Eva Longoria Has No Regrets About Leaving ‘Dystopian’ America Years Ago

Eva Longoria speaks onstage at the Apple TV+ presentation of "Land of Women" during the 2024 TCA Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif., on Feb. 5, 2024. Jerod Harris/Getty Images

Actress Eva Longoria was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, but she left the United States years ago and says she doesn’t miss it.

The Latina celebrity and her husband, José Bastón, previously lived in Los Angeles and now split their time between Spain and Mexico.

They have a 6-year-old son named Santiago.

“Whether it’s the homelessness or the taxes, not that I want to [expletive] on California—it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now,” Longoria, 49, told Marie Claire magazine on Nov. 13.

In 2023, Congressional data found that California had 181,399 homeless people, which accounted for 28 percent of the nation’s homeless population.

According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, California taxes rich people at higher rates than other states.

“I had my whole adult life here, but even before [the pandemic], it was changing,” Longoria said. “The vibe was different. And then COVID happened, and it pushed it over the edge.”

Longoria is known for starring in the ABC-TV series “Desperate Housewives” as Gabrielle Solis from 2004 to 2012. Last year, she directed the movie “Flamin' Hot,” and is currently playing the lead in the British movie “Christmas Karma” directed by Gurinder Chadha.

She isn’t the only celebrity who has left Los Angeles or the state of California to relocate abroad.

“Everyone we speak to has different reasons, but they all share a similar sentiment,” Mexico Relocation Guide founder Mariana Lange told The Epoch Times on Nov. 15.

“They don’t like the direction things are headed, and they can’t thrive anymore in the current economy.”

Mexico Relocation Guide offers an online course on moving to Mexico and private relocation tours.

As previously reported by The Epoch Times, Actress Amanda Seyfried recently left Hollywood to live on an upstate New York farm to protect her mental health.

Bruce Springsteen left the Hollywood glitz and glamor for Freehold, New Jersey, and “How I Met Your Mother” actor Jason Segel left Hollywood for a more quiet life in Ojai, California.

“Having lived in—and moved away from—California and serving the rising numbers of people departing for life abroad, I can attest that the high cost of living, exorbitant health care costs, taxes, and tightening job market are pushing people to live abroad,”  Andrew Jernigan, CEO of Insured Nomads, a global provider of health insurance, also serves ex-pats, told The Epoch Times on Nov. 15.

Research shows that California has some of the highest living expenses nationwide, and Lange said residents are worried about their future.

“Many people feel they will have to work until they die, and many of them have multiple jobs just to make ends meet,” Lange said. “Meanwhile, in Mexico, they can afford an upgrade without having to worry about running out of money.”

According to RentCafe data, the average rent for a 900-square-foot apartment in California, for example, is $1,837. Western Union research shows that in Mexico, a luxury one-bedroom apartment in major cities costs up to $1,000 per month. Housing Anywhere estimates that a one-bedroom in Spain costs $1,053 on average.

While health care is 8 percent more expensive in the Golden State, Jernigan found that health insurance for those living abroad is less expensive and has broader coverage with lower co-insurance and co-pays.

“It’s a major cost savings for many,” Jernigan said. “These factors combined with the ability to have a higher standard of living in countries like Spain, Portugal, and Mexico are inviting to especially the high net worth and more affluent remote workers and freelancers.”

According to U.S. Census data, more than 690,100 people left California for another state between 2022 and 2023, compared with 422,000 who relocated to the state.

However, not everyone is in a position to leave the state.

Currently, the Public Policy Institute of California estimates that nearly 39 million residents remain.

“I’m privileged,” Longoria said. “I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren’t so lucky. They’re going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them.”