For those looking for adventure, or just a cheaper or more exotic place to live, some nations besides the U.S. have a lot to offer, according to a new ranking.
One of the challenges is to find countries that welcome expats, according to InterNations, a Munich-based global community for people living and working abroad that publishes annual Expat Insider survey.
For the Expat Insider 2021 study, InterNations surveyed 12,420 expats representing 174 nationalities, living in 59 countries or territories, and asked them to rate up to 37 different aspects of life abroad.
The respondents’ ratings of the individual factors were then used to create 13 subcategories, which InterNations distilled down to five topical indices: Quality of Life; Ease of Settling In; Working Abroad; Personal Finance; and Cost of Living. InterNations then calculated an overall rank for each of the 59 expat destinations around the world.
Here, in ascending order, are InterNations' top 10 best destinations to live and work abroad as an expat:
10. Vietnam
This Southeast Asian country is a friendly and relatively safe place to live and work abroad, study participants said. Vietnam ranks first in both Personal Finance and Cost of Living, and nineth in Working Abroad, but 25th in Ease of Settling In, and 53rd in Quality of Life - a bottom-10 score based on expat reviews of overall air quality, water and sanitation infrastructure.
9. Canada
Americans will feel right at home as expats living in their good neighbor to the north, the world’s second-largest country by land size. With easy access to high-speed home Internet, plenty of cashless payment options, and affordable healthcare, Canada ranks fifth in Quality of Life, and 12th in both Working Abroad and Ease of Settling In, but 50th in Personal Finance—a score based on the country’s lack of affordability, respondents said.
8. Ecuador
Home to the Galapagos Islands, this equatorial South American nation is a biological treasure chest of eye-popping natural beauty. Ecuador ranks fifth in Personal Finance, with three out of four expats expressing satisfaction with its affordability; seventh in Cost of Living; 10th in Ease of Settling In; but a so-so 24th in Quality of Life, with expats praising the scenery, but panning the lack of cashless payment options.
7. Australia
From cuddly koalas to predatory great white sharks, Australia has it all—including expats living and working far from home. While most expats praised the quality of Australian healthcare, fewer found it affordable. Australia ranks sixth in Quality of Life; 10th in Working Abroad; and 18th in Ease of Settling In.
6. New Zealand
For years a favorite locale of Hollywood movie and television producers, this friendly island nation in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean is also a favorite of many working expats, who cited a wealth of job opportunities, a clean environment, and many cashless payment options. New Zealand ranked 11th in Quality of Life, and 16th for Ease of Settling In.
5. Portugal
With strong immigrant ties to the United States, Portugal offers a friendly haven for expats to socialize with their hosts and each other. The country ranks third in Quality of Life, based on the wide range of local leisure options, mild Mediterranean climate, and laid-back lifestyle; ninth for Ease of Settling In; but 36th for Working Abroad, with a majority of expats expressing unhappiness with local career opportunities.
4. Malaysia
If you’re among the majority of Americans that the U.S. Census Bureau reports can’t speak a second language, you’ll feel right at home in Malaysia, a Southeast Asian monarchy where most of the citizens speak English. Malaysia ranks second in Ease of Settling In; second in Cost of Living; ninth in Personal Finance; but 25th in Working Abroad.
3. Costa Rica
Whether you’re a tourist or an expat, you’ll love exploring Costa Rica, a friendly Central American country known for its beaches, rain forests, volcanoes and biodiversity. Costa Rica ranks third in Ease of Settling In; seventh in Personal Finance; and 14th in Quality of Life, despite expat complaints of poor drivers, bad roads and insufficient infrastructure.
2. Mexico
Mexico is full of friendly people who will wine and dine you. Mexico ranks first in Ease of Settling In; second in Personal Finance; fourth in Cost of Living; but 31st in Quality of Life, based on expat complaints about water and sanitation infrastructure, as well as concern for their personal safety.
1. Taiwan
Taiwan is one of world’s best-managed Covid countries, according to one expat. That’s just one of the many reasons InterNations study participants have named Taiwan the best country to live and work abroad for a third consecutive year. Taiwan ranks first in both Quality of Life and Working Abroad, but 13th in Ease of Settling In.
The full report can be viewed here.