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The best 24 countries?

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This morning I was working on a series of post that I have planned for here on Expat Island when I came across a blog post on the Huffington Post site.  The blog post is entitled “The Best Countries for Expats“.  It was written based on a survey that was conducted by HSBC bank in 2013.  So, it is about a year old, but that is still relatively fresh in terms of things.

Basically, through this survey, they came up with the top 24 countries in the world for people to move to and become expats.

As I looked the list over, I must admit that I was a bit surprised at most of the countries on the list.  As I thought it over, though, I think I came up with the reason why those particular countries are listed.

Let’s have a look at the top countries for expats, as posted.  The countries are listed in the order of their popularity.

Top 24 Expat DestinationsTop 24 Countries for Expats

  1. China
  2. Germany
  3. Singapore
  4. Cayman Islands
  5. Australia
  6. Canada
  7. Russia
  8. Belgium
  9. United Arab Emirates
  10. Hong Kong
  11. Turkey
  12. United States of America
  13. Qatar
  14. New Zealand
  15. South Africa
  16. Mexico
  17. France
  18. Netherlands
  19. Saudi Arabia
  20. Spain
  21. Kuwait
  22. United Kingdom
  23. Italy
  24. Ireland

Huh?

What do you think?  Frankly, I was shocked at this list, because out of the 24 top countries listed, I can’t imagine going to live as an expat in many of those places.  Let’s have a look at some of the places on the list.

Places I would not want to live as an expat

Germany – High cost of living.  For most people who are going out to retire and live as an expat, they are looking for a place where the cost of living is more reasonable.  Now, please understand that I know that not all people who expatriate themselves are going to retire.  In fact, when I became an expat in 2000 and moved from the United States to the Philippines, I was only 38 years old.  Still, Germany does not seem that it would be a natural place for a person to move as an expat.  Another strike against Germany is that it experiences cold weather, which is not something that I personally don’t associate with the expat lifestyle!

Singapore – We are getting a little better now.  Singapore is a warm climate, and I like Asia as an expat destination.  The downside, though, is the cost of living is still quite high.

Canada – Again, high cost of living combined with some extremely cold weather.  It’s not the place for me.

Belgium – Here we go again.  We’re staying with the same reasons, high cost of living combined with cold weather.  That’s not on my list.

United States of America – Well, I admit that I may be biased because I am an American and I left the USA to become an expat, so how could I even consider it as an expat destination?  Still, though, that combination of (mostly) cold weather, except in the southern part of the country, high cost of living, and add another – lots of government regulation, and you have another expat loser in my book.

France – Not the place for me.  Weather, cost of living and Government are all strikes against it.  Hey, those are 3 strikes, which generally means “you’re out!”

Netherlands – Just take a look one line up at France.  Get the story?

United Kingdom – Ditto, ditto, ditto.  The story is getting old already!

Italy – I would say that this is getting a little better now, but only slightly.  It’s still not on the radar for me if I am looking for a place to move to.

Ireland – Yes, I am American, but I am of Irish descent.  I’ve not been to Ireland (yet), but again we have those same factors, weather, cost of living (although I believe not quite as much as some of the other places on this list).  No, it’s not the destination that I’d be looking for.

Places I would consider

Cayman Islands – Weather-wise, now we’re talking.  However the Caymans are known for more of an upper class lifestyle, so you can bet that the cost of living would be up there.  If you have a nice wad of cash, this would be a good destination.  If you are a “working guy” though, this one is probably not a consideration.

Australia – Generally much better weather, unless you go too far south, particularly to Tasmania.  My impression is that the government is still not overly regulatory.  Cost of living is still generally high, though.  There are possibilities in my mind in Australia, but I still think we could do better.

Russia – Yeah, we have cold weather here for sure.  Still, something appeals to me about the possibility of being an expat in Russia.  I guess the adventure of the whole thing, and the “Wild West” feeling of the whole thing.  I would have to think long and hard about doing it, but I would not dismiss it out of hand.

United Arab Emirates – Going to the Middle East to me is not an ideal situation.  Mostly, I say this and feel this way because most countries in the region are fairly authoritarian.  Repressive.  Gotta watch the things you say, opinions you express, etc.  Certainly we have warm weather here. 😉  Warm?  Hey, we’re talking HOT.  It might be a bit too hot, but I prefer that to cold weather.  I would be fairly iffy about moving to this region, but it is not an instant “NO” from me.

Hong Kong – I love living in Asia, so Hong Kong would be a possibility in my mind.  It is not a perfect destination in my mind, but, hey, no place is perfect.  The upside is that it is in Asia, also it is really a bastion of free market capitalism, which I like (although now that it is under China, who knows where that could head).  Downsides?  It’s big (not large in terms of area, but a big city, very big), it’s crowded, etc.  Certainly a strong contender, though.

Qatar – My feelings on this one are pretty much the same as on the United Arab Emirates above.  It’s a possibility in my mind.

New Zealand – Of course you would have to make the comparison to Australia, since they are closely tied together.  I like the idea of living in New Zealand.  Only two downsides in my mind.  The weather is a bit cooler than I would probably want, and the cost of living is a bit higher than I would be looking for.  Still, though, on both factors only marginally so.  It’s still a contender to me.

South Africa – I have lived in South Africa, but it was when I was a child, and the country has changed a lot since then.  I feel that this would be contender for me, though.  A decade ago, crime was a problem, but the reports that I’ve seen indicate that it is something that is improving vastly.  If I was looking to move, I’d give it a strong look.

Saudi Arabia – Hello, UAE and Qatar?  Same situation in my book.  Yeah, it’s a possibility, but I tend to be negative.  Worth consideration, though.

Kuwait – All of these Middle Eastern destinations stack up the same for me.  Consider it, but think hard.

These places look good

China – Some parts of the country are cold weather, some areas have terrible smog problems.  But, those issues can be worked around.  But, hey, we are talking about a place that is currently the world’s economic powerhouse.  I am a strong free market guy (yes, China is communist, but economically they are fairly liberal), and spending some time in China just to see the system at work appeals to me.  Imagine the possibilities for somebody who fancies himself as a business minded person, which I do.  If for nothing else, it would be a huge learning experience, which I would enjoy.

Turkey – I have never been to Turkey, but I have studied up on the place a fair amount.  It has a lot of beautiful scenery, and a fascinating culture.  Turkey is part of both Europe and Asia, and that in itself makes it a fascinating place for me.  I would love to spend time there, so it’s a GO for me.

Mexico – I have spent considerable time in Mexico, and I like the culture.  Weather is great.  Mexican food is also a real plus!  Of course, there are the drug wars going on there these days, but I still feel that you could scout out the right spot where it would be safe and enjoyable.  Hola!

Spain – I like the idea of spending time living in Spain, so this would be a certain “do” for me!  Cost of living is much less than most of the rest of Europe, and I see a lot to like.

Why this list may be skewed

I mentioned earlier that this list may be skewed in a way, and said I would explain why.

In my mind, an expat destination is more geared toward retirement, and a laid back lifestyle.  But, that truly is not the real destination of an expat.  An expat could be a job assignment, a place where you go to get work, or a place where your company sends you.

Given that this list was compiled from a survey done by HSBC bank, it is likely that those interviewed or who filled out the survey are businessmen, and those who become an expat based on work, and certainly not retirement.  Nothing wrong with that, and those people are certainly within the definition of an expat, so I can’t argue at all.  I am just saying that in my mind, an expat is different from what others may have in their minds.

What do you think?  Are there places in the top 24 that you would like to check out?  Are there some on the list that would be a “no-go” for you?

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Hi Malcolm. Good morning, my friend. Yeah, kind of surprising to me as well. The Philippines has gotten a lot more popular as an expat location over the past 5 or 6 years, so it surprised me not to see it there!

    • If weather, cost of living, and government regulations are your prime considerations then I don’t know of any place that can beat Philippines (I may be biased though, not quite sure lol).

      • Hi Mark – Yep… you are obviously kind of preaching to the choir here… as I have lived in the Philippines for 16 years. If I didn’t think it was a good place to live, I would have never come, or would have left long ago! My only disagreement with you would be that I am not so sure that government regulations are a big plus here… there are many policies and laws that are not really beneficial to the expat. I still love it though.

        • Bob,

          Are you talking about business laws that aren’t beneficial to X pats? I say that because your a businessman. Which ones are you referring to?

          Please know I am not questioning you. You’d know and I am just wondering.

          Rusty

          • No, I am not taling about business laws. I am talking about things like that as foreigners we cannot own land. If we speak out about political matters we can be deported. Things like that. These are true even for long term residents and husbands of Philippine nationals.

  3. You can tell I was not part of the survey. There are only three of the twenty four listed I would even consider haha and as Malcom just posted Philippines is not even listed

  5. For me, Expat includes the potential of a lower cost of living (if you choose it), laid back atmosphere (again, if you choose it) and economic potential. Being able to exist indefinitely on the income streams available, or being developed. Being location independent so you can choose which place you will be in at any time. In a simple phrase, the life style of my design is important to me.

  6. As a Navy vet I have actually been to (and know people who either work there or have spent considerable time in many of these places) quite a few of these places, and whoever wrote this is crazy. First, the Middle East: If you are going to live in ANY of these countries Kuwait would be teh only choice. Saudi Arabia and the rest are VERY restrictive. About 50% of the Internet is blocked, it is usually 100+ degrees most of the year, and of course you cannot buy alcohol. Also, if you are Christian you have to be careful who you talk to and what you say. Kuwait is MUCH LESS restrictive but still very hot and no alcohol. I have a Filipina friend currently working in Kuwait, and she must keep her waist-length hair covered. Russia: WAY too much crime and cold. Also Moscow is most expensive city in the world. Used to be married to Russian woman from Moscow and she can barely afford to live there. Most of Europe (except Spain): Spent lots of time in the Mediterranean countries. Cold weather except Italy and Spain and HIGH taxes, cost of living. Southern Spain is my ideal. Turkey has very cold weather and too close to Middle East. China like the USA has a great variety of climate and is not expensive to live.

    • Thank you for your service to the country, Jerome. Seeing the world like you have offers many rewards to you, but had a cost as well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.

    • After spending 8 years in the Middle East as a government contractor Kuwait was the worse and I refused contracts in Saudi Arabia. The best places to live and work are Bahrain and Qatar as they are more liberal. I was not restricted in any way I was legally buy alcohol and I was able to attend catholic church services in both countries.but the only restriction I had was no pork, I was able to buy pork at the U.S.military bases. I have many filapina friends who do not have the hair issues your told about. Sorry to burst your bubble …

  7. I would hope X Pats go to places that they like. If buying an RV, and traveling throughout the States is your thing, than do that. Go to Peru if you’ve married a Peruvian woman, Bolivia if you married a Bolivian woman. No, you don’t have to be married.

    I agree with one poster it is good the Philippines didn’t make the list. Too many foreigners here already.

    • Yep! I think that is pretty much the case… everybody chooses where they like and goes there! Wherever that may be. Most Americans never leave, which I suppose is also their choice.

  8. The Middle East? Did they put a “LOL” after those countries on the list?
    They have to be joking.
    Maybe they were following the current trend of political correctness and catering for the Islamic people out there.

    • Hi Lee – Nice to hear from you! Hope you are doing well.

      As I said toward the end of the article, I believe that the poll is skewed toward expat working locations. Almost all of the workers in some Middle East countries are expats, and so if you look at a good foreign country to work in, not retire, the Middle East is a great place for that, just based on the numbers.

  9. If I had unlimited or perhaps just a larger stream of cash/income etc…..I would move to Italy. It’s kind of neck and neck with the Philippines as far as how I feel about them both sometimes.
    Having been to both many many times over the years and lived in both, but Philippines longer. I can speak to those issues.

    Tilted comparisons on lifestyle though. Italy hands down is better in categories such as food, arts, history, climate etc. (the categories not involving direct cost.)

    However, I love the Philippines mostly because home is where the heart is and while I like Italy a lot and in a head to head unbiased comparison it wins, I pick the Philippines because that is where I feel the best and also have established many many friends and relatives etc over the past 35 years. It’s dirty and it’s hot and it’s has lots of warts, but it also has lots and lots of bright spots and those far out weigh the bad…at least for me.

    If I was stinking rich, I would summer in Italy, then summer in Philippines but never ever winter anywhere!

    I read somewhere that every country in the world has expats from almost every other country. So there is truly a place for anyone anywhere in the world.

    These lists that get published are not showing the whole picture and are always tilted.

    • Hi Joe – Ha ha.. as soon as you mentioned Italy the thought that came to my mind: “The food would be much better!” and sure enough you addressed that quickly. Italy would be good in many ways, but I enjoy life here in the Philippines. I am sure it is a tougher life, but I like it.

  10. Perhaps a list of the 24 best countries to retire in. Some people like cold so Lavia and Greenland/Denmark may be considered. For about 39 seconds then dropped. Italy is warm as stated and the Pope visits more. any South American countries have both warm and cold weather, you can get seasonal rentals on the beach and the mountain. SE Asia has many places that are warm. So Bob what are your top five retirement places?

    • Hi Gerald – Yep, of course! The criteria would be different for each person. I like the nice warm weather here, but, for example, my Mother does not like a warm climate. So, we would be different in what is right for us! Just like in my case, I am not so sure that the Pope would be an attraction that would draw me to live in a certain place! 🙂

      My personal top 5?

      1. Philippines
      2. Vietnam. I have always thought it would be a great place to live, but I can’t be sure until I would try it.
      3. American Samoa. This is an unconventional choice for many, but I have a reason. Because US Postal Rates apply, it would open up a lot of possibilities for eCommerce for me, being able to ship to the USA at just the regular rates that other American eCommerce companies pay.
      4. Indonesia. While I am a bit unsure on this one, there are things that draw me to Indonesia. It is very close to where I live now, so climate and such would be similar. Something that is of great interest to me, I am a coffee hobbyist and Indonesia grows some great coffee beans, I think I would have a lot of fun exploring the coffee choices there (only green, unroasted beans, I like to roast my own).
      5. Hmmm…. Perhaps somewhere in the Caribbean, but I would have to research more. I enjoy island life, and that is very close and convenient to the USA, maybe I would go visit there from time to time if I was living that close.

      How about your personal top 5, Gerald?

      • Bob: Indonesia and Vietnam are both close and inexpensive to visit… You and Feyma really should take a holiday to both countries, especially with the kids old enough to sort of fend for themselves. I would also note that Vietnam has a distinct coffee culture and coffee is very trendy there now. I also consider Hanoi one of the best foodie cities in the world.

        Holler at me and I can hook you up in both places with local people.

        I know people in American Samoa…. The cost of living is extremely high there (everything needs to be shipped in)… More than Hawaii.

  11. Hi Bob,

    Besides the Philippines, only other warm countries would appeal to me. Rome would be nice though, if you had a lot of money!
    Mexico seems like in certain areas a nice place to settle. More to my liking in Asia would be Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.
    Queenie

    • You’re right Bob–I saw a documentary about American Samoa once, and it looked like the perfect place to be! Kind of off the beaten track..

      • I have not really seen much on it in the way of a documentary or informational type resources. But, I have a general idea of what it would be like, and it does have positive aspects of still being under the US Flag, which opens up a number of possibilities. In my case, the eCommerce possibilities would grow vastly in an instant!

    • I am the same, Queenie. I have no interest in any cold weather spots! I am getting older, I have arthritis, and the cold weather would only bring on pain! Ha ha… Funny, though… sometimes I watch those TV shows about living in Alaska or Montana with all the show, and I think that it looks pretty cool… those thoughts quickly fade away, though.

      I would consider Mexico, but it is not overly attractive to me from afar. Thailand? NO interest here. Too touristy, and the government has been pretty unstable for the past decade or so. Vietnam and Malaysia would be interesting, each for different reasons. I do love Davao, though.. and it would require a real jewel to get me to leave!

        • I have never been to Alaska, but I do like what I see… except for the weather!

          I have many connections to Montana. My Dad was born and raised there, and I spent many vacations in Montana. I went to college there too. I love Montana a lot, and if I were to go back to the States, it is a place I would have to consider, although the cold climate would be something I would have to consider carefully and would probably be a deal killer. I know that Feyma would not like the cold weather, although she too loves the place.

          Colombia? I worry about the drug wars and such, although I think that it is much more minor now compared to a couple decades ago.

          Havana. Intriguing, especially now that the US is moving toward normalizing relations. I have mixed emotions!

          • Hey Bob,
            I have a friend who is an expat and lives in Medellin, Colombia and he has had no problems. He really like it there. However I would have my doubts about living there. Sad thing is I might be no more dangerous in Colombia than living here the way things have deteriorated. Cops getting shot almost every week and threats of race violence all the time now. And kidnappings are skyrocketing in states bordering Mexico. Cannot wait to leave for the Philippines.

  12. The UAE is a very good place to be. Quite easy for us westerners to adjust to the lifestyle.
    I think the list is more geared towards earning potential and quality of life.

  14. I love the Philippines too, but other considerations would be Italy, Greece and Turkey. During my 11 years in Austria I visited all three countries, and I was really amazed at the number of ex-pats in Turkey. Climate in winter in Turkey is not as warm in winter as here in the Philippines, but liveable, But, I am happy to also be living in the Philippines. Your choice.

      • I lived there too and still recall how bone chilling and depressing the winters can be – especially when the fog sets in along the Danube.

        I can understand why some expats would prefer Germany. The upside to a more socialist form of government is the wealth of social services available to seniors. Despite the higher cost of living, the overall standard of living is still very high there. It’s very clean, orderly, safe and stable as well with amazingly good food choices, affordable quality health care, etc. Like with anything else, it’s going to come down to your priorities and needs.

        My vote in Europe would be Italy or Spain, I think.

    • Turkey???? My son in law whose been in the air fore for 5 years was going to be stationed there. He turned it down to go to CO.

      Rusty

  15. Yeah I can’t believe Philippines is not on the list , maybe because it’s tougher to make a living there , I don’t know but for a retirement destination I know it’s part of my dream , going back in Feb to Cebu , get to see Hong Kong for awhile , I’m so stoked !!

    • Personally, I do not feel it is tough to make a living in the Philippines, but you have to have entrepreneurial skills to do it. But, I agree that the list is geared toward work opportunities, it seems to me.

  16. Greece is nice. Laid back friendly people. Nice climate. Cost of living should be cheap now. Not sure how the tsunami of migrants will affect it long term though.

      • Hi Rusty, its the Germans who have put in by far the most in bailing out the Greeks (The Spanish Portuguese and the Italians )…do you know why the Germans do it….They have the same currency, the EURO, had the Germans kept the Deutschmark it would be sky high making German goods very expensive, but the EURO is not in fact its lost value, this has made the German cars very profitable, and Volkswagen group will soon be the largest car manufacturer in the world. They may have lost the war, but they are the Economic powerhouse in Europe, and they export more than they import.

        And Bob while the Greeks are in the Eurozone and you don’t bank with Greek banks, life will be good for you.

  17. Hi Bob, I like living in the Philippines yes sometimes I complain when it gets to hot
    But I think back to those English winters freezing my but off trying to start my car
    Driving in the snow and ice, other places I’d probably like is Spain or Australia
    Somewhere warm, a lot of the places on the list are to expensive and it’s probably
    Easier to make a good living here which I have found with a little bit of capital you
    Can have a decent life, Derek in pasig.

    • Remember driving to work, fingers freezing, for X amount of years. One only saw out a small part of their windshield. They probably cleaned off the whole windshield but after awhile only a small part was left.

      Or was that just me?

      Rusty

  18. Hi Bob.
    Surprised the Philippines not up there, but all depends who the people are who were surveyed and from where.
    For me it would be Italy as number 1, this country has it all. Ancient History, the Renaissance started here, the beautiful countryside, designer brands for shopaholics, the weather, the beaches, the best food in the world, the most beautiful language in the world ( so fortunate I can speak Italian ), and of course the Italian people.
    My Number 2 is Switzerland such a beautiful Alpine country, and spotlessly clean, but so expensive.
    Not surprised at Germany, the alpine part is beautiful, such an efficient and well run country, they produce the best cars in the world and the best beer in the world

      • It’s OK to come to Italy on holiday but forget about being an expat here, unless you have a big load of money.
        You’ll find delicious food, the best wines in the planet, wonderful landscapes and more history than you’d care to learn but the country is bankrupt, shouldn’t have joined the euro currency but it did, the stupid and/or corrupt politicians are just taking care of themselves and doing what the EU tells them to do.
        Practically speaking, all the good stuff i mentioned above will cost you money; the public services are underfunded and overloaded; forget about riding a taxi because a 15 minutes ride in Rome will cost you as much as a van from dawn to sunset in Manila.
        You can own land and house in Italy and it’s a very good time to do it because the real estate market is at an all time low.
        The only good thing is the E.R., where you’d get a few stitches or something else for free, eventually after waiting 12 hours in line for your turn.
        Source of that info: i was born in Italy and there i live.
        I am considering leaving this country and moving to the Philippines.
        When you talk about Spain don’t forget the Canary Islands, they are one of the most promising expat destination in the whole EU.

  19. Hey Bob,
    I have been reading several list on places for expats to live and every site put 3 countries last, Greece, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. I myself would not move to China as they have too much control over the internet content and regulate what foreigners do or say. However, I would love to visit China for the experience. Other than the Philippines I might consider Ecuador, Belize, or Costa Rica but the problem is people who do not speak Spanish find it hard to live there as English in not widely spoken. Another country in Asia I would consider Thailand. But my heart is really set on the Philippines. The people are great, the weather is good, and there are exciting business opportunities there.

    • I have an American friend who lives in China. He likes living there, but has complained about the Internet – the Great Firewall.

      I pesonally believe that as an expat it is good to learn the local language wherever you choose to live.

      • I totally agree with an expat should learn the language in the country where they live. I am slowly learning Bisaya from my wife. Guess I am going to have to try your courses out. Just wished people who are here in the US would learn English.

  20. I’m surprised that Edward Snowden hasn’t chimed in yet describing his expat experience in Russia. He certainly is an expat there. And he must have plenty of time to peruse the Internet expat sites.

  22. As for Spain, that’s very popular with us Brits. Possibly because its very accessible and many people go there for holidays, so they develop a ‘soft spot’ for the place. It’s still European, but different enough to feel truly foreign.

  23. Bob:

    I am not surprised in the least that the Philippines is not listed. HSBC does this survey every few years, taken from its’ private banking customers.The ones who are usually either employed or independently wealthy. Certainly not the profile of the typical expat in the Philippines. Some thoughts about the list:

    1. China is not so popular now. In addition to the poor economy there, about three years ago China imposed a 55% income tax rate on resident foreigners for Chinese sourced income. Many expats left and companies cut way back on the expat employment packages. Additionally, real estate in China is at a huge bubble, and rents in major cities have gotten to stupid levels in some cases (Shanghai). This is a huge cost of living issue there.

    2. All of the Middle Eastern countries usually only provide residence visas in conjunction with employment. If you are a banker or specialized engineer on a juicy package, low tax rates and perks, then yeah, life is good. I also know personally a number of people who bought condos and such who cannot live in them full time because they are no longer employed in the country.

    3. EU generally gives Western standards of living, but are generally high cost of living. The EU has recently been very stingy on employment visas for non-EU citizens (my experience in France a couple of years ago…. my employer was told 18 months to process the visa). Retirement is easier, but you usually need to purchase property or a place to live. A lot of people bought retirement homes in Spain that are sitting empty in various ghost town developments after the 2009 economic mess.

    4. Hong Kong and Singapore are great if you are on a company package, particularly if it includes housing and schooling for children. Neither place promotes itself as a retiree destination (the other way around… Places like Thailand and Malaysia promote retirement to Hongkees and Singaporeans). Expats may get a shock when it comes to buying a car in Singapore. Taxes are low, but high rents mean high cost of living. With the exception of some really long term expats, most westerners there are there for jobs.

    5. Australia and NZ both used to really be aggressive at trying to get skilled people to move there, though recent economic issues have burst that bubble. Both countries have retirement schemes for visas. Both are also tending to be towards the higher cost of living (especially Australia, in my experience). I personally fell in love with NZ (going there next month), and would move there in a heartbeat if it was not so remote from the rest of the world to make conducting business difficult.

    Personally, what would I do? All in all, though I like my life in the Philippines, I do not love Manila, and I doubt I will be here forever. Where will I go? For retirement, as mentioned above, NZ is at the top of my list, with Australia not far behind. I also have a thing for Ireland and France.

    • Hi John – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You travel so much that I have to put a lot of stock into the things you say. As for life in the Philippines… if I had to live in Manila, I would not stay in the country, but living in Davao is a good life in my view. I understand that to facilitate the amount of travel you do, Manila is almost a necessity, though.

      • I agree, Bob. Davao is really nice. Especially since the mayor crached down.

        To me Manila may capture many Ex pats fancy but not mine. Which is probably good as there’s too many people there now.

        Rusty

    • While I agree that the results are certainly not what I would have come up with, I can’t agree that they are nonsense. It is the conclusion that surveyed expats came up with.

    • Bob, you can make a survey come to any conclusion that you desire, by the way you ask it, who you ask, where you ask, etc.,etc., I’ve never seen the Phils, or Costa Rica, or many of the other S. American countries not at, or near, the top of the list. That’s what I base my opinion on.

  25. I would argue that Australia is in some ways more jingoistic and excessively regulated than even the United states. It will be the next United States, IMO.

  26. I am always surprised the Philippines does not show up on the best places for expats to live or retire. The low cost of living, tropical warm weather, great scenic locations to visit, no language barriers and friendliness of Filipinos toward foreigners are the great selling points for me. The surveys that I read always downgrade the Philippines for no job opportunities, limited health care facilities, and limited conveniences. However if you have adequate funds these drawbacks can easily be overcome. I would not live in many of the places listed on the Huffington survey because the locals are unfriendly toward expats and the cost of living is too high. I have visited over half the countries on the list. I have avoided the Middle Eastern countries. If it is going to cost me more to live in one of these country, I might as well live in my home country, the U.S. I like the U.S., but can live like a king in the Philippines on my retirement and really enjoy life!

  27. I grew up & live in a country on the list, Cayman Islands. Made famous by American TV shows as a good place to wash money and ferry medical non legal substances. If I use the proper terms, the guys in Langley might look for me or Bob! It is very expensive! Chicken can be on average 4+ US$ per kilo. Just paid $700 US to get my daughter’s 3 teeth filled!!! My wife is from PH and Baguio is the place I would like to retire to. US is not my favorite place, but since it is near, today I have to go there for a medical procedure. The wife & I look forward to one day traveling throughout the Philippines. Have fun. Be safe.

  28. I did tremendous research on this subject back home in the USA before retiring…(This is on a S/S budget)…Costa Rica hit home for me as I love the Mexican people and their food…and there women are beautiful and not modernized (If u know what I mean same thing as here))…When I accidently met my woman on the Internet who lived here in the Phillys a lot of hours went into researching the country and it came up amazingly good and it compared to Costa Rica in beauty and cost of living…Which is so important…None of the countries mentioned on the list would I ever consider retiring..Bob Turkey I don’t know if you have read about it but there is a high number regarding resentment of the people there towards Americans (Don’t know why) but read an article not long go…Since living here now almost 9 years I find it comfortable happy and find the people to be of the best at living even with the small amounts of money they earn..Very happy here … Paul Thompson… here.. I think could vouch some for Costa Rica as he lived there….I think we who live here have “””hit””” pretty dam close to the bulls eye…

  29. Hi Bob –

    I am a Hong Kong resident as well as having had the pleasure of growing up in Moncayo, ComVal, and Martina, DC. You are right about HK food as long as it is Asian – it is excellent. Western food is quite pricey, however, and rents for apartments are outrageous, even in the New Territories. Wages for working expats generally take that in mind, but Hong Kong is not a good place to retire.

    • Hi Dan, I have been to Moncayo many times, nice little town. Last time I was there was in the aftermath of Pablo, and it was not so nice at that time. 🙁

      I guess why eat western if the Asian food is good! 🙂 I would imagine that life is quite hectic and busy there!

  30. Russia? In full knowledge of all the millions including so many of my ancestral relatives they killed by deliberately orchestrated and ordered artificial famine? Not to mention their current leader’s oft-proclaimed penchant to end all human life on this planet if he possibly can should he not get his way on everything he desires? Yes surely he can terminate civilization as we know it, especially with North America and Europe at best reduced to a few enclaves of human animals, but should he actually do it, 100% assured that Russia will be a total sheet of radioactive glass, no one and nothing to survive there for millenia. That’s what Putin wants. I would not go there and anyone there is well advised to get the bejeebers out. Absolutely the bottom of any list to move to, even way below places where as a foreigner you are likely to be deprived of liberty, tortured, and beheaded by crazies. Terrible weather and cost-of-living with imploading economy doesn’t even factor for Russia, it’s just implicit.

    Should the worst come to pass and should I manage to marginally survive, I’m still in the best place of the world I can think of – the Philippines, and bravado aside at my age, I would still do whatever I could to defend my country (Philippines), my family here, my neighbours and friends. Even though I can’t reasonably become a citizen – the Philippines is _my_ country for many years now, and it certainly is the country of my family, large enough immediately and very large extensively.

    Pretty well narrows down my list of places to live.