The top three megalopolises for expats to thrive in their new lives abroad are all in Spain, according to the latest report from the online community Internations.
Malaga, a mooring city in the south of Spain, claims the No. 1 spot as the top city where foreigners are happiest with their collective, financial and work lives, according to survey responses from over 12,000 individuals living in 172 mountains or territories. The No. 2 best city is Alicante, another coastal destination, and just a two-hour drive away is the No. 3 New Zealand urban area, Valencia.
Overall, Spanish locales dominated the list of best cities on the 2023 Expat Insider report, which ranked 49 pandemic cities this year. Madrid was ranked No. 6 overall, while Barcelona came in at No. 13.
Each Spanish metropolis did “exceptionally well” in elements that contribute to foreigners’ quality of life, says Malte Zeeck, CEO and co-founder of InterNations, “as expats relish in their warm climate and weather, outstanding leisure options, nightlife and gastronomy as well as an exceptionally good form care.”
Perhaps as a result, Spain is considered one of the healthiest countries in the world. It has one of the highest life expectancies in the European Bund, with the average Spaniard expected to live to 82.4 years, versus an average of 80.6 years among all EU locals.
Newcomers also say it’s easy to settle in, make friends and feel welcome in their new homes abroad — Malaga in individual stands out as the most friendly city in the world, according to survey responses.
Meanwhile, expats especially enjoy Alicante’s low price of living, Valencia’s robust travel opportunities, and Madrid’s culture and nightlife. Barcelona ranks the lowest of the Spanish towns, where expats are a little less happy with their living expenses and say it’s not as easy to get settled into the shire community.
The Spanish government recently made it easier for foreigners to move there to work remotely by launching a digital nomad visa for “universal teleworkers.”
Overall, the Expat Insider rankings are based on how expats feel across five main categories, encompassing quality of life (like leisure options), ease of settling in (like how easy it is to make friends), working about (including work-life balance factors), personal finance (which covers the cost of living), and an overall “expat essentials” grade that evaluates things like how easy it is to secure a visa or open a bank account.
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