Sunshine and a shared language: a combination that makes settling in feel effortless. These are the warmest, most English-friendly countries to move to.
-
#1 Antigua and Barbuda
Strongest on English-friendliness and tax friendliness. Weaker on healthcare and safety.
- Cost of living: Moderate
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Moderate
- Safety: Some concerns
- Tax: No personal income tax at all
- Visa: Citizenship by investment or nomad visa, English
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Very large
Read the full Antigua and Barbuda guide · Compare expat health insurance
-
#2 Trinidad and Tobago
Strongest on English-friendliness and property affordability. Weaker on residency ease and safety.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Higher risk
- Tax: Worldwide, 25%/30%, no CGT or wealth tax
- Visa: Work permit, marriage, or 5 year residence
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Established
Read the full Trinidad and Tobago guide · Compare expat health insurance
-
#3 Malta
Strongest on English-friendliness and expat community. Weaker on tax friendliness and cost of living.
- Cost of living: Moderate
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Very safe
- Tax: Remittance basis; 15% flat regimes
- Visa: Residence/retirement programmes
- Climate: Warm (~19°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Very large
-
#4 Cayman Islands
Strongest on English-friendliness and tax friendliness. Weaker on property affordability and cost of living.
- Cost of living: Very high
- Property: Very expensive
- Healthcare: No data
- Safety: Moderate
- Tax: No personal income tax at all
- Visa: $100k/yr nomad or high-cost PR, English
- Climate: Warm (~28°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Very large
Read the full Cayman Islands guide · Compare expat health insurance
-
#5 Australia
Strongest on English-friendliness and expat community. Weaker on cost of living and property affordability.
- Cost of living: Very high
- Property: Very expensive
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide income, 45% top
- Visa: Skilled/employer; no retiree visa
- Climate: Warm (~19°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Very large
Read the full Australia guide · Compare expat health insurance
-
#6 Singapore
Strongest on safety and expat community. Weaker on cost of living and residency ease.
- Cost of living: Moderate
- Property: Moderate
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Very safe
- Tax: Territorial; no foreign-income or CGT
- Visa: Employment Pass; no retiree visa; no dual citizenship
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Very large
Read the full Singapore guide · Compare expat health insurance
-
#7 Bermuda
Strongest on English-friendliness and tax friendliness. Weaker on cost of living and property affordability.
- Cost of living: Very high
- Property: Very expensive
- Healthcare: No data
- Safety: Some concerns
- Tax: No income tax, payroll tax instead
- Visa: No retiree visa, nomad route closed 2025
- Climate: Warm (~21°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Very large
Read the full Bermuda guide · Compare expat health insurance
-
#8 Bahamas
Strongest on English-friendliness and tax friendliness. Weaker on cost of living and safety.
- Cost of living: Very high
- Property: Moderate
- Healthcare: Moderate
- Safety: Higher risk
- Tax: Zero income tax, no CGT or wealth tax
- Visa: USD 1m property buys permanent residency, English
- Climate: Warm (~25°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Established
Read the full Bahamas guide · Compare expat health insurance
-
#9 Barbados
Strongest on English-friendliness and expat community. Weaker on safety and cost of living.
- Cost of living: Very high
- Property: Moderate
- Healthcare: Moderate
- Safety: Some concerns
- Tax: Remittance for non-doms, 28.5% top rate
- Visa: Welcome Stamp or SERP, 5yr PR, English, dual
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Established
Read the full Barbados guide · Compare expat health insurance
-
#10 Jamaica
Strongest on English-friendliness and residency ease. Weaker on healthcare and safety.
- Cost of living: Moderate
- Property: Moderate
- Healthcare: Limited
- Safety: Higher risk
- Tax: Worldwide, 30% top rate, no CGT
- Visa: Retiree PR ~$2,000/mo, 3yr PR, English, dual
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Minimal
Read the full Jamaica guide · Compare expat health insurance
How these rankings are calculated
Each destination is scored from 0 to 100 on nine factors (cost of living, property, healthcare, safety, tax, visa ease, climate, English-friendliness and expat community), then weighted to the preferences above and ranked. The healthcare score reflects the public system (spending and doctors per head); private care, which many expats use, can differ, and first-hand expat ratings are coming from our own survey. Cost and property are world-comparable price levels. Figures are general information, not personal financial, tax or immigration advice.
Data sources: Expat Focus built dataset · Expat Focus climate reference · Expat Focus reference · World Bank ICP / PPP price level · World Bank ICP 2021 housing Price Level Index · World Bank health expenditure per capita + physicians per 1,000 · World Bank intentional homicide rate · World Bank international migrant stock. See our data and licences page.