It seems that both Australia and Canada just can’t shake their popularity with expats and immigrants! Year on year both countries are listed amongst the Top Ten Best Countries to Work by the participants of the much respected HSBC’s “Expat Explorer” an international survey.

The survey takes several factors into account that would affect the happiness and job satisfaction of a foreigner in a number of countries. Canada and Australia, as has been the case throughout the history of the survey, placed exceptionally well with Canada taking 18th and Australia 10th position out of 46 countries included in the survey. More than 27,500 expats are surveyed on their perceived job security, wage growth, safety, and quality of life – which are all important factors when choosing a country to settle in.

Norway, Singapore, and Switzerland are the best countries for expats based on those factors.

The survey findings said that:

• The average expat has an income of $US99,900, 25% more than in their home country
• Most reported a better quality of life and better work-life balances than in their home country
• 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. 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, they 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.

The Top Ten according to the HSBC’s “Expat Explorer” are:

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 two-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

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
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