Owning a home abroad is more within reach than many expats expect. These are the countries where property is most affordable, based on world-comparable housing price levels.
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#1 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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#2 Turkey
Strongest on property affordability and cost of living. Weaker on safety and healthcare.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Basic
- Safety: Moderate
- Tax: Worldwide, 40% top, new 20yr expat exemption
- Visa: Nomad or means-based route, $400k property to citizenship
- Climate: Warm (~19°C)
- English: Moderate
- Expat community: Established
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#3 Dominican Republic
Strongest on property affordability and cost of living. Weaker on healthcare and safety.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Basic
- Safety: Some concerns
- Tax: Territorial, 25% top, 2yr new-resident break
- Visa: Pensionado $1,500/mo, fast PR, dual
- Climate: Warm (~26°C)
- English: Limited
- Expat community: Moderate
Read the full Dominican Republic guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#4 Thailand
Strongest on cost of living and property affordability. Weaker on English-friendliness and healthcare.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Limited
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Foreign income taxed only if remitted
- Visa: Retirement visa (50+, ฿800k or ฿65k/mo)
- Climate: Warm (~28°C)
- English: Limited
- Expat community: Moderate
Read the full Thailand guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#5 Egypt
Strongest on cost of living and property affordability. Weaker on expat community and healthcare.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Limited
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide, 27.5% top rate
- Visa: Property residency from $50k or retiree permit
- Climate: Warm (~22°C)
- English: Moderate
- Expat community: Small
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#6 Argentina
Strongest on property affordability and cost of living. Weaker on safety and tax friendliness.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Moderate
- Tax: Worldwide, 35% top rate, wealth tax
- Visa: Rentista visa, 2yr PR and citizenship, dual
- Climate: Warm (~18°C)
- English: Moderate
- Expat community: Moderate
Read the full Argentina guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#7 Saudi Arabia
Strongest on tax friendliness and property affordability. Weaker on English-friendliness and residency ease.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Moderate
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Zero personal income tax for everyone
- Visa: Iqama or fee-based Premium Residency, no dual
- Climate: Warm (~26°C)
- English: Moderate
- Expat community: Very large
Read the full Saudi Arabia guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#8 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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#9 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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#10 Indonesia
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: Very safe
- Tax: Worldwide, 35% top, territorial option for new residents
- Visa: Retirement/Second Home routes, ~$1,500/mo, no dual
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Moderate
- Expat community: Minimal
Read the full Indonesia 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.