It turns out that Americans searching for an affordable place to live and work, that’s also welcoming to expats, don’t have to travel far to find it.
According to a study done by InterNations, one of the largest global communities for people living and working abroad, Mexico ranks #1 in the world as the top destination for expats.
As someone living in Mexico since 2018, I couldn’t agree more!
However, I’m just one voice, so let’s dive in to learn more about this study, as well as the other countries expats love and hate (more info on that below too).
What the InterNations’ Expat Insider Report Tells Us
Expat Insider 2023 analyzed and ranked 53 countries according to factors like quality of life, affordability, ease of settling in/adjusting to a new life, work opportunities, and more.
Their analysis is based on feedback from expats of 177 nationalities who have lived in 181 countries or territories.
The report ranked 53 countries that are popular with expats (also showing those that aren’t popular), and here are the findings:
👍 Top 10 countries that expats LOve
Mexico
Spain
Panama
Malaysia
Taiwan
Thailand
Costa Rica
Philippines
Bahrain
Portugal
🤔 Want to know which countries ranked last on the list, and why they ranked so low?
Scroll to the bottom of the article to see the countries that came in last — and trust me, #45 and #52 are going to SHOCK you!
Whether you’re seeking cheaper places to live and work abroad, the excitement of a new culture, or to save money, there are many reasons to move to Mexico.
Let’s continue exploring the specifics of why so many expats and immigrants (me included) love Mexico so much.
Why Mexico is the Top Choice for Expats
Mexico has long been a favorite among expats from the U.S., Canada, and even Europe (it really shocked me that so many Italians live in Mexico).
In fact, it has consistently ranked in the Top 5 places expats love since InterNations first conducted the Expat Insider Survey in 2014.
During the last 10 years of this survey, Mexico has always received stellar marks in the settling in, friendly residents, making friends easily, and culture categories.
In fact, 90% of expats in Mexico admit to being happy living there, compared with 72% saying the same globally.
🇲🇽 A long-time favorite
With everything from rich culture, beautiful places, amazing food, friendly people, and a lower cost of living — it’s no wonder why!
From the busy streets of Mexico City and Guadalajara, to the peaceful beaches of Tulum and Cabo San Lucas, there’s something for everyone.
Here’s what InterNations founder Malte Zeeck told Forbes Magazine in an interview about why expats love Mexico so much:
Mexico has actually received excellent results since our very first Expat Insider survey ten years ago…
“It’s where expats worldwide find it easiest to get used to the local culture, where they feel most welcome and where they describe the local residents as the friendliest population worldwide,” Zeeck continued.
“Together with the relatively low cost of living and the attractive climate, this turns Mexico into an expat magnet.”
🤑 Mexico is Affordable
Living in Mexico is considerably cheaper than in the United States, with everything from housing, food, and transportation costing less.
Mexico ranked sixth on the list for the lowest cost of housing, so your money will stretch further — and I do mean A LOT further!
Expats gave the country high marks for both the availability of housing options, and the affordability of homes (both renting and buying).
On a broader affordability scale, Mexico ranked second overall in personal finance.
About 71% of the expats surveyed said they’re happy with the cost of living in Mexico vs. only 44% globally.
Overall, 80% of expats are satisfied with their financial situation in Mexico vs. 58% globally.
🇺🇸 Proximity to the U.S.
Its growing economy and closeness to the U.S. make it a convenient choice for many expats in North America.
In fact, you can get a direct flight from Mexico City to most major cities in the U.S. and Canada. From Cancun, there are direct flights to several cities in Europe.
👩💻 Digital NOmads Love it
Mexico also landed in the top half of the Expat Insider 2023 rankings in terms of being able to have a good work-life balance (#7), and being able to easily work remotely while abroad (#22).
If you’re curious, most visitors get a 6-month visa upon arrival, so you can always visit the country for an extended period of time before committing to a full move.
This is what I did, and what I always recommend.
👎 Things People don’t love About Mexico
Now, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows (well, there’s actually a lot of sunshine), so make sure you know about the pros and cons to living in Mexico because not everyone will love it.
Though Mexico received high rankings in areas like availability of leisure options (#2), it also received some not-so-great scores in other areas of life.
It ranked low in both political stability and safety, with about 18% of respondents saying they don’t always feel safe in Mexico — more than double the global average.
As this is a valid concern, here are some additional articles to help you determine where to live:
Experts Say This is the Safest City in Mexico
The 15 Dangerous Cities in Mexico to Avoid
The 30 Safest Cities in Mexico for Travelers & Expats
Is Mexico Safe for Solo Female Travelers?
What countries do expats HATE?
At the beginning of the article you saw the Top 10 places expats love living — so here are the bottom 10 from the same list of 53 total countries.
Japan
New Zealand
Malta
Italy
South Africa
Germany
South Korea
Türkiye (Turkey)
Norway
Kuwait
Why they ranked so low depends on the country, and you can see the full article here, but these are a few examples:
🇰🇼 Kuwait
Expats in Kuwait gave the country low marks in areas like quality of life (it ranked dead last at #53), as well as the availability, affordability and quality of healthcare.
Not known for progressive politics, 49% of respondents said they feel they can’t openly express themselves and their opinions — which is more than triple the global average of 15%.
🇳🇴 Norway
While Norway has great social programs, expats say it’s not an easy transition to actually move there, and that the high cost of living makes everyday life tough.
In fact 37% of expats in Norway say their disposable household income isn’t enough for a comfortable life (versus 27% globally), and 32% say locals are not friendly to foreign residents.
🇹🇷 Turkey
Türkiye (Turkey) ranks low in terms of jobs for expats, but with so many who are able to work for U.S. companies while abroad, this might be a non-issue for you.
In Turkey, about 30% of expats say they’re unhappy with their working hours, which is about twice the global average of 16%.
The country also ranked pretty low in the quality of life category (39th out of 53), and second to last in the safety and security category (52nd out of 53).
Of course, someone’s “pro” might be your “con,” or vice versa, so know there are many affordable and welcoming countries for expats to live and work abroad.
Whether you’re looking for a tropical paradise, a modern oasis, or a European gem, there’s a place out there for you — So why not start your expat adventure today?
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