How to Decide Which Country to Move To – Based on Your Personal Criteria

Knowing how to choose a country to move to is harder than it looks. 

Most people start with a feeling (a place they have visited, a climate they are drawn to, a lifestyle they have seen on someone else’s Instagram) and work backwards from there. The problem with that approach is that it skips the filters that actually determine whether a move succeeds. Visa eligibility. Tax implications. Job market realities. Healthcare access. These are not bureaucratic details; they are the core elements of daily life.

At Simpsons Removals, we have helped families and professionals relocate to over 60 countries. The moves that go smoothly share a common thread: the destination was chosen systematically, not just emotionally. This guide gives you the framework to do that.

Key Takeaways

• Visa eligibility is the first and most important filter. There is no point researching a destination you cannot legally move to.
• Knowing how to choose a country to move to means evaluating multiple factors simultaneously: cost of living, safety, healthcare, career prospects, and lifestyle fit.
• A weighted scoring framework (provided in this guide) removes guesswork and lets you compare shortlisted countries objectively.
• Cost of living comparisons only mean something when measured against local salary expectations, not UK purchasing power alone.
• Factor international removals into your budget from the start — logistics costs are real and significant.

Get a free international removals quote to factor shipping costs into your relocation budget before you commit to a destination.

How to Choose the Best Country to Relocate To

Understanding how to choose a country to move to starts with recognising that it is not a single question. It is a layered process that requires working through financial, legal, practical, and personal criteria in a deliberate order. Most people who regret their move did not research badly; they researched selectively, investigating what excited them and avoiding what worried them.

A structured framework does not take the excitement out of the decision. It protects it. Nothing deflates the dream of moving abroad faster than arriving in a country and discovering that your qualifications are not recognised, your visa does not permit you to work, or the local salary for your role is a third of what you earn at home.

Why Most “Best Countries” Lists Get It Wrong

Generic expat rankings are not useless, but they are not personalised to you. A country that scores highly on work-life balance may have limited opportunities in your specific industry. A destination that tops the affordability charts may have healthcare infrastructure that would concern you if you have a chronic condition. A place celebrated for its nightlife and cafe culture may be deeply unsuitable for a family with young children.

If you want to move to a new country, you shouldn’t look for the top-ranked country in the world. Instead, you should look for the country that scores highest on your weighted criteria, which should be evaluated honestly and in the right order. This guide gives you a framework to help you build that.

Factors for Choosing the Right Country to Emigrate To

Before you start comparing destinations, it helps to know what you are comparing. The core evaluation categories are:

• Visa eligibility and legal residency pathways
• Cost of living relative to expected income
• Personal safety and political stability
• Healthcare quality and access
• Career and income potential
• Education systems (critical for families)
• Language and cultural compatibility
• Climate and lifestyle fit
• Proximity to the UK
• Tax implications

Each of these gets its own section below. The important thing at this stage is to resist the urge to jump straight to cost of living comparisons or climate data. Start where the framework starts: with visa eligibility.

Step-by-Step Guide to Picking a Destination Country

Step 1: Shortlist Countries Based on Visa Options

Visa eligibility is the non-negotiable first filter. Before a destination makes your shortlist, you need a realistic pathway to legal residency. Without it, everything else is academic, and this is the step most people skip when working out how to choose country to move to.

The range of visa options available to UK nationals has expanded considerably over the past decade. Key categories include:

• Skilled worker visas: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Germany all operate points-based or employer-sponsored systems that favour professionals in high-demand sectors.
• Digital nomad and remote worker visas: Portugal, Spain, Thailand, and over 50 other countries now offer specific visa categories for remote workers. Portugal’s D8 visa and Thailand’s Long-Term Resident visa are among the most accessible.
• Retirement visas: Portugal’s D7 passive income visa, Malaysia’s MM2H programme, and Panama’s Pensionado visa are well-established routes for retirees with pension or investment income.
• Investor and entrepreneur visas: UAE, Malta, and several Caribbean nations offer residency through investment, typically starting at £100,000 to £250,000.
• Family reunion visas: if you have a partner or close family member who is a citizen of your target country, this is often the most straightforward route.

Which country is easiest to move to from the UK? 

Portugal consistently tops this list for lifestyle-motivated movers: the D7 visa requires proof of passive or employment income, no language test at the point of application, and offers a clear pathway to permanent residency after five years. Spain’s non-lucrative visa is similarly accessible for those with sufficient savings. For career-driven professionals, Australia’s General Skilled Migration programme remains one of the most structured and transparent routes available.

The practical step here is to check the official immigration authority website for each country on your provisional list. The UK government’s living abroad guidance is a useful reference point for understanding your rights and obligations as a UK national moving overseas.

Step 2: Compare Cost of Living Properly

Once you have a legally viable shortlist, cost of living becomes the next major variable. The mistake most people make is comparing absolute costs without adjusting for local income. A monthly grocery bill of £200 in Lisbon sounds cheaper than London, and it is, but if you are working locally rather than remotely, you need to compare it against a Portuguese salary, not a UK one.

The most useful tools for this research:

• Numbeo: city-level cost of living data, including rent, groceries, transport, and utilities
• Expatistan: user-submitted comparisons between specific cities
• Wise currency converter: real-time exchange rate context for income and savings planning
• Local rental platforms (Idealista for Spain and Portugal, Domain.com.au for Australia, Bayut for UAE) for actual market rental prices

Cost of Living Comparison Framework

Factor	What to Compare	Recommended Tool	Common Mistake
Housing (rent)	Like-for-like property size in target neighbourhood	Numbeo, local rental sites	Comparing city centre to suburban UK prices
Groceries	Monthly basket for your household size	Numbeo, local supermarket apps	Ignoring import costs on UK-familiar brands
Healthcare	Insurance premiums plus out-of-pocket costs	Local expat forums, insurer quotes	Assuming NHS-equivalent free coverage exists
Transport	Monthly commute cost (car vs public transit)	Google Maps, local transit authority sites	Overlooking car purchase and insurance costs in car-dependent countries
Utilities	Monthly electricity, water, internet	Numbeo, local provider sites	Not accounting for air conditioning costs in hot climates
Education	Annual school fees if applicable	School websites, expat parent groups	Forgetting that “free” state schools may require language proficiency
Tax burden	Effective income tax plus social contributions	Local tax authority, expat tax adviser	Ignoring double taxation treaties or their absence

How much money do you need to move abroad? 

Budget for at least three to six months of local living costs as a financial buffer, on top of your one-off relocation costs. The cost breakdown table later in this guide gives destination-specific ranges.

Step 3: Assess Safety (Beyond the Crime Rate)

Safety is broader than a crime statistics table. A thorough safety assessment when deciding how to choose country to move to should cover:

• Crime rates: both violent crime and opportunistic theft. The Global Peace Index ranks countries annually and is a credible starting point.
• Political stability: government continuity, rule of law, and the absence of significant civil unrest. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index adds useful context.
• Natural disaster risk: earthquake, hurricane, flood, and wildfire exposure. This varies enormously within countries as well as between them.
• Healthcare infrastructure: emergency response quality matters as much as routine care availability.
• Specific personal safety factors: LGBTQ+ rights, women’s safety, and religious freedoms are relevant and important considerations for many movers.

The safest countries for relocation in 2026, based on the Global Peace Index, consistently include Iceland, New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, and Portugal. All combine low crime, strong rule of law, quality healthcare, and stable democratic governance. The Institute for Economics and Peace publishes the full rankings annually.

Step 4: Align Your Destination with Career Goals

For those relocating without a confirmed remote income, the job market in your target country is a critical variable. Key questions to work through:

• Are your qualifications recognised? Medical, legal, engineering, and teaching qualifications often require additional validation abroad. Research this before committing to a destination.
• Is there demand in your sector? Australia and Canada operate occupation shortage lists that indicate where demand for skilled workers is highest. The UAE and Singapore have strong demand in finance, technology, and engineering.
• What are the language requirements for employment? Even in countries with large English-speaking expat communities, career progression in local organisations often requires the local language.
• Is remote work legally permitted on your visa? Some visa categories restrict employment types. Confirm this explicitly rather than assuming.

Use our international removals cost calculator to budget your move accurately before you finalise your destination.

Step 5: Evaluate Family-Friendliness

For families with children, the school-age years narrow the question of how to choose country to move to considerably. The key factors are:

• Education system quality: PISA scores provide cross-country comparisons. The Netherlands, Finland, Canada, and Australia consistently rank highly.
• International school availability and cost: in many expat-heavy destinations, international schools charge £10,000 to £25,000 per child annually. This can significantly alter the financial case for a move.
• Child healthcare: paediatric care quality, vaccination programmes, and access to specialists.
• Outdoor lifestyle and child safety: walkability, park access, road safety, and general community safety for children.
• English-language accessibility is important both for children’s school transition and for parents navigating bureaucracy.

The best countries for families in 2026 include the Netherlands (outstanding education, cycling culture, English widely spoken), Canada (healthcare, space, diverse communities), New Zealand (safety, outdoor lifestyle), and Australia (climate, education quality, established expat infrastructure). 

Each has trade-offs: the cost of living in Australia and Canada has risen sharply in recent years, and the Netherlands requires engagement with the Dutch language for long-term integration.

How to Compare Countries for Long-Term Relocation

Once you have worked through the steps above, you will likely have two to four countries that pass your initial filters. The weighted scoring framework below turns a subjective preference into a structured comparison, and it is the most practical tool available for anyone working out how to choose country to move to with competing priorities.

Weighted Country Scoring Framework

Criteria	Suggested Weight	Country A (score 1–10)	Country B (score 1–10)	Country C (score 1–10)
Visa accessibility	20%	—	—	—
Cost of living vs income	15%	—	—	—
Safety and stability	15%	—	—	—
Healthcare quality and access	10%	—	—	—
Career and income opportunities	10%	—	—	—
Education (if applicable)	10%	—	—	—
Language and cultural fit	5%	—	—	—
Climate and lifestyle	5%	—	—	—
Proximity to the UK	5%	—	—	—
Tax environment	5%	—	—	—
Weighted Total	100%	—	—	—

How to use this framework: Score each country out of 10 for every criterion, multiply by the suggested weight, and sum the results. Adjust the weights to reflect your priorities. Retirees should increase the healthcare and cost of living weights and reduce career and education. Career-focused movers should increase the career weight significantly. Families with school-age children should weight education at 15% to 20%.

A worked example: A remote-working couple comparing Portugal, Australia, and the UAE might score Portugal 9/10 on visa accessibility (D7 is straightforward), 8/10 on cost of living, and 7/10 on proximity to the UK. Australia scores 6/10 on visa accessibility (points-based, more competitive) and 6/10 on current cost of living. The UAE scores 8/10 on visa accessibility for employed professionals. Running the weighted totals typically produces a clearer front-runner than gut feeling alone.

What Are the Best Countries for Expats in 2026?

Rather than a single ranked list, the most useful way to answer this is by expat profile. The right destination depends on who you are and what you are optimising for.

Best Countries by Expat Profile (2026)

Expat Profile	Top Contenders	Key Strengths	Key Considerations
Remote workers and digital nomads	Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Mexico, Estonia	Dedicated visa programmes, affordable living, lifestyle quality	Time zone differences, tax residency triggers, internet reliability
Families with children	Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand	Education systems, safety, healthcare, outdoor lifestyle	High cost of living in Australia and Canada; language adjustment in Germany and Netherlands
Retirees	Portugal, Spain, France, Malaysia, Costa Rica	Climate, healthcare access, retirement visa options, lower cost of living	Distance from UK (Malaysia, Costa Rica); language learning curve
Career-driven professionals	UAE, Singapore, USA, Switzerland, Australia	High salaries, career growth, professional networks	Work-life balance, high cost of living, visa competition
Budget-conscious movers	Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Colombia, Albania	Very low cost of living, growing expat communities	Healthcare variability, distance from UK, infrastructure gaps

These are starting points, not verdicts. The best countries for expats in 2026 are ultimately the ones that fit your specific circumstances and pass the filters in the framework above.

Which Country Has the Lowest Cost of Living and High Quality of Life?

Portugal remains the most consistently cited answer, particularly for European movers. Lisbon and Porto offer modern infrastructure, excellent healthcare, and a high standard of living at roughly 35 to 40% below comparable UK costs. Malaysia offers a similar cost-to-quality ratio for those willing to move further afield, with strong private healthcare, a large English-speaking community, and a well-developed expat infrastructure. Mexico (specifically cities like Mérida) and the Czech Republic (Prague in particular) also score well. Each involves trade-offs—Portugal’s golden weather comes with a language to learn; Malaysia’s low costs come with significant distance from the UK.

Long-Tail Criteria for Selecting Your Ideal Expat Destination

The factors below do not feature prominently in generic rankings, but they are the ones that surface in almost every conversation we have with clients who are six months into their move.

Countries with the Best Healthcare and Education

Healthcare systems broadly fall into three models: universal public systems (UK, France, Germany, Australia), insurance-based systems (USA, many Asian countries), and hybrid systems (Spain, Portugal, UAE) where public coverage exists but private insurance significantly improves access speed and specialist choice. For expats accustomed to the NHS, the financial and logistical adjustment to an insurance-based model is consistently underestimated in pre-move planning.

On education, the OECD’s PISA rankings provide the most credible cross-country comparison of school performance. Singapore, Estonia, Canada, Finland, and the Netherlands consistently rank highly. For families prioritising an English-language curriculum, the availability and cost of international schools is a more practical filter than national rankings alone.

Best Countries for Work-Life Balance

The OECD Better Life Index measures work-life balance based on working hours, leisure time, and employee rights. Consistently top-ranking countries include Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, and New Zealand. Spain and Portugal score well on lifestyle quality, though working culture in some sectors still runs long hours by northern European standards.

Practical factors to research alongside headline rankings: statutory annual leave entitlements (25 to 30 days is standard across much of Europe), remote work norms, average commute times, and whether your specific industry operates differently to the national average.

Moving Abroad Checklist: The Overlooked Essentials

These are the items that most relocation guides skip but that clients consistently flag as sources of unexpected stress:

• Banking. UK banks typically close accounts for non-residents. Set up an international account (Wise, Revolut, or a local account in your destination country) before you close UK banking arrangements.
• Driving licence conversion. Reciprocal agreements exist with some countries but not all. In many destinations you will need to convert your licence or resit a test within a set period of arrival.
• Pet relocation. International pet travel involves microchipping, vaccination records, blood titre tests, and sometimes quarantine. Start this process at least six months before your move date.
• Shipping timeline. Sea freight to Australia or New Zealand typically takes eight to twelve weeks. Allow for customs clearance delays on top of sailing time. Part-load shipping can reduce costs if you are not filling a full container.
• UK ties to maintain. Consider whether to retain a UK bank account, National Insurance contributions, GP registration, and access to any property you are keeping.
• Cultural adjustment expectations. The first three months abroad are almost universally harder than people anticipate. Build this into your planning rather than treating early difficulties as evidence of a wrong decision.

Explore our full international removals services to understand exactly how we manage your move from start to finish.

How Much Does It Truly Cost to Move Abroad?

One of the most common gaps in relocation planning is the failure to account for the full cost of the move itself alongside ongoing living costs. The table below provides indicative ranges for a typical three-bedroom household move from the UK to four popular destination regions.

Typical Relocation Cost Breakdown (UK to Popular Destinations)

Cost Category	Europe (e.g. Spain, Portugal)	Australasia (e.g. Australia, NZ)	Middle East (e.g. UAE)	Southeast Asia (e.g. Thailand)
International removals (3-bed household)	£3,000–£6,000	£7,000–£12,000	£4,000–£8,000	£5,000–£9,000
Visa and legal fees	£500–£2,000	£3,000–£6,000	£1,000–£3,000	£500–£2,000
Flights (family of 4)	£800–£2,000	£4,000–£8,000	£2,000–£4,000	£3,000–£6,000
Rental deposit and first month	£1,500–£4,000	£3,000–£6,000	£3,000–£7,000	£1,000–£3,000
Health insurance (first year)	£1,200–£3,600	£2,400–£6,000	£2,400–£6,000	£1,200–£3,600
Establishment buffer (3 months)	£4,500–£9,000	£7,500–£15,000	£7,500–£15,000	£3,000–£6,000
Estimated Total	£11,500–£26,600	£26,900–£53,000	£19,900–£43,000	£13,700–£29,600

Indicative ranges based on mid-2026 market data for a family of four. Actual costs depend on the volume of goods shipped, specific city, visa type, and individual circumstances.

Get a personalised removals quote for your destination. It takes two minutes and helps you budget with confidence.

Making Your Final Decision with Confidence

The best country is the one that scores highest on your criteria. Run the weighted framework. Let the numbers inform but not override your judgement.

Start with visa eligibility, then layer everything else. A destination you fall in love with but cannot legally live in is not a destination.

Visit before you commit (properly). A two-week holiday reveals almost nothing about daily life. Spend a month if you can, living as a resident rather than a tourist: shop in supermarkets, use public transport, deal with bureaucracy, and spend time outside the tourist districts.

Begin planning removals logistics eight to twelve weeks before your move date. Sea freight takes time and customs clearance adds unpredictability. The clients who feel most in control are the ones who engaged with their removals company early and did not leave packing to the final week.

At Simpsons, we have supported moves to over 60 countries. The logistics should never be what holds you back from a decision you have thought through carefully. Once you know where you are going, we handle the rest.

Ready to start planning your move? Contact our international removals team for expert advice tailored to your destination.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the best country to move to?

Use a weighted scoring framework covering visa eligibility, cost of living relative to expected income, safety, healthcare quality, career prospects, and lifestyle fit. Score each country on your shortlist against these criteria, adjusted to your personal priorities. Start by eliminating countries where you cannot secure legal residency—visa eligibility is the non-negotiable first filter before any other factor is worth considering.

What factors should I consider before moving to another country?

In priority order: visa and legal residency eligibility; cost of living relative to expected local or remote income; personal safety and political stability; healthcare access and quality; education quality for families; career and income opportunities; language barriers; cultural compatibility; climate; proximity to the UK; and tax implications. No single factor is decisive in isolation—the framework works because it weighs them together.

How much money do I need to move abroad from the UK?

Budget for visa and legal fees (typically £500 to £5,000 depending on destination and route), international removals (£2,000 to £12,000+ depending on destination and household size), flights, rental deposit and first month’s rent, health insurance, and a three to six month financial buffer for establishment costs. Total relocation costs for a family typically range from £12,000 for a European move to £50,000+ for a long-haul destination with a large household.

Which country is easiest to immigrate to from the UK?

Portugal’s D7 passive income visa and D8 digital nomad visa are among the most accessible for UK nationals, requiring proof of income but no employer sponsorship or language test at the point of application. Spain’s non-lucrative visa offers a similar route. Thailand’s Long-Term Resident visa is accessible for retirees and remote workers with qualifying income. The UAE’s freelance and employment visas are straightforward for professionals with a confirmed role. Ease of immigration always depends on your financial situation, employment status, and professional background.

What are the best countries for British expats in 2026?

For lifestyle and affordability: Portugal and Spain. For career growth and high earnings: UAE, Singapore, and Australia. For families: Netherlands, Canada, and New Zealand. For retirees: France, Malaysia, and Costa Rica. The best country is always a function of your specific circumstances—these are strong starting points for research, not final answers.

How do I legally move to another country?

Research visa categories available to UK nationals for your target destination, confirm your eligibility, and gather the required documentation—typically including financial proof, health checks, certified qualifications, and a police clearance certificate. Submit your application through the correct channel (embassy, consulate, or online portal) and await approval before booking removals or flights. Never book irreversible travel arrangements before your visa is confirmed.

What is the safest country to move to in 2026?

Based on the Global Peace Index, the consistently top-ranked countries include Iceland, New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, and Portugal. Safety should be assessed broadly: low crime rates, political stability, strong rule of law, quality emergency healthcare infrastructure, and low natural disaster risk. The safest country in statistical terms may not be the safest for your specific situation, so factor in personal circumstances as well.

When should I start planning my international move?

Begin researching destinations 12 to 18 months before your target move date. Start visa applications six to twelve months ahead. Engage your international removals company eight to twelve weeks before your departure date—sea freight to long-haul destinations requires lead time, and customs clearance adds further variability. The clients who feel least stressed about their move are almost always the ones who started the logistics conversation earlier than they thought they needed to.