As U.S. Declines, Get Out of Dodge

Ever dream about cashing in your chips, packing up your life and moving away to a remote country in a nether hemisphere? With the U.S. economy sinking and the housing and investment markets going from bad to worse, maybe it's time to get out of Dodge.

Like an extra chromosome in all of us, the desire to escape often festers inside only to surface on days when the market is down 500-or-so points, or when packing up a corner office in banana boxes as a security guard stands nearby or receiving unexpected divorce papers. Rather than watch a life in decrescendo, we look abroad to find the cheapest and chicest places to pack up your life and start from scratch.

Buzios, Brazil
How to flee: Two-hour drive from Rio de Janeiro, Bridgette Bardot statue marks the spot.

It's a curious pilgrimage to Buzios along a poorly paved, two-lane highway from Rio de Janeiro that passes through the inland countryside. You'll pass abandoned cars and an endless stream of locals that use the freeway as a sidewalk before reaching the narrow roads leading into Buzios. It's one of the most inviting year-round climates in South America as sculptural hills surround mile-long beaches strewn with fishing boats and surf shacks. The combination of a desirable exchange rate and carefree beach community make it a hotspot for incognito fashion icons like Calvin Klein.

The main town of Buzios is a cluster of cobblestone streets dotted with sidewalk cafes, trinket boutiques and five-seat bars. Dressed up over the past few years with an influx of Brazilian society and American homebuyers, houses outside of town can still be found for under $100,000 with beachfront property starting around $350,000. While learning Portuguese and weathering monsoon season are the downfalls, a thriving nightlife and gourmet restaurant scene make up for all the hard work.