Best expat cities aren’t the best for every expat

For would-be expats looking for relocation, the increasing number of contrasting ‘best city’ surveys might cause confusion!

The most recent study, undertaken by ECA International, saw thousands of expat professionals’ opinions on various worldwide locations coming up with just two favourite destinations. For the second year running, the Swiss city of Bern and Denmark’s Copenhagen took joint first place, with Edinburgh winning out as the UK’s top city for expat life and work. Unsurprisingly, London slumped in 47th place due to pollution and fears for personal safety.

London’s lack of liveability was shared by Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast for the same reasons plus the threat of a terrorist attack, giving yet more reasons for talented Brits to try their luck elsewhere on the planet. Generally, speaking, those looking to work or retire overseas may well enjoy life in the Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, Norway or Germany, unless endless summer is a must-have requirement.

It seems northern hemisphere destinations invariably attract would-be expat workers to their ultra-modern infrastructure, top quality healthcare and long-term political stability, even although a lack of the above is as good a reason as any to leave the UK before the end of the year. The survey’s most successful countries also provided access to social networks, good, affordable housing, air quality and a lack of stress, but were aimed mainly at expats on relocation as against those who left the home country because its lifestyle no longer coincided with their needs rather than their wants.