Top 10 BEST Countries for Expats in 2024 (according to other expats)

If you’re thinking about moving to another country, the hardest part is often choosing a destination. That’s why I’m so excited to share the results of a survey of more than 12,500 expats living in 175 countries to find out what are the best places to live abroad according to people who are already overseas!

The scores for each country are based on quality of life, ease of settling in, happiness, and healthcare. They also considered expat essentials like housing, language, and leisure activities, as well as the ability to find jobs overseas and work-life balance. So it’s very comprehensive.

The average respondent on this survey was 46 years old. The majority of people wanted to live in each country for at least 5 years - possibly forever, and their main motivation for moving abroad was for lifestyle or their job and career. Does that that sound like you? Then this video was made for you!

Related Videos:
10 WORST Countries for Expats
10 Places To Retire Cheap Overseas
10 Best Places for Americans To Move Abroad
10 Places To Live Well with $1,000
10 Places I Would Personally Live with $1,000 per Month

Videos Mentioned:
10 Cheapest Places in the World for Digital Nomads
Cost of Living in Spain
10 Places To Retire Abroad on Social Security

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🎙 Subscribe to my travel podcast, Traveling with Kristin (available for free on all podcast platforms)

Chapters:
00:00 Best Places to Live Abroad
00:20 Expat or Immigrant?
1:20 10th Place
3:39 9th Place
4:49 8th Place
7:25 7th Place
9:34 Holafly Travel eSIMs
11:00 6th Place
13:24 5th Place
15:13 4th Place
18:10 3rd Place
20:35 2nd Place
23:38 1st Place - Best for Expats
25:45 How To Choose a Destination?

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👱🏻‍♀️ About: Kristin Wilson is the author of Digital Nomads For Dummies and the host of the Traveling with Kristin Podcast and YouTube channel. She's traveled to more than 60 countries and has been helping people move abroad since 2005.

PS: This video is for entertainment purposes only and is not consulting or advice. Video descriptions may contain affiliate or refer-a-friend links for products I use and recommend. Thanks for supporting the channel!

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#bestcountries #expat #livingabroad

[p.c.h.]

As someone who was born in Spain and has also lived in Portugal, I wouldn't live in either one, but if I had to choose one, I would go to Portugal. But Mexico is infinitely better overall, moving there in a few months.
Panama, been there, a lot of people move to Panama but not many end up staying. It's humid and the long rainy season sucks, and it's not cheap unless you go to a small town.

[WhyYouTrippin]

I like to think of an expat as someone who's just living abroad for a while without settling down, while an immigrant is looking to make a new country their permanent home, build a career, and raise their kids there.

[prateek]

I was nomadic for a year but i think it's not for me and There's a reason why locals are more happy than nomadic people, it is because real happiness comes from building meaningful friendships, family and relationships.

[gugy]

I am Brazilian living in California and considering maybe going back. It breaks my heart because I love the USA but the cost, quality of life degradation, division and crazy expensive healthcare are really putting me under stress. Add the fact the Dollar is losing its strength around the world, I think the best days of America are truly behind. Brazil is not an easy country, if you are older, I would recommend smaller towns. I'm from Rio and love the people, culture and beaches but weather, violence and stress can run high there if you are not used to it. Another country on my radar is Costa Rica.

[kidsteach]

The climate in Panama is actually nicer than say, July to September in South or Central Florida. Rarely super hot.

[Maestra_D]

Thanks for yet another terrific video. You reward your listeners with solid, well researched, balanced and useful info. Always time well spent. Brava!

[knsmith]

thanks so much for sharing this! always love your videos Kristin!

[cindyk]

Another great list and video, thank you Kristin for doing so much homework for us. I appreciate your comments on the countries mentioned, it's nice to have a personal perspective on an anonymous list.

[sunnysmilessunshine]

Thank you for this video & information.

[JamesnJazz]

Hey! We are expats living in Indonesia!! Living has its challenges, but it is definitely worth it!!

[gregalonzo]

Kristen, as always another enjoyable video. I have lived out of the US for 21 years and visited 73 countries. I spent 3 years in Indonesia and became fluent in the language. I also spent 4 years in Ukraine and loved it. The language is so beautiful and melodic. I lived a year in a few other countries. My favorites were Taiwan, Japan, and the Netherlands. The past two years I have been living in Austria. I have a residence permit and plan to stay. I don't understand why people are offended by the term expat? It just means expatriate.

[gefginn]

Great post my friend. I appreciate you and your perspective and presentation. 🌞⛵🌴💛

[AdamGordon]

Thank you for sharing and be clear about this.

[jamesdonald]

We are retirees from New Zealand and we have lived in Colombia for 6 years so far. We live in a delightful small country town 30 kms SE from Medellin. The air is marvellously clean at 7, 000 feet altitude and the climate is a little cooler than Medellin.
The friendly people and cost of living and housing are also very positive factors.
We are very happy and appreciate living in Colombia.

[TravelTheWorldHouseSitting]

You left out our Expat home of Portugal. We love it here, We spend out first five years of Expat life in Panama, but ended up in the Algarve of Portugal which we really enjoy. All the places you mentioned looked great.

[nobeody]

Philippines: Friendliness is one thing. Thoughtfulness is another thing. If you have 10 crowing roosterers tied up in your back yard or if you play karoake very loud until 4 am then you are not a thoughtful neighbor. Unfortunately, these behaviours are the norm in the Philippines.

[vqykwcu]

Farang, Cano, Gaijin. By any name we're foreigners. Trust your instincts on safety. And, suggest an article on your ranking criteria for your choices. I highly value language comprehension, which greatly favors Philippines and largely eliminates Vietnam.

[malcolmnicoll]

I’m glad you covered Georgia and Albania in another video. Hopefully they’re still affordable.

[martypoll]

I've lived in Thailand for 7+ years. It's the safest place I've ever lived. I'm not sure why the respondents would have concerns about this unless you look at the rate of death/injury while riding motorbikes. That is a legitimate concern.

[BrightResultsMedia]

Ive bounced all around Colombia. It's an amazing country full of great people. My fav is Manizales followed by Medellin.