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Panama, Colombia, and Mexico are now among the world’s favorite destinations for expatriates, according to the new Expat Insider 2025 report. The ranking reveals where foreigners feel happiest living, working, and adapting abroad, with Latin America emerging as the biggest surprise of the year.
According to the InterNations Expat Insider 2025 report, Colombia and Mexico are among the favorite destinations for expatriates, although the country that claimed first place surprised many. Here’s the ranking of the 10 best-rated countries to live, work, and adapt abroad.
The new Expat Insider 2025 report by InterNations revealed which countries make expatriates feel the most comfortable, integrated, and welcomed when starting a new life far from home.
The ranking is based on responses from more than 10,000 expatriates representing 172 nationalities. It analyzes factors such as quality of life, ease of settling in and making friends, job opportunities, financial stability, bureaucracy, and cultural adaptation.
Would you move to any of these destinations? Discover which countries lead the ranking and why more people are choosing them to live and work abroad.
Panama ranks first globally thanks to a very powerful combination: an active social life, ease of making friends, and a strong sense of welcome. Expatriates rate the country as one of the best places to truly feel “at home.”
It also stands out as a retirement destination. In fact, 35% of respondents are already retired, and 18% said their main motivation for moving there was retirement. Many also highlight the friendliness of local people, the welcoming culture, and overall satisfaction with their financial situation.
Colombia continues gaining popularity among expatriates for one simple reason: the people. Many foreigners say locals genuinely make an effort to include you, help you, and make you feel part of the community. Cities like Medellín and Bogotá combine vibrant social life, good connectivity, and a still-affordable cost of living for remote workers.
Colombia moved from 5th place in 2024 to 2nd place out of 46 destinations in 2025. Its strongest category is Personal Finance, and the low cost of living remains a huge advantage for expatriates: 81% are satisfied with their financial situation in Colombia, compared to the 54% global average.
Respondents also highlight that housing is affordable and relatively easy to find.
Mexico once again ranked among expatriates’ favorite destinations thanks to its warm and social atmosphere. Three of its categories rank among the global top 10:
Since 2014, Mexico has consistently remained among the top three countries for ease of settling in. Expatriates say it is very easy to adapt to local culture and make Mexican friends. In fact, 35% say most of their friendships and acquaintances are locals, more than double the global average of 16%.
It’s no surprise then that many expatriates say they feel welcomed and at home while living there.
Thailand has spent years winning over expatriates and digital nomads. The formula? Great weather, incredible food, a relatively affordable cost of living, and cities designed for remote workers.
In fact, the main reason many people moved there was work opportunities. According to the study, 34% of expatriates want to stay permanently.
Vietnam has earned the affection of many expatriates thanks to its combination of low living costs, excellent food, and energetic cities. Vietnam ranks first globally in the Personal Finance index for the fifth consecutive year.
Almost 9 out of 10 expatriates (89%) are satisfied with the general cost of living, and 87% say their household income is enough or more than enough to live comfortably, compared to the global averages of 40% and 69% respectively.
The country also scores highly for job opportunities, salaries, and ease of making friends.
China was one of the biggest climbers in the 2025 ranking. The country jumped from 19th place to 6th among the best destinations for expatriates.
Much of the improvement comes from the Working Abroad index, where China climbed 21 positions to reach 9th place. Expatriates especially highlight fair salaries and professional opportunities. Overall job satisfaction also increased from 68% to 76%.
Expatriates in China also reported being much more satisfied with their work schedules, while the average workweek dropped from 43.7 hours in 2024 to 41.4 hours in 2025, while the global average remained stable.
The United Arab Emirates consolidated its position as one of the favorite destinations for expatriates, ranking 7th globally in 2025. The country stands out especially in quality of life, where it climbed to second place worldwide after improving year after year since 2022.
One of its strongest points is personal safety, where it ranks number one globally. In addition, 87% of expatriates positively evaluate the country’s political stability, far above the global average of 56%.
Healthcare also receives excellent reviews. Expatriates consider the healthcare system high-quality (3rd place) and easy to access (6th place), although medical costs remain a more sensitive issue.
Indonesia returned to the global top 10 for expatriates, ranking 8th overall. The country, especially Bali, continues attracting remote workers, freelancers, and people looking for a more flexible lifestyle.
One of its strongest advantages is housing. Expatriates say finding accommodation is relatively easy and prices remain fairly affordable, something increasingly difficult to find in other global hubs for digital nomads.
The biggest weakness? Digital life. Indonesia ranks lower in online services and digital connectivity. Many expatriates criticize the limited availability of online administrative services: only 41% are satisfied with this aspect, compared to the 59% global average.
Spain ranks first globally in quality of life and has maintained that position since 2022. It’s no surprise that many expatriates move there specifically searching for a better lifestyle.
About 20% say they relocated because of quality of life, compared to just 7% globally. Spain also attracts more retirees than average.
The results are reflected in overall satisfaction: 84% of expatriates say they are happy with their life in Spain, well above the global average of 67%.
Why? There are several tempting reasons. Spain ranks first in climate, culture, and nightlife, while also leading in opportunities for recreational sports.
Malaysia managed to return to the podium in the Expat Essentials ranking, reaching 3rd place in 2025 after a weaker previous year. The country continues consolidating itself as a favorite destination for expatriates seeking quality of life, reasonable costs, and fewer cultural barriers.
One of its strongest advantages is housing. Expatriates say accommodation is relatively easy to find and, above all, affordable. In fact, more than one-third of respondents gave housing prices the highest possible rating, far above the global average.
But where Malaysia truly shines is language accessibility. The country ranks third worldwide for ease of living without speaking the local language. Around 74% of expatriates say they can comfortably manage using only English, well above the global average.
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