Best countries for expats and reasons to move there

Methodology. InterNations, a portal for immigrants and travellers, created the annual Expat Insider ranking. In 2024, they surveyed 12,000 expats from 175 countries to discover where they enjoyed living and where they did not.

Criteria. The respondents assessed 53 countries based on five subcategories:

1. Quality of Life, which includes personal safety, healthcare, travel opportunities, and transport;

2. Ease of Settling In — whether expats feel at home and welcome in the country, how easily they adapt to the local culture;

3. Working Abroad, which covers the local job market, personal career opportunities, and satisfaction with work-life balance;

4. Personal Finance, which looks at the cost of living and whether the post-tax income is sufficient for a comfortable life;

5. Expat Essentials — how easy it is to find housing, get a visa, open a bank account, communicate with locals, use online services, and navigate bureaucracy.

How to choose the best country for immigration

Panama was awarded first place. 82% of expats were happy with their life in the country. In 2023, Panama was ranked third. The country boasts affordable living costs and ease of handling expat essentials. A third of the expats in Panama chose the country for retirement.

Kuwait ranked at the bottom of the list, being named the worst for the seventh time in a row. Expats are unhappy with several aspects, including the quality of life, climate, and ease of settling in. Two-thirds of the respondents moved to Kuwait for work.

Expats negatively rated career opportunities in Türkiye and high cost of living in Finland

1. Panama. The factor expats praise the most is the country’s affordability. 88% of respondents noted that they have enough income to lead a comfortable life after taxes are paid. Accommodation in Panama is both affordable and easy to find.

Expats do not face issues with the language, obtaining a visa, accessing online services, or getting used to the local culture.

2. Mexico wins expats’ love due to the friendliness of its people. 85% of respondents noted that they feel welcome in the country. Mexico is ranked first in terms of getting used to the local culture and second when it comes to finding local friends. However, Mexico has issues with safety and bureaucracy.

3. Indonesia makes 84% of the expats happy with its low living costs, friendly local population, and pleasant work-life balance. Residents in Indonesia work only 38.8 hours per week, while the global average is 42.5 hours. The country ranks first in terms of overall job satisfaction and personal career opportunities.

The key issue in Indonesia is digital life. Expats are unhappy with the low internet speed and restricted access to cashless payments and various online services.

4. Spain has claimed the top spot among the best expat countries for three consecutive years. Spain is ranked first for quality of life, especially in terms of leisure options and healthcare. Expats are also satisfied with the ease of settling in, the climate, and the cost of living. Spain is considered one of the best countries for American expats.

Unlike Indonesia, Spain provides access to high-speed internet and cashless payment options. Remote workers with a monthly income of at least €2,646 enjoy not only the country’s progress in digitalisation but also the opportunity to obtain the Spain Digital Nomad Visa.

Investors are eligible for the Spain Golden Visa. An investment of at least €500,000 in the country’s economy allows foreigners to move to Spain for up to 8 years with their spouse, children, and parents.

5. Colombia is ranked second in the personal finance category. Respondents noted the country’s low cost of living. Colombia is also highly rated for ease of settling in and local friendliness.

6. Thailand is among the friendliest countries, making it easy for expats to settle in. Respondents placed Thailand in the top ten in terms of feeling welcome and at home, finding friends, and getting used to the country’s culture. Thailand is also ranked first for housing affordability and ease of finding accommodation

Thailand is about to launch a digital nomad visa, which will be granted to remote workers over 20 years old who have at least 500,000 THB, or $13,750, in their bank account.

The Thailand Elite Visa is a long-term tourist visa that allows investors to live in the country for 5 to 15 years. Its cost ranges from $25,500 to $71,000.

7. Brazil wins expats’ favour by the ease of settling in and local friendliness towards foreign residents. Nearly four in five respondents are happy with their financial situation in Brazil, as their income is more than enough for a comfortable life. However, expats are most concerned about personal safety and political stability in the country.

8. Vietnam is one of the cheapest countries for expats. It has topped the personal finance index for four years in a row. Notably, only 46% of expats work full-time in Vietnam, and only one in five residents have a part-time job. Vietnam also shows average levels of job security and economic stability.

9. The Philippines earned its place in the top ten countries due to the ease of settling in. 41% of expats are friends with locals, while 68% claimed to be happy with their social life in the Philippines. A large share of expats moved to the country for love or to retire.

10. The United Arab Emirates outshines most countries in terms of quality of life, career prospects, and personal safety. The UAE is also an absolute leader in expat essentials. 80% of respondents note that it is not necessary to learn Arabic to live in the country. Expats claim not to have issues with bureaucracy or immigration laws.

The UAE grants golden visas to property investors, their spouses, and their children. To obtain a 10-year residence permit, foreigners must invest at least AED 2,000,000, or about $545,000. A 2-year visa is issued for a minimum investment of AED 750,000, or $204,000.