Thailand ranks third in 2026 expat living survey

Thailand has been ranked the world's third most popular country for foreigners to live in during 2026, according to InterNations' survey of expats in 31 countries.

The country was rated particularly strongly for affordable living costs and the friendliness of local people. However, traffic was identified as Thailand's main weak point in the survey results reported by CH7 on 16 August.

Panama took first place for the third consecutive year, followed by Mexico. The United Arab Emirates and Brazil completed the top five.

Why Thailand scored so highly

InterNations surveyed foreigners who had moved abroad for work or to live, assessing quality of life, ease of settling into a new environment, working abroad, personal finances, housing and digital services.

Thailand had the highest score for cost of living, with 85% of respondents giving a positive assessment. That figure was twice the global average, according to the survey.

Meanwhile, 86% of expatriates in Thailand said they were happy with their life abroad, making Thailand the country where foreign residents were happiest overall.

The survey said friendliness and affordable living were the most influential factors among this year's highest-ranked destinations. Seven of the top 10 were also among the easiest places for foreigners to settle, while five ranked highly for managing personal finances.

What this means for foreigners in Thailand

For expats considering Thailand, the findings underline why the country remains attractive to retirees, families, remote workers and people relocating with Thai partners: everyday spending can be manageable compared with many Western countries, while social life and local hospitality are widely valued.

The results do not remove practical challenges, however. Traffic remains a daily consideration, particularly in Bangkok and other major urban areas, and newcomers still need to ensure they have the appropriate visa, healthcare cover and accommodation arrangements before moving.

Bethan Jeentipraphet, a British mother of two, moved from Devon with her Thai husband in 2024, initially intending to stay for only one year. She said that after two weeks she no longer wanted to return.

She said Thailand could offer a highly rewarding life experience for foreigners prepared to embrace Thai culture and follow cultural norms. Jeentipraphet also said the Thai education system had helped transform her son, adding that respect was highly important in Thai culture.

Aaron Henry, who moved to Thailand from Los Angeles 11 years ago, said Bangkok had become more modern over the past decade while retaining its traditional culture. He cited international restaurants, parks, art galleries and luxury shopping centres.

Full InterNations ranking for 2026

Panama

Mexico

Thailand

United Arab Emirates

Brazil

Spain

Singapore

Portugal

Malaysia

Luxembourg

Australia

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

France

Belgium

Denmark

Poland

Ireland

Japan

United States

Netherlands

Switzerland

Austria

Italy

Czech Republic

Sweden

Canada

United Kingdom

Turkey

Germany

Norway

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19 August 2026