Today, many people make the huge decision to relocate to another country. Common factors behind the trend include the chance of a better salary or the desire for a more comfortable life.

The term expatriate (usually shortened to expat) refers to a person who lives or works outside their country of citizenship. InterNations, the world's largest expatriate network, has released its Expat Insider 2026 Personal Finance Index, which ranks the worst and best countries for your wallet. The index is based on ratings from thousands of expats in 31 countries and focuses on three areas: general cost of living, satisfaction with their financial situation and whether their disposable income is enough to live comfortably.

We've whittled the InterNations data down to the top 25 global locations. Read on to discover the most and least expensive places to live and work abroad. Our countdown begins with the most expensive...  

All dollar amounts in US dollars

The quintessential "expensive" country, Switzerland tops Numbeo's Cost of Living Index (along with Bermuda and the Cayman Islands). The cost of housing and other essentials is high, but the nation boasts a major saving grace: bumper wages.

A whopping 43% of the expats surveyed report a gross salary of at least $100,000 (£75k), while 74% say their disposable income is enough to lead a comfortable life compared with a global average of 71%.

The US may be the land of opportunity, but the American dream comes at a cost. More than half of foreign people who choose to live or work in the country are dissatisfied with the cost of living, with only 27% happy with their living expenses.

The biggest bugbears are the nation's steep housing costs and notoriously expensive healthcare, not to mention transportation, particularly in areas with poor public transit infrastructure where people have to depend on cars. 

Germany can be a tough country for expats from a social perspective, and the bureaucracy can be difficult to navigate. That said, 71% feel their disposable household income is enough for a comfortable life, which is in line with the global average.

However, expats in Germany are less likely to be satisfied with their financial situation overall than respondents worldwide.

Sweden scores highly on quality of life, with expats rating its clean air and work-life balance. However, the picture isn't so rosy when it comes to personal finances.

Only 46% of the expats surveyed are content with their financial situation, compared to 55% globally. Meanwhile, a third don’t consider their disposable household income enough to lead a comfortable life. Opening a local bank account also stands out as an issue, with the country ranking 30 out of 31 on this measure.

The Netherlands stands out as a great place to work, with 76% of expats satisfied with their working hours. Flexibility, fair pay and job security are also strong. Housing is a problem though: 74% say it's not affordable, and only 17% agree it's easy to find a place.

While around seven in 10 feel their disposable income is enough for a comfortable life, just 19% rate the country's cost of living positively. Over half of expats surveyed also cite the cost of healthcare as an issue.

Just 24% of expats rate Denmark's cost of living positively, well under the global average of 39%. Despite this, 58% of expats are satisfied with their overall financial situation, slightly above the global average of 55%.

This is probably down to the country's generous wages, with over three in four expats happy with their paycheques. Denmark also tops the table when it comes to satisfaction with working hours.

Luxembourg is top of the pile when it comes to wages and job security. Unsurprisingly, it scores less well on personal finance. Living costs in the small country are exorbitant, with property prices and rentals among the highest in Europe, driven by bumper wages and limited land supply.

Just 19% of expats rate Luxembourg positively for the general cost of living. However, the pinch is purely about cost. An above-average share of expats in Luxembourg remain satisfied with their financial situation overall: 68% vs 55% globally.

More and more people are flocking to live and work in the UAE. But the nation's weakness is its unaffordability. The country has become a victim of its own success, with rising housing costs driven by an influx of expat workers and high-net-worth individuals since the pandemic and the start of the Ukraine War, with Russians descending on the nation en masse.

34% of expats feel their disposable household income isn't enough to live comfortably, with almost one in five saying it doesn't even come close.

Expats rate Czechia strongly for work-life balance and job security, but wages are a sticking point. Just 48% feel they're paid enough, compared with a global average of 58%, one of the worst scores in the index on this measure.

That said, living costs aren't sky-high, with property, transport and leisure activities all generally affordable. Healthcare costs are also reasonable, though availability and quality don't quite cut it.

Singapore regularly ranks among the most expensive cities worldwide. The city-state is ninth in the world on Numbeo's Cost of Living Index, and two-thirds of those surveyed for InterNations' index rate Singapore's living costs negatively.

Rent is among the biggest drains on finances, but bumper salaries tend to help. However, work-life balance is poor, with long hours the norm in Singapore. 

Japan has a reputation for being difficult to migrate to, but the quality of life in the land of the rising sun is clearly a draw, with the nation ranking fourth overall on this measure. Half of expats living there also rate Japan's cost of living positively.

However, just 45% are happy with their financial situation overall, with modest wages the pressure point rather than high costs.

Expats in Italy aren't overly bothered by the general cost of living there, and the country is reasonable when it comes to living costs. However, survey participants were significantly more negative about their jobs.

This all boils down to the country's comparatively poor pay, lack of decent, stable jobs and low levels of job satisfaction. But it's pretty much la dolce vita for those who can secure well-paid roles, thanks to the affordable living expenses.

France lands around the midpoint of our countdown and achieves middling scores when it comes to personal finance. The cost of living in the nation is an issue, though not an overriding one, and 71% of expats say their disposable household income is enough for a comfortable life, in line with the global average.

Work is a weaker area. Only 54% of expats feel they earn a decent paycheque compared to 58% globally, although work-life balance and satisfaction with working hours tend to offset that.

Career rather than lifestyle is the main reason expats move to Saudi Arabia, with over 70% arriving for work, well above the global average of 33%. Only two in five expats rate the cost of living positively, but financial satisfaction is bang on the global average of 55%.

However, data for the most recent survey was gathered before and after the outbreak of the US-Iran war, and it remains to be seen how the conflict will impact the lives of expats. According to the most recent data, around a third planned to leave within the next five years, and the war could hasten this exodus.

Austria isn't a paradise for expats, with respondents highlighting their difficulty integrating socially. Yet quality of life is excellent, salaries are among the highest in Europe, and living costs are surprisingly reasonable, although taxes are high.

Belgium is the first of four European countries to make the top 10. The country's cost of living is on the high side, but decent wages generally offset it. In fact, 77% of expats living there say they feel well paid, more than in any other country in the index.

Meanwhile, 75% of expats say their income is enough or more than enough to lead a comfortable life.

Pay in South Africa isn't anything to write home about, but living costs are refreshingly low, especially housing. 61% of expats view the affordability of everyday life in the Rainbow Nation positively, well above the 39% global average. 

The major drawback is the country's high crime levels. South Africa scores the lowest for safety and security in the entire index. Foreigners living and working there must take their personal safety extremely seriously and prioritise stringent security measures in their homes and daily routines.

Expats rave about Spain's wonderful culture, climate and healthcare. The Mediterranean country tops the quality of life rankings and scores highly for personal finances, thanks to its generally affordable living costs.

Nonetheless, jobs are scarce, unemployment is among the highest in Europe, and local pay isn't great. Working remotely is probably the best option for those seeking a new life there, especially if they come from a high-wage nation.

Poland performs exceptionally well when it comes to the cost of living and finances. About half the expats surveyed view living costs in the country positively, while 51% say their household income is more than enough to live comfortably, not something that can be said for many European nations.

Meanwhile, 69% of expats are happy with their financial situation overall, well above the global average of 55%.

One of the friendliest countries in the world according to the expats surveyed, Brazil offers newcomers a very warm welcome. In terms of financial satisfaction, the nation ranks fifth overall, while a majority of expats say their disposable household income is enough to lead a comfortable life. This has more to do with Brazil's affordable living costs than bountiful wages.

The largest negative is the country's high crime rates – only South Africa scores worse for personal safety, so foreigners living and working there need to be streetwise and have their wits about them at all times.

Affordability is Malaysia's strong point, with 63% of expats rating the general cost of living positively, well above the global average. Meanwhile, 75% say their total household income is enough or more than enough to live comfortably.

That's definitely a reflection on Malaysia's low cost of living, not its salaries, with almost half of expats reporting a gross annual income of $12,000 (£9k) or less. As a result, overall financial satisfaction compares less favourably with the global average, 48% vs 55%.

Portugal is the highest-ranking European country in the index, with expats full of praise for its affordability. 61% have a positive view of the cost of living, far above the global average of 39%, while 76% say their disposable household income is enough to live a comfortable life.

Interestingly, one in five expats moved to Portugal specifically to retire there, five times the global share of 4%, demonstrating the country's value-for-money appeal.

Mexico attracts many US and Canadian expats, with the country's fantastically affordable cost of living the deciding factor for many. According to the InterNations survey, 57% of respondents rate this factor favourably, and 73% are satisfied with their financial situation. Meanwhile, 81% say their disposable income is enough to live a comfortable life.

The main red flag is Mexico's high crime rates. The country scores low for safety and security, and expats should be especially mindful of their personal safety (though some states, such as Yucatán, are relatively risk-free).

Thailand boasts the happiest expats in the entire Expat Insider 2026 survey, with personal finance satisfaction a significant contributing factor. Thailand ranks first overall for general cost of living, with 85% of expats rating it positively, more than double the global average. 

Four in five say their disposable income is enough to live comfortably, with 50% claiming it gives them more than enough. The country also tops the list for housing affordability, with 79% satisfied on that measure compared with 32% globally.

A magnet for North American retirees, 87% of expats are happy with their life in Panama, while a huge 90% say their disposable household income is enough or more than enough for a comfortable life.  

Affordable living costs play a role, with 69% rating Panama positively on this measure compared with 39% worldwide, while housing is also reasonable. Elsewhere, its top ranking in the Working Abroad index shows that Panama has appeal far beyond savvy retirees.

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