The 10 Best Countries for Expats to Live Abroad

A stunning view of Panama City's skyline with the historic Casco Viejo in the foreground under a bright blue sky. — Whether you prefer a centuries-old house in Panama’s Casco Viejo or an apartment in a shiny tower, foreigners in Panama say it’s easy to find housing.

This article was originally published in 2023 and most recently updated on July 28, 2026, with current information.

InterNations, an online expat community with 6.1 million members worldwide, has just published the results of its 13th annual Expat Insider survey, revealing the 10 best countries for living abroad. Nearly 8,000 respondents representing 162 nationalities rated their satisfaction with various aspects of expat life in 31 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 (such as visas), and language. Together, their opinions shape this annual list of the best countries for expats.

The 10 best countries for expats to live abroad in 2025 vs. 2026

2025	2026
1. Panama	1. Panama
2. Colombia	2. Mexico
3. Mexico	3. Thailand
4. Thailand	4. United Arab Emirates
5. Vietnam	5. Brazil
6. China	6. Spain
7. United Arab Emirates	7. Singapore
8. Indonesia	8. Portugal
9. Spain	9. Malaysia
10. Malaysia	10. Luxembourg

There are somewhere between 4 and 9 million people from the United States living abroad right now, according to an analysis by the Wall Street Journal. An increase in digital nomad programs and the general flexibility to work from anywhere have made it easier than ever to install oneself in a foreign country for a prolonged period.

A note about the word “expat": This is the word that InterNations used in its survey. For them, “The word ‘expat’ is generally used to refer to people who temporarily or permanently live in a different country than the one they were born in or whose nationality they have. Expats usually choose to leave their native country for a career boost, or to fulfill a personal dream or goal, rather than as a result of dire economic necessity.”

The best country in the world for expats is Panama

For the third year running, Panama has again been voted the best country to live and work in abroad, according to InterNations’ annual Expat Insider survey. Thanks to the country’s beautiful natural environment, an affordable cost of living, and the ease of settling in, 87 percent of expats in Panama reported that they’re happy living there.

Other benefits to living in Panama, according to International Living, a publication dedicated to life abroad that placed Panama at the top of its own annual report on the best places to retire, include the modern infrastructure of the capital, Panama City; the widespread availability of high-speed internet; and the use of the U.S. dollar, which makes finances simpler to compute.

Ease of retirement was another reason Panama ranked high in the InterNations survey. The country’s pensionado visa program requires holders to have a minimum of $1,000 per month in income, and the pile of required paperwork is small.

Indeed, InterNations’ Expat Insider survey found that 90 percent of expats in Panama feel their disposable income is enough for a comfortable life (versus 71 percent globally), and 76 percent are satisfied with their financial situation, compared to the global average of 55 percent.

The availability affordable housing also makes Panama an attractive place for relocation, with a cool 90 percent of expats saying it’s easy to find a place to live (compared to 34 percent globally).

Respondents also cited Panama’s cuisine, pleasant climate, and convenience for travel opportunities as great reasons to move there. So great, in fact, that 34 percent of the expats surveyed said they plan to stay forever (compared to 27 percent who say that globally).

Best countries for expats in North and South America

Aerial view of turquoise bay with a few small boats and lined by tropical trees, with red-roofed houses in background — The Boca de Tomatlan Beach is popular with foreigners and locals living in Puerto Vallarta 20 minutes’ north.

Panama, Mexico, and Brazil

Hot on the tails of Panama is Mexico. Expats love Mexico, which has ranked among the top five best places to live abroad since the InterNation’s survey was first launched in 2014. This year, Mexico has again ranked No. 1 for “ease of settling in,” with expats citing the friendliness of locals and making new friends; 73 percent say making local friends is easy (compared to just 39 percent globally). The majority of expats (81 percent) say their financial situation is enough for a comfortable life, and 69 percent feel they’re paid fairly for their work, although 32 percent of expats in Mexico are already retired.

Brazil jumped from 15th place in 2025 to its No. 5 spot this year, thanks to ease of settling in, including finding housing, solid job satisfaction, excellent leisure options, locals’ friendliness toward foreign residents, and the ability to make local friends.

Best countries for expats in Europe

Aerial view of Málaga, Spain, with historic cathedral in foreground surrounded by old and new buildings — The Mediterranean city of Málaga enjoys an average of 300 days of sunshine per year.

Spain, Portugal, and Luxembourg

Spain has ranked No. 1 for quality of life for the fifth year in a row, and one in five (20 percent) of expats say they moved here for a better quality of life (compared to 9 percent globally). That’s no surprise: A 2026 annual report from real estate, tourism, and economic development consulting group Resonance ranked both Madrid and Barcelona among the top 10 cities in Europe to visit or live in.

According to InterNations’ survey, Spain ranks high for leisure options, culture and nightlife, and great food (87 percent are happy with Spain’s culinary variety and dining options). The nice weather doesn’t hurt, either.

Neighboring Portugal is not far behind at No. 8, riding up from No. 17 in 2025. Expats enjoy living here thanks to a moderate cost of living, the ease of settling in, and good weather.

Tiny, organized Luxembourg, at No. 10, ranks No. 1 for job security and overall job satisfaction, easy bureaucracy, and fully unrestricted online services.

Best countries for expats in Asia and the Middle East

Overhead view of person in Thailand wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat and surrounded by grilled fish and seafood — In Thailand, the cuisine and cost of living get high marks from expats.

Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates

Eighty-six percent of expats in Thailand (No. 3) are happy there; they cite friendly locals and how easy it is to find housing, enjoy plentiful leisure options, achieve a comfortable cost of living, and access quality medical care.

Singapore ranks seventh overall and No. 1 for world’s best online admin services and high-speed internet. Neighboring Malaysia sits at at No. 9 thanks to its affordability and the ease of finding housing for foreigners, and in both countries English is widely spoken.

As for the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates ranked at No. 4 (up from No. 7 in 2025), due to impressive ratings on quality of life (despite the high cost of living), great leisure options, the ease of dealing with local bureaucracy, career prospects, expat essentials, and quality, accessible health care.

Check the full list to see how all 31 countries in InterNations’ survey fared. If you’re leaving the working world behind, these are the five best countries for retiring abroad, according to International Living.

Michelle Baran

Michelle Baran is a senior deputy editor at Afar, where she oversees breaking news, travel intel, airline, cruise, and consumer travel news. Michelle joined Afar in August 2018 after an 11-year run as a senior editor and reporter at leading travel industry newspaper Travel Weekly.