Job security, wage growth, safety, and a good quality of life are important factors when choosing a country to settle in. While Norway, Singapore and Switzerland were scored best by expats, both Canada and Australia also made the list.
According to HSBC’s “Expat Explorer Survey,” the average expat has an income of $US99,900, a 25% increase from their salary in their home country, and many expats report a better quality of life and better work-life balances than they had in their home country.
Wage growth is a vital economic factor for many people as they look to become expats. The countries where expats see the highest income increase are Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. Expats’ income grows by at least 50% when they move to one of these three countries. Switzerland also has the highest annual income for expats at $US193,006.
But it’s not all about the money. HSBC’s global report also found that safety and quality of life are important indicators for people looking to live abroad. Cost of living also matters for people living in a new country.
Business Insider looked at the best countries for expats that have high marks in five categories: job security, wage growth, safety, quality of life, and social life.
Along with each country, we listed the monthly rent for a two-bedroom house, subway fare, the price of a cappuccino, the price of a McDonald’s Big Mac meal, and the cost for one month of internet service. (For the few countries where subway data was not available, bus fare was used instead.)
Below are 20 of the best countries rated by expats:
20. France
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US4,700
Subway fare: $US1.24
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US9.89
Cappuccino: $US5.55
Internet per month: $US39.58
19. The Netherlands
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US2,474
Subway fare: $US3.71
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US9.89
Cappuccino: $US3.71
Internet per month: $US39.58
18. Canada
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US2,623-$US2,782
Subway fare: $US2.58
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US7.15
Cappuccino: $US3.58
Internet per month: $US49.28
17. Qatar
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US3,433-$US4,175
Bus fare: $US1.51
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US6.32
Cappuccino: $US5.49
Internet per month: $US87.89
16. South Korea
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US2,611
Subway fare: $US1.07
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US5.59
Cappuccino: $US4.20
Internet per month: $US25.17
15. Taiwan
Furnished t wo-bedroom house rent: $US2,316
Subway fare: $US0.85
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US4.26
Cappuccino: $US3.07
Internet per month: $US23.85
14. New Zealand
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US479
Subway fare: $US2.94
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US7.36
Cappuccino: $US3.83
Internet per month: $US66.26
13. Sweden
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US2,614
Subway fare: $US4.52
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US8.91
Cappuccino: $US4.28
Internet per month: $US31.49
12. Czech Republic
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US823
Subway fare: $US1.18
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US5.88
Cappuccino: $US2.25
Internet per month: $US20.87
11. Austria
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US2,252
Subway fare: $US2.72
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US7.20
Cappuccino: $US3.05
Internet per month: $US27.22
10. Australia
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US2,100
Subway fare: $US3.11
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US7.78
Cappuccino: $US2.96
Internet per month: $US50.57
9. Hong Kong
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US11,464
Subway fare: $US1.91
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US4.46
Cappuccino: $US5.10
Internet per month: $US26.75
8. Bahrain
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US3,448
Bus fare: $US0.80
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US6.50
Cappuccino: $US5.30
Internet per month: $US37.13
7. Japan
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US5,601
Subway fare: $US1.87
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US6.25
Cappuccino: $US3.55
Internet per month: $US37.34
6. Germany
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US1,857-$US3,094
Subway fare: $US3.34
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US9.28
Cappuccino: $US3.71
Internet per month: $US49.51
5. Oman
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US35,064
Bus fare: $US0.52
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US6.75
Cappuccino: $US4.68
Internet per month: $US62.34
4. United Arab Emirates
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US3,267
Subway fare: $US0.68
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US6.81
Cappuccino: $US5.17
Internet per month: $US95.29
3. Switzerland
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US4,167-$US4,687
Subway fare: $US4.69
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US15.62
Cappuccino: $US6.25
Internet per month: $US60.42
2. Singapore
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US5,340
Subway fare: $US1.91
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US5.72
Cappuccino: $US4.58
Internet per month: $US34.33
1. Norway
Furnished two-bedroom house rent: $US4,113
Subway fare: $US5.14
McDonald’s Big Mac meal: $US12.85
Cappuccino: $US4.91
Internet per month: $US44.34
Source: Business Insider