Good research is where you should start if you dream of moving overseas. There’s no point in moving somewhere where you face problems with integration, and the quality of life leaves much to be desired.
In this report, we will analyze the top 5 countries for the best quality of life where expatriate respondents to the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey state that the quality of life is excellent.
How the countries are ranked
We’ll be looking at what constitutes a high quality of living for foreign residents and the pros and cons for each top-ranking country for would-be expatriates.
We hope the following information will enable your relocation decisions and you can find a happier and better life abroad.
We’ll be looking at the pros and cons of each country so that you can hopefully discover where you could be happiest living abroad.
If you want to tell us where you’ve been happiest living abroad, whether you’re a serial expat or just relocated for the first time in your life, please get in touch.
The top 5 countries for the best quality of life are as follows:
Thailand: one of the friendliest countries
This stunning Asian nation consistently ranks highly as one of the friendliest nations where expatriates find it easy to integrate and even find love.
It also ranks exceptionally well with retirees looking for a more affordable cost of living and a decent quality of life balance.
Thailand is considered a lifetime move by a high proportion of expats surveyed, i.e., it seems that once you make a home in Thailand, you don’t want to leave. However, visa issues and dodgy property ownership laws and problems mean that Thailand does have its complications and complexities.
For those marrying a local or legitimately relocating to Thailand for work, the visa issues aren’t so complex, and the quality of life on offer can make all bureaucratic matters seem less significant anyway!
You have an almost perfect climate year-round and stunning scenery, including idyllic beaches and lush flora. Many issues relating to poverty and the slightly seedier side of Thailand are improving.
Read more in our Moving To Thailand guide.
Bahrain: excellent for career-orientated expats
This is an excellent country for career-orientated expats looking for a high salary, good job prospects and all the benefits that come hand-in-hand with these factors.
It’s not as difficult as many countries in the Middle East regarding integration, although you do, of course, need a sponsored visa to live and work in Bahrain.
The quality of life on offer is high grade – with excellent healthcare and educational offerings, high-grade infrastructure, and exceptional weather all being big plus points in this country’s favor.
The lifestyle expats enjoy is good, with the social side of life varied and plentiful. Expats can usually afford a housekeeper, meaning they have more time to enjoy life in Bahrain.
The cost of living is not cheap, and Bahrain is not considered a place to move to for life. It’s one of the best countries for working expats who want to earn well, live well and set themselves up for life financially speaking.
South Africa: easy to integrate
In sharp contrast, South Africa is a life destination as far as most expatriates surveyed were concerned.
It was also the country that came out on top in terms of creating a positive first impression for expats because the ease of relocation to South Africa was reported to be simple.
The only area where expats reported having difficulties was in arranging their finances. Because of the country’s reluctance to allow the removal of wealth from the nation at a later date, all expats are indeed urged to consult an expert before moving or receiving any monies into South Africa.
The country scored very well as a place to integrate easily – although this may be because most expats surveyed were living in well-populated parts of the nation already popular with international citizens!
South Africa certainly has good weather and stunning scenery going for it, too. It also has high healthcare standards, a large expat community, and decent infrastructure.
On the downside, it has well-reported incidences of violent crime, an uncertain political landscape, and a severe problem with AIDS.
Canada: a relocation destination for life
Canada came a close second to South Africa regarding the ease of relocation and integration. These, plus Canada’s lifestyle, make it one of the top countries for expats.
Once an expatriate has overcome the hurdles required to get a visa to relocate to Canada, it seems the entire experience of settling in is relatively smooth. Naturally, for Britons, the lack of a language barrier in most of Canada helps on this front.
Canada is also considered a relocation destination for life by most expats surveyed, with one of the only downsides cited being the geographical distance of Canada from the surveyed expatriates’ home countries.
This was cited as an issue because expatriates missed their friends and family after immigrating.
Achieving an improved quality of life was a reason cited by many expats now living in Canada as a reason behind their original move…and the weather in the nation was cited as one of the most challenging aspects of settling into life.
Bermuda: good financial prospects
Finally, we come to Bermuda, which ranks alongside Bahrain in terms of the main reasons cited by expats as choosing the destination for relocation – i.e., for career and financial prospects.
Bermuda is certainly not a destination chosen for the cost of living or even ease of integration by expats. However, of those who successfully move into well-remunerated employment, the majority state that their quality of life is high.
However, the most critical downside of this destination is that the cost of living is almost unbelievably high. Therefore, you must move to Bermuda and land a high-paying job to get the most out of your relocation.
Immigration red tape can be challenging, too. There is also a very sharp contrast between ‘those who have’ and ‘those who have not’ in Bermuda, and until you get in with the expats, you can feel slightly isolated in this somewhat alien environment.
If you are earning well, you can enjoy the high quality of life available for those who can afford it. You are also more likely to get the most out of the natural benefits of living in Bermuda too, such as the climate and geography, the natural environment, and the decent local infrastructure.
On the whole, Bermuda has a lot going for it, but it is only at number five in the rankings because of its very high cost of living!
Where expats are better off living abroad
These five nations are highly diverse in their natural offerings, yet each country is a strong draw for expatriates explicitly looking to improve their quality of life.
You can improve the quality of your life by finding a lower cost of living (Thailand), or you can improve it by moving to a high-paying country with many career and salary options for expats (Bahrain).
You can also go in search of fantastic weather and scenery that will assault your senses (South Africa), or you can find an excellent quality of life for the entire family (Canada) for the long term.
It’s up to you how and why you want to change your life for the better – and it’s up to you to choose the one country that will offer you the perfect balance.
There are nations where expatriates are much happier, so what’s stopping you from making the break and searching for a better life abroad?
Other destinations to consider:
You might find helpful:
Our best-of lists are a great place to start if you’re looking for inspiration.
- Best Countries To Retire – our top 20 retirement destinations in the world.
- The 10 Best Countries To Live In – the top countries with a balanced lifestyle.
- The Best Countries To Work In The World – the top countries for professional expats.
- 5 European Destinations With Great Weather All Year – countries with the healthiest climate.
- The Guide To EU Golden Visa Schemes For Non-EU Citizens – compare EU Golden Visa programs to find the one that suits you best.
- 7 Best Countries To Live In South America For Expats
