Living abroad in 2025? You might want to think twice about where you’re heading! After extensive surveys and real expat experiences, InterNations, the largest global community for expatriates, asked over 12500 people who live and work abroad about how life is in 53 cities spanning 35 countries.
The study assessed cities based on five crucial markers: quality of life, personal finance, working abroad, ease of settling in, and expat essentials. The rankings reveal a fascinating trend: while Spanish and UAE cities dominate the top spots, German cities surprisingly populate the bottom of the list.
The key factors influencing these rankings include housing affordability, administrative efficiency, and the ease of settling in. For digital nomads and remote workers looking to make a move in 2025, these insights could be game-changing for their relocation decisions.
To that effect, here’s the ultimate rundown of where you should (and shouldn’t) plant your international roots.
The 10 Best Cities for Expats
1. Valencia, Spain
This Mediterranean paradise takes the crown for its perfect blend of affordability, especially in terms of public transport, opportunities for recreational activities, and unbeatable safety record. 96% of respondents found public transport to be affordable, with 77% of respondents being happy with their financial lives. Plus, who can resist that Spanish sunshine?
2. Málaga, Spain
Málaga is another Spanish stunner, proving that the Iberian Peninsula knows how to treat its international residents. Sun-soaked beaches? Check. Friendly locals? Double-check! Ranking first in terms of happy expats, this city ticks all the right boxes when it comes to having good personal support networks and thriving social life, with many expats reporting that they feel welcome and at home. As such, the ‘ease of settling in’ index is right at the top in Málaga.
3. Alicante, Spain
Completing Spain’s triumphant trio, Alicante offers that coveted Mediterranean lifestyle that keeps expats coming back. Alicante is the only Spanish city ranked in the top 10 for the ‘expat essentials’ index, where affordable housing—68% of expats have only good things to say about housing, plus it’s easy to find as well. Other major reasons folks like this city include unrestricted access to social media and other online services, and paying without cash is easy to come by.
4. Panama City, Panama
Central America’s bustling hub offers a perfect blend of modern amenities and tropical living. Even if folks find the quality of life in this Spanish-speaking city mediocre at best (it ranks 24th in this regard), Panama City is still crushing it, with expats living here ranking it second in the ‘personal finances’ and 8th in ‘ease of settling in’ indices. If perfect weather, quality healthcare, and a vibe that screams “vacation forever” is your thing, this one is for you.
5. Mexico City, Mexico
The Mexican capital is winning hearts with its vibrant culture and growing expat community. Much like Panama City, Mexico City also ranks high in the ‘personal finance’ (4th) and ‘ease of settling in’ (2nd) indices. The city also places 11th under the ‘Working Abroad’ category, providing the best working hours and career opportunities. Digital nomads take note—this metropolis may just be your next hot spot.
6. Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
This emerging Emirates destination is quickly becoming a favorite among international residents. Think Dubai’s luxurious city life with more breathing room and fewer tourist selfie sticks. Ranking first in the ‘expat essentials’ index, there’s much to appreciate in Ras Al Khaimah, especially when it comes to administrative efficiency and relatively cost-effective housing.
7. Madrid, Spain
Spain’s capital joins its coastal cousins in expat excellence. Although Madrid doesn’t fare amazingly in the ‘expat essentials’ index (it ranks 28th in that aspect), the city ranks fifth when it comes to the ‘quality of life’ index. Expats particularly praise Madrid for its abundant leisure opportunities, receiving a high rank for its culture, nightlife, and dining options. The city is also appreciated for its healthcare, travel, and transit, with its public transit system notable for being cost-effective.
8. Bangkok, Thailand
The Big Mango, despite being the only Asian city to make it to the top 10, keeps drawing expats like moths to a flame, and with good reason. With the city’s dynamic city life, amazing food, and cost of living—76% of expats positively rate it for its affordability — Bangkok is sure to make your wallet smile. Add to that, 77% of international residents feel at home in the Thai capital, which is, again, easy to find and extremely budget-friendly.
9. Abu Dhabi, UAE
The UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi, offers an exceptional quality of life, ranking 7th globally. The city is second in the ‘expat essentials’ index, making administrative tasks like visa processing a breeze, and language proficiency in Arabic is not a requirement for international residents in Abu Dhabi (or Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, for that matter). Essentially, Abu Dhabi’s modern infrastructure and diverse expat scene make it a Middle East powerhouse.
10. Dubai, UAE
Rounding out the top 10, Dubai maintains its reputation as a global expat hub. Despite some growing pains with traffic and pollution, Dubai still manages to dazzle with its ultramodern vibe and multicultural magic. Ranking 8th in the ‘quality of life’ index and third in the ‘expat essential’ index, this Emirati city is a favorite of many.
As one British expat in Dubai states, “What I like best is the ease of access to services — government, shopping, banking, and so on.”
The 10 Worst Cities for Expats
1. Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver was already part of the last ten, both in 2022 and 2023, but now the Instagram-perfect city is literally at the bottom of the barrel. From expats finding housing super expensive, with 52% of international residents dissatisfied with their bank accounts, to difficulties in securing jobs and 63% struggling to make friends, Vancouver’s beauty comes at a steep price.
2. Hamburg, Germany
Germany’s port city is plagued by bureaucracy and integration challenges. Expats are particularly dissatisfied with the ease of settling in, placing the city at a low 52nd rank. The language barrier presents a major obstacle — while knowledge of German is essential for daily life, many find the language difficult to master. The city’s quality of life index also disappoints, ranking 40th, with expats expressing particular dissatisfaction with Hamburg’s climate and weather conditions.
As one Swedish expat in Hamburg explains, “I dislike the bureaucracy, and that practically every contact with the government/city has to be in German. Also digitalization is so behind — I want to be able to access more government services online and pay with my phone.”
3. Toronto, Canada
Just as in Vancouver, Toronto is another Canadian city that has seen a steady decline over the past few years in the number of expats who are dissatisfied with the place. The city ranks a disappointing 47th in the ‘working abroad’ index, where factors such as a poor local economy, high living costs, and increased unemployment have led international residents to be continually unhappy with Toronto. The fact that the ‘quality of life’ index has also worsened (ranking 42nd) does not help the city’s case.
4. Munich, Germany
Another German city featured in the bottom half of the list is Munich, with its extremely low ‘expat essentials’ and ‘ease of settling in’ indices. Beautiful? Yes. Affordable? Not so much. When it comes to personal finance, Munich ranks 48th, and the complex administrative system doesn’t help. Additionally, more than half of international residents living in the city feel unwelcome, which pushes it down the list. There’s also the fact that German culture takes some getting used to.
5. Istanbul, Turkey
While it’s true that most folks (including expats) adore the climate and weather of Istanbul, economic instability and career challenges make Turkey’s largest city a tough sell. The city ranks last (53rd) in the ‘working abroad’ index and nearly as poorly (50th) in the ‘quality of life index. International residents also express dissatisfaction with the limited recreational opportunities, ranking the city at the bottom in this category as well.
6. Cologne, Germany
The third German city in the bottom 10 faces similar issues to its country mates, where bureaucracy is the national sport, and expats are the unwilling players. Aside from feeling unwelcome and experiencing issues similar to those in Hamburg and Munich, 45% of expats living in Cologne say that it is difficult to obtain a visa to the city. The housing situation is a problem as well.
7. Milan, Italy
Italy’s fashion capital is one of the few cities where expats have much to complain about, with their dissatisfaction spanning almost all indices. Milan ranks 50th when it comes to safety and security, with international residents also reporting political instability as an issue. The city does not fare well in the transport and transit category either, placing 44th on the list. This sentiment is echoed by a U.S. American expat who notes:
“The climate degradation is particularly acute … The second biggest issue is road safety. People are generally incredibly unsafe drivers and have zero regard for bikers or pedestrians, so it’s extremely difficult and dangerous to commute without a car.”
8. Berlin, Germany
Berlin is the fourth German city to rank among the ten worst cities for expats. Like the other three German cities mentioned earlier, Berlin faces similar challenges, including language barriers, expensive housing, restricted access to online services/ social media platforms, and bureaucratic difficulties.
The housing situation is particularly problematic, as one American expat in Berlin points out: “Housing availability and affordability are in a crisis situation and need to be addressed quickly.”
9. Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt, known for being a financial hub, rounds out Germany’s unfortunate showing in the bottom 10. But the city is at least not the worst of the lot — when it comes to housing, expats living in Frankfurt have ranked it a not-so-bad 37th — a relatively decent position compared to the other German cities on this list. However, like its counterparts across the country, Frankfurt continues to struggle with ‘expat essentials’ and ‘ease of settling in’ indices.
10. Rome, Italy
Although Rome ranks in the bottom 10, placing 44 on the list, The Eternal City has a relatively okayish ‘ease of settling in’ index, with expats ranking 27th in this category. However, the city does face significant challenges regarding career opportunities, with expats ranking Rome last (53rd) under the ‘work culture and satisfaction’ subcategory.
As one Angolan expat notes, “It’s extremely hard to find jobs in Italy. And the salaries here are extremely low.” Public transport seems to be a problem as well, with international residents placing Rome in 51st place for it.
Source: InterNations