Sometimes we feel like we are stuck in the same place. We feel stagnant, unmoving like the world is moving around us but we are frozen where we are and doing the same things each day. At times, for some of us, it just feels right to get away from it all. Escaping our boring current lives for the chance to do some exploring and broaden our horizons is not a cowardly thing to do. In fact, it takes quite a brave individual to accept that they are not happy where they are and pack up to go someplace where they will have a better chance at happiness and fulfillment. But what are the best place to live in the world?
If you have been feeling this way lately or at all, you are not alone. Lots of people in the world feel a similar way and they become expats because of it. What is an expat? It is someone who moves themselves to a completely different area and culture typically far away from where they are used to. An expat is someone who usually makes such a decision alone, and many expats are admired and revered for exhibiting such bravery.
We are here to tell you it does not require the bravest person in the world to become an Expat and start a life of traveling and discovering new places and people. Lots of people feel like they are not moving in the direction they want to move, and others feel like they are not moving at all! If you feel unsatisfied or unfulfilled where you are currently residing, there may just be one of the best places to live in the world perfect for you just waiting for you to discover it.
Becoming An Expat FAQs
Becoming an Expat is a huge life-changing decision, and it is understandable that one would want to know as much about it before deciding to make sure it is the right decision for them. Because of this, we gathered and answered a few of the important frequently asked questions curious future Expats have asked. We hope these questions shed light on what it means to be an Expat and will push you in the right direction to finding the best places to live in the world for you!
1. Why Should I Become An Expat?
Besides getting to travel and see new sights, being an Expat contributes greatly to one's personal growth on many levels. One can make lifelong friendships from all over the world and allow cultures and different ways of life to influence one's creativity. There is an entire world of opportunities, unique sights and sounds, different foods, and endless creative outlets you would miss out on if you stayed where you were born your entire life!
2. What Benefits Does It Come With?
There are endless benefits to being an Expat. You can increase your creativity through influences from the places you stay, become much more open-minded when you are exposed to different cultures, traditions, and customs. There is a certain type of teaching that just cannot be learned from books. Traveling to different places means a unique opportunity to immerse oneself. Being alone for so long in a foreign place also teaches one to become independent and self-reliant which is endlessly valuable.
One can learn new languages by immersing themselves in faraway places that speak differently and experiencing so many new places as an individual really gives one an idea of who they are and how they fit into the world. It offers a unique life perspective and one will inevitably meet all kinds of wonderful people and a chance for international love! Plus, the more one travels around the more likely they are to find the best places to live in the world to settle down in!
3. How Can I Stay Safe?
In the past decades doing something like becoming an Expat might have been considered highly dangerous. However, the world of Smartphones and connection platforms on the Internet such as Facebook has made traveling abroad much safer. Your Smartphone most likely has GPS tracking that works all over the world and you need only check in with family and friends occasionally to let them know you are doing fine. With the commonplace technology in society today, the timing is perfect for being an Expat!
4. What Type Of People Are Best Suited For Becoming Expats?
One would be inclined to believe only brave and independent individuals can leave their homes to search for and find the best places to live in the world, but this is not so. Anyone who feels stagnant and unhappy where they are is the perfect candidate for being an Expat, they just have to have the desire to find happiness more than they desire feeling safe and secure in their bubble.
5. How Do I Choose The Best Places To Live In The World?
There are a few factors one can familiarize themselves with before deciding where to go. Some of these factors include the political and social environment, the economic environment, the socio-cultural environment, medical and health considerations, schools and education, public services and transportation, recreation, consumer goods, housing availability, and the natural environment's climate and safety. Our list below will help you figure a few of these things out.
How we Reviewed
Our team carefully researched the ten best places to live in the world and we would like to present them to you in a non-biased, best-of list that may help your decision on where to go or whether the Expat life is right for you! We hope this list makes traveling abroad seem more possible and less intimidating. We included a few cities from each country we think are worth visiting and a brief description of what makes each country unique and beautiful. We reviewed:
Country | Image | Population | Where to learn |
---|---|---|---|
SWITZERLAND | 8.4 million | ||
CANADA | 36.3 million | ||
GERMANY | 82.7 million | ||
UNITED KINGDOM | 65.6 million | ||
JAPAN | 127 million | ||
SWEDEN | 9.9 million | ||
AUSTRALIA | 24.1 million | ||
UNITED STATES | 323.1 million | ||
FRANCE | 66.9 million | ||
NETHERLANDS | 17 million |
Switzerland
Features
Considered the #1 best place to live because of its stellar education, democracy, and business factors, Switzerland is one of the best places to live in terms of life expectancy. The average lifespan of a citizen from Switzerland is 83 years. A few places worth visiting are Bern, Geneva, and Zurich. Bern is one of the safest cities in the world, Geneva is the global center for diplomacy, and Zurich is the country's economic and cultural hub. Switzerland is a small central European country of 16,000 square miles made up of glacier-carved Alps, lakes, and valleys.
PROS
CONS
Population |
---|
8.4 million |
Canada
Features
Considered best for the quality of life because of factors such as economic and political stability, quality public health, and impressive education systems, Canada takes about two-fifths of the North American continent. It is the second-largest country in the world with reputations of expansive wilderness and accepting immigrants with open arms. A few places worth visiting are Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. Vancouver is dense and ethnically diverse, Toronto is the financial capital and home of the iconic CN Tower, Ottawa is the most educated, and Montreal is the center of commerce, finance, and technology.
PROS
CONS
Population |
---|
36.3 million |
Germany
Features
Germany boasts the northern plains and the southern Bavarian Alps. Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Munich are all beautiful places to visit. Nuremberg is the historical epicenter, Stuttgart is the manufacturing hub, Hamburg is the media center, Berlin has a high-standard housing and excellent safety, Frankfurt is commerce-centric, Dusseldorf is the fashion industry, and Munich is Germany's powerhouse.
Population |
---|
82.7 million |
United Kingdom
Features
The UK is a highly developed nation that exerts impressive amounts of influences from its international, economic, political, scientific, and cultural reservoirs. Its beautiful land sits in the northwest corner of Europe and includes the lands of England, Scotland, and Wales.
PROS
CONS
Population |
---|
65.6 million |
Japan
Features
Japan boasts some of the most impressive railroad infrastructure on our planet. It is considered one of the most literate and technically advanced nations and its four main islands are covered by mountains and heavily wooded areas. Shibuya Crossing is considered by many to be the Japanese version of Times Square in New York and shows off just the tip of the iceberg of Japan's advancements in technology. It has dozens of LED billboards and neon signs.
PROS
CONS
Population |
---|
127 million |
Sweden
Features
Sweden is the place to go if you are considering being an Expat who would also like to start a family. The society there has a wonderful balance of work, safety, life, and environmental issues perfect for raising worldly intelligent children. They also have long parental-leave policies, free schooling, affordable childcare, and baby-friendly public spaces.
PROS
CONS
Population |
---|
9.9 million |
Australia
Features
The commonwealth occupies the Australian continent, and it has islands such as Tasmania within its jurisdiction. Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney are all wonderful places to visit. Adelaide is the main government and commercial center, Perth has a low unemployment rate of 4.3% and beautiful beaches, Melbourne is the coastal capital with thriving tourism and entertainment sectors, and Sydney takes up 7% of the world's economy.
Population |
---|
24.1 million |
United States
Features
This is the place to go if you are interested in national parks. Besides Yosemite, Yellow Stone, and the Grand Canyon, there are 56 other parks to admire. The US has one of the world's most powerful military and dominant economics and its cultural imprint spans the entire world.
PROS
CONS
Population |
---|
323.1 million |
France
Features
If you are a lover of wine, France is the place for you. It has many awards-winning regions under its jurisdiction such as Bordeaux and Burgundy famous for their wines. If you are a fan of bubbly, Champagne is only an hour away from Paris! France is one of the oldest countries in the world and its influences span from its science and politics to its economics and culture.
PROS
CONS
Population |
---|
66.9 million |
Netherlands
Features
Situated along the fringes of Western Europe, this coastal lowland takes pride in its many windmills characteristic of its development around the water. Amsterdam is a must-visit as it is the financial center of Europe with a high standard of living and modern and urban life mixed with a relaxed attitude towards recreation and leisure.
PROS
CONS
Population |
---|
17 million |
The Verdict
If you feel stagnant or like your life is going nowhere, there is a whole planet filled with opportunities you can explore! We have listed a few of the best places to live in the world but there are so many more possibilities and with the ease of travel and the myriad of information at our fingertips the timing is perfect for you to become an Expat and start the rest of your life with exploring! You will meet all kinds of amazing people, see new sights, try new foods, and most importantly you will find out more about yourself than you ever thought was possible.
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