Have you ever thought about moving to another country? No matter what the reasons--- many Americans have already made the move and are sharing their experiences in a new poll by InterNations that lists the best and worst countries for living abroad. You can read all about it on Realtor.com, but here's the list and some top takeaways:
1. Panama. This small Latin American country takes the crown, with at least 4 in 5 expats (82%) saying they are happy with their life there (vs. 68% globally)
2. Mexico. Close to 9 in 10 expats in Mexico (89%) say they are happy in this Central American country. It has long ranked high for places to retire, with warm weather, spectacular beaches, good food, and friendly locals. Over three-quarters (77%) of respondents said they felt at home in Mexico.
3. Indonesia. A total of 84% of expats are happy with their life in Indonesia versus 68% globally. The country also ranks extremely high with a low cost of living (4th) and very friendly locals (2nd). Where Indonesia truly shines is its work-life balance, with 79% of respondents happy with this versus 60% globally.
4. Spain. Spain has always ranked high among expats. In the InterNations survey, it’s the only European nation ranked high for ease of settling in (first), travel and transit (ninth), health care (third), and leisure options (first). And it’s easy to get there legally.
5. Colombia. Colombia ranks high for its low cost of living (second), friendliness of the people (75% rank this favorably versus 63% globally), feeling of welcomeness (81%-plus versus 63% globally), and ease of making friends (55% versus 38% globally).
If you are curious about which countries to avoid, the top five are Kuwait, Turkey, Finland, Germany, and Canada. This primarily has to do with these countries’ high cost of living and difficulty in finding affordable housing. (Sound familiar, Americans?)
