Moving abroad looks simple on a postcard. In practice, the daily details decide whether a place feels like home: how easily you make friends, how far your pay stretches, how patiently the paperwork moves.
The picture below leans mostly on the InterNations Expat Insider surveys from 2024 to 2026, which gather the views of people who actually moved. Rankings like these reflect opinion and change from year to year, so treat them as a guide and not a verdict.
Panama
Panama took first place in the 2026 Expat Insider ranking, its third year in a row at the top.[1] It led the Working Abroad and Personal Finance indices and placed second for Ease of Settling In and Expat Essentials.[1]
Satisfaction runs high there. Around nine in ten expats in Panama said they were happy with life abroad.[2] About nine in ten also said their income was enough for a comfortable life, compared with roughly seven in ten globally.[3]
Mexico
Mexico has been a fixture near the top for several years running. It placed second in the 2024 survey,[4] then third in 2025,[5] and second again in 2026.[6]
That kind of consistency matters more than any single year’s result. A country that holds its place across three editions is less likely to be a statistical blip. If you want a destination with a steady reputation among newcomers, Mexico fits the description.
Thailand
Thailand ranked third in the 2026 survey, up from fourth a year earlier. Expats there rated the ease of settling in highly, placing it third on that measure.[6] Local residents were considered the friendliest worldwide, and Thailand ranked first for feeling at home.[6]
Social warmth is hard to measure, yet it’s often what separates a place you tolerate from one you stay in. Thailand’s result suggests newcomers feel accepted quickly. That counts for a lot in the first difficult months.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE came fourth in the 2026 top 10,[6] after placing seventh in 2025.[5] It’s a climb that reflects how many expats value infrastructure and a straightforward daily routine.
There’s an important caveat, though. The 2026 survey ran from February to March and doesn’t reflect changes that followed the US and Iran war.[2] Anyone weighing a move to the Gulf should check how conditions look now, not just how they looked in early spring.
Brazil
Brazil made one of the larger jumps in this group. It ranked fifteenth in 2025,[7] then fifth in the 2026 list.[6] The two surveys covered different numbers of countries, so the leap looks a bit bigger on paper than it may feel on the ground.
Still, a move from the middle of the table into the top five is hard to ignore. It suggests expats there are reporting better experiences than a year earlier. Brazil is worth a closer look if Latin America appeals to you.
Spain
Spain is the European country that keeps showing up. In 2025 it was the only European nation in the top 10,[5] and in 2026 it placed sixth.[6]
It sat fourth in 2024,[4] so its position has drifted a little but stayed strong. For people who want a Western European lifestyle with a reputation for friendly daily living, Spain keeps earning its place.
Singapore
Singapore ranked seventh in the 2026 Expat Insider list.[6] It wasn’t among the top 10 destinations in the 2025 edition, which makes its place this year a notable shift.
Keep in mind that the 2026 survey covered a narrower field. It examined living conditions for foreigners in 31 countries.[1] A smaller pool can change how a country lands, so read the ranking as a snapshot and not a permanent standing.
Portugal
Portugal returned to the top 10 in 2026. It placed eighth,[6] compared with seventeenth in 2025.[7] That’s a big swing in one year.
Money plays a part. A 2026 finance breakdown credits Portugal and Spain with prices that remain manageable for foreign earners.[3] The country was already known for sunshine and a good social life, and it now has fresher numbers behind it.
Malaysia
Malaysia placed tenth in 2025[5] and ninth in 2026,[6] a small but steady improvement. It isn’t a headline grabber like some others on this list.
The long view is encouraging too. Malaysia ranked fourth as the best expat destination in the 2021 survey.[8] A country that keeps landing in the upper tier across years has probably earned it.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg rounded out the 2026 top 10.[6] It had been eighteenth in 2025,[7] so the improvement is considerable.
The country hasn’t always been so well regarded. A 2022 report criticised it for a lack of leisure activities and a high cost of living.[9] The newer ranking points to a better experience for recent arrivals, though costs remain worth checking.
Colombia
Colombia surged in the 2025 survey. It climbed from fifth place in 2024 to second place.[5] The survey found that a large majority, 81 percent, of respondents were satisfied with their financial situation there.[5]
It doesn’t appear in the 2026 top 10, which covered fewer countries. That could reflect a changed survey pool as much as any real decline. Still, the 2025 result shows how strongly expats rated it that year.
Indonesia
Indonesia has been a regular in the upper ranks. It was third in the 2024 survey,[4] and eighth in 2025.[5] CNBC’s coverage noted that people are having positive experiences in Asian and Latin American countries, which have a strong showing on the list.[5]
Finances have long been part of the appeal. In 2022, about three quarters of expats in Indonesia felt positive about their financial situation, compared with 60 percent globally.[10] The slip from third to eighth is a reminder that rankings move, but the country remains well regarded.
Norway
Norway was named the worst country for expats in 2026, with fewer than half of expats content with life abroad, compared with 70 percent globally.[11] Cost is a big reason. Only about one in six rated the cost of living positively, and overall financial satisfaction was the lowest worldwide.[3]
The trouble isn’t new. InterNations says Norway has landed in the bottom 10 for six straight years, and cultural adjustment is a particular struggle there.[12] The natural environment and political stability are real strengths, yet making yourself at home appears to take effort.
Germany
Germany is a major economy with plenty of jobs, so its showing may surprise some readers. Germany and Norway ranked at the bottom in 2026, with complaints about social adaptation, bureaucracy, the high cost of living and difficulty making friends.[13]
It isn’t all negative. Roughly six in ten expats were still happy with their life in Germany.[2] Germany also dropped into the bottom 10 for personal finance in 2026, placing 23rd of 31.[3] Expect an efficient country that can feel slow to open up.
Türkiye
Türkiye placed 45th in the 2025 Expat Insider list,[14] and in 2026 it came in as the third worst place for expats, with financial strain among the factors.[2] Prices and income pressure appear to weigh heavily on newcomers.
Work is another sore point. In 2025, Türkiye was among three countries ranked in the bottom 10 of the Working Abroad Index and in the bottom three for work culture and satisfaction.[14] If you’re moving for a job, those details deserve attention.
Kuwait
Kuwait finished last of 46 destinations in 2025.[14] InterNations says it has ranked last for Ease of Settling In every year since 2014, except once in 2017.[12]
The complaints are practical. A 2024 write-up cited summer temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius, weak healthcare ratings, and only about a fifth of expats happy with their social life.[4] The country may suit a short, well paid assignment better than a permanent relocation.
Canada
Canada is a study in contrasts. In Gallup’s 2019 Migrant Acceptance Index, it scored 8.46 out of 9 and led the world.[15] Those results measure how locals view migrants, though, not how expats rate daily life.
On that second measure, the 2026 picture is harsher. Canada came last in the expat finance ranking, with about half of expats saying their income was enough, versus roughly seven in ten globally.[3] It also landed in the 2025 overall bottom 10 for a second straight year, at 40th.[14]
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has a long record of drawing newcomers. Recent surveys show money as the sticking point. It has been in the bottom three of the finance ranking since 2022, with about four in ten saying their income isn’t enough and only around one in five rating the cost of living positively.[3]
The overall ranking tells a similar story. The UK placed 41st of 46 in the 2025 survey.[14] Anyone considering a move should run a realistic budget before signing a lease.
