The Best & Worst Countries for Expats in 2026

➡️You’re welcome to use these 2026 Expat Insider results. Please remember to credit InterNations as the source, and where possible, include a link to www.internations.org.

In this article:

• Panama (1st) Makes It a Hat Trick
• Mexico (2nd) Is Still the Easiest Place to Feel at Home
• The World’s Happiest Expats Live in Thailand (3rd)
• Norway (31st) Is the World’s Loneliest Last Place
• Bureaucracy & Loneliness Weigh on Germany (30th)
• A Struggling Economy Sinks Türkiye (29th)
• Trends in the Top 10
• Trends in the Bottom 10
• Further Reading

Panama (1st) Makes It a Hat Trick

For the third year in a row, Panama tops the overall ranking of the Expat Insider survey by InterNations, placing 1st out of 31 destinations in 2026. It leads the Working Abroad and Personal Finance Indices and ranks 2nd for both Ease of Settling In and Expat Essentials. Its “worst” result in an index is a 6th place for Quality of Life. So unsurprisingly, 87% of expats in Panama are happy with their life abroad (vs. 70% globally).

Money worries seem far away in Panama: 90% of expats feel their disposable household income is enough to lead a comfortable life (vs. 71% globally), and over three-quarters (76%) are satisfied with their financial situation (vs. 55%). The general cost of living also gets positive ratings from 69% of respondents — far above the global average of 39%.

Panama remains a magnet for retirees: 37% of respondents are already retired (vs. 14% globally), and 18% name retiring abroad as their main reason for moving there (vs. 4%). Those who do work enjoy the world’s best work-life balance (1st) and pleasant working hours (3rd).

Settling in is nearly effortless. Nine in ten expats (90%) praise the general friendliness of the local residents (vs. 63% globally) — only Thailand receives an even better result for this factor. Panama wins 1st place when it comes to finding housing: 90% say it’s easy for expats — and not a single respondent disagrees (vs. 44% positive and 35% negative ratings globally). Getting a visa is also a breeze (2nd), with 82% finding it easy (vs. 55% globally). Plus, every single expat surveyed (100%) rates the natural environment positively (vs. 84%).

There are a few blemishes: the infrastructure for cars ranks last (31st), and the availability of green goods and services (28th) as well as the urban environment (26th) disappoint. But these hardly change expats’ plans — about a third (34%) want to stay in Panama forever (vs. 27% globally).

Mexico (2nd) Is Still the Easiest Place to Feel at Home

Mexico ranks 2nd overall and defends its traditional strength: 1st place in the Ease of Settling In Index, with all three of its subcategories — Local Friendliness, Finding Friends, and Culture & Welcome — also in 1st. Expats find the locals friendly towards foreign residents (1st), and 73% say making local friends is easy (vs. 39% globally). In fact, 34% describe their friends and acquaintances as mostly local residents — double the global average of 17%.

The country’s finances impress as well, with Mexico landing a 3rd place in the Personal Finance Index. Over four in five expats (81%) feel their disposable household income is enough for a comfortable life (vs. 71% globally), and 73% are satisfied with their financial situation (vs. 55%). Working life doesn’t lag far behind (10th for Working Abroad) — expats rank their personal career opportunities (2nd) and overall job satisfaction (2nd) near the top. And 69% feel paid fairly for their work (vs. 58% globally).

The Quality of Life Index (16th) is Mexico’s weak spot, despite the world’s best ratings for culture and nightlife (1st) and climate and weather (1st). More than half the expats (55%) give the latter factor the best possible rating (vs. 24% globally). However, Mexico ranks 25th in the Safety & Security Subcategory: only 68% of expats rate their personal safety positively, compared to 81% globally. The concern predates the move for many — 27% cite the lack of safety and security as one of their biggest worries before relocating (vs. 6% globally). The urban environment (30th) and air quality (28th) also get poor marks.

Still, like in Panama, many expats have chosen to put down roots: 32% are already retired (vs. 14% globally), and 38% plan to stay forever (vs. 27%).

The World’s Happiest Expats Live in Thailand (3rd)

Completing the top 3 is Thailand, home to the happiest expats worldwide: 86% are happy with their life abroad (vs. 70% globally), and 42% want to stay forever (vs. 27%).

Their money goes a long way, with Thailand landing a 2nd place in the Personal Finance Index. Thailand offers the best-rated cost of living worldwide, viewed positively by 85% of expats (vs. 39% globally). Housing is both the most affordable (1st) and among the easiest to find (2nd). The country is another retirement hotspot: 40% of respondents are retired (vs. 14% globally), and 22% moved there specifically to retire (vs. 4%).

Expats are also very pleased with the Ease of Settling In (3rd). The local residents are considered the friendliest worldwide (1st), and Thailand ranks 1st for feeling at home. Healthcare (7th) adds to the comfort, with the quality of medical care in 4th place.

The flip side is a last-place finish in the Environment & Climate Subcategory (31st), despite a well-liked climate (5th): just a third (33%) rate the air quality positively (vs. 65% globally), and the government’s support for environmental policies ranks 30th. Safety & Security (27th) shows a stark contrast as well — expats feel personally very safe (6th) but rank political stability 29th and the freedom to openly express themselves and their opinions 30th. Some Expat Essentials frustrate too: opening a local bank account ranks dead last (31st), admin services aren’t readily available online (30th), and 80% find learning Thai difficult (vs. 40% globally).

Norway (31st) Is the World’s Loneliest Last Place

At the other end of the ranking, Norway finishes 31st out of 31 destinations in 2026. Expats there are the unhappiest in the survey (31st): fewer than half (46%) are content with their life abroad (vs. 70% globally).

The Ease of Settling In Index isn’t just in last place — every single subcategory and rating factor within it ranks 31st. Almost three-quarters of expats (72%) say making local friends is hard (vs. 40% globally), only a quarter (25%) are happy with their social life (vs. 54%), and just 31% feel at home in Norway (vs. 61%). It’s telling that around half (51%) describe their friends as mostly other expats (vs. 37% globally).

Money is the other sore point (30th in Personal Finance). Norway has the worst-rated cost of living worldwide (31st), and just 39% of expats are satisfied with their financial situation (vs. 55% globally). Many saw it coming: the high cost of living was a top concern before moving for 41% (vs. 21% globally), along with the language barrier (44% vs. 32%) and the climate (38% vs. 15%).

Even the Quality of Life Index (30th) offers little relief. Norway ranks last for Leisure Options (31st), including both the culinary variety and dining options (31st) and culture and nightlife (31st). Working Abroad (27th) rounds out the picture, with last-place results for personal career opportunities, fair pay, and overall job satisfaction (all 31st) — although job security (4th) and the state of the economy (8th) are bright spots. So is nature: 96% of expats love the natural environment (6th), and the air quality (5th) is excellent. It just doesn’t seem to be enough.

Bureaucracy & Loneliness Weigh on Germany (30th)

Germany lands in 30th place, dragged down by its continued bad performance in the Ease of Settling In Index (28th) as well as a last-place finish in the Expat Essentials Index (31st). Its Digital Life Subcategory ranks 31st, with the worst results worldwide for the online availability of administrative services (31st), high-speed internet access at home (31st), and cashless payment options (31st): only 62% find it easy to pay without cash (vs. 86% globally). Offline, things aren’t better — 61% say dealing with the local bureaucracy is difficult (vs. 39%), and housing is a struggle. Less than one in five rate the affordability of housing and the ease of finding it positively (19% each vs. a global 32% and 44%, respectively).

Language looms large. More than half of expats (55%) named the language barrier as a top concern before moving to Germany (vs. 32% globally), and 62% find learning German difficult (vs. 40%). That may feed into a tough social scene (28th for Ease of Settling In): Germany ranks 30th for feeling at home and for getting used to the local culture. Expats don’t perceive the local population as friendly — just 43% give this factor a positive rating, 20 percentage points below the global average of 63% — and 57% find it hard to make local friends (vs. 40%).

In comparison, work is somewhat of a silver lining, though even here results are nothing special. Over a third of expats (36%) moved to Germany for job-related reasons (vs. 33% globally), and the Working Abroad Index (19th) delivers a middling but solid result, helped by good working hours (10th): full-time employees work an average of 40.4 hours a week (vs. 42.2 globally).

Nevertheless, only 60% of expats are happy with their life in Germany (vs. 70% globally), placing it in the bottom 3 worldwide for happiness (29th).

A Struggling Economy Sinks Türkiye (29th)

Türkiye completes the bottom 3 in 29th place, with the world’s worst results for Working Abroad (31st). Three of the index’s four subcategories — Salary & Job Security, Work & Leisure, and Work Culture & Satisfaction — rank last. The state of the economy is the biggest pain point (31st): 61% of expats rate it negatively (vs. 20% globally). They’re also the least satisfied with their working hours (31st), and only 20% feel the local business culture supports flexibility (vs. 56% globally). Money is tight — about a third (34%) earn less than 12,000 USD gross a year (vs. 15% globally).

In the Quality of Life Index (27th), the Safety & Security Subcategory (29th) adds to the unease. Türkiye ranks last for the freedom to openly express oneself and one’s opinions (31st) and 30th for political stability, which just 30% view positively (vs. 58% globally). Unrestricted access to online services also ranks last (31st).

As in Germany, the language barrier is high: 52% of expats cite it as a major concern before moving to Türkiye (vs. 32% globally). At least the Ease of Settling In Index (18th) provides somewhat of a respite. Türkiye’s climate and weather (8th) gets warm reviews. Still, only 58% are happy with their life there (vs. 70% globally), and 14% plan to leave within a year or sooner (vs. 9%) — while just 13% want to stay forever (vs. 27%).

Trends in the Top 10

1. Panama
2. Mexico
3. Thailand
4. UAE
5. Brazil
6. Spain
7. Singapore
8. Portugal
9. Malaysia
10. Luxembourg

The top 10 of 2026 spans the globe: three Latin American destinations (Panama 1st, Mexico 2nd, Brazil 5th), three in Southeast Asia (Thailand 3rd, Singapore 7th, Malaysia 9th), the UAE (4th), and three European countries (Spain 6th, Portugal 8th, Luxembourg 10th).

A warm welcome unites most of them: seven of the top 10 also fill the top 10 of the Ease of Settling In Index, led by Mexico (1st), Panama (2nd), and Thailand (3rd). Affordability is another common thread — Panama (1st), Thailand (2nd), Mexico (3rd), Portugal (4th), and Malaysia (5th) occupy the top 5 of the Personal Finance Index, and expats in these countries find housing both affordable and easy to find.

The exceptions prove the rule. The UAE builds its 4th place on the world’s best Expat Essentials (1st) and Career Prospects (1st) but ranks just 18th in Personal Finance. Singapore (7th) and Luxembourg (10th) shine in the Quality of Life Index (2nd and 10th) — but both suffer from a high cost of living (30th and 29th, respectively). And expats in Latin America and Southeast Asia are simply happier: Thailand (1st), Panama (2nd), Mexico (3rd), and Brazil (5th) top the happiness ranking outright — while Spain snags 4th place.

Trends in the Bottom 10

22. Switzerland
23. Austria
24. Italy
25. Czechia
26. Sweden
27. Canada
28. United Kingdom
29. Türkiye
30. Germany
31. Norway

Europe dominates the bottom 10 in 2026: eight of the ten lowest-ranked destinations are European, joined only by Canada (27th) and Türkiye (29th).

Difficulty settling in is the most consistent failing. Norway (31st), Sweden (30th), Austria (29th), Germany (28th), Czechia (27th), and Switzerland (26th) take the six bottom spots in the Ease of Settling In Index — expats there struggle with unfriendly locals, few local friends, and not feeling at home. Happiness follows suit: Norway (31st), Sweden (30th), Germany (29th), and the United Kingdom (28th) are home to the survey’s unhappiest expats.

Finances strain many of these destinations too. Canada ranks last in the Personal Finance Index (31st) — no country’s expats find it harder to live comfortably off their disposable household income (31st) — while the United Kingdom (29th), Norway (30th), and Türkiye (27th) fare little better.

What makes the picture bittersweet is the high Quality of Life on offer: Austria (5th), Switzerland (8th), Czechia (13th), and Sweden (15th) all deliver above-average results in the index, and Switzerland (1st) and Sweden (2nd) lead the world for Environment & Climate. For many expats in these countries, it’s not the destination that disappoints — it’s how hard it is to build a life and a social circle there.

*) Please note that this year’s Expat Insider survey was conducted by InterNations from 1 February to 31 March 2026. Since data collection took place both before and after the outbreak of the US-Iran war, the findings should be interpreted as only partially reflecting its impact on expats living in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Further Reading

• A Short Survey Methodology
• Where Expats Enjoy the Best Quality of Life in 2026
• Balance, Prospects & Pay: The Best Countries to Work Abroad in 2026
• Where Expats Feel Welcome in 2026 — And Where They Don’t
• From Comfort to Constant Struggle: Expat Finances in 2026
• Where Handling the Essentials Abroad Is Easy & Hard in 2026
• Expat Insider Survey Demographics 2026
• Panama: No. 1 for Expats in 2026
• Mexico in 2026: Friendly Locals & Low Costs
• Happy Days & Affordable Living for Expats in Thailand in 2026
• Breathtaking Nature & a Lonely Welcome in Norway in 2026
• Solid Work & Stubborn Bureaucracy in Germany in 2026
• A Warm Climate & a Battered Economy in Türkiye in 2026
• Expat Insider 2025 | Best & Worst Countries for Expats