While the American dream attracts millions with promises of opportunity and comfort, the reality of its steep healthcare costs often tells a different story. For Christina Kantzavelos, a therapist from California living with chronic illness, that price was too high, both financially and emotionally. After years of struggling to stay healthy in a system that drained her completely, she decided to look elsewhere for a better life and fell in love with a European city.

Speaking to Business Insider, Christina revealed she had no idea that a short vacation to Portugal would turn into a life-changing decision. Two years on, the 37-year-old says she has found a calmer, healthier rhythm of life in the quiet town of Óbidos, about 80 kilometres north of Lisbon.

Escaping America’s costly healthca

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