Sometimes the dream stalls at the paperwork. These are the most straightforward countries to get residency or a long-stay visa, from low-income retiree routes to simple nomad permits.
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#1 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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#2 Panama
Strongest on property affordability and cost of living. Weaker on healthcare and safety.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Basic
- Safety: Some concerns
- Tax: Territorial: foreign income untaxed
- Visa: Pensionado ($1,000/mo → PR)
- Climate: Warm (~27°C)
- English: Moderate
- Expat community: Established
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#3 Cyprus
Strongest on safety and expat community. Weaker on tax friendliness and cost of living.
- Cost of living: Moderate
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Non-dom: 0% on dividends/interest
- Visa: Category F passive-income PR
- Climate: Warm (~19°C)
- English: Widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
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#4 France
Strongest on residency ease and expat community. Weaker on property affordability and tax friendliness.
- Cost of living: Moderate
- Property: Moderate
- Healthcare: Strong
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide; high social charges
- Visa: Long-stay visitor visa (~€1,800/mo)
- Climate: Mild (~12°C)
- English: Moderate
- Expat community: Established
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#5 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
Read the full New Zealand guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#6 Costa Rica
Strongest on property affordability and residency ease. Weaker on healthcare and safety.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Moderate
- Safety: Higher risk
- Tax: Territorial: foreign income untaxed
- Visa: Pensionado ($1,000/mo pension)
- Climate: Warm (~22°C)
- English: Moderate
- Expat community: Established
Read the full Costa Rica guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#7 Portugal
Strongest on healthcare and English-friendliness. Weaker on property affordability and tax friendliness.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Excellent
- Safety: Safe
- Tax: Worldwide income, 48% top rate
- Visa: D7 passive-income visa (~€820/mo)
- Climate: Warm (~17°C)
- English: Very widely spoken
- Expat community: Established
Read the full Portugal guide · Compare expat health insurance
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#8 Peru
Strongest on cost of living and residency ease. Weaker on safety and healthcare.
- Cost of living: Low
- Property: Affordable
- Healthcare: Basic
- Safety: Some concerns
- Tax: Worldwide, progressive to 30%, no US treaty
- Visa: Rentista $1,000/mo, direct PR, 2yr citizenship
- Climate: Warm (~19°C)
- English: Limited
- Expat community: Moderate
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#9 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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#10 Colombia
Strongest on cost of living and property affordability. Weaker on tax friendliness and safety.
- Cost of living: Very low
- Property: Very affordable
- Healthcare: Basic
- Safety: Higher risk
- Tax: Worldwide, 39% top, no US treaty, wealth tax
- Visa: Pensionado ~$1,400/mo, fast e-visa, dual
- Climate: Mild (~17°C)
- English: Limited
- Expat community: Moderate
Read the full Colombia 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.