The surge in international travel this year is a testament to how much we are craving foreign destinations, along with the diverse mix of people, culture, and cuisine they serve. And while there has always been a subset of the population that’s taken that craving a step further by relocating abroad, the COVID-19 pandemic opened the option to more people than ever before—by increasing remote-work opportunities and creating a global workforce that is more untethered than it’s ever been.
Additionally, a growing number of countries have recently developed and enhanced digital nomad programs to court remote workers, making it easier than ever to install oneself in a foreign country for a prolonged period.
If you’re thinking of moving abroad and are wondering where you might go, perhaps the experience and insight of others who have taken the leap might help with the decision.
InterNations, an expat community with more than 5 million members worldwide, recently published the results of its annual Expat Insider survey, which it’s been running for a decade now. More than 12,500 respondents rated their satisfaction levels with various aspects of expat life in 53 countries, based on five indices: quality of life, ease of settling in, working abroad, personal finance, and the expat essentials index, which includes housing, administration, language, and digital life.
The results revealed the best and worst countries for living abroad, and the 10 best countries are in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
The 10 best countries for expats to live abroad
- Panama
- Mexico
- Indonesia
- Spain
- Colombia
- Thailand
- Brazil
- Vietnam
- Philippines
- United Arab Emirates
The best country in the world for expats
The best country to live and work abroad in is Panama, according to the annual Expat Insider survey. In this year’s survey, Panama ousted Mexico from the top spot thanks to several factors that expats appreciate most about living in Panama, including how happy expats are with their life in Panama, having a good financial situation, and how easy it is to settle in.
Other benefits to living in Panama, according to International Living, a publication dedicated to life abroad, include the modern infrastructure of the capital, Panama City, complete with the widespread availability of high-speed internet, and the use of the U.S. dollar in Panama, which makes finances easier to compute.
International Living notes that Panama offers a pensionado visa that makes it easy for retirees to relocate to the country; it says that while the cost of living is not the lowest in Central and South America, “a couple can live well here for $2,500 a month or less, including rent.”
Indeed, the Expat Insider survey found that 74 percent of expats in Panama are satisfied with their financial situation, compared to the global average of 54 percent, and the country ranks No. 1 in the world for financial satisfaction.
The affordable cost of housing also makes Panama an attractive place to relocate to, with 62 percent of expats there praising the housing costs. Panama also topped the list as the easiest place in the world for expats to find housing.
Ample opportunities to travel, great cuisine, and a pleasant climate are among the reasons Panama is such a great home base for foreigners abroad.
A WeWork coworking space in Mexico City, which ranked No. 7 in the 2023 global Expat City Ranking.
Nahima Aparicio/Unsplash
Best countries for expats in North and South America
Following Panama, Mexico claimed the No. 2 spot, having lost its 2023 crown. But the fact that Mexico has ranked among the survey’s top five countries for as long as the survey has been running (since 2014) indicates that our neighbor to the south remains an extremely popular place for relocation. This year, it was joined by South American countries Colombia and Brazil on the top 10 list.
Expats love Mexico, with 89 percent reporting they are happy with their life there. The North American country is recognized by expats for how easy it is to adapt to the local culture and the friendliness of locals, including how easy it is to find and make friends. The majority of expats (77 percent) say they feel at home in Mexico, and 71 percent are satisfied with their financial situation there.
When it comes to Colombia, three main cities draw expats: Bogotá, Medellin, and Cali.
In Brazil, it’s all about the warm welcome expats feel, with the country rated high for how easy it is to settle in—and for personal finances. But expats warn that you should be ready to learn some Portuguese if you want to make Brazil your more permanent home.
Where in Spain should expats who want to debunk to Europe live? Well, Málaga is a pretty solid option; it was voted the best city in the world for expats in 2023.
Mazur Travel/Shutterstock
Best countries for expats in Europe
In Europe, Spain is the best country for expats, according to foreigners who live abroad. It was the only country in Europe to make the top 10 list in the 2024 Expat Insider survey, with Spain ranking fourth. Spain placed high for its quality of life (it ranked No. 1 out of 53 countries in this category), leisure options, culture and nightlife, recreation, and climate, complete with ample sunshine. The vast majority of expats (84 percent) say they are happy with their life in Spain.
As for where to live in Spain, the InterNations Expat City Ranking 2023 indicated that the top three cities in the world for expats are all in Spain, with the best city in the world for expats being Málaga, followed by Alicante and Valencia, and Madrid close behind in the No. 6 spot.
Other European countries that ranked in the top 25 best cities for expats are Portugal (15), Belgium (18), Luxembourg (20), Austria (24), and Denmark (25).
In Thailand, the cuisine and cost of living get high marks from expats.
Photo by Lisheng Chang/Unsplash
Best countries for expats in Asia and the Middle East
The best countries for life abroad in Asia are Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, according to the survey. Indonesia gets high marks for its affordability, friendly people, and the great work-life balance it offers. Eight-four percent of expats report they are happy with their life in Indonesia.
Cost of living, cuisine, friendliness, and the ease of finding good, affordable housing contributed to Thailand’s place on the top 10 list.
The likely reason Vietnam made the top 10 list for expat destinations this year? Personal finances. Vietnam topped the charts in this category, with 86 percent of expats in Vietnam giving high marks to the cost of living.
Expats consider the Philippines to excel in offering affordable places to live where they have a comfortable financial situation and high job satisfaction, all while easily becoming friends with locals.
As for the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates made the rankings at No. 10, with quality of life, cost of living, ease of settling in, and expat essentials such as language and administration all getting impressive ratings.
Check the full list to see how all 53 countries in the survey fared.
This story was originally published in July 2023, and was updated on July 24, 2024, to include current information.
