The world’s best destinations for expats are revealed – with a very surprising city awarded the top spot
Many people dream of making a fresh start in a new country, and with the world in turmoil amid conflict, political divisions and rising costs of living, more and more people are trying to make these dreams come true.
It’s a big commitment to take over and move abroad, so it’s important to make sure you’ve picked the right place.
Factors such as cost of living, safety, healthcare, education and lifestyle are all crucial to consider, and now a new analysis has ranked potential destinations based on these criteria.
Global consultancy Mercer rated cities for their appeal to expats in its latest Quality of Living report, which said it “highlights those that stand out for their exceptional living standards, robust infrastructure and vibrant cultural scenes.”
Eight European cities dominate the top 10 of the rankings, with Auckland and Vancouver the only top contenders outside the continent.
Zurich took the top spot, praised for its “excellent public services, low crime rates, vibrant cultural scene and commitment to sustainability.”
The global banking hub rose higher in the rankings this year due to increased airport connections, with more services between the city and other continents.
But the cost of living in the Swiss city is also high: an EIU survey last year found it was the most expensive city in the world, tied with Singapore.
Number one: Zurich was praised for its ‘excellent public services, low crime rates, vibrant cultural scene and commitment to sustainability’
Number two: Vienna, the capital of Austria, received high ratings in Mercer’s Quality of Living report
Number three: Geneva moved up three places in the Mercer rankings from last year
Number four: Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is known for its vibrant culinary scene
Switzerland occupied four positions in the top 10, with Geneva in third place – up three places from last year – while Bern was in ninth place and Basel in 10th.
For those looking to go further afield, the New Zealand city of Auckland comes in fifth.
North America is represented in the top rankings by Vancouver, which ranks seventh with Frankfurt for offering a unique blend of outdoor recreation and cosmopolitan living, Mercer said.
The top Asian city for foreigners to move to is Singapore, which ranks at number 20 – the only city on the continent to make the top 50.
In the Middle East, Dubai came in at 83rd place, closely followed by Abu Dhabi at number 85.
Port Louis in Mauritius retained a similar position to last year at number 88 – the highest of any African city.
Meanwhile, Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, was the highest ranked South American country, coming in at 92nd.
London climbed five places up the rankings to reach 40th position, while elsewhere in Britain Edinburgh and Glasgow were not far behind at 50th and 53rd positions respectively.
| Best | Worst |
|---|---|
| 1. Zurich, Switzerland | 1. Khartoum, Sudan |
| 2. Vienna, Austria | 2. Baghdad, Iraq |
| 3. Geneva, Switzerland | 3. Bangui, Central African Republic |
| 4. Copenhagen, Denmark | 4. Sanaa, Yemen |
| 5. Auckland, New Zealand | 5. Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| 6. Amsterdam, Netherlands | 6. N’djamena, Chad |
| 7. Frankfurt, Germany | 7. Damascus, Syria |
| 7. Vancouver, Canada | 8. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo |
| 9. Bern, Switzerland | 9. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso |
| 10. Basel, Switzerland | 10. Tripoli, Libya |
Australian cities performed well, with Sydney at number 12, ahead of Melbourne at 20 and Canberra at 29.
Boston was the best-performing US city at number 32, while New York lagged behind at number 45.
Los Angeles was the biggest gainer in Mercer’s 2023 rankings, rising 26 spots in the rankings to No. 44.
Among the worst-ranked places are cities in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean, the majority of which are plagued by political unrest or conflict.
Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, where a civil war has been raging since last year, ranked lowest.