Townleap

Best Countries to Live In 2026

Every country scored on cost, safety, democracy, internet, and climate. The spreadsheet your gut feeling was too proud to make.

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

South Korea

1 city

~$871/mo rent, 182 Mbps, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$871/mo rentVisa: complex28°C summers182 Mbps
81score
2.
🇷🇴

Romania

1 city

~$668/mo rent, 255 Mbps. The data says yes.

~$668/mo rentVisa: moderate30°C summers255 Mbps
79score
3.
🇩🇰

Denmark

1 city

~$1970/mo rent, 245 Mbps, full democracy, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$1970/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy20°C summers245 Mbps
78score
4.
🇨🇿

Czech Republic

1 city

~$1228/mo rent, 137 Mbps, full democracy. The data says yes.

~$1228/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy23°C summers137 Mbps
77score
5.
🇪🇪

Estonia

1 city

~$816/mo rent, 112 Mbps, full democracy. The data says yes.

~$816/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy20°C summers112 Mbps
76score
6.
🇲🇾

Malaysia

1 city

~$690/mo rent, 135 Mbps, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$690/mo rentVisa: easy32°C summers135 Mbps
76score
7.
🇹🇼

Taiwan

1 city

~$735/mo rent, 142 Mbps, full democracy, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$735/mo rentVisa: easyFull democracy32°C summers142 Mbps
76score
8.
🇨🇦

Canada

3 cities

~$1631/mo rent, 140 Mbps, full democracy. The data says yes.

~$1631/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracy23°C summers140 Mbps
75score
9.
🇵🇱

Poland

2 cities

~$1100/mo rent, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$1100/mo rentVisa: moderate23°C summers99 Mbps
75score
10.
🇵🇹

Portugal

5 cities

~$1358/mo rent, 149 Mbps, full democracy, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$1358/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy26°C summers149 Mbps
75score
11.
🇸🇪

Sweden

3 cities

~$1329/mo rent, 146 Mbps, full democracy. The data says yes.

~$1329/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracy20°C summers146 Mbps
75score
12.
🇦🇹

Austria

3 cities

~$1204/mo rent, 101 Mbps, full democracy, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$1204/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracy25°C summers101 Mbps
74score
13.
🇬🇷

Greece

1 city

~$737/mo rent, full democracy. The data says yes.

~$737/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy32°C summers98 Mbps
74score
14.
🇭🇺

Hungary

1 city

~$918/mo rent, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$918/mo rentVisa: moderate26°C summers80 Mbps
74score
15.
🇩🇪

Germany

4 cities

~$1486/mo rent, 105 Mbps, full democracy. The data says yes.

~$1486/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracy24°C summers105 Mbps
73score
16.
🇫🇷

France

5 cities

~$1110/mo rent, 162 Mbps. The data says yes.

~$1110/mo rentVisa: complex27°C summers162 Mbps
72score
17.
🇳🇱

Netherlands

3 cities

~$1985/mo rent, 120 Mbps, full democracy, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$1985/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracy20°C summers120 Mbps
71score
18.
🇦🇲

Armenia

1 city

~$680/mo rent. The data says yes.

~$680/mo rentVisa: easy34°C summers65 Mbps
70score
19.
🇬🇪

Georgia

2 cities

~$571/mo rent. The data says yes.

~$571/mo rentVisa: easy27°C summers38 Mbps
70score
20.
🇮🇳

India

2 cities

~$246/mo rent. The data says yes.

~$246/mo rentVisa: moderate29°C summers94 Mbps
69score
21.
🇷🇸

Serbia

1 city

~$904/mo rent. The data says yes.

~$904/mo rentVisa: easy27°C summers68 Mbps
69score
22.
🇸🇬

Singapore

1 city

~$2696/mo rent, 279 Mbps, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$2696/mo rentVisa: complex31°C summers279 Mbps
69score
23.
🇪🇸

Spain

7 cities

~$1355/mo rent, full democracy, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$1355/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy29°C summers92 Mbps
68score
24.
🇭🇷

Croatia

1 city

~$1077/mo rent, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$1077/mo rent30°C summers
68score
25.
🇯🇵

Japan

1 city

~$1359/mo rent, full democracy, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$1359/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy28°C summers53 Mbps
68score
26.
🇨🇭

Switzerland

4 cities

~$2478/mo rent, 167 Mbps, full democracy, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$2478/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracy25°C summers167 Mbps
67score
27.
🇨🇳

China

3 cities

~$903/mo rent, 242 Mbps, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$903/mo rentVisa: complex31°C summers242 Mbps
67score
28.
🇮🇹

Italy

4 cities

~$1384/mo rent, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$1384/mo rentVisa: moderate30°C summers70 Mbps
67score
29.
🇲🇦

Morocco

1 city

~$495/mo rent. The data says yes.

~$495/mo rent35°C summers
66score
30.
🇦🇺

Australia

3 cities

~$2198/mo rent, 114 Mbps, full democracy, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$2198/mo rentFull democracy27°C summers114 Mbps
65score
31.
🇬🇧

United Kingdom

3 cities

~$2108/mo rent, full democracy. The data says yes.

~$2108/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracy20°C summers93 Mbps
65score
32.
🇹🇭

Thailand

3 cities

~$625/mo rent, 110 Mbps. The data says yes.

~$625/mo rentVisa: complex32°C summers110 Mbps
65score
33.
🇮🇩

Indonesia

1 city

~$1082/mo rent, extremely safe. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$1082/mo rentVisa: complex29°C summers36 Mbps
64score
34.
🇮🇪

Ireland

1 city

~$2522/mo rent, full democracy, extremely safe. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$2522/mo rentVisa: complexFull democracy18°C summers91 Mbps
64score
35.
🇻🇳

Vietnam

1 city

~$475/mo rent. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$475/mo rent34°C summers
62score
36.
🇦🇷

Argentina

1 city

~$767/mo rent. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$767/mo rentVisa: moderate27°C summers55 Mbps
61score
37.
🇨🇷

Costa Rica

3 cities

~$866/mo rent, full democracy. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$866/mo rentVisa: easyFull democracy27°C summers82 Mbps
61score
38.
🇮🇱

Israel

3 cities

~$1723/mo rent. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$1723/mo rentVisa: moderate29°C summers81 Mbps
59score
39.
🇰🇿

Kazakhstan

1 city

~$756/mo rent, 133 Mbps. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$756/mo rent28°C summers133 Mbps
59score
40.
🇦🇪

United Arab Emirates

1 city

~$2288/mo rent, 378 Mbps, extremely safe. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$2288/mo rentVisa: moderate41°C summers378 Mbps
57score
41.
🇧🇷

Brazil

2 cities

~$644/mo rent, 143 Mbps. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$644/mo rent30°C summers143 Mbps
57score
42.
🇺🇸

United States

10 cities

~$2577/mo rent, 177 Mbps. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$2577/mo rentVisa: complex31°C summers177 Mbps
57score
43.
🇭🇰

Hong Kong

1 city

~$2225/mo rent, extremely safe. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$2225/mo rentVisa: moderate30°C summers
56score
44.
🇺🇿

Uzbekistan

1 city

~$609/mo rent. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$609/mo rent35°C summers83 Mbps
54score
45.
🇿🇦

South Africa

1 city

~$1026/mo rent. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$1026/mo rentVisa: easy24°C summers53 Mbps
54score
46.
🇨🇴

Colombia

1 city

~$703/mo rent. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$703/mo rentVisa: easy26°C summers79 Mbps
52score
47.
🇹🇷

Turkey

1 city

~$1070/mo rent. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$1070/mo rentVisa: easy28°C summers51 Mbps
52score
48.
🇪🇬

Egypt

1 city

~$215/mo rent. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$215/mo rent35°C summers26 Mbps
51score
49.
🇵🇦

Panama

2 cities

2 cities tracked. A solid all-rounder.

Visa: easy26°C summers31 Mbps
51score
50.
🇲🇽

Mexico

8 cities

~$1006/mo rent. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$1006/mo rentVisa: moderate30°C summers37 Mbps
48score
51.
🇷🇺

Russia

2 cities

~$1203/mo rent. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$1203/mo rentVisa: moderate22°C summers
44score

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 Move to From the USEasiest Countries to Immigrate to in 2026Best Countries to Retire In 2026Best Countries for Expats 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 to live in in 2026?▾

South Korea leads our rankings with a score of 81/100 — averaged across 1 cities we track. Not a vibe check, just math.

Top 5 best countries to live in?▾

#1 South Korea (81/100), #2 Romania (79/100), #3 Denmark (78/100), #4 Czech Republic (77/100), #5 Estonia (76/100). 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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