Townleap

Best Countries for Expats 2026

Where the WiFi works, the locals speak English, and nobody asks why you left.

Best Countries to Live In 2026Best Countries to Move to From the USEasiest Countries to Immigrate to in 2026Best Countries to Retire In 2026Cheapest Places to Live in EuropeBest Places to Live in EuropeSafest Places to Live in EuropeFull City Rankings
1.
🇩🇰

Denmark

1 city

English: Very High, 245 Mbps, ~$1970/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$1970/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracyEnglish: Very High20°C summers245 Mbps
84score
2.
🇷🇴

Romania

1 city

English: High, 255 Mbps, ~$668/mo rent. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$668/mo rentVisa: moderateEnglish: High30°C summers255 Mbps
82score
3.
🇸🇪

Sweden

3 cities

English: Very High, 146 Mbps, ~$1329/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$1329/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracyEnglish: Very High20°C summers146 Mbps
80score
4.
🇨🇦

Canada

3 cities

English: Very High, 140 Mbps, ~$1631/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$1631/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracyEnglish: Very High23°C summers140 Mbps
78score
5.
🇹🇼

Taiwan

1 city

English: Moderate, 142 Mbps, ~$735/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$735/mo rentVisa: easyFull democracyEnglish: Moderate32°C summers142 Mbps
78score
6.
🇵🇹

Portugal

5 cities

English: Very High, 149 Mbps, ~$1358/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$1358/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracyEnglish: Very High26°C summers149 Mbps
77score
7.
🇨🇿

Czech Republic

1 city

English: High, 137 Mbps, ~$1228/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$1228/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracyEnglish: High23°C summers137 Mbps
76score
8.
🇰🇷

South Korea

1 city

English: Moderate, 182 Mbps, ~$871/mo rent. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$871/mo rentVisa: complexEnglish: Moderate28°C summers182 Mbps
76score
9.
🇲🇾

Malaysia

1 city

English: High, 135 Mbps, ~$690/mo rent. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$690/mo rentVisa: easyEnglish: High32°C summers135 Mbps
76score
10.
🇳🇱

Netherlands

3 cities

English: Very High, 120 Mbps, ~$1985/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$1985/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracyEnglish: Very High20°C summers120 Mbps
76score
11.
🇸🇬

Singapore

1 city

English: Very High, 279 Mbps, ~$2696/mo rent. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$2696/mo rentVisa: complexEnglish: Very High31°C summers279 Mbps
76score
12.
🇦🇹

Austria

3 cities

English: Very High, 101 Mbps, ~$1204/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$1204/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracyEnglish: Very High25°C summers101 Mbps
74score
13.
🇩🇪

Germany

4 cities

English: Very High, 105 Mbps, ~$1486/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$1486/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracyEnglish: Very High24°C summers105 Mbps
74score
14.
🇪🇪

Estonia

1 city

English: High, 112 Mbps, ~$816/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$816/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracyEnglish: High20°C summers112 Mbps
74score
15.
🇬🇷

Greece

1 city

English: High, ~$737/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$737/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracyEnglish: High32°C summers98 Mbps
74score
16.
🇵🇱

Poland

2 cities

English: Very High, ~$1100/mo rent. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$1100/mo rentVisa: moderateEnglish: Very High23°C summers99 Mbps
73score
17.
🇬🇧

United Kingdom

3 cities

English: Very High, ~$2108/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$2108/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracyEnglish: Very High20°C summers93 Mbps
71score
18.
🇮🇪

Ireland

1 city

English: Very High, ~$2522/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$2522/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracyEnglish: Very High18°C summers91 Mbps
71score
19.
🇭🇺

Hungary

1 city

English: High, ~$918/mo rent. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$918/mo rentVisa: moderateEnglish: High26°C summers80 Mbps
70score
20.
🇫🇷

France

5 cities

English: Moderate, 162 Mbps, ~$1110/mo rent. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$1110/mo rentVisa: complexEnglish: Moderate27°C summers162 Mbps
69score
21.
🇭🇷

Croatia

1 city

English: Very High, ~$1077/mo rent. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$1077/mo rentEnglish: Very High30°C summers
69score
22.
🇺🇸

United States

10 cities

English: Very High, 177 Mbps, ~$2577/mo rent. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$2577/mo rentVisa: complexEnglish: Very High31°C summers177 Mbps
69score
23.
🇨🇭

Switzerland

4 cities

English: High, 167 Mbps, ~$2478/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$2478/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracyEnglish: High25°C summers167 Mbps
68score
24.
🇷🇸

Serbia

1 city

English: High, ~$904/mo rent. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$904/mo rentVisa: easyEnglish: High27°C summers68 Mbps
66score
25.
🇪🇸

Spain

7 cities

English: Moderate, ~$1355/mo rent, full democracy. You'll survive your first month without a translator or a therapist.

~$1355/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracyEnglish: Moderate29°C summers92 Mbps
65score
26.
🇦🇷

Argentina

1 city

English: High, ~$767/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$767/mo rentVisa: moderateEnglish: High27°C summers55 Mbps
63score
27.
🇦🇲

Armenia

1 city

English: Moderate, ~$680/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$680/mo rentVisa: easyEnglish: Moderate34°C summers65 Mbps
61score
28.
🇮🇳

India

2 cities

English: Low, ~$246/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$246/mo rentVisa: moderateEnglish: Low29°C summers94 Mbps
61score
29.
🇮🇹

Italy

4 cities

English: Moderate, ~$1384/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$1384/mo rentVisa: moderateEnglish: Moderate30°C summers70 Mbps
60score
30.
🇿🇦

South Africa

1 city

English: Very High, ~$1026/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$1026/mo rentVisa: easyEnglish: Very High24°C summers53 Mbps
59score
31.
🇬🇪

Georgia

2 cities

English: Moderate, ~$571/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$571/mo rentVisa: easyEnglish: Moderate27°C summers38 Mbps
58score
32.
🇦🇪

United Arab Emirates

1 city

English: Moderate, 378 Mbps, ~$2288/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$2288/mo rentVisa: moderateEnglish: Moderate41°C summers378 Mbps
56score
33.
🇲🇦

Morocco

1 city

English: Low, ~$495/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$495/mo rentEnglish: Low35°C summers
56score
34.
🇨🇷

Costa Rica

3 cities

English: Moderate, ~$866/mo rent, full democracy. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$866/mo rentVisa: easyFull democracyEnglish: Moderate27°C summers82 Mbps
55score
35.
🇯🇵

Japan

1 city

English: Very Low, ~$1359/mo rent, full democracy. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$1359/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracyEnglish: Very Low28°C summers53 Mbps
55score
36.
🇨🇳

China

3 cities

English: Low, 242 Mbps, ~$903/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$903/mo rentVisa: complexEnglish: Low31°C summers242 Mbps
54score
37.
🇦🇺

Australia

3 cities

114 Mbps, ~$2198/mo rent, full democracy. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$2198/mo rentFull democracy27°C summers114 Mbps
53score
38.
🇧🇷

Brazil

2 cities

English: Low, 143 Mbps, ~$644/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$644/mo rentEnglish: Low30°C summers143 Mbps
52score
39.
🇭🇰

Hong Kong

1 city

English: Moderate, ~$2225/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$2225/mo rentVisa: moderateEnglish: Moderate30°C summers
52score
40.
🇮🇩

Indonesia

1 city

English: Low, ~$1082/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$1082/mo rentVisa: complexEnglish: Low29°C summers36 Mbps
51score
41.
🇻🇳

Vietnam

1 city

English: Moderate, ~$475/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$475/mo rentEnglish: Moderate34°C summers
51score
42.
🇨🇴

Colombia

1 city

English: Low, ~$703/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$703/mo rentVisa: easyEnglish: Low26°C summers79 Mbps
50score
43.
🇰🇿

Kazakhstan

1 city

English: Very Low, 133 Mbps, ~$756/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$756/mo rentEnglish: Very Low28°C summers133 Mbps
50score
44.
🇹🇭

Thailand

3 cities

English: Very Low, 110 Mbps, ~$625/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$625/mo rentVisa: complexEnglish: Very Low32°C summers110 Mbps
50score
45.
🇹🇷

Turkey

1 city

English: Low, ~$1070/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$1070/mo rentVisa: easyEnglish: Low28°C summers51 Mbps
47score
46.
🇮🇱

Israel

3 cities

English: Moderate, ~$1723/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$1723/mo rentVisa: moderateEnglish: Moderate29°C summers81 Mbps
46score
47.
🇺🇿

Uzbekistan

1 city

English: Very Low, ~$609/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$609/mo rentEnglish: Very Low35°C summers83 Mbps
46score
48.
🇪🇬

Egypt

1 city

English: Low, ~$215/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$215/mo rentEnglish: Low35°C summers26 Mbps
41score
49.
🇵🇦

Panama

2 cities

English: Low. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

Visa: easyEnglish: Low26°C summers31 Mbps
41score
50.
🇲🇽

Mexico

8 cities

English: Very Low, ~$1006/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$1006/mo rentVisa: moderateEnglish: Very Low30°C summers37 Mbps
38score
51.
🇷🇺

Russia

2 cities

English: Moderate, ~$1203/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook and some patience.

~$1203/mo rentVisa: moderateEnglish: Moderate22°C summers
37score

How we score countries

Each country score is the average livability score across all cities we track there. City scores combine: affordability (25%), safety (25%), internet (15%), democracy (15%), English (10%), climate (10%), and economic stability (10%). Country-level data (democracy, peace index) is shared across cities in the same country.

Best Countries to Live In 2026Best Countries to Move to From the USEasiest Countries to Immigrate to in 2026Best Countries to Retire In 2026Cheapest Places to Live in EuropeBest Places to Live in EuropeSafest Places to Live in EuropeFull City Rankings

Data: Numbeo · UNODC · EIU · World Bank · EF EPI · Ookla Speedtest

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best country for expats in 2026?▾

Denmark leads our rankings with a score of 84/100 — averaged across 1 cities we track. Not a vibe check, just math.

Top 5 best countries for expats?▾

#1 Denmark (84/100), #2 Romania (82/100), #3 Sweden (80/100), #4 Canada (78/100), #5 Taiwan (78/100). Each scored on cost, safety, democracy, internet, English, and climate.

Which top-ranked country is also affordable?▾

Egypt — average rent ~$215/mo across 1 cities. Cheap and livable — they exist, you just need a spreadsheet.

More ways to find your country

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