I am 36 years old, single, and currently unemployed, living with my parents in my home country. I am at a point that might define the next decade of my life. I am struggling with a choice between two paths that offer completely different types of security.

Option A: Relocating to Southern Europe (Portugal)

The Income: A low-skill remote role (Content Analysis) with night shifts (PST hours), paying ~1100 EUR. I also have some passive income to supplement this.

The Lifestyle: Living in a studio or small apartmentin in smallish Portuguese town. For around 800 EUR.

The Perspective: The move isn't about a specific career goal or a passport; it’s about the higher life standards, safety, and the stable social environment of Western Europe.

The Trade-off: I would be far from my aging parents. I would be working an unskilled job that doesn't build professional equity, potentially living in studio at 36, which might be isolating during night shifts.

Option B: Staying in my Home Country (Ankara, Turkey)

The Job & Security: A Finance/Accounting role for a SME. I own my apartment here, so I have no housing costs.

The Professional Play: Pursuing a CPA-equivalent certification. This is a 3-year commitment of internships and exams, leading to legal signing authority and the ability to open my own practice later on with adaquate experience and networks.

The Context: Turkey is facing economic instability, high inflation, and politically unsettling.

The Trade-off: While I would be near my parents and building a protected professional title, I would be staying in a high-stress, unpredictable environment.

The Financial Weight:

I have already spent roughly 10k EUR on the relocation process for Option A (visas, consultants, etc.).

The Dilemma:

One path offers a prestigious, recession-proof career in a struggling, unstable country. The other offers a simple, comfortable life with 'okay' standards in a stable country, but with no professional growth.

At 36, is it wiser to invest 3 years in a professional license to root myself, or to take the jump for a better quality of life even if the work is menial?

What would you do?

THANK YOU!

36yo: Career at home vs. Simple life abroad?