Sick of the U.S.? Experts Named These the Best Places to Move Abroad (And They Will Shock You)

It is one of the most in-depth studies on the best places to move abroad, and as someone who moved to Mexico in 2018, I’ve been reading it for years.

This year’s report analyzes 46 countries (including Mexico), with rankings based on criteria like Quality of Life, Working Abroad, Ease of Settling In, Finance, Housing, and Infrastructure.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at which countries made the list — and what the rankings mean for those who want to leave the U.S. and move abroad.

Reporter and editor experts note that Panama ranks in the top three across several sub-indices, and finishes in the top ten for nearly every category.

What draws people most is the balance: Good infrastructure without sky-high prices, pleasant weather, and a culture that many find open and easy to fit into.

The country scores well in systems like transportation, healthcare, and public services — all without costing as much as many other top-ranked places.

A big part of the story is that a lot of expats in Panama are U.S. retirees.

The share of retirees among expats there is way above the global average, and many say they intend to stay permanently.

That creates a stable and attractive community environment — two important factors to think about when considering a move abroad.

Panama has also been recognized in Global Retirement Indexes as one of the top retirement-friendly destinations this year.

Expats in Colombia highlight strong satisfaction with their finances, relatively affordable housing, and a lively social scene.

However, worries about safety and political stability remain, which was one factor that kept Colombia out of the top spot.

Mexico lands in third place this year thanks to friendliness, for how easily newcomers feel welcome, and for offering an active social life.

Expats say they appreciate local kindness, feeling at home, and how straightforward it is to make friendships and integrate culturally.

On the ease of settling in side, Mexico comes out on top, and on the financial side, it ranked solidly as well.

In fact, all three Latin American countries in the top spots this year rank first, second, and third for their ease of settling in and assimilating to local life.

However, some downsides like air quality in certain areas (namely Mexico City), and concerns around personal safety, hold back its score in quality of life.

China joins them at number six, followed by Indonesia and Malaysia further down in the Top 10.

These countries tend to fare highly when it comes to personal finance, value for money, and housing that’s relatively inexpensive and accessible.

China’s climb is noteworthy, as last year, it ranked much lower (around 19th) — but this time it has improved significantly on things like opportunity for work, job security, and work-life balance.

For many expats, that shift represents real changes; not just minor improvements.

In other Asian countries in the Top 10, affordability plus decent infrastructure make the lifestyle attractive.

Why the big jumps for Cypress and Malta?

Better performance in working abroad and personal finances, reflecting stronger economies, more opportunity, and improved balance between leisure and work.

Czechia also had a big jump of about 18 places, and for the first time broke into the Top 10 for quality of life.

Improvements in digital services, safer public spaces, and more leisure options all played a part.

Ireland moved up significantly, helped by expanding career options and new support for remote work, though challenges remain in housing and healthcare availability.

Because the number of countries in the survey decreased from 2024, this actually represents a more noticeable decline than it seems.

Many expats report that several areas have worsened when it comes to quality of life in the U.S.

Some of the biggest complaints revolve around infrastructure — public transport, walkability, and cycle-friendly streets are among the weakest points.

Healthcare is another sore spot as concerns about cost, availability, and equal access persist.

Political stability and personal freedom ratings fell too, with a larger share of expats giving very low marks than in previous years.

Work-life balance, rising cost of living, and housing un-affordability also feature heavily among criticisms.

Countries such as Italy (# 37), Sweden (#38), Norway (#39), UK (#41), Germany (#42) and Finland (#43) find themselves in this group.

Despite strong social systems, high incomes, and good infrastructure, many expats report problems that offset these advantages.

Common complaints include sky-high living costs, particularly for housing, complex bureaucracy, challenges settling in socially, and digital infrastructure or services that lag behind expectations.

The key takeaway is that wealth doesn’t automatically mean expat satisfaction, especially when day-to-day costs and social factors are burdensome.

Changes in healthcare satisfaction, politics, and personal finance all contributed.

The only area where South Korea still does well is internet access, which many expats still rate near the top.

At the very bottom of the list is Kuwait , remaining there for the eighth year in a row.

Expats in Kuwait report low scores in nearly every dimension: Quality of life, safety, ease of settling in, social opportunities.

Extreme climate and limited leisure or social integration options consistently weigh heavily in the negative feedback.

In 2025, many of the countries with the happiest expats are those where expenses are manageable, and where personal finances receive high marks.

That overlap between affordability and overall happiness is stronger than in prior years.

Scenery, culture, and climate remain important (they still influence choice after all) — but for many living abroad, the deciding factors are more practical:

That’s what’s really pushing some countries up, and pulling others down.