Expat Index Pack & Send

According to the United Nations, there are around 5 million British expats scattered around the globe. With Brexit (potentially) right around the corner, even more Brits might be tempted to move abroad. But where would they go? With a whole world of options, narrowing them down to find the perfect place to move is no easy task.

This got us thinking here at PACK & SEND – what makes a city expat-friendly? To find out, we created an index that scores over 100 cities around the world. We’ve ranked each location based on how well it performs across ten distinct factors that would be important to British people moving abroad. If you’re curious about the research that went into this, please refer to the methodology.

Explore

THE BEST AND WORST PLACES FOR BRITS TO EMIGRATE TO AROUND THE WORLD

Total
Peacefulness
Quality of Living Score
Happiness Score
Price of a Pint
Sunshine Hours
Vacation Days
Education System
House Price to Income Ratio
Migrant Acceptance Score
Easy Language to Learn
Total
Rank
City
Country
Wellbeing
Peacefulness
Quality of Living Score
Happiness Score
social life
Price of a Pint
Sunshine Hours
Vacation Days
home life
Education System
House Price to Income Ratio
Integration
Migrant Acceptance Score
Easy Language to Learn
total
1
Perth
Australia
8.43
9.10
8.81
5.13
8.40
4.50
8.26
9.04
9.57
10.00
8.12
2
Brisbane
Australia
8.43
8.47
8.81
6.49
7.31
4.50
8.26
9.20
9.57
10.00
8.10
3
Adelaide
Australia
8.43
8.74
8.81
6.22
6.45
4.50
8.26
9.45
9.57
10.00
8.04
4
Wellington
New Zealand
9.55
9.37
8.98
6.59
3.48
4.50
8.53
9.08
9.98
10.00
8.01
5
Sydney
Australia
8.43
9.55
8.81
6.06
5.91
4.27
8.26
8.08
9.57
10.00
7.89
6
Ottawa
Canada
8.72
9.19
8.92
6.41
3.59
4.11
8.37
9.48
9.82
10.00
7.86
7
Auckland
New Zealand
9.55
9.91
8.98
5.54
3.25
4.50
8.53
7.95
9.98
10.00
7.82
8
Melbourne
Australia
8.43
9.28
8.81
5.68
4.76
4.50
8.26
8.49
9.57
10.00
7.78
9
Vancouver
Canada
8.72
9.91
8.92
6.88
2.97
3.93
8.37
7.34
9.82
10.00
7.69
10
Toronto
Canada
8.72
9.32
8.92
6.76
3.52
3.75
8.37
7.66
9.82
10.00
7.68
11
Amsterdam
Netherlands
7.78
9.55
9.38
6.98
1.82
8.12
8.04
7.89
8.78
7.27
7.56
12
Barcelona
Spain
7.30
8.11
6.88
7.61
5.44
8.38
7.83
7.38
8.75
7.27
7.49
13
Stockholm
Sweden
8.12
9.01
9.06
5.80
2.48
6.44
9.51
7.28
9.48
7.27
7.44
14
Copenhagen
Denmark
8.81
9.68
9.63
3.90
1.30
7.31
9.40
8.44
8.22
7.27
7.40
15
Gothenburg
Sweden
8.12
-
9.06
5.86
2.91
6.12
9.51
8.17
9.48
7.27
7.39
=16
Valencia
Spain
7.30
-
6.88
6.59
6.16
6.80
7.83
8.74
8.75
7.27
7.37
=16
Berlin
Germany
7.98
9.46
8.27
8.08
1.66
7.12
8.15
8.16
8.22
6.59
7.37
17
Madrid
Spain
7.30
7.97
6.88
6.87
6.47
6.80
7.83
7.50
8.75
7.27
7.36
18
Geneva
Switzerland
8.56
9.64
9.36
5.91
2.51
6.73
7.55
8.23
8.40
6.59
7.35
=19
Lisbon
Portugal
8.97
8.38
5.43
9.22
6.62
5.24
7.66
6.63
7.55
7.27
7.30
=19
Vienna
Austria
9.17
10.00
8.85
7.46
2.75
6.28
7.72
7.53
6.65
6.59
7.30
20
Munich
Germany
7.98
9.91
8.27
7.38
2.01
7.28
8.15
6.82
8.22
6.59
7.26
=21
Helsinki
Finland
8.10
8.65
10.00
5.32
2.64
7.31
9.95
7.96
7.44
5.00
7.24
=21
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
-
9.23
8.50
6.19
2.08
7.73
7.88
8.07
8.90
6.59
7.24
22
Oslo
Norway
8.04
8.92
9.53
2.93
1.84
6.47
9.89
8.09
9.19
7.27
7.22
23
San Francisco
USA
4.41
8.51
8.07
5.48
7.70
1.93
8.64
8.63
8.49
10.00
7.19
24
Zurich
Switzerland
8.56
9.95
9.36
5.38
1.41
6.08
7.55
8.52
8.40
6.59
7.18
=25
Dublin
Ireland
8.62
8.56
8.35
5.69
0.94
5.05
9.35
5.63
9.21
10.00
7.14
=25
Brussels
Belgium
7.85
8.78
8.14
7.60
1.33
6.63
7.93
9.05
6.80
7.27
7.14
26
Houston
USA
4.41
7.07
8.07
6.99
5.67
1.93
8.64
10.00
8.49
10.00
7.13
27
Miami
USA
4.41
7.07
8.07
5.10
8.09
1.94
8.64
9.28
8.49
10.00
7.11
28
Chicago
USA
4.41
7.84
8.07
5.79
5.37
2.56
8.64
9.70
8.49
10.00
7.09
29
Los Angeles
USA
4.41
7.07
8.07
5.10
8.51
1.29
8.64
8.94
8.49
10.00
7.05
30
Hamburg
Germany
7.98
9.19
8.27
7.64
1.37
4.50
8.15
8.45
8.22
6.59
7.04
31
Porto
Portugal
8.97
-
5.43
8.14
5.20
5.31
7.66
7.55
7.55
7.27
7.01
32
Boston
USA
4.41
8.42
8.07
5.45
5.90
1.93
8.64
8.69
8.49
10.00
7.00
33
Rome
Italy
6.89
7.52
6.59
6.52
6.91
5.57
8.75
6.43
7.31
7.27
6.98
34
Lyon
France
6.23
8.24
7.41
5.85
3.54
7.25
8.32
8.41
7.26
6.59
6.91
35
Reykjavik
Iceland
10.00
-
9.39
3.90
0.40
5.79
8.21
9.09
10.00
5.00
6.87
=36
New York City
USA
4.41
8.06
8.07
5.04
5.49
1.93
8.64
8.19
8.49
10.00
6.83
=36
Seattle
USA
4.41
7.97
8.07
5.66
3.95
1.93
8.64
9.21
8.49
10.00
6.83
37
Turin
Italy
6.89
-
6.59
6.60
3.19
5.57
8.75
8.45
7.31
7.27
6.74
38
Milan
Italy
6.89
8.20
6.59
5.86
2.88
5.86
8.75
6.73
7.31
7.27
6.63
39
Santiago
Chile
7.43
5.86
7.08
7.30
6.63
3.95
7.34
7.54
5.30
7.27
6.57
40
Montevideo
Uruguay
6.91
6.53
6.75
7.44
5.26
4.50
5.16
7.16
7.73
7.27
6.47
41
Paris
France
6.23
8.29
7.41
5.06
1.82
7.73
8.32
5.41
7.26
6.59
6.41
=42
San Jose
Costa Rica
6.89
5.18
8.67
8.85
3.58
2.56
6.36
8.73
5.71
7.27
6.38
=42
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
3.87
2.66
6.93
-
8.39
10.00
8.70
9.76
7.15
0.00
6.38
43
Buenos Aires
Argentina
6.05
5.95
6.29
8.87
5.44
3.11
7.61
5.53
7.34
7.27
6.35
44
Singapore
Singapore
8.67
8.92
6.68
4.88
3.33
0.29
9.08
5.80
5.36
10.00
6.30
=45
Dubai
UAE
6.64
6.71
7.92
1.95
9.58
7.73
6.25
9.70
6.24
0.00
6.27
=45
Prague
Czechia
8.68
6.94
7.98
9.55
1.84
6.80
7.77
7.31
0.87
5.00
6.27
46
Abu Dhabi
UAE
6.64
6.53
7.92
1.95
10.00
7.73
6.25
9.24
6.24
0.00
6.25
47
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
5.06
4.73
6.76
8.69
4.00
7.73
4.84
6.03
7.14
7.27
6.23
48
Accra
Ghana
6.86
2.61
3.89
9.64
5.05
2.88
6.96
-
7.95
10.00
6.20
49
Quito
Ecuador
5.87
4.55
6.16
8.19
4.24
2.88
6.63
8.23
6.76
7.27
6.08
=50
Mexico City
Mexico
3.10
4.23
7.41
8.42
5.57
4.17
8.59
7.15
4.66
7.27
6.06
=50
Warsaw
Poland
7.07
6.35
6.50
8.79
1.43
6.31
8.80
7.90
2.47
5.00
6.06
51
Tokyo
Japan
8.63
7.84
5.85
7.02
2.72
4.01
9.73
7.48
7.20
0.00
6.05
52
Krakow
Poland
7.07
-
6.50
9.00
0.70
6.31
8.80
7.98
2.47
5.00
5.98
53
Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic
5.47
3.96
4.83
8.37
6.49
2.56
6.58
7.47
6.61
7.27
5.96
54
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
7.57
6.22
4.65
6.77
4.08
3.69
6.47
8.18
-
5.91
5.95
55
Osaka
Japan
8.63
7.43
5.85
7.23
3.22
4.01
9.73
-
7.20
0.00
5.92
56
Athens
Greece
5.71
6.04
4.53
6.76
6.80
5.34
7.99
8.26
2.51
5.00
5.89
57
Zagreb
Croatia
7.48
5.63
4.85
9.06
2.87
5.89
8.86
7.94
1.07
5.00
5.87
58
Budapest
Hungary
7.98
6.62
5.57
9.27
2.93
5.83
8.10
7.24
0.00
5.00
5.85
=59
Panama City
Panama
6.61
5.68
6.81
7.01
2.16
7.22
3.26
7.92
4.06
7.27
5.80
=59
Lima
Peru
5.87
4.46
5.43
7.74
0.00
7.73
5.33
7.14
7.06
7.27
5.80
60
Johannesburg
South Africa
4.28
5.72
3.29
9.16
7.96
2.75
2.77
9.72
5.01
7.27
5.79
61
Doha
Qatar
6.41
5.09
6.93
0.00
9.23
8.38
6.74
9.21
-
0.00
5.78
62
Sao Paulo
Brazil
5.06
1.44
6.76
8.03
3.25
7.18
4.84
6.30
7.14
7.27
5.73
63
Cape Town
South Africa
4.28
5.77
3.29
8.99
7.84
2.88
2.77
8.77
5.01
7.27
5.69
64
Seoul
South Korea
6.63
6.58
5.87
7.72
3.51
2.62
10.00
6.32
7.31
0.00
5.66
65
Asuncion
Paraguay
5.82
4.86
5.54
9.20
6.61
1.91
1.68
-
7.32
7.27
5.58
=66
Algiers
Algeria
4.96
1.71
4.36
8.12
6.50
7.09
5.27
4.46
-
6.59
5.45
=66
Yekaterinburg
Russia
0.42
-
5.33
8.07
2.54
8.48
9.84
8.03
1.39
5.00
5.45
=67
Nairobi
Kenya
4.16
1.67
2.82
9.20
5.30
5.11
7.07
-
7.34
5.91
5.40
=67
Tel Aviv
Israel
2.26
5.36
8.61
4.88
8.75
3.24
9.57
6.08
0.27
5.00
5.40
68
Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
6.25
3.15
4.28
9.92
5.29
0.61
6.52
5.26
6.68
5.00
5.30
69
Manama
Bahrain
3.78
3.92
6.54
4.88
8.91
5.15
6.14
8.27
-
0.00
5.29
70
Antigua
Guatemala
4.81
2.93
7.06
8.49
5.11
2.88
4.51
-
4.41
7.27
5.28
71
Jakarta
Indonesia
6.49
3.65
4.32
6.98
7.37
1.91
6.68
5.84
3.41
5.91
5.26
72
Bogota
Colombia
2.42
4.28
6.38
9.36
0.41
2.69
6.90
5.17
6.76
7.27
5.16
73
Casablanca
Morocco
5.90
4.46
4.36
7.66
7.99
2.88
4.18
6.36
7.15
0.00
5.09
74
Hanoi
Vietnam
6.25
3.06
4.28
10.00
1.49
0.61
6.52
6.76
6.68
5.00
5.07
75
Taipei
Taiwan
7.03
6.26
7.08
6.41
0.74
1.65
9.29
3.82
7.78
0.00
5.01
76
Istanbul
Turkey
1.64
4.19
4.72
8.36
4.15
5.70
5.92
7.91
2.40
5.00
5.00
77
Moscow
Russia
0.42
2.52
5.33
7.23
2.82
8.80
9.84
6.57
1.39
5.00
4.99
78
Saint Petersburg
Russia
0.42
2.21
5.33
7.87
1.69
8.48
9.84
7.35
1.39
5.00
4.96
79
Bangkok
Thailand
4.60
4.05
6.12
8.35
5.88
2.01
4.67
5.21
1.52
5.00
4.74
80
Tehran
Iran
3.77
1.08
2.90
-
6.71
7.73
7.39
4.53
3.44
5.00
4.73
81
New Delhi
India
3.47
2.75
1.73
7.53
6.11
4.72
3.59
7.32
4.89
5.00
4.71
82
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
6.56
1.13
0.00
9.67
6.50
7.09
0.38
-
4.76
5.91
4.67
=83
Kolkata
India
3.47
2.84
1.73
8.26
3.69
4.72
3.59
8.09
4.89
5.00
4.63
=83
Kampala
Uganda
5.03
2.30
2.11
9.88
4.12
4.82
1.79
-
5.72
5.91
4.63
84
Cairo
Egypt
2.87
2.07
2.06
9.13
9.72
5.79
3.53
7.67
2.75
0.00
4.56
85
Dhaka
Bangladesh
5.42
0.27
2.70
6.39
5.07
1.59
2.39
7.80
8.77
5.00
4.54
86
Beijing
China
4.68
4.64
4.32
7.47
6.06
1.17
8.97
0.00
5.21
0.00
4.25
87
Lagos
Nigeria
1.75
0.50
4.48
9.35
2.59
0.00
0.00
-
9.24
10.00
4.21
88
Hong Kong
China
4.68
6.85
4.85
4.88
2.55
2.85
8.97
0.00
5.21
0.00
4.08
89
Guangzhou
China
4.68
4.55
4.32
6.33
1.67
1.17
8.97
3.58
5.21
0.00
4.05
90
Lahore
Pakistan
0.80
0.72
5.34
9.17
7.58
2.56
1.36
6.73
1.19
5.00
4.04
91
Karachi
Pakistan
0.80
0.99
5.34
8.27
7.23
2.56
1.36
7.26
1.19
5.00
4.00
92
Shanghai
China
4.68
5.41
4.32
5.58
2.29
1.81
8.97
1.46
5.21
0.00
3.97
93
Mumbai
India
3.47
3.11
1.73
8.01
5.69
1.39
3.59
1.70
4.89
5.00
3.86
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Methodology

Each category consists of the latest data available from reputable sources. This data is standardised using minmax normalisation:

NB: where lower numbers in the initial data correspond to a better score (for example, the time taken to learn the language), the numerator was adjusted to max⁡(x)-x_i to ensure the normalised data is consistent across all categories – a score of 10 is always the best result.

This value is then multiplied by 10 to create a score (between 0-10). Each city is then ranked based on their overall average score across the key categories below, including both city-level and country-level data, to create the global city index.

In the instance of country-level data, the country score is applied to each city within that country. For example, if Australia has a score of 8.81 for Happiness then Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide all receive 8.81.

City Level Data Country Level Data
Sunshine Hours Easy Language to Learn
Average Vacation Days Happiness Score
House Price to Income Ratio Peacefulness Index
Quality of Living Score Migrant Acceptance Score
Price of a Pint Education System Rating

In order to further refine the list, cities that are missing more than 2 data points (due to no data available) have been filtered out, leaving a list of 105 cities.

Peacefulness Index

Ranks countries’ peacefulness using the level of Societal Safety and Security, the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict and the degree of Militarisation.

Institute for Economics & Peace Global Peace Index

Quality of Living Score

Ranks cities by quality of living factors affecting expatriates in popular destinations.

Mercer Quality of Living Rankings

Happiness Score

Ranks countries’ happiness and well-being levels using data from the Gallup World Poll.

World Happiness Report 2019

Price of a Pint

Crowdsourced data on the average price of one beer in a neighbourhood pub (500 mL or 1 pt.)

Expatistan Cost of Living

Sunshine Hours

The average annual duration of sunshine in each city.

Local Government Sites / Weather Hubs

Education System Rating

This ranks the impact each nation’s education system has had in stabilising their economy and developing their social environment.

International Education Database

House Price to Income Ratio

Crowdsourced data on the ratio of median apartment prices to median familial disposable income.

Numbeo Property Prices Index

Migrant Acceptance Score

Ranks how accepting different countries are for migrants using data from the Gallup World Poll.

Migrant Acceptance Index

Easy Language to Learn

Ranks languages by the average time required for a student to reach “Professional Working Proficiency”.

US State Department School of Language Studies

Vacation Days

Vacation days are those considered as paid vacation, excluding legal holidays. Calculated through survey responses and averaged.

UBS Global Cities Ranking 2018