The Best & Worst Cities 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:

• Ras Al Khaimah (1st) Rolls Out the Welcome Mat
• A Warm Welcome & a Full Wallet in Mexico City (2nd)
• Málaga (3rd) Is Home to the Happiest Expats
• Berlin (33rd): Cool City, Cold Comfort
• Life in New York City (32nd) Comes at a Price
• Frankfurt am Main (31st) Fails the Expat Essentials
• Trends in the Top 10
• Trends in the Bottom 10

Ras Al Khaimah (1st) Rolls Out the Welcome Mat

In the 2026 Expat Insider survey, Ras Al Khaimah claims 1st place out of 33 cities.* The emirate tops three of the five topical indices — Ease of Settling In, Working Abroad, and Expat Essentials — and ranks 2nd in Personal Finance. All things considered, more than four in five expats (84%) are happy with life in Ras Al Khaimah (vs. 70% globally), 45% very much so (vs. 24%).

Settling in couldn’t be much easier. A large majority (86%) rates the general friendliness of the local residents positively (vs. 63% globally), and 87% feel welcome there (vs. 64%). Even making local friends — a classic expat struggle — works out for close to two-thirds (64% vs. 39% globally).

The formalities go just as smoothly: 86% say obtaining a visa was straightforward (vs. 55% globally), and 74% find it easy to deal with the local bureaucracy (vs. 38%). Housing is both easy to find (80% vs. 44% globally) and affordable (69% vs. 32%), and four in five expats (80%) say they can get by without speaking the local language (vs. 48%).

Work is the other big draw. Ras Al Khaimah ranks 1st in the Career Prospects and Salary & Job Security Subcategories, and 85% of expats agree that moving there has improved their career prospects, 30 percentage points above the global average of 55%. They also give the local economy (4th) and the job security (2nd) outstanding ratings. It’s a hardworking crowd, though: 78% work full time (vs. 52% globally), putting in 45.7 hours per week on average (vs. a global 42.2 hours for full-time jobs).

The one blemish is the Quality of Life Index (18th). Expats see particular room for improvement in the Travel & Transit (28th) and Leisure Options (27th) Subcategories. For instance, only 40% rate the availability of public transport positively (vs. 72% globally).

A Warm Welcome & a Full Wallet in Mexico City (2nd)

Mexico City (2nd) takes the top spot in the Personal Finance Index (1st) and ranks 2nd in Ease of Settling In. Three-quarters of expats there (75%) are satisfied with their financial situation (vs. 55% globally), close to two in five (38%) even give it the best possible rating (vs. 20%). Another 71% feel paid fairly for their work (vs. 58%), and 65% say their disposable household income is more than enough to lead a comfortable life (vs. 42%).

There’s plenty to do with all that disposable income, too. Mexico City ranks 1st worldwide in the Leisure Options Subcategory: nearly all expats rate the culinary variety and dining options (98%) as well as the culture and nightlife (96%) positively (vs. 75% and 67% globally). Many enjoy it on their own schedule — 27% of those still working run their own business (vs. 8% globally), and 43% work fully remotely (vs. 20%).

Overall, Quality of Life (23rd) is the weak spot, though. Asked about their concerns before moving, 37% of expats named a lack of safety and security as one of their biggest worries (vs. 6% globally), and Mexico City indeed lands in the bottom 3 of the Safety & Security Subcategory (31st). Air quality is another sore point: 61% rate it negatively (vs. 18% globally), which drags the Environment & Climate Subcategory down to 30th place — despite great ratings for the weather itself (84% positive vs. 58% globally).

The Mexican capital is where expats and locals mix best: 35% describe their friends as mostly local residents — more than double the global average of 17%. Locals are seen as friendly toward foreign residents (84% positive vs. 61% globally), close to two-thirds (65%) find it easy to make local friends (vs. 39%), and 84% feel at home there (vs. 61%).

Málaga (3rd) Is Home to the Happiest Expats

Rounding out the top 3 is Málaga, the global number one for happiness: 86% of expats are happy with their life there (vs. 70% globally), and 42% are even completely happy (vs. 24%). More than half (51%) even plan to stay forever (vs. 27% globally).

About a third of expats in Málaga (34%) moved for a better quality of life (vs. 9% globally), and the city delivers with a 5th place in the Quality of Life Index. Around nine in ten expats rate the climate and weather positively (91% vs. 58% globally), praise the air quality (85% vs. 65%), and find it easy and safe to get around on foot or by bicycle (90% vs. 78%). An above-average share are also happy with the affordability of healthcare (83% vs. 61%). Life in general is affordable (Personal Finance 3rd): 73% rate the general cost of living positively (vs. 39% globally).

Málaga clearly attracts a crowd that no longer worries much about the office: 35% of respondents are already retired (vs. 14% globally) and the average age is 60.0 (vs. 49.8 globally). That’s convenient, because the Working Abroad Index (21st) is the city’s weakest result. The local job market gets negative ratings from 48% of respondents (vs. 34% globally), resulting in a bottom-3 place in the Career Prospects Subcategory (31st). In fact, only 33% agree that moving there has improved their career prospects (vs. 55%).

There’s one more catch: 35% named bureaucracy as a concern before moving (vs. 14% globally) — with good reason, as 57% find it hard to deal with the local authorities in Málaga (vs. 39%).

Berlin (33rd): Cool City, Cold Comfort

Berlin finishes last in 2026 — and nowhere is the mood clearer than in the happiness ranking, where the German capital also places 33rd: only 58% of expats are happy with their life there (vs. 70% globally), and a mere 9% are completely happy (vs. 24%).

The Expat Essentials Index (31st) reveals why. Berlin ranks last worldwide in the Digital Life Subcategory and three of its underlying factors: only 57% find it easy to get high-speed internet at home (vs. 81% globally), just 54% can easily pay without cash (vs. 86%), and 44% rate the availability of online government services negatively (vs. 19%). Speaking of Admin Topics (31st): two-thirds (67%) find it hard to deal with the local bureaucracy (vs. 39% globally). Housing (28th) is its own drama in Berlin — 68% say it’s hard for expats to find accommodation (vs. 35% globally), and 71% rate its affordability negatively (vs. 49%). Even beyond housing, only 42% are satisfied with their financial situation (vs. 55% globally).

Getting settled is not much easier, with Berlin placing 28th in the Ease of Settling In Index. More than a third (35%) rate the general friendliness of the local residents negatively (vs. 18% globally) and only 28% find it easy to make local friends (vs. 39%). Consequently, fewer than half feel at home (47% vs. 61% globally) or welcome (49% vs. 64%) in Berlin. The weather doesn’t help: 45% rate the climate negatively (vs. 21% globally).

It’s not all gray skies, though. Berlin’s culture and nightlife earn positive ratings from 92% of expats (vs. 67% globally), and working expats clock comparatively short full-time hours (38.7 hours per week vs. 42.2 globally). All things considered, just 17% of expats plan to stay in Berlin forever (vs. 27%).

Life in New York City (32nd) Comes at a Price

New York City (32nd) ranks last in both the Quality of Life and Personal Finance Indices. The main culprit is obvious: money. More than half of expats (52%) say they worried about the high cost of living before moving there (vs. 21% globally), and reality confirms it — 82% rate the general cost of living negatively, more than double the global average of 40%. A similar share (80%) say the same about the affordability of housing (vs. 49%). Healthcare hits the wallet, too: 71% rate its affordability negatively (vs. 21% globally), with 43% even calling it very bad. It adds up: nearly two in five expats (38%) feel their disposable household income isn’t enough for a comfortable life (vs. 29% globally).

The Quality of Life Index (33rd) suffers beyond the price tag. New York ranks last in the Safety & Security, Healthcare, and Environment & Climate Subcategories: just 54% of expats rate their personal safety positively (vs. 81% globally), and 47% give negative marks to the political stability (vs. 17%). Work doesn’t offer much relief despite a good job market (10th) and improved career prospects (11th) — the Work & Leisure Subcategory also ranks last, with only 33% satisfied with their job security (vs. 54% globally) and 42% with their work-life balance (vs. 62%).

The city’s saving graces are a decent Ease of Settling In Index (16th) and its famous lifestyle: 90% of expats love the dining options, and 86% praise the culture and nightlife (vs. 75% and 67% globally). Still, 30% plan to leave within the next five years or sooner (vs. 21% globally).

Frankfurt am Main (31st) Fails the Expat Essentials

Frankfurt am Main (31st) completes the bottom 3, with bottom 10 results in every index except Personal Finance (16th).

Its worst result is a second to last place in the Expat Essentials Index (32nd). Language is a big hurdle: More than half of expats (57%) named the language barrier as a concern before moving (vs. 32% globally), 72% find it hard to learn German (vs. 40%), and 51% say it’s difficult to live in Frankfurt without speaking it (vs. 34%). The rest of the essentials don’t fare much better: 63% find it hard to deal with the local bureaucracy (vs. 39% globally), only 40% rate the availability of online government services positively (vs. 61%), and 28% even struggle to pay without cash (vs. 6%). Housing is both hard to find (57% negative vs. 35% globally) and hard to afford (65% vs. 49%).

Social life is another letdown, with Frankfurt ranking 27th in the Ease of Settling In Index. Only 42% rate the friendliness of the local residents positively (vs. 63% globally) and 57% find it hard to make local friends (vs. 40%). Consequently, just 43% feel at home in Frankfurt (vs. 61%).

Work is what expats came for — 54% moved for their own or their partner’s job (vs. 39% globally), and 19% work in finance (vs. 7%) — but even the Working Abroad Index only reaches 24th place. All in all, just 52% are happy with their life in Frankfurt (vs. 70% globally), the third-worst result in the ranking.

Trends in the Top 10

1. Ras Al Khaimah
2. Mexico City
3. Málaga
4. Dubai
5. Abu Dhabi
6. Lisbon
7. Singapore
8. Madrid
9. Valencia
10. The Hague

Two countries dominate the 2026 top 10: the UAE and Spain contribute three cities each. Ras Al Khaimah (1st), Dubai (4th), and Abu Dhabi (5th)* sweep the top 3 places in the Expat Essentials Index — and in its Admin Topics and Language Subcategories — as well as the top 3 spots for Career Prospects. Where they differ is money in the bank: while Ras Al Khaimah ranks 2nd in the Personal Finance Index, Dubai (20th) and Abu Dhabi (24th) end up in the bottom half.

The Southern European contingent — Málaga (3rd), Lisbon (6th), Madrid (8th), and Valencia (9th) — takes the opposite route: all four rank in the top 10 of the Quality of Life Index, with Valencia (1st) and Madrid (2nd) leading the field, and all four are in the top 6 for general happiness. Their shared weakness is work. They place 21st or lower in the Working Abroad Index, and their Career Prospects rank in the bottom 5 (from Madrid’s 29th to Valencia’s 33rd).

Mexico City (2nd) combines the best of both worlds — top marks for friendliness and finances — while Singapore (7th) tops the Travel & Transit Subcategory, and The Hague (10th) shines in Digital Life (2nd) and Work Culture & Satisfaction (3rd). Overall, happy expats and top-ranked cities go hand in hand: seven of the overall top 10 also rank in the top 10 for happiness.

Trends in the Bottom 10

24. Milan
25. London
26. Zurich
27. Hamburg
28. Munich
29. Toronto
30. Istanbul
31. Frankfurt am Main
32. New York City
33. Berlin

Germany is the defining story of the bottom 10: all four German cities in the ranking — Hamburg (27th), Munich (28th), Frankfurt (31st), and Berlin (33rd) — feature there. They also occupy the last four places in both the Expat Essentials Index and its Digital Life Subcategory, and all rank 23rd or lower for Housing and 27th or lower for Language. Expats notice: all four German cities also sit in the bottom 10 of the happiness ranking, with Berlin (33rd), Hamburg (32nd), and Frankfurt (31st) at the very end.

Money troubles unite the two North American cities: Toronto (29th) and New York City (32nd) hold the two last places in the Personal Finance Index and rank 32nd and 30th, respectively, in Working Abroad. For Istanbul(30th), work is the core issue — it ranks last in the Working Abroad Index and its Salary & Job Security and Work Culture & Satisfaction Subcategories.

The rest struggle with connection and cost. Zurich (26th) offers a solid Quality of Life (16th) but ranks last in the Ease of Settling In Index, with Finding Friends (31st) a particular challenge. London (25th) places 31st in both Quality of Life and Personal Finance, while Milan (24th) ranks last in the Admin Topics Subcategory and 31st in Working Abroad. The result is a familiar pattern: eight of the overall bottom 10 also rank in the bottom 10 for happiness — only expats in Milan (16th) and Zurich (22nd) fare somewhat better.

*) 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.