SUPPOSEDLY the BEST EXPAT COUNTRIES 🤨

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Every year, InterNations.org conducts a survey to see what current expats think about their home away from home. The results are tabulated and ranked to determine the Best Countries for Expats, according to expats.
Most of the countries that made the top 10 expat country list for 2022 shouldn't be surprising, especially the number 1 country for expats, but a few might be considered controversial.
No countries from Central or South America made the list this year, which is very surprising. Let us know in the comments if you think a country is missing or one doesn't belong.
Links to the original datasets that we discussed in the video:
InterNations Expat Insider Survey: www.internatio...
Global Peace Index: www.visionofhu...
CEO World Quality of Life Index: ceoworld.biz/2...
CEO World Healthcare Index: ceoworld.biz/2...
Download a comparison matrix with the top 10 expat countries for 2022, plus the US, Canada and Ecuador by signing up for our free weekly expat newsletter: liveabroadnow....
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Leigh and Carlos
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DISCLAIMER: This video is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute consulting or advice including, but not limited to, visas, tax, medical, or financial advice. Please consult immigration attorneys, tax professionals, medical professionals and financial advisors for current information.
We are not responsible or liable for your use of the information contained in our videos, articles or linked from our web pages. We do our best to provide timely and accurate information. However, news, laws, guidelines, rules, regulations, etc. are often open to interpretation, change frequently, and sometimes we make mistakes. You must do your own research and consult professionals who familiar with your unique situation before making any travel or moving plans.
#ameliaandjp #ecuador #expats

[@AmeliaAndJP]

This is not our list. It’s from the InterNations Expat Survey as we mentioned in the very beginning of the video: www.internations.org/expat-insider/2022/best-and-worst-places-for-expats-40242

[@kennethkilpatrick3758]

One thing to keep in mind is InterNations isn't focused on retirees. There are a lot more people working overseas for corporations than are retired. InterNations focuses on all expats. So a professional considering an overseas transfer might have very different priorities than a retiree. Like schools, entertainment choices, etc.

[@Carolinapetroska]

Yes and lot of immigration visa requirements that are extremely difficult

[@seanobrien2306]

@@Carolinapetroska Hi Sophie..., Good points ! ! Interesting... Thank you for sharing your thoughts and comments... "Semper Fi" Mike in Montana :)

[@sgtm7]

Exactly. I have been an expat working overseas since 2007. Have worked in Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and currently in the UAE. I would not retire in any of them. For retirement, I will be in the Philippines, where I have been maintaining a home since 2011. Although it can be, great for work, is not necessarily the same as great for retirement.

[@eclecticx]

I became a US Expat almost nine years ago now. My choice of home was Spain (Malaga, to be exact). Becoming a part of Costa del Sol is something I've never regretted. Culture, food, people, high quality of life. Re English not being popular, that depends on the region. English is widely spoken in Andalucia, especially Costa del Sol. US doesn't come close in ANY way.

[@rh7163]

I hear the pickpockets are doing well in Malaga

[@eclecticx]

@@rh7163 Ooh, pickpockets. Scary stuff. LOL The problem is over-reported.

[@MrSbpool]

Using your own vocabulary you are an alien not expat.

[@eclecticx]

@@MrSbpool Last I checked, I wasn't from Mars. Alien is an offensive, impersonal word that I choose not to adopt. It is certainly not the word used here in Spain.

[@hobbitofalltrades]

I've been thinking about moving from the US to Spain. Any regrets?

[@rejeanguindon5012]

I am from Canada. For me, the biggest factors in my interest in relocating when I will be retiring in a few years is the harsh winters and the high cost of living

[@markoz673bajen8]

Like Vancouver. Peaceful place on North America!

[@paolo3349]

The other problem with Canada, particularly Vancouver and Victoria, is the high crime from unaddressed mental disability and drug addiction. Portugal is looking good right now.

[@chaleej5571]

@@markoz673bajen8 Vancouver is very beautiful in the summer. Not so much the rest of the year. Also very high cost of living.

[@maddscientist3170]

move to Greece

[@glennwiech5083]

Though I am curious about many foreign countries, I draw the line at authoritarian governments. There must be a democracy index somewhere to indicate how open a given country is. CEO magazine would definitely not care about such things because corporations are generally dictatorships, but I think the average person would.

[@glennwiech5083]

@@Eddie-ud4bb The devil I know ... No one is breaking into my home and arresting me if I disagree publicly with the president ... yet.

[@Graeberwave]

@@Eddie-ud4bb where were you when bush was president? Hell we could go back to 1776 if you really want to get serious. You gotta wake the f up

[@amywalker7515]

@@Eddie-ud4bb The US is racing towards being a 3rd world country. People should stop voting on fringe issues and take a look at the bigger picture.

[@amywalker7515]

Biden got rid of Schedule F a few weeks after he took office.

[@wazzurkp]

I agree, there's a reason why the United States has the highest number of immigrants in the world.

[@jalatlaco9827]

My understanding is that there are more archaeology sites in Mexico than any other country, something like 30,000. I have visited maybe 20 of them and would like to see many more. There is a lot of culture that gets missed if you only visit resort areas. And if you're going to live there, why shop at Costco and Walmart when you could be supporting a local family who owns a small shop?

[@puntabachata]

Waiting for Tren Maya to be completed to make a lot more of those sites accessible.

[@aaronmicalowe]

The best country is simply the one you're happy in. It's different for everyone. Very few things in life are actually objective.

[@frenchnavy1]

There’s actually over 2million expats in Mexico, I just saw it last week in CNN how they are going in waves from Canada and U.S. to live there. Not to mention that Mexico City is attracting many more for remote work. And because it’s a city with a tremendous size it has everything… has incredible night life, is super modern, is also very colonial. High end restaurants and skyscrapers and little food gems only locals know. I can’t wait to go back.

[@puntabachata]

Probably half or more are illegal aliens 😂😂😂

[@prettybrwneyez7757]

@@ianstuart5660 just like the US

[@fancypantshorse]

And Canada, especially after Covid.

[@mykealantaloczy3789]

I'm Canadian 🇨🇦. Quality of life is dropping sharply with the high cost of living, and unrealistic cost of housing. I'll likely never own a house if I stay. Assisted death is also a concern here now, and is becoming offered more and more often. Our Healthcare is awful. Sorry, but I wouldn't recommend coming here. It is beautiful though 👍

[@lailaatallah1857]

I love that way you two do these videos. Love your humor, too! Please keep these types of videos coming.

[@kevinreily2529]

Bangkok is one of the "safest" big cities I have ever been to/lived in. Safer than large cities in Europe, American and South America.

[@Brimfulofbeauty]

Agreed. Live here currently. It’s not as affordable as people say though. Some things are, some not so much. To live healthily here, it costs money.

[@makeyourlifeeasier5794]

Nice change of pace video guys. More of these would be appreciated. Great to see world wide rankings, etc.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Gracias!

[@erbiumfiber]

Yup, Taiwan for the win. Here for work, just a few more years to get permanent residency. Health care incredibly great and efficient deliver- can make appointment online in English at the hospital I go to (outpatient)- can get same-day or, at worst, within a week for a specialist. Great detailed physicals (all-day ones, check out EVERYTHING) you can do for several hundred dollars. Only downside is scooters (noisy, everywhere, sometimes on sidewalk) and learning Mandarin. In my 3rd year of learning and I am still pretty bad but reading and writing is getting pretty good (a couple thousand Chinese characters at this point as I had studied Japanese for 6 years). At 59, learning a totally new language is that much more difficult. Rent is reasonable but buying a condo/flat is crazy expenisive. But easy to do with 1.5 interest rate...

[@donaldkinsey5245]

I'm 55 and retired living abroad. I'm currently in Malaysia. I love SE Asia, but the logistics are a problem. I left Thailand after 2 months because the language barrier was annoying. Malaysia is better, but the logistics are still problematic. I was in Mexico earlier this year and culture and logistics are a lot like the U.S. I will give Ecuador a shot, but I think my bliss will be in Mexico.

[@plumleyfriends8697]

Have lived in Singapore for 20+ years, so I know a thing or two. Yes, you can get a mortgage as a foreigner, but you'll need to since the cheapest thing you'll be getting into will be US$1 million, plus a hefty downpayment and stamp tax before that mortgage gets written. And you're only good to 65 to hold a mortgage. Education is good, but it's impossible to get foreign kids into the local schools; international schools are about US$35-40,000 a year. Inflation is as bad as the States or Europe, and cars are the most expensive in the world and you'll only own them for 10 years before you need to either turn it in to the government, or buy another license to own it for another 10 years called a Certificate of Entitlement (now going for about US$60,000 just for the license for small cars, this doesn't include the price of the car which has been marked up 100% of the retail price). Don't live here unless you're making loads of dough here, or are super rich.

[@gemox3225]

I visited Singapore and had the same impression. My 75 US a night hotel in Singapore was poor quality, worse than my 25 US a night one in Bangkok. In Singapore it felt like I was constantly spending money without getting much in return.

[@seniorsperspective5967]

My son lives in Khaosiung, Taiwan. He has been there for 9 years. It is such a friendly and safe place to visit. We love it there. I agree with the air quality issue but the east coast is wild and beautiful.

[@1775SemperFi]

At 14:50 you had me going for a second. I said to myself wow, how did they pull that off? LOL.

[@rosymylene1878]

Spain's electricity prices are off the charts. Food prices have risen a lot. It is VERY expensive to cool your house in the summer and keep warm in the winter.

[@Rognick98]

My girlfriend came from Ecuador. We go to Ecuador yearly. My first time going there was a huge culture shock and the traffic in Quito is something else lol

[@patriciavandevelde5469]

And very corrupt

[@Mftjan2000]

Cuenca is pretty and less crazy.l

[@stanleysheppard8464]

Many of these ratings do not reflect the realities. Not sure how and why Canadian healthcare system was rated so high? For example, yes, healthcare in Canada is almost free to Canadians and legal residents, with one notable exception - until one reaches retirement age, he/she needs to pay for the drugs. But, as Canadian living in US I checked recently how long it takes there to get a procedure such as MRI - average wait time in the province of Ontario is 4 months! Just across the border in Buffalo, NY I was able to get an MRI done the next day(!) for a modest fee of $ 450. And this applies to basically all medical procedures outside of GP competency. Appointments to see a specialist take months to setup and you won't be allowed to see a specialist unless your family doctor refers you there. What Canada is now famous for is MAID program - that stands for Medical Assistance in Dying, that is offered to many impaired or disabled people or those suffering from chronic disease, including veterans. Canadian government was arresting people's bank accounts for taking part or financially supporting truckers' Freedom Convoy last year. They were revoking business licences and forcing to cancel their insurance policies of people whose livelihood depended on their business. Justin Trudeau, Canadian PM, got so offended by the legal protests in the capital of Canada - he invoked war measures (emergency) act! Inflation in Canada, especially when it comes to real estate is through the roof. Since we bought our house back in 2001 housing prices went up 5 - 6 times. Young family simply can't afford to buy a home in Toronto area anymore. I'm not sure what expats and why have put Canada so high up in rating. Australia, nicknamed after pandemic Ausjailia, is also a tyrannical state they way they handled pandemic and related dissent, but that's another story...

[@wmk6325]

Keep in mind that Taiwan and Vietnam don't have retirement visas and Indonesia's requires you to hire a full time Indonesian. Australia and Canada don't really want anyone over 50. Internations is geared towards expats who are working.

[@markwalker3499]

Australia also is a nanny state that does not want people who smoke, at about $50 per pack for Marlboros made in Korea (like smoking rope) do not go there even as a tourist if you are a smoker. This is a great big part of why 1% of the Australian population lives in the US.

[@smileywomen1]

We came to Cuenca Ecuador last sat. It's a Amazing country , the food is to die for. We love Cuenca because of the historic area .

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Cuenca is amazing!

[@jd3422]

I agree. I have visited Cuenca and enjoyed it. Yes to the food; I especially remember a wonderful vegetarian restaurant, where the food was tasty and inexpensive.

[@smileywomen1]

Does anyone know how to find a vet in Cuenca to have my dogs nails trimmed as well as his Anal gland cleaned ? Perfect English speaking also about how much is there charge ?

[@hunchbackaudio]

No Northern European country on the list surprises me. They rank on the very top on every list, financial, happiness, education, safety, stability of government, rich, quality of live, you name it. And as a bonus for me personally, less hot weather, I absolutely hate the heat 😅

[@Murmilone]

Prices are high and a lot of immigrants from Africa makes these countries lesss safe. Nice views though.

[@k.j.hulander2204]

@@Murmilone nonsense. Sweden, which has the highest immigration rate in Northern Europe is still significantly safer than he vast majority of countries, including the USA.

[@lf1496]

@@Murmilone The immigrants from Africa are the ONLY ones that can still have babies. Northern Europe is old, cold and depressing. Immigrants from Africa are all over Latin America and they are not the problem. Immigrants from Africa are not on drugs. MOST of the people dirty and STEALING on Fentanyl are NOT African. Immigrants from Africa are in Spain and Portugal. They are honorable hardworking people with an honour culture unlike Northern Europeans who plundered their countries 🙄

[@vaska1999]

They have a dismal climate and are horrendously expensive compared to the US, Canada, and the rest of Europe (excepting Switzerland, which is also absurdly expensive to live in).

[@hunchbackaudio]

@@vaska1999 Of course, if you're into droughts, heat waves, wildfires, tornadoes and whirlwinds, this isn't your climate. And then we don't even have earthquakes and tsunamis. What a setback. And indeed, good infrastructure, public transport, universal healthcare, a social safety net and the best education in the world does not come cheap. Better stay where you're are then.

[@gayjohnson9631]

So fascinating to see the USA ranked so poorly on safety when all Americans talk about is how dangerous every other country is. Thanks for sharing this info.

[@chaleej5571]

America is big. Stay away from the big cities (like Chicago, St Louis, Portland and Detroit) and the safety and quality of life measures skyrocket.

[@RustyandBindi]

@@chaleej5571 Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, and Portland all have low-crime areas and high-crime areas. Every city on the planet has a high crime area. The North Side of Chicago on Lake Michigan is gorgeous and safe! Don't hang out with criminals and you should be safe in most areas.

[@clarkpalace]

Theusa is full of random violence. Many other countries have more “deserving” type violence

[@clarkpalace]

Imagining other countries dangerous when you are American is foolish. Obviously some of the nicer parts of a city or huge swaths of rural America are ok but ok in America is still America. You have to have spidey, street, sense a little too often.

[@MsWarriordiva]

US has a prevalence of guns that many countries don't & it contributes to violence. I'm ashamed of the crime in the US & refusal of government regulation.

[@larrypicard8802]

The reason the US doesn’t have a decent passenger rail service is because big oil squashed the trains in the 50s.They wanted people to use the interstates and basically threw all the money towards that goal and they succeeded. This may sound like a conspiracy theory but it’s true.

[@joemarine2]

That and a plane flight is faster and cheaper than a train.

[@randominsights1012]

Big oil AND the rubber companies (drive more = buy more tires!)

[@oldrrocr]

on the other hand, the USA is a vast country and trains are really ideal for high concentration centers and moving freight.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

I saw that documentary about how the oil, car and tire companies bought all the trolly lines around the country and ripped up the rails. That effectively killed our public transportation future and forced everyone into private cars, which led to massive taxpayer funded infrastructure spending to build massive road systems that are now falling apart due to lack of funding.

[@LauraB.335]

@@TimeToTravel-u2x - if we had an attitude of let’s create a train system that allows for the states to all be connected, without interference from oil and rubber companies, it could have been a great thing. Even those small communities may have been included. I don’t know. But even those in smaller communities usually live close enough to bigger cities or towns that could support a train system. I don’t understand your negative attitude about their comment about the documentary.

[@alanaldpal950]

These global “safety” indexes are pointless and irrelevant, unless you have no choice on where you live in any given country. There are completely safe and also dangerous places to live in every country.

[@RaeInTime]

Great video! Thanks for including U.S. and Canada for comparison👍👍

[@lilianavazquezfalconier7868]

Hi Amelia & JP, I follow you on your videos, you are great and the info you provide is very useful. I am 60 and provably I will live abroad, so I am planning to visit Cotacachi next year and if we like it , live there as retired. Thank you, Lila from Ontario, Canada 😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@jackietrueblood5916]

I was not only surprised that Ecuador did not make the list, but I was also surprised that Panama didn't make the list. What's up with that?

[@amywalker7515]

Seems like the ranking changes every year.

[@mzm4574]

Heading to Panama in May 💓

[@TheEvie202]

The thing about USA is so diverse. Not fair, but not all healthcare is the same. I have superb doctors and healthcare in New York but not the same in Georgia. These figures are averages and need to be taken with a grain of salt. For me, being around family is more important than crime statistics or healthcare and I am comfortable financially so, I love New York!

[@8675-__]

Perth is most definitely the finest city in Australia. It has weather like the Los Angeles area but no smog, no huge crowds, unpolluted water, and friendly folks! Awesome place to live with top quality health care too!

[@freyagrayden5665]

And the most isolated capital city in the world……….. personally I feel like it’s living in a bubble

[@johncitizen9996]

​@@freyagrayden5665 A State of super bogans. Nothing compares to Melbourne. Multicultural and a beautiful city. I live in Thailand. unreal country. should be #1 followed by Vietnam at #2.

[@azerko]

Do you guys feel Australia has showed poorly during the lockdowns? I heard horrible news from Victoria...

[@johncitizen9996]

@@azerko yep. Sent many people and their businesses broke. Australia nowadays is a Nanny State. Government wants control over everything.

[@VanillaGorillaUncaged]

One of the most restricted areas on earth in the pandemic. No thanks.

[@bliss6495]

Southeast Asia region has some recommended countries to live : Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, The Phillipines and Vietnam. In fact, they are in the same umbrella of ASEAN. (Association of Southeast Asian Natons). If you stay in one of those countries, you'll be easily traveling to the other countries above.

[@ahmadin5681]

Confirmed ✅

[@Dobuan75]

Aussie here. Been to all but The Phillipines. Lived in Indonesia. Can confirm 💯

[@formica.]

Don't forget Thailand, a couple can live under $2000/month. Singapore expensive like North Europe.

[@jhors7777]

Well researched and presented, thank-you:)

[@janajoujan7658]

As a Canadian I'm wondering why Canada got such a high ranking on health care. It is falling a part - not enough doctors, up to a year to wait for life saving surgery, up to 18 hours in emergency wards. I myself went to Mexico and paid for surgery that I would have had to wait over a year for in Canada.

[@johnway9853]

Only 18 hours? We had a recent news item of someone being kept in an ambulance for 41 hours here in NB. On top of that, there was a man who died in the waiting room after hours of not being seen. Much worse than that, but no worries and Daddy Higgs has a $700M surplus, so that's what really matters.

[@jeffs4483]

Still way better than the USA.

[@johnway9853]

@@jeffs4483 For Americans without good employer insurance, you are likely correct for most situations Jeff. My brother lived in FL with good coverage and when he needed an MRI they asked him if Wednesday was a good day, he answered most Wednesdays are good, and they said "Oh, you must be Canadian. We mean this Wed." Up here, it would be months to wait, but it would be free. There have just now been some companies that have successfully fought to offer private pay MRI services available outside the system. It still remains true that in our Province it is illegal to pay for blood tests if you want them. We have a trip to the USA planned to get some simple blood tests run that getting here are near impossible. The confusion Canadians have is that because our neighbours have a very expensive and thus inaccessible to many system next to us, we are all told to feel great about ourselves for having our mostly inaccessible but free system because we are told there is no decent, accessible and reasonably priced systems anywhere else. Videos from people like JP show us how untrue that lie is, and how it's a false choice to say that it's A or B, when there's a whole alphabet of systems worldwide, and many of them work way better than either USA or Canada.

[@johnway9853]

@@Kelsey-Mac I guess you haven't watched many of the videos. The presenters here are Amelia and JP

[@jeanpaulfelix4095]

Do you know why it takes a year to get surgery? because there is a good chance you will die. Not kidding. Canadas health care system is terrible. As an example I got a cancer malinoma check and removal in 1 day in Ukraine for $40 dollars. I am serious.

[@martypoll]

My main problem with tiny homes is that they too often are designed with bedrooms in a loft only accessible by a ladder. For older people that just isn’t safe and for everyone not convenient. Who wants to deal with that when you have to get up in the middle of the night?

[@pinkiepinkster8395]

Mine doesn't have a loft.

[@amywalker7515]

They could design them with Murphy beds or convertible spaces. I"d be scared to death of falling off the ledge or down those stairs which often look more like ladders than stairs.

[@sassy0010]

@@amywalker7515 I'd also be somewhat scared of hurricanes, etc.

[@markwalker3499]

My problem with a tiny home is I am not a tiny person, at 6 feet and 155 pounds. I also do not want to have to throw away sentimental items just because I have no place to keep them. But the world keeps adding to an already overpopulated planet and shrinking that slice of pie you thought was yours all your life, only to find it getting smaller by the day. As a disabled vet I know where this is headed, a shipping container shared with roommates!

[@AccurateLedgers]

@@markwalker3499 it’s crazy how people just keep reproducing like they are abundantly wealthy on a sparsely populated planet. 😢

[@marcvivori1561]

I’m not sure how the Philippines didn’t make the list unless it’s bc it’s heaven on earth for single men and there aren’t too many expat Couples here. The Philippines is beautiful with amazing beaches and beautiful mountains. Yes Manila is overcrowded so don’t stay there. With 7k islands to choose from there are many good choices. A nice house can be rented from $350 to $600 and healthcare is very good. While you can survive on $1k a month you can live like a King for $2,500 and up. It’s actually difficult to spend $2k a month here.

[@Brimfulofbeauty]

Where would you suggest Marc for a couple to stay? We like the outdoors, hiking, beaches etc. Not so interested in nightlife.

[@marcvivori1561]

@@Brimfulofbeauty Dumaguete and a bit north to Valencia but Dumaguete is a very nice place to be.

[@jeffs4483]

Philippines, Cambodia, New Zealand, Chile, Panama, Uruguay, Belize, Hong Kong, I think should have also been added.

[@jeffs4483]

@@Anonymint-vj7bt I already know what that's like. I live in the USA.

[@amywalker7515]

We're going to check out Argentina in a couple of weeks. Their economics are crazy but the exchange rate is so good, it makes expat life pretty cheap. I hear the people are really friendly. The food is to die for and there are just about as many climates as one could ever want. There are bad neighborhoods and pickpockets, but then there are those same things in nearly every country. Hopefully the cost of getting down there will be worth it. Even if we hate it, it will be an adventure.

[@vgshwk]

New Zealand too expensive and hard to get a retirement visa. Hong Kong controlled by the tyrannical ccp no thanks.

[@formica.]

Hong Kong is Peking south now, and Pooh is channeling Mao. Native English teacher expats have been fleeing.

[@homelessjesse9453]

I have my sights set on Uruguay. Just need to learn more spanish..........

[@peggygraham6129]

Moved to Ireland and think it deserves a place on your list. Ranks high in all the rankings you feature.Enlish speaking with a great culture.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

This wasn’t our list. Link to the original source is in the description.

[@malcomyoung7637]

Paying first world prices for health care in exchange for a third world service. One of the most expensive countries in Europe and of course like many others, under WEF control. As a wise man once said "give me back the auld roads" As you were, Peggy

[@alanserjeant4947]

and Guinness !!

[@azerko]

Weather is not top notch right? 🌬️

[@williamshaw8106]

Nope..still in the EU, and on the Euro!! 😮😮

[@ShouldWeLiveHere]

Thanks for the informative video. We have added a lot of these places to our bucket list of countries to visit!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jorgecabrera1668]

Sorry for my bad English (even), sometimes I use Google Translate..., lately waves of retired people of economically active age have been coming to some central neighborhoods of CDMX, most of them come from the USA and Canada, they arrived with the pandemic and many stayed, life here is much cheaper for them and it seems that they adapt easily to the lifestyle and culture, the language is not really a barrier, many people speak it in those colonies, the bad thing is that with them gentrification has arrived and for the locals who live in these areas it is not very pleasant, en fin, it benefits some and others not so much, welcome.

[@tonimilstead5089]

Australia was very authoritarian during COVID. Saw some videos. The police state was frightening!

[@naynay3174]

I was thinking the same thing! They turned on their citizens! It was so upsetting to watch.

[@jeffs4483]

I think Australia is a great country, however it's too expensive and authoritarian.

[@naynay3174]

@@jeffs4483 you’ve been there? It was on my bucket list.

[@MrJx4000]

Well Australia is now a province of the CCP, isn't it?

[@lauralynch1944]

It was downright totalitarian! Really crazy! I’ll never visit there!

[@soyroberto2527]

I've been living in Australia since 2011, the goods: peaceful, quiet, excellent quality+life balance, the inconvenient: very expensive, repeat: very expensive, very far from almost anywhere (from México where I'm from), more goods: healthcare is good, people are friendly in general. At this stage, it's hard to think I'd move anyplace else.

[@julielily6517]

Australia says no to those over 40 unless you have 1/2 M in your pocket.

[@2008israelramos]

Canada is expensive too. I do love its natural beauty, but the winters are too much for me.

[@chancerobinson5112]

Well, I’m kind of glad Ecuador isn’t too visible on the radar.

[@johnway9853]

The Canadian rankings are humorous to a Canadian. Great health care, try universal healthcare, as in, universally crappy health care. One of the main reasons for us to look overseas is for better healthcare. It's illegal in our province to pay for blood tests that you want if your doctor says the government doesn't pay for "that test". In our province, nearly 10% of the population are on a waiting list for "family doctor". UNIVERSALLY crap health care, which we actually pay very high taxes to provide (if you can get it), so it isn't even "free", it's just sold to the world that way. End of Rant. Love you two, please keep up the amazing work, hope to meet you some time when we get to travelling. Cheers.

[@janajoujan7658]

Everything you said is true especially the "free" notion!

[@jeanpaulfelix4095]

Everything you say is true. In fact its worse than this.

[@force10jc]

Being able to speak the native language is one of the top 3 things (on a list of at least 20 things) I would consider before moving to another country. I can't imagine I would even be getting all of the benefits that a country has to offer without knowing its language.

[@vikotto]

You’ll always feel like a fish out of water.

[@paullewis2413]

Totally agree. I’ve lived in 2 countries where English is not widely spoken and it makes life somewhat strange and you never feel you actually belong. . Sure you can try and learn the native tongue but at the age of these two people it can be quite difficult and you’ll probably never be fluent.

[@matekochkoch]

learning the language at least the basics is a must in any country. If you expect a 365 day/year holiday better don't move. You will be confronted with bureaucracy, craftsmen, banks ... You pay your lack of language skills.

[@formica.]

The adventurous can live anywhere. You can find educated people in every country who speak some English. Those who speak English are often the most interesting because they are worldly. Also, it is ok to have expat friends.

[@stanspb763]

@@formica. I speak English, a tiny amount of Spanish, Italian, very basic Russian, and have spent a lot of time outside the US only returning every 4-5 years for 2 weeks, and have no problem in the 92 countries. I do not go to tourist areas, prefer normal neighborhoods renting apartments or houses, and seldom stay in hotels. One thing is certain, speaking English attracts a lot of people who what to practice since most English speakers in the world have never been to England, the US, Australia or Canada. Far more Chinese speak English than Americans, about 100 million more. I have lived in Russia 22 years without fluency(it gets harder to learn with age and I am 73) and even started and run multiple businesses in Russia, the biggest one with 68 employees was started with less than $100 in start-up costs, and still do not speak much. But it is a much better educated and cultured society so almost everyone has studied other languages. It is the international travel and business language so when an Iranian meets a Chinese traveler they communicate easily with travel English. Everyone in 2nd grade here learns English and later at 10 or so, elective languages are added. Italian and Spanish are popular. I have a better life than is even possible in the US and with a very low cost of living, far more access to culture, free time, socializing, meeting strangers daily, and never conflict. The internet has only increased the use of English worldwide. I know ex-pats here, there are many, but by far most of my interaction is with locals.

[@jdtravels5140]

I’m moving to the Philippines in 2023. So many positives. English is widely spoken, beautiful women, beautiful islands, great scuba diving, super low cost of living, and just a great central location for travel to other countries.

[@georgenestler2534]

@@mikec5054 Burned?

[@debbiejean4731]

Very informative, it's great you guys do the research. Thank you

[@weeooh1]

Thailand is more than Bangkok, which has become more expensive in recent years (esp accommodation). Chiang Mai is the place to live. Cheaper, healthier, lush countryside, cooler weather, etc.

[@jsmith1746]

Not surprised to see the United States rank so low, especially in safety/peace. I laugh when I hear about U.S. State Department travel and safety advisories for other countries, or when folks from back home in the States talk about how dangerous other countries are. The U.S. has done a wonderful job at pulling the wool over the eyes of its citizens with regards to where it stands when compared with the rest of the world. After living away from the United States for over a decade now, and having spent a lot of time in Europe, Asia, and South America, I don't even view the United States as a highly developed country any more.

[@RichD2024]

You're so right about the US feeling undeveloped. After spending time in Europe, it's shocking how technologically behind we are in the US.

[@whacked00]

The various rating systems have set weights for the criteria they evaluate that that don't really reflect my priorities. Has anyone developed a tool to allow users to rate their preferences and thus adjust the rankings?

[@AmeliaAndJP]

That’s a great idea!

[@formica.]

You really need to visit countries to compare. Your ratings (and your compromises) are different from everyone else's. A place has to "feel" right, just like a mate. We like to watch videos like this, but the shots in this video, were only most picturesque places, right?!

[@stevemlejnek7073]

We have been researching Panama, and will be spending February exploring the country.

[@hasridiniyogaswara7205]

Indonesia its really a shock ..we never think our country on your list...we not as popular as others in the eye of expats. But thank you and made us proud.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

😊👍

[@formica.]

If only more Indo islands were like Bali, with Hindu vs Muslim customs.

[@billjoyce]

We have friends who lived in Taiwan for 8 years and loved it. We visited with them for 3 weeks and agreed it was a good country to live in. They are back in the USA due to aging parents and to be close to grandkids, but they have kept their Taiwan residency cards.

[@paullewis2413]

I’ve a feeling they’ll never go back to live permanently. You simply don’t fit in with the culture.

[@billjoyce]

@@paullewis2413 Many move to other countries with different cultures, including people who move to the USA and Canada, and stay..

[@justincase4925]

War is coming to Taiwan get out before it happens

[@treg9492]

You mean Taiwan province or Special Administrative Region.

[@txr8565]

Taiwan and China are two different countries. Period.

[@fernlevin4883]

Thank you for this list Amelia & JP!!

[@rayalnaturel7394]

There are lots of factors that give you stress in the US and Canada, therefore the quality of life is not that great, laid back countries may be a lot happier, thus improving their quality of life, plus the quality of food is important too!

[@MelodyMaker]

Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto all made the top ten list amongst most "liveable cities" as researched by the "Economic Intelligence Unit". However; housing is becoming a problem for lower income Canadians. The immigration policy is outpacing the rate at which new housing is being developed. Homelessness is real in Canada and the socialized medicine has long waiting lists for procedures such as hip and knee replacement. Relatively, we are doing better than most but questions are emerging particularly in primary and secondary education.

[@midlifecrisis7888]

Australia? Singapore? Canada? unless you are a high net worth individual (I say at last > 10 mil) forget it.

[@sexygeek8996]

If you are high-net-worth then you'll be paying a lot of taxes to live in Australia or Canada. You can get a better deal in many other countries.

[@Carolinapetroska]

No canada won't even take high net worth individuals. They only take young brown people from india because they are cheap to pay and ukrainians because freeland has some ukranian blood; evetybody else is not welcome. Lately they are banning all foreigners from buying real estate in the entire country. We call that 'pure xenophobia'. In the Usa it's basically impossible to immigrate unless you marry an american. Good luck !

[@Carolinapetroska]

@@sexygeek8996 yes and canada sucks basically. There is no quality of life and cold most of the year.

[@buda3d2007]

@@sexygeek8996 exactly, if you have any financial know how and want to run your own business, these countries are not great on taxes, they double dip on everything tax related.

[@aladams8489]

Expat ranking should include tyrannical government during Covid. Ie., Canada and Australia treated citizens horrible. I'm interested in which of these counties listed are most free from government tyranny.

[@jhonaker76]

Same, I always wanted to travel to Australia one day, but no more. I am still appalled what they did there.

[@D_Marrenalv]

Ecuador was stricter than the United States.

[@frayedknot21]

Another reason the UAE should be removed from this list....

[@jm-bv1wh]

Fewer of their citizens died too. Protecting people is not government tyranny. I think you'd be happiest in someplace like Alabama or Mississippi.

[@DanielLuechtefeld]

The very sick are the least free. There is no meaningful individual freedom without individual health. There is no individual health without public health. The radical individualism of the antivaxxers is unique to North America. If that is your empty vision of freedom you should move to Florida or Texas; by that measure they are the freest societies in the world.

[@paulbucklebuckle4921]

When I was growing up in England we were saturated with American TV especially cop shows ,, ,I thought that the minute you stepped of the plane the shooting started , I was fascinated and terrified by America both at the same time ..

[@rh7163]

If I wanted to move to Thailand there are 3 things I would seriously consider in order to live, stay and be self sufficient. FIrst, consider marrying a Thai as any property you buy has to be 51 percent Thai owned unless you buy an apartment or condo. Next, have enough cash to buy an apartment and start a business and a Thai partner would be a great asset in your business as understanding business, the language and what not to do is almost mandatory. Don't leave yourself without an exit plan and that includes assets and money that can't be accessed, taken, seized or used by anyone. Trust is great but that doesn't mean you have to be foolish as people will do the unexpected and often its too late by the time you realize it. Good luck.

[@MikeHalk100]

People have the memory of a concussed goldfish, failing to recall how draconian Australia's and New Zealand's COVID lock-downs were.

[@buda3d2007]

this was a big turn off, unelected officials with close ties to big pharma calling the shots, not a good look.

[@andiman45]

Canada has a #12 global peace, #22 Quality of life, #4 Healthcare....why would I ever want to leave?? Oh yeah...winters

[@jeffs4483]

Global Warming will help change that.

[@DarcieGlam]

Just go to Victoria, BC. Gorgeous city. mild winters and that's where all the other old people go before they die. It's the Boca Raton of Canada lol.

[@andiman45]

@@DarcieGlam nice try...Ive seen the homeless people in Beacon Hill Park

[@paolo3349]

@@DarcieGlam Victoria has become a cesspool of crime from mental disability and drug addiction. The reasonable climate and generous social services has attracted every vagrant who can get here. Despite that housing is very expensive. If you insist on staying in Canada look at one of the smaller towns on Vancouver Island with no services for vagrants. Seriously check the news for Victoria and Vancouver.

[@jeanpaulfelix4095]

Because its a totalitarian shithole ruled by an ego maniac who wont let citizens leave unless they get injected with unknown chemicals.

[@carlenefowlkes4265]

Mexico!!!!! I moved to Mexico City from the U.S. last year and honestly (for me personally) there is no comparison. I disagree wholeheartedly on the U.S. rankings, but maybe I'm missing something..

[@louis20122]

Any country that is safe, warm and affordable is good for me

[@vanessaprovost1112]

Great video guys ❤❤

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jgonz260]

You have to take this list with a grain of salt. The best place for anybody is probably where you feel most comfortable, considering the cost of living, the culture, healthcare, and safety. Bullet trains, tall buildings, and wide highways may not much matter if you are bored, and don't feel comfortable, especially if the cost of living is high. Local culture and cost of living are important, and also distance to home,

[@TheRockMorton]

Both of you together remind me of the Ecuadorian Queen, starring Amelia as Hepburn and JP as Bogart.

[@bela-sofia34]

I really can't wait to get to Ecuador 🥰

[@tonyortiz1890]

Me too😊

[@dogumentarytv6413]

I am surprised no mentions Albania 1 yr free visa for Americans and residency is easy and the cost of living is about the same as manila and the cuisine is Italian and Greek Mediterranean style

[@faisal-ca]

From Canada here. Not sure how Canada got such a great score. Health care is a disaster. Sky rocketing housing is a huge problem for new comers and younger people. Inflation is another problem. Canadians pay more price for the same items compared to US. Winter is not the only reason why Canadians look for other destinations.

[@k_and_m8745]

I think Health Care in Canada got slammed with COVID and backed up important surgeries and other medical treatments and the hospitals are still dealing with COVID outbreaks but overall when you think about Canadian Health Care most procedures are covered and no one is refused. But I agree that Canada needs to put more money in the Health Care system overall especially since many nurses and doctors were drawn to the USA during the pandemic for a nice fat paycheck.

[@faisal-ca]

@@k_and_m8745 Those who live in Canada know health care was struggling before COVID. It's not about money, it's about being creative. Lack of leadership leads to ballooning budgets nobody can pay for.

[@nflegal49]

I know many folks in the US who won't even go to the doctor because they can't afford health insurance & are afraid of the medical costs if they seek treatment. Must meet federal poverty guidelines to get free medical care.

[@faisal-ca]

@@nflegal49 General practitioners (GP Doctors) don't do much and are billing Govt for every appointment. Specialists have multi year wait time. Some scanning appointments also have 6-12 months of wait time. I guess its hard to judge which one is better. Situation you described or this one. I guess people who can afford insurance can get treatment right away.

[@nflegal49]

@@faisal-ca Need to judge the pros & cons of each system. Not easy. For people who have serious health issues in the US, medical bills are a huge part of their budgets. Medical bills cause 50% of bankruptcies filed in the US. On the other hand, I know many who've had most of their medical bills covered by their health insurance policies. But, health insurance used to be a lot more affordable. Now, it's a huge line item in thier budgets & must be taken into consideration in how they allocate their finances.

[@hipsterkennyrogers909]

The problem with the Global Peace Index is that it combines internal and external peace/safety. While both are important, I would rather see separate numbers. The US will always be low-ranked because we seriously meddle everywhere.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

True, but most of the weight is on personal safety and security. The crime stats show a similar picture.

[@leapintothewild]

Heck, I'll bet the internal crime stats are way worse than external. We freaking NEED to be meddling here within our own country! The US is the definitiion of pot calling the kettle black all.day.long.

[@michaelondic5884]

The Global Peace Index is a measure of 3 items: societal safety, extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and degree of militarization. So the US ranking is pulled way down by the size of its military and by the amount of foreign conflicts it is involved in. And so it's not really a great proxy for crime and safety when comparing to other countries.

[@supramentalmanifestation]

Thanks for the video, you 2. First time viewer of your channel. I loved it. Saludos desde Panamá!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Great! Welcome to the channel! 🥳

[@gemox3225]

Singapore is very very expensive. I wasn't impressed by what I got there for the 75 US for a hotel room. I wasn't impressed by the culture there either- not much history. I'm currently in Thailand. It is very affordable, and it definitely has good Healthcare.

[@joemarine2]

Hey hey hey, that was a great joke. Second he said it I started laughing.

[@johnkiggins4214]

Australia is crazy expensive

[@bmyra]

And fascist.

[@buda3d2007]

@@bmyra certain big American industries tell Australia to "jump" and they reply "how high?"

[@Miker1776]

Spent my entire adult life in the USA, I've been in Thailand for over a year, and I've visited many of the countries on this list. The "Peace Index" is not accurate at all. Thailand is very safe, safe enough that young, attractive women could go about anywhere, anytime, with no issues. Also, for the USA to have that high of a healthcare score, cost of healthcare and availability of healthcare to the uninsured could not have been used in the stats.

[@Djhahn13]

You have to be careful about these stats. How are the questions asked, how are they worded? I grantee you there are a LOT of Australians & Canadians not happy with their country right now. The lower cost of living definitely makes a big impact, but what makes a bigger impact is the Culture of some of these countries, they are more focused on traditional values aka what's important, family, love, life, etc. Every single Western country, for the most part, have gotten away from that Culture.

[@ZoubidaPA]

Not just the cold for Canada. The cost of life is really high here. We're leaving Canada in 6 years to spend our retirement in Morocco, where cost of life will be a 4th of what we spend here. Our retirement income will bring us a lot farther there than it would here.

[@nvn__]

Fantastic job as usual 🎉

[@jennyk488]

On another programme it stated that Canada Mexico and the United Kingdom were the countries with the most expat Americans.

[@JohnSmith-SdTkt]

That Train Maya they are building in the Yucatán JP that’s gonna be a big big tourist attraction

[@whiskersredwood]

Great presentation. Thanks.

[@mowana1232]

Honestly, I wouldn't give too much credence to these lists. In every country, there are advantages and disadvantages and whether you should move there as an expat depends on where you are coming from and what requirements you have personally. The richer the country you are coming from, the easier it gets, because when push comes to shove you can return to your home country in a jiffy. As someone who lived abroad for twenty years, I would look into the political system, level of corruption, health care, and public infrastructure. Not everything that looks shiny and easy going on a glossy picture or even on holiday, really is.

[@ffllicense]

I can't believe New Zealand is not on your list. It scores better all round than any of the other countries.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

This isn’t our list. And we also disagree with several of them.

[@formica.]

Google says: "You can stay for up to 2 years on a Visitor Visa if you are over 66 years old and have NZD $750,000 to invest in New Zealand. You also need an additional NZD $500,000 to live on and an annual income of NZD $60,000 or more." Okayyyyy.

[@Mlybirdfarm]

Hello amalia ..thank you for sharing place .this is amazing very good .thank you for information I hope stay connected and each watching

[@martypoll]

I am an American retiree in Thailand. I’ve lived in Bangkok for over 5 years. I can see why the safety index is what it is but from an expat perspective it is really very safe here. Certainly safer than where I was from ( San Francisco Bay Area) in the US. You can live in Bangkok without a car easily. It is a modern international city. It has fascinating culture festivals all year round. It is very affordable overall. The health care is excellent, affordable, and very accessible. Yes, there is spicy food but you can easily avoid it if necessary. I love spicy food and note that thai chilies are MUCH hotter than jalapeños 🌶. They do drive on the left side of the road 🚗. The weather is hot and very hot. Bangkok has big city issues like any big city. They do speak a foreign language here. It is far from the US (about 20 hrs of travel). I love living here and have no intention of moving back to the States.

[@MrJx4000]

Not to put it down but with all the cars in Bangkok, is the air quality pretty bad?

[@martypoll]

@@MrJx4000 It is no different than any big city in America. The low air quality is seasonal between December-March due mostly to agricultural burning in Thailand and neighboring countries. It is often less than wildfires in California. Otherwise it has big city air, traffic and noise but also all the benefits of big city too. Thailand of course has smaller cities and towns and I am writing this from the countryside.

[@michaelsix9684]

my brother married a girl from Thailand, retired Navy chief, they been in Orlando, FL for past 20 yrs. raised 2 children, she became a nurse here, he married after 40 --first marriage for both, happy for you and him

[@kennethkilpatrick3758]

They don't speak a foreign language there. You do. :)

[@livinginlatam]

Did you learn Thai? How is it if you only speak English?

[@patnewman1]

You can also see Komodo Dragons in Bangkok Thailand, they are running all over the place in Lumpini Park right next to the US Embassy. Nice change of pace guys.

[@aldy_Daily]

That's not komodo dragon, it's indigenous to komodo island, you're confused with other type of giant lizard

[@patnewman1]

@@aldy_Daily My mistake. Thank you for correcting me.

[@JohnTaylor-bf6ll]

Once again, as I've already explained on your other video, it all depends on your personal circumstances.

[@jdsantibanez]

You didn't mention you should speak Portuguese in Portugal (it's obvious, but...)

[@imanoldurham5395]

There is this thing called: "English proficiency index" in that survey, Portugal is above Germany and Sweden. It means that more than 80% of the Portuguese population speaks English well, so, No, you don't need to speak Portuguese in Portugal. Besides, Portuguese people understand Spanish and quite a lot of Italian.

[@jdsantibanez]

@@imanoldurham5395 If you say so.

[@imanoldurham5395]

@@jdsantibanez It's not me, it's that study, you can Google it, honestly, it's hard to believe, Portugal is above countries like Luxembourg and Finland, but in the methodology they say that they are based on the test result in 2 million adults all over the world. 2 millions! I mean that's data.

[@goldvideo]

I am a Portuguese resident originally from the US. I have spent time in Spain as well. Believe me - if you are residing in Portugal you definitely need to learn Portuguese. I have a bank account at the second largest bank in PT and only about 10% of their phone staff speaks English. This despite assurances that English is widely spoken. From my experience the Portuguese are not great at English and certainly not that much better than Spaniards - and I can tell you that while I LOVE Spaniards, their level of English is usually very low if nonexistent.

[@lucchese20]

@@imanoldurham5395 I agree English, even a little, is understood particularly in areas that are well visited by tourists. In terms of Italian, while there is a significant number of Italians that have emigrated to PT-I found almost no one that spoke in Italian when I tried to converse in that language. 😢 Cheers.

[@reginapolo3357]

Two of my friends from US came to Panama 3. Onths ago , and they could not stopped saying how calm and safe they felt. So based on that. I can believe the US Stats

[@rafalwyszkowski70]

I am surprised Malaysia is not on the list. It’s safe, clean, inexpensive, English speaking country with excellent weather. Singapore is way too expensive for retirement.

[@aldy_Daily]

Indonesia developed faster for the last 10 years interm of public transportation compare to all countries on the list & in the world, in 2019 Indonesia just finished the longest BRT system in the world that cost only ¢15/ride, in 2019 finished the 1st phase of MRT project, now started the 2nd phase, end of 2022 LRT project will be completed running for central Jakarta to Bogor city. End of 2022 the first Fast train in South East Asia will be completed running from Jakarta to Bandung city in west Java, normally it takes 3 hours now with the new Fast train it's only take 30 minutes. 2nd phase will be running from Jakarta to Surabaya city in East Java. In 2021 Trans Java island Toll road finished, Trans Sumatera island Toll Road 80% completion, 100's of new international airport/seaport spread along the archipelago. The fastest development a country can achieved in 10 years.

[@huacamaya119]

Not surprised how the US is ranking right now. But, as they say, "everything flows from the head on down"🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[@jd3422]

Your title includes the words "One is a big NO WAY!" Somehow, I seem to have missed that. Can somebody please tell me which of these options was the "big NO WAY"? Thanks.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Taiwan

[@hermes6587]

We are waiting on our Portugese visas after almost applying to Ecuador. Crime is so much lower, a big factor for us, while health care seems to be very good in Ecuador healthcare is ranked higher in Portugal and then there is the quality of life.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

We would love to visit Portugal one day. Best of luck to you!

[@kurtdanielson993]

The U.S. is a big country with many good places to live. If you avoid major cities like I do your actual global peace index would be much higher than 129. Obviously, the places that attract a lot of people will be more expensive.

[@jshepard152]

Exactly. Quality of life varies widely. If you're in the middle of Vermont, crime in Detroit is of no concern to you.

[@mariatolentino4516]

Exactly. I live in a crime free small town.

[@gwillis01]

Hello Amelia and JP.