Every year InterNations asks thousands of people who actually moved abroad how life is going. The 2026 Expat Insider survey reached close to 8,000 expats from 162 nationalities, covering 31 countries. The results are worth a look, whether you are planning a move or wondering if your new home is normal.
Panama again
Panama finished first for the third year in a row. 87% of expats there say they are happy with life abroad, against 70% globally. Money is a big part of that: 69% rate the cost of living positively, nearly double the worldwide figure. Many of the Panama crowd are retirees, but people who still work report the best work-life balance in the whole survey.
Who else scores well
Mexico, Thailand, the UAE and Brazil make up the rest of the top five. Spain lands sixth and takes fourth place for happiness overall. Portugal, Singapore and Malaysia also do well. What they have in common: an easy social life, decent weather, and a cost of living that does not swallow your whole salary.
Where it goes wrong
The bottom of the list looks different. Norway finished 31st, with Germany, Türkiye, the UK and Canada (27th) close behind. Germany’s issue is paperwork. Expats describe a slow, form-heavy system that wears people down. Canada and Norway score badly on personal finance, thanks to high costs and slow salary growth. A rich country is not automatically an easy one to settle in.
One thing no survey measures: how much you miss home. That part is on you. The evening news, the local radio, the Saturday match — they all keep you connected to the place you came from.
Read next
If you want the full picture on why Panama keeps winning these rankings, we broke it down when the results landed. And if a move is actually on the cards, start with the boring but useful stuff: how to keep your favourite TV and sport when you move.
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