Building a life is easier in a language you already speak. These are the best countries to move to where English will carry you, whether it is official or simply widely spoken.
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#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
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#2 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
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#3 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
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#4 Ireland
Strongest on English-friendliness and healthcare. Weaker on cost of living and property affordability.
- Cost of living: High
- Property: Very expensive
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Remittance basis for non-doms
- Visa: Stamp 0 for the wealthy (~€50k/yr)
- Climate: Cool (~10°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Very large
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#5 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
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#6 New Zealand
Strongest on English-friendliness and expat community. Weaker on cost of living and property affordability.
- Cost of living: High
- Property: Very expensive
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide; no general capital-gains tax
- Visa: Skilled, or NZ$750k+ retirement visa
- Climate: Mild (~15°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Very large
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#7 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
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#8 United Kingdom
Strongest on English-friendliness and expat community. Weaker on cost of living and property affordability.
- Cost of living: High
- Property: Very expensive
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide; 4-yr tax break for new arrivals
- Visa: Skilled Worker; no retiree route
- Climate: Cool (~11°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Established
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#9 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
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#10 Canada
Strongest on English-friendliness and expat community. Weaker on property affordability and cost of living.
- Cost of living: High
- Property: Expensive
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Moderate
- Tax: Worldwide income; no wealth tax
- Visa: Express Entry (direct PR); no retiree visa
- Climate: Cool (~10°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Very large
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.