Relocating your entire life is a pretty big deal, so it’s always a good idea to be as well informed about a place as possible before you up sticks.
Handily, InterNations has just dropped the results from its massive annual Expat Insider survey, which collects insight from those who’ve moved abroad to determine where people are happiest, most content with their financial situation, how good the infrastructure is and the ease with which they make friends.
What’s the best country in the world for expats?
For no less than the third year in a row, Panama has topped the InterNations ranking of the best countries in the world for expats. Why? Well, according to data from the survey, the country came second in the ‘ease of settling in’ and ‘expat essentials’ categories, and it’s also affordable. Ninety percent of expats said their disposable income is enough to live a comfortable life, and 76 percent said they’re content with their current financial situation.
It doesn’t fare quite so well for the quality of its roads or its urban environment, but an impressively high proportion of expats – 34 percent – said they’d happily live there forever.
Mexico ranked in second place, with people commending the friendliness of locals and the ease with which they can make friends, and Thailand came third, with 86 percent of people saying they live a happy life there. Scroll on for the complete top 10.
The best countries for expats in 2026, ranked
- Panama
- Mexico
- Thailand
- UAE
- Brazil
- Spain
- Singapore
- Portugal
- Malaysia
- Luxembourg
To check out the full ranking, including which countries have been named as the worst places for expats to live, head to InterNations’ official website.
🌏 Inspired? Here’s a list of all the countries offering digital nomad visas right now.
Did you see that this European country is creating huge new forests around all of its major cities – and the first one just opened?
Plus: These are the world’s most intelligent cities in 2026, according to a new index.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.
