Five destinations expats love to call home
From Panama's jungles to Vietnam's buzzing cities, these five countries offer expats the best mix of affordability, friendliness and quality of life.
Five favorite destinations for foreigners
From the jungles of Panama to the bustling cities of Vietnam, these five countries offer expats the most affordable, friendly, and highest quality of life environments.
Mountain cyclists rest on a wooden bench in Panama, far away from the sea (photo: Getty Images)
From the jungles of Panama to the bustling cities of Vietnam, these five countries offer expats the most affordable, friendly, and highest quality of life environments.
Today, more and more people live outside of their country of origin: According to the World Immigration Report, 3.6% of the world’s population is regarded as international immigrants. Migration abroad is both a challenge and a reward, but a recent survey shows that there is one factor that currently affects the happiness of foreigners more than ever before: money.
Internations is a global community focused on living and working abroad, which surveyed more than 10,000 expatriates from 172 countries. This year, the countries with the highest overall well-being scores also ranked top in the Indicator of Personal Finance surveyed, while also achieving outstanding results in terms of quality of life and convenience of settlement.
We caught up with expats in these top five destinations to find out the best things about living there and their advice for others considering moving abroad.
1nd Panama
Panama ranks first among 46 countries and ranks top three of the five main indicators surveyed, including work abroad first, accommodation convenience and basic needs of expatriates (such as digital living and housing) second, and quality of life and personal finances third. Panama is popular with freelancers, digital migrants and retirees, attracting people who love nature and outdoor activities.
“I love it outright, I’m surrounded by this thick jungle, and I see giant birds, monkeys, squirrels, pigs, birds and butterflies every day,” said Carrie McKee, owner and operator of the Morrillo Beach Ecological Resort, an American who is very distant from us, and we rarely see others on the beach except for the guests of the resort, so the waves are never crowded and the atmosphere is always beautiful.”
Panama attracts expats who appreciate its natural beauty and outdoor lifestyleCredit: Alamy
However, McKee warned that deforestation was a problem, and urged foreigners to respect the environment, and many people who moved to Panama and didn’t get to know the land, started deforesting trees or the lower vegetation of the forest, and then we lost the ecosystem there forever,” she said.
According to International, the top 10 best countries for expats to live in are as follows:
1nd Panama
2. Colombia
Third Mexico
Third Thailand
5 – Vietnam
and China
United Arab Emirates
8 - Indonesia
9 Spain
10 of Malaysia
She says bureaucracy can also be a challenge, and hiring professionals such as lawyers can be helpful in dealing with system problems; even updating the card requires complex documentation.
To admire the beauty of Panama, Mackie recommended a visit to the Serrojois National Park, which is home to local species of species of flora and fauna that I have never heard of before," she said, "This is the dream place for birdwatchers, and the challenge place for hikers, but also the waterfalls and exciting place to explore everywhere!"
2. Colombia
Colombia ranks second in the overall ranking, with good scores for personal finances (second) and ease of residence (third). The lower cost of living has also had a significant impact on the ranking, with four-fifths of foreigners saying they are satisfied with the economic situation here. This satisfaction also extends to a sense of belonging, and 80% of people in Colombia feel at home as if they were back home.
“Colombians are enthusiastic and curious, which makes them great neighbors and friends,” said Porcia Hart. She moved from Britain to Catania 10 years ago and now owns a boutique hotel – the most fascinating place to live here is family, so my best suggestion is: find a passionate and friendly Colombian family and let yourself be welcomed.”
She describes Colombia as having real opportunities and a spirit of goal and the complex modern history of Colombia means that there is a spirit of tangible hope here and a spirit of working together to create a better future,” she said.
Barrizala, in northeastern Colombia, is famous for its pebble streets and colonial buildings, including churches with hundreds of years of history (photo source: Alamy)
Her favorite resort is Barichala, a well-preserved countryside in northeastern Colombia because of its year-round climate and some of the best restaurants in Colombia. She also recommends visiting coffee producing areas and riding horses in the plains of Los Lanos, which are relatively unaffected by large-scale tourism.
Third Mexico
Mexico ranks third, thanks to its highly friendly culture. Expatriates say the percentage of welcome here is more than 20% higher than the global average, and it is easy to establish connections.
“The people, the culture, the cuisine, the stunning scenery, the low cost of living, and the perfect health care are all great reasons to choose to live here,” said David B. Wright, an American who lives in Playa del Carmen and owns a marketing agency, “I can work almost anywhere, so why not in heaven?”
He pointed out that while many parts of the country, especially tourist-intensive areas, speak English, learning Spanish is crucial for integration in the local community and learning another language is not just learning another way of expressing itself, but also learning another way of seeing the world,” he said.
Mexico's rich cultural heritage is highlighted by the Mayan Observatory in Chichen Itza, one of the attractions for touristsCredit: Getty Images
For him, the biggest adaptation is that he can't drink tap water. He said that many old houses have thin pipes, so he can't flush toilet paper. He also pointed out that the understanding and value of time here are quite different. "Mañana doesn't necessarily mean'tomorrow. 'It can mean anything from morning to two weeks or so," he said. "Similarly, ahora and ahorita do not always refer to'now 'or'now'."
Lynn Pierce, an American expat living in Cabo San Lucas, adds that the cost of living in Mexico is lower than in most American cities. "And, if you're lucky, the lower cost of living also gives you an ocean view," she says. She also mentioned that a reliable Internet connection makes telecommuting easy and convenient, and has attracted more and more "digital nomads" in recent years.
Wright suggested exploring the Yucatán peninsula's natural wells, mansions and Mayan sites such as Chichen Yitzhak, while Pearson called the West Coast's Capoeira the "World Aquarium" because marine life and whales can be seen near the coast.
Third Thailand
Thailand is ranked fourth overall and scores especially high in overall well-being (ranked second) and personal finance (ranked third). Expatriates also find Thailand easy to settle, ranking the top ten in finding friends and local friendliness.
“I don’t know which country is as passionate about hospitality, security, beautiful views, and travel,” said Natasha Eldridge. She lived a year in Taizhou and founded a successful tourism and marketing company in Phuket. For her, the infrastructure of Phuket – hospitals, schools, shops and airports – as well as convenient jungle walks and quiet beaches make it an ideal destination.
Climbing the lagoons and rocky cliffs of the Gulf makes it a popular destination for sailing adventures (photo source: Alamy)
Amy Poulton, author of the “Page Traveller” blog, who worked in Bangkok during the outbreak, stressed that Thailand’s large group of expatriates supports each other, adding that hot weather, good food, friendly people and a relaxed lifestyle attracted her.
Although English is widely used here, expatriates remind us that cultural awareness is crucial here and the cultural level of work in Thailand is severe,” Bolton said, adding that “the pay of foreigners is often much higher than that of locals and is less influenced by Thailand’s strict laws and social norms.”
"My Thai friends find it annoying when foreigners talk about how beautiful Thailand is, but the local people have a completely different experience," Bolton said. "Always be vigilant and realize that your experience is very different from the local ones." Eldred agrees with this statement, arguing that Western ideas are best left at home. "Respect the culture, respect the kingdom, keep an open heart and a big mind," she said.
Places such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket in Thailand are full of attractions, but visiting some lesser-known islands or countryside can be just as satisfying. Eldred especially enjoys sailing in Phang Nga Bay, as well as visiting Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand, where she stayed a few nights in a tree house. Bolton also recommends attending local festival events, such as the Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
5 – Vietnam
Vietnam ranked fifth, ranked first in the personal financial index, and overall well-being ranked eighth. As one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, expatriates feel marked vitality and vitality.
“Life is fast here, it’s growing fast everywhere, people are very enthusiastic and helpful,” says Bertha Pesik, who moved here from Indonesia and works at the New World Resort on Rich Island.
The Golden Bridge reflects the fusion of tradition and modernity, which is why Vietnam is so attractive (photo source: Alamy)
Pesik especially loves Vietnamese cuisine because it is fresh, rich in vegetables and less oil. Her favourite dishes include Hanoi-style baked pork (bún chả) with rice powder, spice and sausage; and Northern Vietnamese specialty dishes – steam rolls, pork crushed and mushrooms with crushed red mushrooms on them. For coffee lovers, Vietnam is also a dreamland; Vietnamese coffee is a must-see; it is famous for its intense coffee, and salted coffee is a unique flavor I like,” she says.
Since the climate varies greatly across the northern, central and southern regions of Vietnam, expats quickly learn to check the weather forecast before traveling or deciding where to settle. Learning some basic Vietnamese phrases, such as "hello" (xin chào) and "thank you" (cảmơn), can be of great benefit to integrating into the local population.
Pesik’s favorite things to do on Rich Island include enjoying sunbathing at Buckingham Beach, or admiring fireworks at the “Kiss of the Sea” show in the sunset town. She also loves to go to Harbour to experience the merger of the city and coastline, as well as the nearby Panama Bridge, feeling the feeling of walking on the clouds.
This article is from: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250922-the-best-countries-for-expats-in-2025