Where to Move Next: The 10 Best Expat Countries in 2026
- Why it makes the 2026 short-list for expats
- How cost of living compares
- Where to dig deeper
Many people don’t move to Europe first—but quietly position themselves for it over time. Some countries offer surprisingly fast, lawful paths to EU citizenship, unlocking the right to live and work across 27 countries.
→ See the fastest paths to EU citizenship (5–10 year strategies)
#10 Panama – Banking Hub With a Tropical Backdrop
Panama appeals to expats who want a mix of modern infrastructure, familiar banking systems, and tropical climate. Panama City feels more like a Latin Miami than a sleepy coastal town, with high-rise living, shopping malls and strong air connections to North and South America.
The country uses the U.S. dollar, which simplifies life for North American retirees and remote workers. Everyday costs outside the most upscale neighborhoods remain moderate by global city standards, especially if you’re willing to live outside the high-rise waterfront core or in smaller cities such as David or Boquete.
#9 Costa Rica – Biodiverse, Stable, and Surprisingly Sophisticated
Costa Rica attracts people who want a calmer, greener life without dropping off the map entirely. The Central Valley offers one of the world’s most livable tropical climates, decent private healthcare, and enough urban fabric (San José, Escazú, Santa Ana, Heredia) to avoid feeling isolated.
The trade-off: Costa Rica is not “cheap” in an absolute sense. Groceries, imported goods, and some housing markets can approach or exceed U.S. prices. What it offers instead is a good balance of political stability, environmental policy, and everyday livability for people who value safety and nature over rock-bottom costs.
#8 Mexico – Diversity of Cities, Climates, and Price Points
Mexico is less one country than many realities layered on top of each other. A life in Mexico City’s trendy neighborhoods looks very different from life in Mérida, Oaxaca, Querétaro, or small beach towns. That diversity is exactly what makes Mexico such a powerful option: almost anyone can find a climate, city size, and lifestyle that fits.
Costs range from modest to near-U.S. levels, depending on location and how “North American” your tastes are. The key is doing detailed homework on specific cities and neighborhoods rather than assuming a single Mexico price tag.
#7 Portugal – Still Attractive, Even After the Hype
Portugal has been heavily publicized, and some of the “dirt cheap” narrative is outdated. Yet for many, it still offers a compelling mix of safety, climate, walkable cities, and access to the wider EU. Lisbon and Porto have become pricier, but smaller cities and interior regions can still deliver good value compared to Northern Europe or major U.S. metros.
Housing is the hinge: whether you rent or buy, and in which region, will define how livable Portugal feels financially. That’s why it belongs on a 2026 list—as long as your expectations are calibrated to today’s market, not 2015 blog posts.
#6 Spain – Everyday Europe With Strong Quality of Life
Spain continues to tick boxes for people who want “real life” Europe—public transport, public health care, older urban cores and social street life—at prices that are often lower than France, Germany or the Nordics. There is a wide range between Madrid or Barcelona and second-tier cities or smaller coastal towns.
For 2026, Spain’s appeal is less about being cheap and more about being a lifestyle match: long lunches, late dinners, walkable neighborhoods and a strong social fabric, especially if you’re willing to learn at least basic Spanish.
#5 Malaysia – Underrated Hub With Solid Infrastructure
Malaysia tends to fly under the radar in Western media, but offers a compelling blend of modern infrastructure, diverse food culture, English usage in key areas, and relatively low costs compared to many developed countries. Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru each serve different expat profiles, from big-city professionals to slower-paced retirees.
Everyday costs—housing, food, local transport—can be strikingly affordable if you avoid purely luxury enclaves and manage imported-goods expectations. For many, Malaysia functions as a quieter, more spacious alternative to Singapore or Hong Kong, with easier access to nature.
#4 Thailand – Mature Expat Ecosystem With Serious Value
Thailand remains one of the world’s best-known expat destinations for a reason. Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and various islands present very different price points and lifestyles, but across the board you’ll typically find lower day-to-day costs than in Western countries, combined with a high “quality of life for the price” ratio.
It’s not just about cheap street food. Thailand has a deep bench of private hospitals, coworking spaces, international schools, and expat-friendly services. The main homework is around visas and making sure you land in a region whose climate and pace match your real life, not just your holiday fantasy.
#3 Greece – Mediterranean Life With a More Welcoming 2026 Path
Greece offers much of what people romanticize about the Mediterranean—sea views, island ferries, café culture, and a slower daily rhythm—without the same price pressure as hotspots like parts of Italy or the French Riviera. Mainland cities and lesser-known islands can still deliver reasonable housing and food costs, especially outside peak tourist zones.
For 2026, what nudges Greece into the top three is not just lifestyle, but a more welcoming path to residency compared to several years ago. Combined with its cost of living relative to income requirements, that makes Greece unusually attractive for retirees and remote workers willing to navigate some bureaucratic friction in exchange for long-term stability.
#2 Estonia – Digital-First State for Remote Workers and Builders
Estonia is a small country with an outsized reputation for digital governance. If your life is already laptop-centric—remote work, online business, geo-flexible income— Estonia’s e-Residency program and digital infrastructure can make running a company and dealing with government paperwork unusually streamlined.
Costs in Tallinn and other cities are generally lower than in Western Europe’s largest capitals, though not “dirt cheap.” Think modest but reasonable: you trade endless sunshine for stable, efficient systems, modern services, and a serious tech ecosystem.
#1 Vietnam – Rapidly Developing, Still Remarkably Affordable
Vietnam currently offers one of the strongest combinations of low day-to-day costs, improving infrastructure, and growing expat communities in cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Nha Trang. Housing, local food, and transport can be dramatically cheaper than in Western countries, while amenities and connectivity have been steadily catching up.
It is not a frictionless destination: air quality, traffic, and bureaucracy can be real trade-offs in certain cities. But for people who value value-for-money, entrepreneurial energy, and the ability to build a life as the country develops, Vietnam stands out as a top contender in 2026.
Your Next Step: From “Maybe” to a Concrete Shortlist
Lists are a useful starting point, but they can’t know your exact mix of income sources, health needs, risk tolerance, and lifestyle priorities. The next step is turning curiosity into numbers — and numbers into decisions.
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