Expat Insider 2026 – Copenhagen

➡️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:

• In Brief
• Total Safety, Digital Perfection
• The Best Work-Life Balance
• Good Living, Bad Weather
• Closed Circles
• The Price of Hygge
• Who Moves to Copenhagen?

In Brief

Copenhagen places 12th out of 33 cities in the Expat City Ranking 2026, based on the annual Expat Insider survey by InterNations, after ranking 23rd out of 53 in 2024 — the last time a city ranking was published. The Danish capital collects three subcategory wins — Safety & Security, Work & Leisure, and Digital Life all rank 1st — powering a 3rd place in the Working Abroad Index and a 9th in the Quality of Life Index. The Ease of Settling In Index (22nd), however, tells the familiar Nordic story of hard-won friendships, and the costs bite. All things considered, expats’ satisfaction leans positive: the city ranks 10th for happiness, with about a third (34%) completely happy with their life there (vs. 24% globally).

Total Safety, Digital Perfection

Copenhagen achieves something no other city in the ranking manages: every single respondent (100%) rates their personal safety positively (vs. 81% globally), with 64% calling it very good — a clean sweep that together with good results for political stability (7th) and freedom of expression (7th) wins Copenhagen the Safety & Security Subcategory (1st). The political stability convinces 91% (vs. 58% globally), and over three-quarters (76%) agree they can openly voice their opinions (vs. 64%).

Digital Life (1st) is nearly as flawless: 99% find cashless payments easy — 87% agree completely (vs. 59% globally) —getting high-speed internet set up is no trouble (93% vs. 81%), and 87% rate the online availability of administrative services positively (vs. 61%). Even in-person appointments are bearable: 60% find it easy to deal with the local bureaucracy (vs. 38% globally), and only 3% had worried about it beforehand (vs. 14%).

The Best Work-Life Balance

Copenhagen’s great result in the Working Abroad Index (3rd) is anchored by a 1st place in the Work & Leisure Subcategory. More than four in five expats are satisfied with their working hours (81% vs. 63% globally) and their work-life balance (82% vs. 62%) — with 44% completely satisfied with the latter (vs. 25%). Full-time work weeks measure just 39.4 hours (vs. 42.2 globally). Plus, four in five (80%) agree that the local business culture supports flexibility (vs. 56% globally), and indeed, 80% can work remotely at least some of the time (vs. 66%).

The financial side of work holds up as well (Salary & Job Security 4th): close to nine in ten expats (87%) rate the state of the economy positively (vs. 59% globally), and 76% agree they’re paid fairly for their work (vs. 58%). Only career acceleration is average — 60% feel that moving to Copenhagen has improved their career prospects (vs. 55% globally).

Good Living, Bad Weather

Next to safety, the Quality of Life Index (9th) sees a number of positives — but also some downsides. Expats praise the air quality (86% positive ratings vs. 65% globally) as well as the urban environment (85% vs. 69%). Every respondent (100%) agrees it’s easy and safe to get around on foot or by bicycle (vs. 78% globally), with close to three-quarters (72%) even agreeing completely. Plus, healthcare is affordable (84% positive vs. 61% globally), and the food scene surprises: 89% rate the culinary variety & dining options positively (vs. 75%).

The climate is the sacrifice: just 28% rate the climate & weather positively, thirty percentage points below the global average of 58%. And while the quality of medical care satisfies 72%, a quarter (25%) still rate it negatively, well above the global average of 15%.

Closed Circles

The Ease of Settling In Index (22nd) is where Copenhagen keeps its distance. Making local friends is a struggle for close to two-thirds (64% vs. 40% globally), ranking the Finding Friends Subcategory 26th. What’s more, less than half the respondents (44%) find it easy to get used to the local culture (vs. 60% globally), and just 53% feel welcome (vs. 64%). It seems hardly surprising then that more than half (52%) describe their friends as mostly other expats (vs. 37%).

The Danish language fortifies the social walls: 74% find it difficult to learn (vs. 40% globally), including 39% who strongly disagree that it’s easy. The practical impact stays small, though — 76% say it’s easy to live in Copenhagen without speaking Danish (vs. 48% globally). And once expats do break through, life works: 57% are happy with their social life, slightly above the global average of 54%.

The Price of Hygge

Money is the recurring worry. The high cost of living was expats’ top concern before moving — named by 51%, thirty percentage points more than the global average of 21% — and reality half-confirms it: 58% rate the general cost of living negatively (vs. 40% globally). Housing (26th) compounds the squeeze: 63% rate its affordability negatively (vs. 49%), and 64% say it’s hard for expats to find housing at all (vs. 35%).

High incomes soften the blow at least, keeping the Personal Finance Index at 17th: 45% earn 100,000 USD or more per year (vs. 23% globally), and 76% of working expats feel fairly paid (vs. 58%). Consequently, around seven in ten (69%) say their disposable household income is enough or more than enough for a comfortable life, close to the global average of 71%. Copenhagen is expensive, but it pays its way.

Who Moves to Copenhagen?

Interestingly, love moves people to Copenhagen more than work does: 24% relocated to live in their partner’s home country (vs. 11% globally) and another 14% for their partner’s job (vs. 6%), while 13% came to study (vs. 4%). Job-related reasons sum up to 31%, which is close to the global average of 33%.

The community is strikingly female (69% vs. 49% globally) and averages 46.9 years of age (vs. 49.8). Close to a third (31%) have dependent children living abroad with them (vs. 21% globally). US Americans (15%) and Brits (10%) are the leading nationalities among respondents.

Expats in Copenhagen settle in for the medium-to-long haul: a third (34%) have lived there for five to ten years (vs. 21% globally), and 28% plan to stay forever.