Spain grabs second best place for expat life in global survey

MAYBE it’s because of the laidback lifestyle, the cafe culture, the beaches and good weather or perhaps it’s just the good food. 

But Spain has smashed expectations in the latest Expat Insider survey of the best place in the world to live for expats.

Coming in as the second most sought-after destination for expat life in the poll of nearly 12,000 expats around the globe, it marks a remarkable ascent from its previous fifth position in 2022.

Earning its expat-friendly reputation, Spain has consistently ranked within the top 10 for quality of life since the inception of the survey. 

Spain claimed first place globally in the leisure options category for 2023, with a staggering 91% of expats expressing their contentment with the plethora of recreational sports available in the country. 

The country’s vibrant culture and nightlife have also garnered significant appreciation, with 88% of expats expressing satisfaction with the diverse offerings.  

Enhancing the allure of expat life in Spain, the nation ranks third worldwide for its agreeable climate.

First place was snatched by Mexico, but third place was taken, surprisingly, by Panama.

Full ranking: The best places to live for expats:

1. Mexico
2. Spain
3. Panama
4. Malaysia
5. Taiwan
6. Thailand
7. Costa Rica
8. Philippines
9. Bahrain
10. Portugal
11. UAE
12. Oman
13. Indonesia
14. Vietnam
15. Brazil
16. Finland
17. Colombia
18. Kenya
19. Luxembourg
20. Australia
21. Czech Republic
22. Netherlands
23. Switzerland
24. Sweden
25. Greece
26. China
27. Canada
28. Saudi Arabia
29. Estonia
30. United States
31. Qatar
32. Cyprus
33. France
34. Hungary
35. Poland
36. India
37. Singapore
38. Belgium
39. Ireland
40. Hong Kong
41. Denmark
42. Austria
43. United Kingdom
44. Japan
45. New Zealand
46. Malta
47. Italy
48. South Africa
49. Germany
50. South Korea
51. Turkey
52. Norway
53. Kuwait