Back in November there was a spike in online searches by desperate Americans considering emigration following Donald Trump's shock election victory.

As the much-anticipated inauguration of America's 45th President takes place today, we share 15 tempting alternatives to US cities – from New York to Austin – just in case you need to put an ocean between yourself and Mr Trump.



Where you live: New York

Where you should move to: London

Last spring, I would have recommended London as the ideal alternative to New York with confidence – both are teeming with glorious cultural activity, both have prohibitive costs of living, and the British capital’s once carefully controlled skyline is inching higher, one south London monstrosity at a time. The food is worse in London, but the hirsute hipsters wear fewer braces and are more evenly dispersed around the city. While many voices of doom have predicted quite convincingly that, post-Brexit, London’s status as financial capital of Europe is not long for this world, they’ve failed to present a united front in predicting the new hub. Frankfurt? Paris? Amsterdam? Those are not the right choice for you. Just abandon any plans of having a “nice day”, adopt an attitude of British pessimism and you’ll fit right in. Brooklynites should head straight for Hackney. There you’ll find enough leafy streets and champagne socialists to make you feel right at home.

The City of London may no longer be Europe's financial capital, but the nearby Shoreditch hipsters should make fleeing New Yorkers feel at home Credit: Tom Archer / Barcroft Media ,

Where you live: Seattle

Where you should move to: Vienna

Sleepless in Seattle over Trump's win? Head to Austria. Yes, it’s landlocked. But coming from the coffee capital of North America (sorry, Portland), you’ll feel right at home in Vienna – plus, you may find that kaffeehaus culture offers a bit more atmosphere than your corner Starbucks. If grunge is your jam, you’ll find enough angst to sink a ship in Vienna – meticulous documentation of neuroses has a long history here.

Vienna has coffee and Christmas markets Credit: Newmarket

Where you live: Las Vegas

Where you should move to: Macau

Nevada voted for Hillary, and residents of its biggest city might consider a move to Macau. Mildly classier in appearance – thanks to its pockets of 17th-century Portuguese architecture - you’ll find plenty of glitz in Macau, too. With its 30‑plus casinos, all-singing, all-dancing Broadway-style extravaganzas, gourmet dining, and omnipresence of cash (a per capita GDP of $91,000 makes Macau the fourth richest territory in the world), it won't be long before you feel right at home.

Fear not: Macau has a Venetian of its own

Where you live: Palo Alto

Where you should move to: Stockholm

If you’re living in Silicon Valley and are a Trump-o-phobe, I’m sorry. Palo Alto’s combination of innovation, wellness and temperate climate are impossible to match. Your best option is to move to Stockholm, where there’s a strong tech crowd and a reasonably outdoorsy vibe. The chirpy staccato cadence of Swedish may go a small way to staving off darkness-induced depression – but you’ll certainly want to bring a light therapy lamp. And don’t worry – despite the weather, Sweden is regularly voted one of the world’s happiest countries.

Perhaps before moving to Stockholm ask yourself what you truly feel about Abba: the Swedes tend not to joke about the fabulous foursome

Where you live: Washington DC

Where you should move to: Brussels

Do you love bureaucracy? Are pearls and twinsets your uniform? Look no further than Queen Mathilde, the most inexplicably conservatively-dressed member of any European royal family (she’s 43!), to reassure yourself that Brussels is the place for you. Like DC, Europe's capital has a first-rate art collection and good restaurants, on top of which it offers unique beers and rather fine chocolate.

Queen Mathilde of Belgium, who is 43 and is pictured here with King Abdullah of Jordan, King Philippe of Belgium and Queen Rania of Jordan, shows a maturity in style seldom seen outside of Washington Credit: Getty Images/Olivier Matthys,Olivier Matthys

Where you live: Sonoma

Where you should move to: Georgia

Californians have a habit of being more than a little bit smug about their produce – the glories of which are not always immediately evident on the shelves of Trader Joe’s. Pack up your taste for tilling and take it eastwards, to Georgia. Not the state – you’ll be Trumped there – but the country. Specifically, to Kakheti, the country’s eastern food and wine growing region. Did you know that they’ve been making natural wine in Georgia for 8,000 years? This is the new California, and you should be there.

Just think of the acreage you could buy in Kakheti if you sold off your land in Sonoma Credit: Getty Images

Where you live: San Francisco

Where you should move to: Sydney

If you’re the sort of person comfortable living in a city known mainly for its bridge, this is the most obvious choice for you. And they let you climb the one in Sydney. Bonus. But the link goes further than that: both cities are centres for surfers and great Chinese restaurants.

Everyone likes a bridge - but perhaps no one more than the tourism boards of San Francisco and Sydney Credit: Chad Ehlers / Alamy

Where you live: Boston

Where you should move to: Dublin

No outsiders can understand what anyone from either of these places is saying. Solidarity.

A river runs through it: the Liffey, in Dublin Credit: Realy Easy Star/Giuseppe Masci / Alamy

Where you live: Chicago

Where you should move to: Manchester

Already comfortable with Second City Syndrome, you’ll slide seamlessly into the scene in Manchester. After all, both cities share a predictably precipitous climate, coupled with a decidedly emotive music scene – you’ll move from the home of the Blues to The Smiths’ HQ; heaven knows you’re miserable now.

From one musical city to another

Where you live: St Louis

Where you should move to: Buenos Aires

You clearly like the ebb and flow of a river, so head south from the "Gateway to the West" to the rather more cosmopolitan Argentine capital, where you can reinvent yourself to an altogether different beat.

What it lacks in monumental archways Argentina's capital more than makes up for in deftness of dance moves

Where you live: Honolulu

Where you should move to: Okinawa

President Obama’s home state will have much to mourn come November. In a Trump White House, chances are high that Hawaii won’t feature in annual presidential holidays – even Hill and Bill found it impossible to resist the sophisticated charms of Mar-a-Lago.

But Florida is not the new Hawaii. Where can you replicate Honolulu’s miles of beach, laid-back lifestyle, and great restaurants? Try Okinawa.

Miles away – literally and ideologically – from their Tokyo salaryman counterparts, Okinawans swap suits for kariyushi – Japan’s answer to the aloha shirt. Okinawan food is fantastic, too – think purple potatoes instead of rice – and will do you good: longevity rates in Okinawa are among the highest in the world.

Could this be your new Hawaii?

Where you live: New Orleans

Where you should move to: Cape Town

New Orleans has a long history as the most Democratic city in a largely Republican state (Louisiana voted for Trump this week). If you’re craving a replacement for this liberal southerly seaside town which comes teeming with creativity, head to South Africa’s south-west coast and settle into a new life. Cape Town’s gorgeous natural setting is complimented by a cool urban edge that will feel just like home.

If you head to Cape Town, it may be wise to swap cocktails for the fruits of Stellenbosch Credit: © Christopher Salerno, All rights reserved/Christopher Salerno

Where you live: Austin

Where you should move to: Hong Kong

Both cities largely out of context, Austin and Hong Kong share a strong arts vibe. If you’re blue about missing SXSW, content yourself with experimental Chinese cinema. If you’re worried about losing your Texan art agent, consider the immense importance Christie’s and Sotheby’s have placed on the HK market. Plus, Chinese BBQ is nothing to sneeze at.

Hong Kong's art market is lively - making it a good alternative to those fleeing Austin

Where you live: Detroit

Where you should move to: Harbin

China, the world’s biggest car manufacturer and biggest automobile market, produces more than three times the number of cars the US does. If you’ve got diesel in your DNA, why not make a move to Harbin, in northern China? You’ll easily shrug off the chilly winter weather – and the local ice sculptures are a bit of festive fun.

After suffering through years of Detroit winters, Harbin's ice sculptures will blow your mind

Where you live: Portland

Where you should move to: Vancouver

Portland is a bastion of creative living – it’s cool incarnate. But in a world ruled by Trump, you’ll want to head for the hills. So go ahead; live the cliché: go to Canada. Vancouver regularly tops lists of the most “liveable” cities. With a gentle climate, good restaurants and a ski haven come winter, you’ll do fine just fine a few hours further north.

You’ll want to pack one of these:

We doubt shelfies.com will be marketing a Trump jumper any time soon Credit: shelfies.com

And is all else fails...

Go where it's cheap

Shown on the map below are the cheapest (and most expensive) countries in which to live, taking into account the cost of accommodation, food and drink from both supermarkets and restaurants, clothing, taxi fares, leisure activities, utility, internet and mobile phone bills. Avoid the red areas.