Posted by Living abroad is full of joys and difficulties, whether it’s figuring out how to fit in with a new culture, finding the best places to hang out, or making new friends. But some places make it easier to live as expats than others, based on what kind of life you want.
Internations, the biggest network of expats in the world, just released its annualĀ Expat InsiderĀ report, which ranks the best places to live based on 56 factors, such as cost of living, housing, and access to high-speed internet. More than 12,000 expats from 171 countries or territories residing in 172 countries or territories answered the survey. This results in a list that is diverse and sometimes surprising.
Here are the 5 best countries for expats to live in:
1. Mexico
Mexico has been in the top five every year since 2014 when it was ranked number five. This year, it was ranked number one. The country is first in the “Ease of Settling In” index and the “Local Friendliness” subcategory. This means that meeting friends is also easy. In fact, 75% of expats said it’s easy to make friends with locals here, while only 43% said the same about the rest of the world.
Even though Mexico’s system can be hard to deal with, it’s easy to keep your residency if you qualify. You don’t have to stay in the country long to keep your visa status. Even though English is spoken in touristy places, life will be easier for expats if they learn Spanish before they go. Even if you aren’t an expert by the time you move, a little practice can help you a lot.Ā
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2. Spain
Since 2014, Spain has been in the top 10 of theĀ Quality of Life indexĀ because of its culture, nightlife, chances for recreation and leisure, and moderate climate and weather.
The cost of living here is still lower than in most other European countries. Based on your job, this can be a blessing or a curse because salaries here tend to be lower. It would be best if you could work from abroad and make more money to have a better standard of living. Even though the country has a well-known digital nomad visa program, being a worker can be a hassle because of paperwork and a “freelancing fee” on top of your regular taxes.
People in the area are usually laid-back, friendly, and open, especially to those trying to learn the language. They are very patient with people who don’t speak Spanish well, which can be helpful when moving to a new country. The international poll found that 80% of expats feel at home here, 18% more than the average worldwide.
3. Panama
This country in Central America is third on the index because it is easy to settle in, make friends, and has a strong culture and sense of welcome. The country, like Spain, has started offering a digital nomad visa with one of the lowest fees in the world. In fact, foreigners in the index rank it as one of the top five easiest countries to get a visa in. The country’s high place in this subindex, which ranks 11th overall, is also helped by its climate and weather.
The economy based on the US dollar made it easy to handle money. It made it easy for people to buy property. In the same way, the international poll found that most expats think it is easy to find housing here and that it is also cheap. TheĀ Personal Finance indexĀ ranked the country eighth overall, and 80% of expats said they were happy with their financial position.
4. Bahrain
The only Middle Eastern country in the top 10, Bahrain was placed ninth. From 2022 to 2023, it moved up 19 places on the list, making it the country with the most progress. It went up the most in theĀ Personal Finance indexĀ because almost half of the expats polled said the cost of living was better than in 2022, and they were pleased with their finances.
The country also did well in several other types of indexes. For example, it was ranked number one in theĀ Expat Essentials category, covering government services (like starting a bank account), housing, digital access, and language. It’s also one of the easiest places to get a visa and deal with local authorities, and 78% of the people polled said it’s easy to live here without knowing Arabic.
Other expats always talk about how beautiful Bahrain is and how welcome their Bahraini friends and coworkers are.
5. Malaysia
Malaysia is ranked number four in the overall index. Still, it moved up in theĀ Quality of Life subindexĀ this year. Residents rated the country third in the number of chances to travel. The Southeast Asian country also does well in how friendly the people are and how well they care for their money.
Malaysia is a great place to live if you like to travel a lot. It is the centre of Southeast Asia because you can fly anywhere in two hours. It gives you easy access to regional markets. Because the country is so big and has few people, people can find new foods and travel to old cities, Unesco heritage sites, islands, history, geography, and religions.
Living here is very reasonable, and that income and expenses are easy to handle. The local language is written in Romanized letters, making reading easier for people who know English. Also, the Malay, Indian, and Chinese communities are easy to make acquaintances with.
Anisa is a writer who focuses on career and lifestyle topics in an effort to motivate both job searchers and employers towards greater fulfillment in their professional lives.
Reach me at anisa@jobstore.com.