Expat Insider 2021 — The Year of Uncertainty

In January 2021, more than 12,000 expat respondents from across the globe took part in the latest Expat Insider survey. Together, they represent a total of 174 nationalities and live in 186 countries or territories around the world.

And, for the first time since the Expat Insider survey was launched in 2014, more than 6,000 local residents — many former and future expats among them — also had the opportunity to respond to selected questions; most of these addressed the way the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic might have disrupted relocation plans or a recent stay abroad.

In general, the Expat Insider 2021 survey report aims to shed some light on what living and working abroad has been like during a global health emergency. In addition to the overall ranking and the focus on the impact of COVID-19 on expat life, there are are two more topics covered below — the new ways of working in this global and digital age and a focusing on urban life abroad in the form of our city ranking.

This website offers destination rankings, articles with in-depth analyses, infographics, and the complete survey reports for download.

Ranking and Reports

Would you like to know which destinations are new among the global top 3 — or at the bottom? Or are you curious to find out which aspects of expat life have been most affected by COVID-19? Below, you can find an overview of the best and worst expat destinations, insights into the impact of the pandemic, and focus articles on the four topical indices that factor into the overall Expat Insider 2021 ranking.

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Best & Worst Places for Expats
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Quality of Life Index
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Ease of Settling In Index
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Working Abroad Index
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Personal Finance & Cost of Living Indices
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Life Abroad during COVID-19

Expat City Ranking 2021

The Expat Insider 2021 respondents were also invited to share their opinions on their current city of residence: Does it have a convenient public transportation system? What is the local housing market like? How do they view their career opportunities, and how would they rate their social life?

Thanks to their insights, the Expat City Ranking 2021 offers an overview of the 57 best- and worst-rated cities for expats worldwide. The following analysis explores the results in greater detail in several areas, from the quality of urban living to finance and housing, from urban work life to getting settled in a foreign city.

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Best & Worst Cities for Expats
Pictogram
Quality of Urban Living Index
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Getting Settled Index
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Urban Work Life Index
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Finance & Housing Index
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African Cities
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Asian Cities
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European Cities
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Middle Eastern Cities
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North American Cities

The Future of Working Abroad

Find out what it’s really like to work abroad! Expats from around the world describe their working conditions, voice their wishes for the future, and give insights on the impact of new work models (e.g., remote work).

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The Future of Working Abroad
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Australians Working Abroad
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Brazilians Working Abroad
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British Working Abroad
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Canadians Working Abroad
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Dutch Working Abroad
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Filipinos Working Abroad
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French Working Abroad
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Germans Working Abroad
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Indians Working Abroad

Country & Regional Reports: Your Country Through Expat Eyes

Below, we take a closer look at various popular expat destinations, featuring 16 country profiles, from Australia to the USA, as well as several regional reports that cover the Gulf States, several Northern European countries, the Asian Tigers, and the emerging markets of the Tiger Cubs. Read on to find out more about expat life across the globe!

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The Asian Tigers
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The Tiger Cubs
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Northern Europe
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The GCC States
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Australia
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Austria
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Canada
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China
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Czechia
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France

Infographics

The Expat Insider infographics below provide a helpful visualization with demographic information on the survey respondents, more details on what factors into the respective ranking, the impact of COVID-19 on expats worldwide, and more. Select a thumbnail to access the full-size image.

Pictogram
Top Expat Destinations
Pictogram
Survey Demographics
Pictogram
Country Ranking Factors
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COVID-19 Impact on Expats
Pictogram
Friends & Family
Pictogram
City Ranking Factors

Download

Download full report

Contact

Kathrin Chudoba

Kathrin Chudoba

Editor in chief

Expat Insider 2021 — The Year of Uncertainty

In January 2021, more than 12,000 expat respondents from across the globe took part in the latest Expat Insider survey. Together, they represent a total of 174 nationalities and live in 186 countries or territories around the world.

And, for the first time since the Expat Insider survey was launched in 2014, more than 6,000 local residents — many former and future expats among them — also had the opportunity to respond to selected questions; most of these addressed the way the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic might have disrupted relocation plans or a recent stay abroad.

In general, the Expat Insider 2021 survey report aims to shed some light on what living and working abroad has been like during a global health emergency. In addition to the overall ranking and the focus on the impact of COVID-19 on expat life, there are are two more topics covered below — the new ways of working in this global and digital age and a focusing on urban life abroad in the form of our city ranking.

This website offers destination rankings, articles with in-depth analyses, infographics, and the complete survey reports for download.

Ranking and Reports

Would you like to know which destinations are new among the global top 3 — or at the bottom? Or are you curious to find out which aspects of expat life have been most affected by COVID-19? Below, you can find an overview of the best and worst expat destinations, insights into the impact of the pandemic, and focus articles on the four topical indices that factor into the overall Expat Insider 2021 ranking.

Pictogram
Best & Worst Places for Expats
Pictogram
Quality of Life Index
Pictogram
Ease of Settling In Index
Pictogram
Working Abroad Index
Pictogram
Personal Finance & Cost of Living Indices
Pictogram
Life Abroad during COVID-19

Expat City Ranking 2021

The Expat Insider 2021 respondents were also invited to share their opinions on their current city of residence: Does it have a convenient public transportation system? What is the local housing market like? How do they view their career opportunities, and how would they rate their social life?

Thanks to their insights, the Expat City Ranking 2021 offers an overview of the 57 best- and worst-rated cities for expats worldwide. The following analysis explores the results in greater detail in several areas, from the quality of urban living to finance and housing, from urban work life to getting settled in a foreign city.

Pictogram
Best & Worst Cities for Expats
Pictogram
Quality of Urban Living Index
Pictogram
Getting Settled Index
Pictogram
Urban Work Life Index
Pictogram
Finance & Housing Index
Pictogram
African Cities
Pictogram
Asian Cities
Pictogram
European Cities
Pictogram
Middle Eastern Cities
Pictogram
North American Cities

The Future of Working Abroad

Find out what it’s really like to work abroad! Expats from around the world describe their working conditions, voice their wishes for the future, and give insights on the impact of new work models (e.g., remote work).

Pictogram
The Future of Working Abroad
Pictogram
Australians Working Abroad
Pictogram
Brazilians Working Abroad
Pictogram
British Working Abroad
Pictogram
Canadians Working Abroad
Pictogram
Dutch Working Abroad
Pictogram
Filipinos Working Abroad
Pictogram
French Working Abroad
Pictogram
Germans Working Abroad
Pictogram
Indians Working Abroad

Country & Regional Reports: Your Country Through Expat Eyes

Below, we take a closer look at various popular expat destinations, featuring 16 country profiles, from Australia to the USA, as well as several regional reports that cover the Gulf States, several Northern European countries, the Asian Tigers, and the emerging markets of the Tiger Cubs. Read on to find out more about expat life across the globe!

Pictogram
The Asian Tigers
Pictogram
The Tiger Cubs
Pictogram
Northern Europe
Pictogram
The GCC States
Pictogram
Australia
Pictogram
Austria
Pictogram
Canada
Pictogram
China
Pictogram
Czechia
Pictogram
France

Infographics

The Expat Insider infographics below provide a helpful visualization with demographic information on the survey respondents, more details on what factors into the respective ranking, the impact of COVID-19 on expats worldwide, and more. Select a thumbnail to access the full-size image.

Pictogram
Top Expat Destinations
Pictogram
Survey Demographics
Pictogram
Country Ranking Factors
Pictogram
COVID-19 Impact on Expats
Pictogram
Friends & Family
Pictogram
City Ranking Factors

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Download

Download full report

Contact

Kathrin Chudoba

Kathrin Chudoba

Editor in chief