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.

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Best Countries to Move to From the USEasiest Countries to Immigrate to in 2026Best Countries to Retire In 2026Best Countries for Expats 2026Countries With No Income TaxCountries With No Capital Gains TaxBest Countries to Raise a FamilyBest English-Speaking Countries to Live InSafest Countries for WomenCheapest Places to Live in EuropeBest Places to Live in EuropeSafest Places to Live in EuropeFull City Rankings
1.
🇫🇮

Finland

1 city

~$1210/mo rent, 227 Mbps, full democracy. The data says yes.

~$1210/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy22°C summers227 Mbps
85score
2.
🇰🇷

South Korea

1 city

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

~$871/mo rentVisa: complex28°C summers182 Mbps
81score
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
80score
4.
🇩🇪

Germany

7 cities

~$1296/mo rent, 157 Mbps, full democracy. The data says yes.

~$1296/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy24°C summers157 Mbps
79score
5.
🇨🇿

Czech Republic

1 city

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

~$1228/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy23°C summers137 Mbps
78score
6.
🇪🇪

Estonia

1 city

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

~$816/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy20°C summers112 Mbps
77score
7.
🇷🇴

Romania

1 city

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

~$668/mo rentVisa: moderate30°C summers255 Mbps
77score
8.
🇸🇪

Sweden

3 cities

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

~$1329/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy20°C summers146 Mbps
77score
9.
🇸🇮

Slovenia

1 city

~$1118/mo rent, 130 Mbps, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$1118/mo rent27°C summers130 Mbps
77score
10.
🇦🇹

Austria

3 cities

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

~$1204/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy25°C summers101 Mbps
76score
11.
🇨🇦

Canada

3 cities

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

~$1631/mo rentVisa: easyFull democracy23°C summers140 Mbps
76score
12.
🇵🇹

Portugal

5 cities

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

~$1358/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy26°C summers149 Mbps
76score
13.
🇵🇱

Poland

2 cities

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

~$1100/mo rentVisa: moderate23°C summers99 Mbps
75score
14.
🇨🇭

Switzerland

7 cities

~$2280/mo rent, 303 Mbps, full democracy, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$2280/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy25°C summers303 Mbps
74score
15.
🇬🇷

Greece

1 city

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

~$737/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy32°C summers98 Mbps
74score
16.
🇭🇺

Hungary

1 city

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

~$918/mo rentVisa: moderate26°C summers80 Mbps
74score
17.
🇫🇷

France

5 cities

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

~$1110/mo rentVisa: moderate27°C summers162 Mbps
73score
18.
🇲🇾

Malaysia

1 city

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

~$690/mo rentVisa: moderate32°C summers135 Mbps
73score
19.
🇳🇱

Netherlands

3 cities

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

~$1985/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy20°C summers120 Mbps
73score
20.
🇹🇼

Taiwan

1 city

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

~$735/mo rentVisa: easyFull democracy32°C summers142 Mbps
73score
21.
🇸🇰

Slovakia

2 cities

~$1042/mo rent. The data says yes.

~$1042/mo rent26°C summers92 Mbps
72score
22.
🇪🇸

Spain

7 cities

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

~$1355/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy29°C summers92 Mbps
71score
23.
🇯🇵

Japan

1 city

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

~$1359/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy28°C summers53 Mbps
71score
24.
🇳🇴

Norway

1 city

~$2004/mo rent, 258 Mbps, full democracy, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$2004/mo rentFull democracy21°C summers258 Mbps
71score
25.
🇸🇬

Singapore

1 city

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

~$2696/mo rentVisa: moderate31°C summers279 Mbps
71score
26.
🇳🇿

New Zealand

1 city

~$991/mo rent, full democracy. The data says yes.

~$991/mo rentFull democracy18°C summers
70score
27.
🇷🇸

Serbia

1 city

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

~$904/mo rentVisa: easy27°C summers68 Mbps
70score
28.
🇮🇪

Ireland

2 cities

~$2264/mo rent, full democracy, extremely safe. The data says yes.

~$2264/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy19°C summers91 Mbps
69score
29.
🇮🇹

Italy

4 cities

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

~$1384/mo rentVisa: moderate30°C summers70 Mbps
69score
30.
🇭🇷

Croatia

1 city

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

~$1077/mo rent30°C summers
68score
31.
🇦🇲

Armenia

1 city

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

~$680/mo rentVisa: easy34°C summers65 Mbps
67score
32.
🇦🇺

Australia

3 cities

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

~$2198/mo rentFull democracy27°C summers114 Mbps
67score
33.
🇬🇧

United Kingdom

4 cities

~$2054/mo rent, full democracy. The data says yes.

~$2054/mo rentVisa: moderateFull democracy20°C summers93 Mbps
67score
34.
🇬🇪

Georgia

2 cities

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

~$571/mo rentVisa: easy27°C summers38 Mbps
67score
35.
🇮🇳

India

2 cities

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

~$246/mo rentVisa: complex29°C summers87 Mbps
66score
36.
🇻🇳

Vietnam

1 city

~$475/mo rent, 245 Mbps. The data says yes.

~$475/mo rent34°C summers245 Mbps
66score
37.
🇨🇳

China

3 cities

~$903/mo rent, 242 Mbps, extremely safe. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$903/mo rentVisa: complex31°C summers242 Mbps
63score
38.
🇮🇩

Indonesia

1 city

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

~$1082/mo rentVisa: easy29°C summers36 Mbps
63score
39.
🇨🇷

Costa Rica

3 cities

~$866/mo rent, 134 Mbps, full democracy. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$866/mo rentVisa: easyFull democracy27°C summers134 Mbps
62score
40.
🇮🇱

Israel

3 cities

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

~$1723/mo rentVisa: moderate29°C summers81 Mbps
62score
41.
🇲🇦

Morocco

1 city

~$495/mo rent. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$495/mo rent35°C summers
62score
42.
🇦🇷

Argentina

1 city

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

~$767/mo rentVisa: easy27°C summers55 Mbps
61score
43.
🇹🇭

Thailand

3 cities

~$625/mo rent, 110 Mbps. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$625/mo rentVisa: complex32°C summers110 Mbps
61score
44.
🇦🇪

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
59score
45.
🇰🇿

Kazakhstan

1 city

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

~$756/mo rent28°C summers133 Mbps
58score
46.
🇧🇷

Brazil

2 cities

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

~$644/mo rent30°C summers143 Mbps
55score
47.
🇭🇰

Hong Kong

1 city

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

~$2225/mo rentVisa: moderate30°C summers
55score
48.
🇺🇿

Uzbekistan

1 city

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

~$609/mo rent35°C summers83 Mbps
55score
49.
🇹🇷

Turkey

1 city

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

~$1070/mo rentVisa: easy28°C summers51 Mbps
54score
50.
🇺🇸

United States

11 cities

~$2470/mo rent, 177 Mbps. Not perfect, but the bones are good.

~$2470/mo rentVisa: easy31°C summers177 Mbps
54score
51.
🇵🇦

Panama

2 cities

2 cities tracked. A solid all-rounder.

Visa: easy26°C summers31 Mbps
53score
52.
🇪🇬

Egypt

1 city

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

~$215/mo rent35°C summers26 Mbps
52score
53.
🇨🇴

Colombia

1 city

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

~$703/mo rentVisa: easy26°C summers79 Mbps
50score
54.
🇿🇦

South Africa

1 city

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

~$1026/mo rentVisa: moderate24°C summers53 Mbps
50score
55.
🇲🇽

Mexico

8 cities

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

~$1006/mo rentVisa: moderate30°C summers72 Mbps
47score
56.
🇷🇺

Russia

2 cities

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

~$1203/mo rentVisa: moderate22°C summers
45score

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 2026Countries With No Income TaxCountries With No Capital Gains TaxBest Countries to Raise a FamilyBest English-Speaking Countries to Live InSafest Countries for WomenCheapest 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?▾

Finland leads our rankings with a score of 85/100 — averaged across 1 cities we track. Not a vibe check, just math.

Top 5 best countries to live in?▾

#1 Finland (85/100), #2 South Korea (81/100), #3 Denmark (80/100), #4 Germany (79/100), #5 Czech Republic (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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