• Mexico, Indonesia, Taiwan, Portugal, Spain, the UAE, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, and Singapore are the best destinations for ex-pats in 2022.
• The worst destinations for ex-pats are Kuwait (52nd), New Zealand, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Luxembourg,
Japan, South Africa, Turkey, Italy, and Malta (43rd).
• Thailand ranks 8th out of 52: finance and leisure options are no trouble for ex-pats, but they struggle with their working life.

 

By Adam Judd

 

Munich, 12 July 2022 — For the ninth time, InterNations, the world’s largest ex-pat community with more than 4 million members, has published the results of its Expat Insider survey. With nearly 12,000  respondents, it is one of the most extensive surveys about living and working abroad, providing insights into ex-pat life in 52 destinations. The survey offers in-depth information on expats’  satisfaction with the Quality of Life, Ease of Settling In, Working Abroad, and Personal Finance in their respective countries of residence. For the first time, the ranking also includes the new Expat  Essentials Index, which covers digital life, admin topics, housing, and language.

 

Thailand comes 8th out of 52 destinations in the Expat Insider 2022 survey. The country excels in the  Personal Finance Index (4th) and narrowly misses out on a top 10 spot in the Ease of Settling In Index  (11th). While it also performs well in the Expat Essentials Index (18th), Thailand only lands in a  mediocre 35th place in the Quality of Life Index. It even ranks among the bottom 10 in the Working  Abroad Index (45th). Overall, 77% of ex-pats are happy with their life in Thailand, compared to 71%  globally. 

 

Mexico (1st), Indonesia (2nd), and Taiwan (3rd) make up the top 3 destinations, and they all rank very well in the Ease of Settling In and Personal Finance Indices. On the other hand, the bottom 3  destinations, Kuwait (52nd), New Zealand, and Hong Kong, all perform poorly in terms of personal finances for ex-pats. While Kuwait ranks among the worst destinations worldwide for all factors, ex-pats in New Zealand struggle with their career, and those in Hong Kong are unhappy with the local environment.  

 

No Money Concerns 

 

Personal finances are a breeze for ex-pats in Thailand, and they vote the country fourth in the Personal  Finance Index. In fact, most ex-pats (85%) feel that their disposable household income is enough or more than enough to lead a comfortable life (vs. 72% globally). “Your money definitely goes far,” a British ex-pat reports. Expats vote Thailand third for the general cost of living — 71% are happy with this factor,  26 percentage points more than the global average (45%). Thus, it is no surprise that 70% are happy with their financial situation overall (vs. 60% globally). Housing is no trouble either, and Thailand also lands in first place in this subcategory. Expats describe it as both affordable (74% vs. 39% globally)  and easy to find (85% vs. 54% globally).  

 

Administrative Barriers 

 

Aside from housing, ex-pats are not too happy with the factors surveyed in the Expat Essentials Index  (18th). Thailand ranks in the bottom 10 of the Digital Life Subcategory (43rd), and ex-pats are particularly unhappy with the availability of administrative/government services online (43% unhappy vs. 21% globally). “It is all paperwork for everything,” explains an ex-pat from Chile. Overall, more than half (51%) find it hard to deal with the local bureaucracy/authorities, compared to 39% globally.  

 

While 70% find it easy to live in Thailand without speaking the local language (vs. 51% globally), 68%  struggle to learn it (vs. 38% globally). “I just cannot pick up the language,” says a British ex-pat. In fact,  78% speak the language just a little (54% vs. 25% globally) or not at all (24% vs. 10% globally).  

 

Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/07/12/ex-pat-insider-2022-by-internations-says-thailand-is-an-affordable-friendly-destination-for-ex-pats-8th-best-in-world/

 

-- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-07-13

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

When the only source is British expats, what do you expect?

I concur, once you pass the annoying BS and strange things in this country, all in all, and dollar for dollar, its not a bad place to be in, otherwise i wouldn't be here as long as i have...

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand ranks in the bottom 10 of the Digital Life Subcategory (43rd),

 It even ranks among the bottom 10 in the Working  Abroad Index (45th). 

But, but, Thailand seems to ranks itself constantly near no. 1 for digital nomads

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand comes 8th

What's wrong with mediocrity? ????

4 hours ago, webfact said:

77% of ex-pats are happy with their life in Thailand,

Not from what I read here!

"Housing is no trouble either, and Thailand also lands in first place in this subcategory.".........Really?  Cannot own a house or most other property.  That's a big negative! 

InterNations are so full of sh***! They send you email offers for a 'bank account for expats', but, once you apply, you're told 'sorry, only available for residents in Europe'...

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

But, but, Thailand seems to ranks itself constantly near no. 1 for digital nomads

I would generally say that digital nomads are in a different category than expats.  Housing stability is much more important, and cost of transient accommodations is less critical for a resident expat.  Many things are much easier in Mexico, Portugal, and Spain compared to Thailand in that regard; can't really speak to the other countries.  

 

A few places that used to be high on these lists have become less stable recently (Costa Rica and Panama come to mind)... but then again crime/homicide is way up in much of Mexico.

 

Personally I would pick Thailand 8 times out of 10... but I can see how a few things would really take disproportionate energy to resolve.

It's "expat" not "ex-pat"... <sigh>

it's surprising that neighbouring countries can fare that much.

Why Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam Singapore but not Japan and Hong Kong?

Why Portugal, Spain but not Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey?

Why UAE but not Kuwait?

Why Australia but not N Zealand?

That doesn't sound correct

 

Well I have to agree that's why many of us expats have retired here 

More positives than negatives 

Read the Thai visa become a member get the up to date news ???? 

 

Their lists are skewed heavily for working expats and in that context it looks quite credible.

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

But, but, Thailand seems to ranks itself constantly near no. 1 for digital nomads

 I think younger people (and people with a younger outlook on life) enjoy Thailand much more than most of the retirees on this forum. 

Going by the complaining from a lot of people on here I wonder why they are even living here.

Personally I love living in Bangkok.   

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand only lands in a  mediocre 35th place in the Quality of Life Index.

not everyone can be 1st, they need 2nd's as well  and also need "mediocracy" at 35th 

and yet another meaningless/useless poll about Thailand

Lived and worked in many countries. Taking all aspects into account Thailand is the best place to be in my opinion.

3 hours ago, Jerno said:

"Housing is no trouble either, and Thailand also lands in first place in this subcategory.".........Really?  Cannot own a house or most other property.  That's a big negative! 

can own a condo !!!

6 hours ago, ezzra said:

I concur, once you pass the annoying BS and strange things in this country, all in all, and dollar for dollar, its not a bad place to be in, otherwise i wouldn't be here as long as i have...

I have been here in Thailand for about 15 years, and bad as this country is to tourists and expats with an unelected PM and his soldiers, the UK is much, much worse.

I am just back in Thailand after spending 3 months in the UK.

3 hours ago, Jerno said:

"Housing is no trouble either, and Thailand also lands in first place in this subcategory.".........Really?  Cannot own a house or most other property.  That's a big negative! 

Not sure owning a house is that cost effective when you're in your 60s.

Best to rent in a country where you have no right to live.

Isn't Vietnam impossible to stay in now for long periods (no good for expats), and Spain maximum 90 days.

Indonesia ???????? ???? I'd put the Philippines up there somewhere in the top 3...at least for Asia.

4 hours ago, mikebell said:

Not from what I read here!

A lot depends on how an expat is described.

 

An expat generally is a foreigner not living in their own country, but does that mean working or retired? 

 

If the expat is retired that is one class of expat.

 

If he is working however, is he working for an offshore company, an onshore local company, or is he working for himself or as a contractor to an on or off shore company?

 

Is he on a salary plus expenses, part per diem, full per diem or paying his own way.

 

All of those choices affect the expats way of life. How long is the expat going to stay in the country is anther choice.

 

When I first worked in Thailand I worked for a US company on salary, o/t plus full expenses for about 3 months. When I came back a year later I was on a 3 month assignment which gave me the choice of full expenses or full per diem I was extended another 3 months and was given full per diem which meant that I was paying for everything.

 

The expat package came in after a 1 year extension and included the sale or rental of my UK home, my family could join me, all international school fees etc would be paid here in Thailand and the company would have tried to find my wife a job.

 

 

 

This is the problem when people talk about expats without understanding what an expat really is.

Dont see why Italy is considered bad. I was there for over 1 year and it was fine

10 hours ago, webfact said:

narrowly misses out on a top 10 spot in the Ease of Settling In Index 

I am not surprised, with all the bureaucracy and financial requirements to obtain a visa!!!

1 hour ago, possum1931 said:

I have been here in Thailand for about 15 years, and bad as this country is to tourists and expats with an unelected PM and his soldiers, the UK is much, much worse.

I am just back in Thailand after spending 3 months in the UK.

Well maybe at least those tourists and expats from the UK, having read this on the BBC, just don't realize that, as you say, the PM is 'unelected':

 

Thai parliament elects ex military government chief Prayuth as PM
Published 6 June 2019

Retired general Prayuth Chan-ocha, the man who led a military coup in Thailand five years ago, has been elected as the country's civilian prime minister.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48537664

11 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Well maybe at least those tourists and expats from the UK, having read this on the BBC, just don't realize that, as you say, the PM is 'unelected':

 

Thai parliament elects ex military government chief Prayuth as PM
Published 6 June 2019

Retired general Prayuth Chan-ocha, the man who led a military coup in Thailand five years ago, has been elected as the country's civilian prime minister.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48537664

Elected by who???? Definitely not the Thai people, and these are the ones who matter. I have told you before, I will not get involved in a debate with any of the very small TV/AN posters who think it is OK for some soldier to topple an elected government against the wishes of the Thai people.

If you come on here and answer me with more of your nonsense, you will be ignored except for the occasional time to let give vast majority of TV/AN posters a good laugh at your comments.

Mexico would have been much easier for me.  I can speak it a little. It was just a few hour flight.  Tropical.
Cheap.  Didn't lock down.

Just much prefer the Asian culture to the Mexican culture.  Personal preference, nothing else.  

5 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

InterNations are so full of sh***! They send you email offers for a 'bank account for expats', but, once you apply, you're told 'sorry, only available for residents in Europe'...

I used to see their advertisements pop up and the expats they had in their photos for meet ups were the exact sort of people I came to Thailand to avoid.

2 hours ago, blackshadow said:

can own a condo !!!

Yes that's true, just don't try and sell it for a profit or sign it over to your son or daughter and it brings no visa help etc.