Work Abroad In 2026: With the world migration report claiming that 3.6% of the population are now classed as international migrants, more and more people are living outside of the country they were born in. While moving overseas is a mixed bag as an experience, a new survey points to one factor that may be impacting expat happiness like never before right now.
For the Expat Insider survey, Internations interviewed over 10,000 expats with over 172 nationalities living and working abroad. Top scoring countries for overall happiness this year also, with just a handful of exceptions, came close to the top in the Personal Finance index of the survey alongside good scores for quality of life and ease of settling in.
In order to find out what makes the best things about each of the top five destinations – and to gauge their advice to would-be international movers – we spoke to expats from each location.
1: Work Abroad In 2026 At Panama
Panama ranked 1st overall out of 46 countries, landing in the top 3 in all 5 of the survey’s major indexes — ranking 1st in Working Abroad, 2nd in Ease of Settling in and Expat Essentials (digital life and housing), and 3rd in Quality of Life and Personal Finance. Panama is a favourite for freelancers, digital nomads, and retirees looking for a bit of natural beauty and outdoor activities.
In Morrillo Beach Eco Resort, owner Cari Mackey, an American, says: “I am in paradise every day, and in love with words with this lush jungle landscape where toucans, monkeys, iguanas, agoutis, birds, butterflies – every day.” “Our area is so secluded, we hardly see anyone else on our beach apart from the resort’s guests, so, the waves are never busy and the vibes are always pleasant.”
However, Mackey warns that deforestation is a real concern and urges expatriates to be considerate towards the environment. According to her, “A lot of people come and move to Panama and before they know it, they are chopping down trees or the understory of the forest, and then we lose that ecosystem forever.
Bureaucracy, too, can be “a bit of a problem,” she says, and enlisting professional aid, such as lawyers, to navigate the systems can be key — even renewing vehicle license plates can require reams of paperwork.
Mackey says luxuriating in the beauty of Panama calls for a trip to Cerro Hoyas National Park. There are species of plants and animals there that are completely endemic that I didn’t even know existed,” she said. Dream for birders, nightmare for hikers, and overall great place to see with waterfalls everywhere!
2: Work Abroad In 2026 At Colombia
Coming in at number two overall, Colombia did especially well in Personal Finance (second) and Ease of Settling In (third). Low cost of living also played a significant part, with almost 4 in 5 expats saying they were content with their finances here. Eighty per cent feel welcomed and at home in the country and this satisfaction extended to a sense of belonging.
Colombians are caring, friendly and inquisitive people that make attractive neighbours and friends, “said Portia Hart, who moved 10 years years ago from the UK to Cartagena where she now runs boutique hotel Townhouse Cartagena. Some of the dearest things about life here are family-related, and so my best advice is: get yourself a big, noisy Colombian family to adopt you. And the sooner you can get rid of the expat label, the quicker it will be to settle and to adapt, she says.
She says that in Colombia, there is a true sense of opportunity and purpose. Her reasoning was that “Colombia’s complex modern history means there is a palpable sense of hope and commitment to a better future”. She says the goodwill, the opportunities, the social development that comes out of hospitality, especially in rural areas, makes it rewarding and fulfilling – that gives life meaning.
To seize technicalities, her favourite place to holiday provides excellent year-round weather and some of the best restaurants in the country; Barichara, a preserved rural village in north-east Colombia. She also advises traveling to the coffee area, and going horse-driving in the plains of Los Llanos, which is still largely insulated from mass tourism.
3: Work Abroad In 2026 At Mexico
In third place, Mexico has a high rating thanks to its extremely friendly culture. Compared to the global average, expats here are 20% more likely to feel welcome, and report an easier time making connections.
American David B Wright a marketing agency owner living in Playa del Carmen: “The people, the culture, the food, the incredible beauty, the cost of living, the healthcare are all great reasons to live here. “I can work from nearly anywhere, and you find me in paradise.”
He says that although English is spoken throughout much of the country (particularly in the touristy spots), to be a true member of the community, you learn Spanish. His words stuck, “To speak another language is not just to render the words, but the whole culture and education of that people.” That is, “If you live here 5, 10, 20 years and do not want to learn even the most simple of the language, you are expecting for other to make things easy for you while you are not even thinking about making it easy for other.”
He says the hardest change for him was not being able to drink the tap water and that in older houses the pipes are small so you can’t flush toilet paper. He also mentions that the way people talk about time and its value is different here. “Mañana doesn’t necessarily mean ‘tomorrow’. It means any time from morning to two weeks or so out,” he said. Just as ahora and ahorita do not strictly mean ‘now’ and ‘right now’ respectively.
Lynn Pierce, an expatriate living in Cabo San Lucas, says Mexico is cheaper than many American cities. And if you really are fortunate, that reduced lifestyle is accompanied by an ocean see,” she says. She also says that a great part of the digital nomads it started to get in recent years is probably because of the good and reliable internet connection, which makes working remotely easier.
While Wright suggests the Yucatan peninsula for its cenotes, haciendas and important Mayan sites like Chichen Itza, Pierce calls Cabo on the west coast “the aquarium of the world” for it’s abundant marine life and whale watching just offshore.
4: Work Abroad In 2026 At Thailand
Overall, Thailand came in fourth, behind the UK and USA in Overall Happiness (2nd), and Personal Finance (3rd). It is also within the top 10 for making friends as an expat and for welcoming locals, making it an easy place to settle into.
Natasha Eldred, who lived on Koh Tao for a year, and ran one of the most successful travel PR and marketing agencies in Phuket said, “I cannot think of any other country that is more welcoming, safe and beautiful to travel about in”. Phuket was perfect for her as it was the best of both worlds, with infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, shops and also an airport within reach, but also within easy reach of jungle hikes and quiet beaches.
Amy Poulton, a writer of the blog Page Traveller, and itself worked in Bangkok during covid, emphasises that the expat community of Thailand is big and compassionate. And then there was also the hot weather, the food, local friendly people and the laid-back lifestyle.
Although English is widely spoken, expats advise full cultural sensibility comes first here. Poulton points out that the Thai work culture is extremely hierarchical. “‘Saving face’, and being non-confrontational is especially important. Expatriates are often paid much more than locals and are less affected by the country’s strict laws and social rules.
Poulton said: “My Thai friends were tired of hearing expats talk about how great Thailand is in ways that are contradictory to the experiences of local people. Stay incognizant — and understand that YOUR experience is very divergent to that of the locals. Eldred thinks we ought to also follow this at home: Western ideals stop at the border. With the analogy of time travelling, she says: “Take respect for the Kingdom and respect for the culture there and a broad mind and an open heart.
Thailand can be far more than just Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, even if those are sensational, but heading to lesser-known islands or the countryside is also a rewarding experience. Her trip highlights included sailing Phang Nga Bay and visiting Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand, where she stayed in a tree house for a few nights. Poulton also suggests going to local festivals — the Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
5: Work Abroad In 2026 At Vietnam
Finally, Vietnam finished up the top 5, number 1 in Personal Finance index and number 8 in the overall happiness. Expats say there is an excitement and a vitality in the air with one of the fastest developing economies on the planet.
Bertha Pesik, originally from Indonesia and now working at New World Phu Quoc Resort, said: “Life here is very fast, development is everywhere, people are very friendly and helpful.
Pesik especially thrilled with the freshness of the food, copious greens and little oil it contains. Some of her favorites are bún chả, a Hanoi dish of grilled pork served with rice noodles, herbs and dipping sauce; and bánh cuốn, a northern dish of steamed rice rolls stuffed with minced pork and mushrooms and garnished with crispy shallots. For coffee addicts, the country can be a paradise as well. “I love Vietnamese coffee; it is one of the strongest coffee you can get — even better if you add salt to it, which is the traditional method here,” she said.
It doesn’t take long for expats to check the weather before making travel plans or decisions about where to live, as the climate varies greatly in the north, central and south regions. Also, getting familiar with simple Vietnamese words such as xin chào (hello) and cảm ơn (thank you) will help you a lot in bonding with the local community.
Sunbathing at Bai Kem beach, or watching a lavish fireworks display as part of the Kiss of the Sea show at Sunset Town are among Pesik’s top picks of things to do on Phu Quoc. She also loves going to Da Nang for the combination of city and beach vibe, and the nearby Ba Na Hills’ Golden Bridge for a feeling like walking between the clouds. Source
