Prefer a cooler climate without compromising on healthcare or safety? These destinations score highest on Expat Focus data for that combination.
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#1 Austria
Strongest on healthcare and English-friendliness. Weaker on cost of living and tax friendliness.
- Cost of living: High
- Property: Moderate
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide income, 55% top
- Visa: Skilled or private-means (quota-limited)
- Climate: Cool (~11°C)
- English: Very widely spoken
- Expat community: Very large
Read the full Austria guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#2 Norway
Strongest on healthcare and English-friendliness. Weaker on tax friendliness and cost of living.
- Cost of living: High
- Property: Expensive
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide, ~39.8% top, wealth tax
- Visa: No retiree route, skilled work only, 3yr PR
- Climate: Cool (~7°C)
- English: Very widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
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#3 Switzerland
Strongest on healthcare and expat community. Weaker on cost of living and property affordability.
- Cost of living: Very high
- Property: Very expensive
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Very safe
- Tax: Cantonal rates vary, lump-sum regime for wealthy
- Visa: Age 55+ lump-sum route, work quota-capped, 10yr PR
- Climate: Cool (~10°C)
- English: Very widely spoken
- Expat community: Very large
Read the full Switzerland guide · Compare expat health insurance
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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
Read the full Ireland guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#5 Germany
Strongest on healthcare and English-friendliness. Weaker on cost of living and tax friendliness.
- Cost of living: High
- Property: Moderate
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide; high social contributions
- Visa: Blue Card/skilled; no retiree visa
- Climate: Cool (~10°C)
- English: Very widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
Read the full Germany guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#6 Netherlands
Strongest on English-friendliness and healthcare. Weaker on cost of living and property affordability.
- Cost of living: High
- Property: Expensive
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide; 30% ruling for skilled migrants
- Visa: Skilled migrant/DAFT; no retiree visa
- Climate: Cool (~11°C)
- English: Native / official
- Expat community: Established
Read the full Netherlands guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#7 Denmark
Strongest on healthcare and English-friendliness. Weaker on cost of living and property affordability.
- Cost of living: High
- Property: Very expensive
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide, 60.5% top, 27% expat scheme
- Visa: Employer-sponsored skilled work, high salary bar
- Climate: Cool (~9°C)
- English: Very widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
Read the full Denmark guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#8 Sweden
Strongest on healthcare and English-friendliness. Weaker on property affordability and cost of living.
- Cost of living: High
- Property: Expensive
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide, ~52% top combined, expert relief
- Visa: No retiree visa, work permit route, 4yr PR, dual
- Climate: Cool (~8°C)
- English: Very widely spoken
- Expat community: Very large
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#9 Iceland
Strongest on healthcare and English-friendliness. Weaker on property affordability and cost of living.
- Cost of living: Very high
- Property: Expensive
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide, up to 46%, expert deduction
- Visa: Remote-work visa 6mo only, 4yr PR, dual
- Climate: Cool (~5°C)
- English: Very widely spoken
- Expat community: Very large
Read the full Iceland guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#10 Czech Republic
Strongest on safety and healthcare. Weaker on residency ease and tax friendliness.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide, 15%/23% progressive rates
- Visa: No retiree visa, nomad program for US/UK, 5yr PR
- Climate: Cool (~9°C)
- English: Widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
Read the full Czech Republic guide · Compare expat health insurance
Would you need private health cover? Check your situation
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.