Today, according to the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, more than 300 million people live outside the country – nearly twice as many as in 1990.00:01
Consulting firm Global Citizen Solutions has published a ranking of the world’s most livable cities for expats, evaluating 35 cities on six continents, Euronews reports.
They assessed the cost of living, safety, air quality, health care, ease of adaptation, English proficiency and freedom to travel.
Lisbon topped the list, with Amsterdam right behind it. Five European cities were included in the top 10.
Top 10 most comfortable cities for expats
- Lisbon, Portugal: 88.49 out of 100
- Amsterdam, Netherlands: 81.97 out of 100
- Melbourne, Australia: 81.79 out of 100
- Vienna, Austria: 81.07 out of 100
- Barcelona, Spain: 80.7 out of 100
- Singapore: 80.58
- Auckland, New Zealand: 80.15
- Tokyo, Japan: 79.78
- Copenhagen, Denmark: 79.57
- Seoul, South Korea: 78.89
Lisbon is one of the most affordable cities in the ranking in terms of cost of living. By this indicator, it is noticeably cheaper than, for example, Amsterdam, Vienna and Copenhagen.
Another of its advantages is the availability of several legal pathways to residency, including residency programs through investments and visas for digital nomads.
Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is characterized by a high level of security, a well-developed healthcare system and clean air.
English proficiency here is the highest among European cities. However, the high cost of living is becoming Amsterdam’s weak point. The city is among the most expensive in the rating.
The only non-European city in the top five is Melbourne. It has one of the highest levels of English proficiency and is also considered one of the cleanest on the list. The city offers high quality healthcare, sustainable governance and a strong urban infrastructure.
The city is weakest in terms of safety: it is comparatively lower than in European cities.
