Moreover, as people increasingly put off moving in with partners, marrying and having children, their platonic relationships may stand in for romantic ones.

Maintaining faraway friendships can seem just as daunting as starting fresh in a new place. But there are plenty of ways to cope with the challenges of distance — and even use them to your benefit.

Time Differences Can Help

“We have more tools at our fingertips than ever to stay in touch,” said Max Marder, 27, who moved to Gaziantep, Turkey, just over two years ago to pursue an internship with a Syrian civil society organization. He had just earned his master’s degree from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and was seeking full-time employment.

“It was a race to find a job before I was overstaying my visa,” he said.

Despite the stress of settling into a new country and looking for work, Mr. Marder’s relationship with his best friend, Sam Jinishian, remained close. In fact, the seven-hour time difference between Gaziantep and New York worked in their favor; Ms. Jinishian was often on Google Chat at work around the same time Mr. Marder was wrapping up his day at home.

Will Lefferts, 25, who is pursuing a master’s in communication at Sciences Po in Paris, has also found that living in a different time zone has its social advantages.