All Work & No Play in the USA?
The American Dream seems to live on, at least regarding careers. But expats are disappointed by their work–life balance, the healthcare system, and more.
In Brief
In the 2025 Expat Insider, the USA only just escapes the bottom 10, ranking 36th out of 46 countries.
Expats are unhappy when it comes to matters of Personal Finance (35th) and Quality of Life (43rd). Working Abroad (21st) and the Ease of Settling In (25th), on the other hand, can be found somewhere midfield. The saving grace, to a degree, is the Expat Essentials Index (15th), where the USA’s result is only dragged down by visa difficulties and unaffordable housing.
All things considered, the general happiness level among expats in the USA is slightly below average (65% satisfied vs. 67% globally).
Working in the USA: A Mixed Picture
When asked about their main reason for relocating to the USA, only three in ten expats (30%) named job-related reasons (vs. 36% globally). Interestingly, two-thirds (67%) find the move improved their career prospects (vs. 55%). Personal career opportunities (7th) and the local job market (5th) in general rank well in the USA, despite an economy that only receives average ratings (26th).
On the flip side, expats aren’t satisfied with their work–life balance (41st) and working hours (39th), despite pretty average hours in full-time jobs: 42.4 hours per week in the USA, compared to 42.5 hours globally.
Does all the work at least pay off? Close to half the respondents (48%) say their gross annual income is at least 100,000 USD (vs. 21% globally). But the USA only places 35th in the Personal Finance Index. Just 28% regard living costs favorable (vs. 40%), with close to one in five (19%) giving them the worst possible rating — that’s more than double the worldwide average of 9%.
Please note, the 2025 Expat Insider survey was conducted in February 2025, prior to the April announcements of new tariffs on international trade and their potential impact on the US economy and costs.1
Bureaucracy? Not a Big Problem
The USA receives its best result in an index for Expat Essentials, ranking 15th. Respondents agree it’s no problem to get high-speed internet access set up at home (7th), pay without cash (17th), or open a local bank account (8th).
Paperwork — so often dreaded by expats and locals alike — is also less of a hurdle in the USA: above-average shares of expats find it easy to deal with local bureaucracy and authorities (45% vs. 37% globally). They also rate the online availability of administrative and government services positively (66% vs. 59%). The one big exception: getting a visa to move to the USA in the first place (44th). Only South Africa (46th) and Kuwait (45th) rank worse for this point.
Costs for housing (35th) are another sore point, with close to three in five expats (58%) disagreeing that it’s affordable (vs. 48% globally).
Better Save Up for Healthcare
In 43rd place, it’s actually the Quality of Life Index that ranks worst for the USA. This disappointing result is in large part down to three key areas: Travel & Transit (39th), Safety & Security (43rd), and Healthcare (46th).
Expats in the USA are much less likely to agree it’s easy to get equal access to all kinds of healthcare services (41% vs. 60% globally). Nor are they satisfied with the quality (38th) and affordability (46th) of medical care; since 2018, the USA has constantly ranked last for the latter point.
Affordability is also an issue when it comes to public transportation (43rd), which is additionally hardly available (45th). What’s more, just 54% of respondents in the USA agree it’s easy and safe to get around on foot or by bicycle. Worldwide, 77% say as much.
Speaking of safety: just 65% of expats in the USA feel safe, compared to 81% of all respondents. And more than double the global average rate the political stability negatively (41% vs. 18%).
A Lukewarm Welcome
Things aren’t as dire when it comes to the Ease of Settling In (25th), but the USA receives at best average results across the different factors of this index. For instance: only up to half the respondents are happy with their social life (45% vs. 52% globally) and feel at home in the country (50% vs. 58%).
Over three in five at least feel welcome (63% vs. 62% globally) and agree the people are friendly towards foreign residents (61% vs. 60%).
The Typical Expat in the USA
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Kathrin Chudoba
Editor in chief
