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Top 10 least and most expensive countries for expats in 2024: At some point in our lives, many of us consider starting fresh in a new country, and more than 232 million people relocate in search of a better life, as per the United Nations.
For expats, relocating their lives and moving to a completely different city for work is not always an easy decision. Living in a new city can present significant challenges, with many factors to consider.
In its 2024 Expat Survey, InterNations ranked countries in different categories. The cost of living, or affordability, is a crucial criterion, as it determines one’s financial situation, standard of living, and overall quality of life.
The Personal Finance Index 2024 assessed the general cost of living, expats’ satisfaction with their financial situation, and whether a respondent’s disposable household income is enough to lead a comfortable life. About 53 countries with at least 50 respondents were included in the survey.
Notably, Asia remains home to many of the best destinations in terms of affordability for expats, with one exception. Six of the top 10 countries are located in Asia: Vietnam (1st), Indonesia (3rd), the Philippines (5th), India (6th), Thailand (8th), and China (10th). They all excel across the three factors of the index.
However, breaking the trend in Asia, Singapore made it to the bottom, ranked 48, with 75 per cent of the expats surveyed rating the cost of living negatively. The city-state consistently ranks as one of the most expensive cities in the world.
India is ranked sixth in terms of affordability, while Canada took the last position, with expats citing concerns about inflation affecting food prices, rent, and mortgages.
Interestingly, Brazil (ranked 17th) edged out Malaysia (ranked 5th in 2023) as the 10th most affordable destination for expats, a new addition to the top 10 list, thus shifting the rank of Malaysia to 11th. Discover the world’s top 10 least and most expensive countries for expats in 2024.
The following list reveals the world’s top 10 least expensive countries for expats in 2024:
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| PFI Rank | Country |
| 1 | Vietnam |
| 2 | Colombia |
| 3 | Indonesia |
| 4 | Panama |
| 5 | Philippines |
| 6 | India |
| 7 | Mexico |
| 8 | Thailand |
| 9 | Brazil |
| 10 | China |
Source: Personal Finance Index 2024, InterNations
Enlisted below are the world’s top 10 most expensive countries for expats in 2024:
| Rank | PFI Rank | Country |
| 1 | 54 | Canada |
| 2 | 53 | Finland |
| 3 | 52 | United Kingdom |
| 4 | 51 | Ireland |
| 5 | 50 | Norway |
| 6 | 49 | Singapore |
| 7 | 48 | Philippines |
| 8 | 47 | New Zealand |
| 9 | 46 | Bahrain |
| 10 | 45 | Türkiye |
Source: Personal Finance Index 2024, InterNations
*PFI Rank – Please note the rank of the country is as per the Personal Finance Index, released by InterNations 2024 Report.
