12 Best Cities for Expats to Live and Work

Emigration is becoming an increasingly popular choice among working professionals, students and families, according to a recent report from Preply, a language learning app and e-learning platform.

People have various reasons for wanting to live and work in a different country. The rise of remote work coupled with loosened pandemic restrictions has opened opportunities for those who want to immerse themselves in a different culture, master a new language or simply enjoy an adventure.

To uncover the best cities for expats, Preply researchers created the global expat index ranking 60 cities around the world on their suitability for relocating to live and work based on the following 11 metrics:

Monthly cost of living as an expat
Average monthly salary (after tax)
Estimated tax on $50,000
Average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center
Internet speed
Number of attractions
Average cost of a meal at an inexpensive restaurant
City safety score (0-100, 100 being the safest)
Visitor return rate (%)
Average monthly cost of co-working space
How many hours to learn the dominant language in the city

The researchers ranked and scored each city to give a final “Expat relocation score” out of 10. See the gallery for the 12 cities that topped the list.