Looking for a destination that is cheap to live in, has a warm climate and where you can get by in English? Based on Expat Focus data across nine factors, here are the destinations that best match that combination for English-speaking expats.
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#1 Philippines
Strongest on cost of living and English-friendliness. Weaker on healthcare and expat community.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Limited
- Safety: Moderate
- Tax: Territorial for foreigners
- Visa: SRRV retiree visa ($15k+ deposit)
- Climate: Warm (~28°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Minimal
Read the full Philippines guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#2 South Africa
Strongest on English-friendliness and cost of living. Weaker on healthcare and safety.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Limited
- Safety: Higher risk
- Tax: Worldwide, 45% top, only 1% employee social
- Visa: Retirement visa ZAR 37k/mo, 5yr PR, English, dual
- Climate: Warm (~17°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Moderate
Read the full South Africa guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#3 Malaysia
Strongest on cost of living and property affordability. Weaker on residency ease and healthcare.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Basic
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Foreign income exempt (territorial)
- Visa: MM2H long-stay (fixed deposit)
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
Read the full Malaysia guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#4 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
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#5 India
Strongest on cost of living and property affordability. Weaker on healthcare and expat community.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Limited
- Safety: Moderate
- Tax: Worldwide residents, progressive ~30% plus surcharge
- Visa: No retiree visa, no dual, work visa only
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Widely spoken
- Expat community: Minimal
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#6 Brunei
Strongest on tax friendliness and property affordability. Weaker on residency ease and healthcare.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Basic
- Safety: No data
- Tax: No personal income tax at all
- Visa: No retiree route, employer work pass only
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Widely spoken
- Expat community: Very large
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#7 Croatia
Strongest on property affordability and English-friendliness. Weaker on healthcare and tax friendliness.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide, up to 33%, nomad exemption
- Visa: No retiree visa, nomad EUR 3,622/mo, 5yr PR
- Climate: Warm (~17°C)
- English: Very widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
Read the full Croatia guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#8 Belize
Strongest on English-friendliness and property affordability. Weaker on healthcare and safety.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Limited
- Safety: Higher risk
- Tax: Territorial, flat 25%, QRP retirees exempt
- Visa: QRP retiree USD 2,000/mo, fast PR, English
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Established
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#9 Bahrain
Strongest on safety and tax friendliness. Weaker on residency ease and healthcare.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Basic
- Safety: Very safe
- Tax: Zero income tax, minimal expat social security
- Visa: ~USD 345k property buys 10yr Golden Residency
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Widely spoken
- Expat community: Very large
Read the full Bahrain guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#10 Singapore
Strongest on safety and expat community. Weaker on property affordability 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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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.