Overview
The United States is a federal constitutional republic of 50 states, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and the founding anchor of NATO. Its common law legal system, rooted in English tradition, underpins the world's most liquid capital markets and most active entrepreneurial ecosystem. With a nominal GDP of $28.8 trillion — the largest in the world — the US attracts more foreign direct investment than any other nation. It is a member of the G7, G20, OECD, and WTO, and maintains over 270 diplomatic missions globally.
Quick Facts
- Passport Rank: 10
- Visa-Free Destinations: 179
- Capital: Washington, D.C.
- Population: 335 million
- Area: 9,833,517 km²
- Currency: US Dollar (USD)
- Official languages: English
- Religions: Protestant 43%, Catholic 20%, Other Christian 6%, Jewish 2%, Muslim 1%, Unaffiliated 26%
Key Indicators
- GDP (Nominal): $28.8 trillion
- Unemployment Rate: 4.1%
- Human Development Index: 0.927
- GDP per Capita: $85,373
Safety & Governance
- Global Peace Index (IEP): 2.44
- Press Freedom Index (RSF): 66.59
- Corruption Perception (TI): 69/100
- Gini Coefficient (WB): 39.8
Health & Environment
- PM2.5 Air Pollution: 7.18 µg/m³
- Air Quality Category: Good
- ND-GAIN Adaptation Index: 67.2/100
- Life Expectancy: 77.5 years
Residence
Tax residency in the United States is determined by two tests: the green card test (automatic worldwide income taxation for lawful permanent residents) and the substantial presence test (183 days in the current year using a weighted three-year formula: 100% of current year days + 33% of prior year + 17% of the year before that). The US is one of only two countries globally that also taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of physical residence — meaning even non-resident citizens must file annual returns and report foreign financial accounts. For investors on non-immigrant visas, careful day-counting is essential to avoid inadvertently triggering tax residency. Exceeding 183 weighted days converts a visitor into a US tax resident, triggering full worldwide income reporting obligations from that date forward.
Taxes on Personal Income
Federal income tax applies on a progressive scale from 10% to 37% across seven brackets. The top 37% rate applies to single filers earning above $609,350 and married joint filers above $731,200 (2026). State income taxes vary from 0% (Florida, Texas, Nevada, Wyoming, South Dakota, Washington, Alaska) to 13.3% in California — making state selection a critical financial decision for high earners. Capital gains are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% federally, depending on income, plus a 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax for high earners. Qualified dividends are taxed at the same preferential rates as long-term capital gains. Rental income is taxed as ordinary income, though depreciation deductions substantially reduce effective tax rates for real estate investors. There is no federal wealth tax, and the estate tax applies only to estates exceeding $13.61 million per individual (2026).
Cost of Living
Healthcare insurance for a single healthy adult averages $580/month for a mid-tier employer-sponsored plan or $720/month on the individual marketplace. Housing costs vary dramatically: a one-bedroom apartment in central Manhattan costs $4,200/month, compared to $1,800/month in Austin and $1,200/month in Phoenix. Beyond rent, US-specific hidden costs are substantial — car ownership is near-mandatory outside New York and Chicago, with average monthly expenses of $850 including loan payment, insurance, fuel, and maintenance. Sales tax ranges from 0% (Oregon, Montana) to 10.25% (Chicago combined rate), and tipping of 18–22% is expected at restaurants and for services. A comfortable lifestyle for a family of three costs $7,500/month, including rent in a mid-tier city such as Denver or Charlotte.
Healthcare System
The US healthcare system operates primarily through private employer-sponsored insurance, with Medicare covering those over 65 and Medicaid covering low-income residents. Employer-sponsored plans for a family average $2,300/month in combined employer and employee premiums. Individual marketplace plans (ACA) average $720/month for a single adult with a $5,000 annual deductible before full coverage activates. Specialist wait times are among the shortest globally — 2 weeks for most specialists versus 3 months in Canada — but out-of-pocket costs are the highest in the OECD. A three-day hospital stay without insurance averages $30,000. Prescription drug costs average 3–5 times higher than in Europe for equivalent medications. Expats relocating to the US should budget $1,500/month for private insurance if not covered by an employer.
Education System
Public K-12 education is free for all legal residents and funded by local property taxes, creating substantial quality disparities between school districts — a direct driver of real estate prices in top-rated districts. Private K-12 tuition averages $18,000/year for independent day schools and $55,000/year for elite boarding schools. Dependent visa holders' children may attend public schools, but private schools offer more consistent quality across locations. University costs average $38,000/year in tuition at private four-year institutions and $11,000/year at public universities for in-state residents. Living expenses add $18,000/year. Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and 13 other US institutions rank in the global top 20, making the US the world's leading destination for graduate education. International students on F-1 visas pay full out-of-state tuition at public universities.
Banking & Finance
New arrivals in the US start with no credit history, which affects apartment rental, mortgage qualification, and even employment screening. The FICO scoring system (300–850) takes 6–12 months to generate an initial score. The fastest path to establishing credit: open a secured credit card with a $500 deposit, pay the balance in full monthly for 6 months, then apply for an unsecured card. Mortgage terms are exceptionally favourable by global standards: 30-year fixed-rate mortgages at approximately 6.8% (April 2026), with 20% down payment avoiding private mortgage insurance. Foreign nationals on work visas can qualify for mortgages with 25% down and 12 months of US-based employment history. FBAR (FinCEN 114) requires disclosure of all foreign financial accounts exceeding $10,000 aggregate; FATCA (Form 8938) requires additional reporting of foreign financial assets exceeding $200,000. Non-compliance penalties reach 50% of the account value per year.
Cryptocurrency Regulation
The IRS classifies cryptocurrency as property, not currency, meaning every disposal — sale, trade, or use for payment is a taxable event triggering capital gains calculation. Short-term gains (assets held under 12 months) are taxed as ordinary income at rates up to 37% federally. Long-term gains (12+ months) qualify for the 0%, 15%, or 20% preferential rate. Mining income is taxed as ordinary income at fair market value on the date of receipt. US-based exchanges, including Coinbase, Kraken, and Gemini, are fully regulated and issue Form 1099-DA to both investors and the IRS. Foreign exchange accounts exceeding $10,000 must be disclosed on FBAR. The SEC and CFTC maintain active enforcement against unregistered securities offerings, making compliance essential for institutional-scale crypto activity. Stablecoin transactions are taxable events. The US has no crypto-specific tax exemptions.
Real Estate Market
Foreign nationals may purchase US real estate without restrictions, with no minimum investment requirement outside of visa-linked programs. Prices vary by market: Manhattan averages $1,650/m², Miami Beach $1,200/m², Los Angeles $900/m², Austin $550/m², and Phoenix $380/m². Property tax rates average 1.1% of assessed value annually, with wide variation — New Jersey averages 2.2%, Hawaii 0.3%. Closing costs average 3.5% for buyers (including title insurance, attorney fees, and transfer taxes). Rental yields average 5.2% gross annually in mid-tier cities, with Manhattan at 3.1% and Phoenix at 6.8%. Foreign buyers are subject to FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act), which requires a 15% withholding at sale on the gross price — reclaimed through tax filing if actual gain is lower. Annual appreciation in major metros has averaged 6% over the decade to 2025, though 2023–2024 saw a moderation to 3.2%.
