Best Asian Cities for Expats
English-friendly, well-connected, and cheap enough that you can eat out every night without guilt.
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Singapore
SingaporeEnglish: Very High, 279 Mbps, $2696/mo rent. You'll survive your first week without a translator or a breakdown.
Taipei
TaiwanEnglish: Moderate, 142 Mbps, $735/mo rent. You'll survive your first week without a translator or a breakdown.
Seoul
South KoreaEnglish: Moderate, 182 Mbps, $871/mo rent. You'll survive your first week without a translator or a breakdown.
Kuala Lumpur
MalaysiaEnglish: High, 135 Mbps, $690/mo rent. You'll survive your first week without a translator or a breakdown.
Da Nang
VietnamEnglish: Moderate, 245 Mbps, $475/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Bangalore
IndiaEnglish: Low, $324/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Yerevan
ArmeniaEnglish: Moderate, $680/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Goa
IndiaEnglish: Low, $167/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Beijing
ChinaEnglish: Low, 204 Mbps, $1059/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Shanghai
ChinaEnglish: Low, 281 Mbps, $907/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Batumi
GeorgiaEnglish: Moderate, $461/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Dubai
United Arab EmiratesEnglish: Moderate, 378 Mbps, $2288/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Tbilisi
GeorgiaEnglish: Moderate, $681/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Tokyo
JapanEnglish: Very Low, $1359/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Chiang Mai
ThailandEnglish: Very Low, 143 Mbps, $463/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Hong Kong
Hong KongEnglish: Moderate, $2225/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Bali
IndonesiaEnglish: Low, $1082/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Almaty
KazakhstanEnglish: Very Low, 133 Mbps, $756/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Haifa
IsraelEnglish: Moderate, $1054/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Bangkok
ThailandEnglish: Very Low, $703/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Tashkent
UzbekistanEnglish: Very Low, $609/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Jerusalem
IsraelEnglish: Moderate, $1920/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Shenzhen
ChinaEnglish: Low, $743/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Tel Aviv
IsraelEnglish: Moderate, $2194/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Phuket
ThailandEnglish: Very Low, $708/mo rent. Bring a phrasebook. You'll need it. You'll also love it.
Data: Numbeo · UNODC · EIU · World Bank · EF EPI · Ookla Speedtest
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best city in Asia for expats in 2026?▾
Singapore (Singapore) leads our Expat Rankings with a score of 77/100. That covers English proficiency, internet speed, safety, democracy, and affordability — the five things that determine whether you'll survive your first week.
Top 5 cities for expats in Asia?▾
#1 Singapore (77/100), #2 Taipei (77/100), #3 Seoul (76/100), #4 Kuala Lumpur (74/100), #5 Da Nang (64/100). Weighted toward English and connectivity, because dealing with bureaucracy in a foreign language over dial-up is nobody's idea of a fresh start.
Where in Asia can expats get by in English?▾
Singapore (Singapore) — English proficiency: Very High. You'll still embarrass yourself ordering coffee, but at least the doctor will understand "it hurts here."
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