25 best places to live, ranked by expat experience

InterNations publishes the Expat City Ranking every year, listing the best cities for expats. It helps people decide where to move when considering life abroad.

In 2024, Spanish cities took the top three spots for the second year in a row. Valencia, Málaga, and Alicante led the ranking, and it’s not just because of the warm weather.

Here are the top 25 places to live in the world:

1. Valencia, Spain

2. Málaga, Spain

3. Alicante, Spain

4. Panama City, Panama

5. Mexico City, Mexico

6. Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

7. Madrid, Spain

8. Bangkok, Thailand

9. Abu Dhabi, UAE

10. Dubai, UAE

11. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

12. Muscat, Oman

13. Nairobi, Kenya

14. Melbourne, Australia

15. Vienna, Austria

16. Doha, Qatar

17. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

18. Brussels, Belgium

19. Sydney, Australia

20. Warsaw, Poland

21. Barcelona, Spain

22. Hong Kong, China

23. Copenhagen, Denmark

24. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

25. Tokyo, Japan

The 10 cities with the lowest ranks include:

1. Vancouver, Canada

2. Hamburg, Germany

3. Toronto, Canada

4. Munich, Germany

5. Istanbul, Turkey

6. Cologne, Germany

7. Milan, Italy

8. Berlin, Germany

9. Frankfurt, Germany

10. Rome, Italy

To identify the best cities to live in, the portal InterNations surveyed 12,543 expats worldwide about their experiences of living abroad. The respondents represented 175 nationalities.

A city could only be included in the ranking if at least 50 people took part in the survey. In 2024, 53 cities met this condition.

Cities were evaluated across six categories: quality of life, career opportunities, cost of living, ease of settling in, expat essentials, and general happiness. Survey participants rated up to 53 aspects of expat life on a scale from one to seven.

Valencia ranks first for quality and cost of living. Respondents praised its efficient and affordable public transport, opportunities for sports, and high level of safety. Expats claim to be paid fairly in Valencia, although there are not enough career prospects in the city.

The expats also appreciate the work-life balance. However, only 8% of the respondents chose Valencia for job-related reasons. The main deciding factor was a better quality of life.

Málaga has earned the title of the friendliest city in the world. Participants noted how easy it is to settle in, make friends, and feel at home in Málaga. The city also ranks first for overall happiness.

Similar to Valencia, respondents are concerned about career opportunities in Málaga. Only 38% of expats are satisfied with their job security.

Alicante is the only Spanish city with high results in the expat essentials index. Over two-thirds of respondents are happy with affordable property prices and the ease of finding accommodation. The city is also well-equipped with access to online services and cashless payment options.

Most expats do not come to Alicante for work. Half of respondents are either retired, not engaged in paid work, or not seeking employment.

Three UAE cities made it into the top 10. Among them are Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. These cities are leaders in the expat essentials index due to their convenient access to government, retail, and banking services.

Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai were also rated highly for the work opportunities, while respondents highlighted the quality of life in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Vancouver ranks 53rd for a number of reasons. Respondents claim that it is difficult to find accommodation in the Canadian city, and it is too expensive. 52% of expats in Vancouver are unhappy with their financial situation, while a third of respondents are currently looking for work.

The things that expats appreciate about Vancouver are the climate, the weather, the quality of air, its pleasant natural and urban environment.

Hamburg ranks 52nd out of 53 cities. Respondents struggle most with settling in and the expat essentials. The major issues are bureaucracy, limited online services for administration, and finding housing.

The German language is also hard to learn, making it difficult to adapt to the local culture, feel welcome, or make friends.

While public transport is affordable and reliable, Hamburg ranks last for climate and weather. Healthcare availability and equal access also score poorly. However, most respondents find it easy and safe to walk or cycle in the city.

Toronto has dropped to 51st place, continuing its decline from 19th in 2022 and 35th in 2023. Expats are most concerned about rising unemployment, high living costs, and dissatisfaction with their financial situation.

The quality of life in Toronto has also worsened, with a decline in the urban environment, fewer recreational opportunities, and limited access to green goods and services. Housing is expensive, and many expats struggle with building a social life.

Spain offers two key ways to obtain a residence permit:

1. The Golden Visa is granted for the investment of €500,000 or more in real estate and other assets.

2. The Digital Nomad Visa is available to remote workers with a monthly income of at least €2,646.

The Spanish government is going to close the Golden Visa by March 2025. So if you consider applying, it is advisable to act fast.

The UAE grants residence visas to property investors for either 2 or 10 years, based on the investment amount. A 10-year visa will require at least AED 2,000,000, or about $545,000.

The required investment doesn’t depend on family composition.