The top 3 destinations for American expats reveals why they aren't moving abroad for the money

In today's global society, living outside of your home country, whether for work or pleasure, is increasingly common.

The US State Department estimates there are about 8.7 million US citizens living in other countries, though the exact number is difficult to pin down.

Germany, Mexico, and Costa Rica are the top three destinations for American expats, according to a new annual report from InterNations, which surveyed more than 12,500 expats living in 188 countries.

Unlike for many Europeans, Americans say leaving home isn't about earning more money.

In fact, nearly half (48%) of US expats reported earning a lower income than at home - a direct contrast to citizens of Spain, Italy, Ireland, Germany, France, and the UK, who all reported higher incomes as expats.

That said, one-fifth of US expats are retirees, according to the report, presumably living off of savings rather than income from a current job. Both Mexico and Costa Rica landed in the top five on International Living's 2017 best places to retire list, in part because of their low cost of living.

For those who are working abroad, a higher income may not be necessary to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in a country with a lower cost of living than the US, which ranked No. 41 on InterNations cost of living index.

Ultimately, the report suggests that perhaps what US expats aren't earning in dollars, they're making up for in culture and new experiences, and an all together better quality of life.

Scroll through to learn more about expat life in Germany, Mexico, and Costa Rica.