
- Cost of living plays a major role in financial stability.
- Many young professionals are rethinking the traditional idea of the “American Dream.”
- Living abroad can offer different perspectives on work and lifestyle
Donahue had been living in Ireland for several years and enjoyed her lifestyle there. However, like many young professionals abroad, she began thinking about returning to the U.S.
The reason seemed simple: money and career growth.
In a TikTok video posted under the username @kayshaynee, she explained that she believed returning to America would mean higher pay and more opportunities.
“I really got sucked into the American Dream way of living,” she said in the video. The promise of making more money and advancing her career convinced her to move back to the Boston, Massachusetts area.
At first, the plan seemed logical.
She did, in fact, get a higher-paying job.
But what happened next surprised her.
Despite earning more money in the U.S., Donahue quickly realized she was saving less than she had in Ireland.
The reason was simple: the cost of living.
Housing, groceries, transportation, and other everyday expenses were significantly higher than she expected. According to her, the increase in salary didn’t come close to covering the increased costs.
She described the moment she checked her finances after moving back.
“When I tell you my bank account went down… I literally lost money,” she said in the viral video.
For Donahue, the experience challenged a belief she had grown up hearing: that the U.S. offered the best financial opportunities.
Money wasn’t the only difference she noticed.
The work-life balance in the United States felt drastically different from what she had experienced in Europe.
While working in Ireland, she had nearly 29 days of paid vacation plus additional public holidays, giving her roughly 40 days off per year.
After moving back to the U.S., she received only about 10 days of vacation annually.
That shift had a major impact on how she felt about her life and job.
Instead of feeling financially secure and relaxed, she said she felt burned out and constantly stressed.
In the video, Donahue expressed frustration with what she described as an outdated narrative about success in America.
“It’s literally all a lie that is sold to you,” she said while describing the idea that moving to the U.S. automatically leads to a better life.
According to her, that idea may have been true decades ago but feels much harder for younger generations today.
She argued that many people work extremely hard yet still struggle with the high cost of living.
Eventually, Donahue decided she would likely move back to Europe.
She explained that even though salaries may be lower there, the overall quality of life felt higher because of lower expenses and better work-life balance.
In fact, by January 2025, she had followed through on that plan and relocated to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where she now lives with her Dutch husband.
She shared videos showing her life abroad again, suggesting she felt happier with the lifestyle she found there.
Donahue’s story quickly resonated with many people online.
Thousands of viewers commented on TikTok and other social media platforms, sharing their own experiences about living abroad or struggling with rising costs in the United States.
Some viewers said her story reflected what they had experienced themselves.
TikTok comments
“The 25 days of vacation alone keep me in Europe.”
“I moved back to the U.S. and realized quality of life matters more than salary.”
“Higher pay means nothing if everything costs more.”
“This is exactly why so many young people want to move abroad.”
Reddit discussions
“Europe has its downsides, but the work-life balance is hard to beat.”
“I think a lot of Americans are realizing the same thing.”
The video sparked debate because it touched on a bigger global conversation.
Many people today are questioning what actually defines a good life:
- Higher salaries
- Lower living costs
- Work-life balance
- Access to vacation time
- Overall happiness
For some people, the answer is staying close to home.
For others, it might mean building a life somewhere completely different.
Would you choose a higher salary or a better quality of life? Stories like this remind us that success can look different for everyone. Share this story with someone who dreams of living abroad, or someone who believes the perfect life might exist somewhere unexpected.
For more thought-provoking and wholesome stories about real people and real experiences, keep reading Simply Wholesome.
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