New Zealand
Pros:
- Work culture supports work-life balance.
- Locals are extremely friendly.
- It’s often ranked best place in the world to raise a family.
Cons:
- It’s far away.
- Internet speeds are slower than most developed countries.
Singapore
Pros:
- Strict fines for littering make it one of the cleanest places in the world.
- The crime rate is one of the lowest in the world.
- Ranked first in the world for ease of doing business by the World Bank.
- English is an official language.
Cons:
- It’s expensive. Even simple apartments in the city can be very costly.
- Polls find the citizens to be “the least positive” in the world.
Switzerland
Pros:
- Great for outdoor adventures.
- Taxes are low.
- Even as a foreigner, you can go to college for next to nothing.
- Extremely high quality of life rankings from Mercer.
- Chocolate. Chocolate everywhere.
Cons:
- The housing market is tight, with many areas running a vacancy rate between 0.2%–0.8%.
- Shops close for two hours at lunchtime.
- The Swiss don’t love foreigners.
China
Pros:
- It’s easy to get a job as an English teacher, and the benefits are great.
- Expats can make a lot of money working for multinational corporations tapping into the Chinese market.
- The low cost of living makes it easy to pay down debt or save for the future.
Cons:
- Air pollution in industrial cities makes China a poor choice for raising children.
- As a foreigner, you’re going to get stared at a lot.
- The Internet is subject to heavy censorship.
Hong Kong
Pros:
- Take advantage of some of the best healthcare in the world.
- As a multicultural haven, foreigners are more likely to feel at home.
- Public transportation is superb.
- There’s tons to do.
Cons:
- Cost of living is very high.
- Work culture often demands long hours.
India
Pros:
- Every dollar goes a lot farther.
- English is one of the many official languages.
- IT, media, film, banking, and engineering fields are growing, along with job prospects.
Cons:
- If you wait to find a job until after you move there, expect to make about 25% less than you would back home.
- Adapting to the culture can be challenging.
Ecuador
Pros:
- Enjoy spring-like weather year round.
- Health care is inexpensive.
- It’s easy for a couple to live on about $1,600 a month.
Cons:
- Electronics cost a lot more because of steep tariffs.
- For women, living in a Latin American country can mean dealing with constant harassment.
Thailand
Pros:
- Low cost of living.
- Access to stunning scenery.
- Excellent food.
- It’s a great place to teach English.
Cons:
- Locals tend to hate confrontation, which can lead to passive-aggressive behavior.
- Two-tier pricing means that, if you’re not careful, you pay more as a foreigner.
Belize
Pros:
- It’s possible to live on $1,500 a month.
- The US dollar is accepted as currency at most businesses.
- As a former British colony, the locals speak English.
Cons:
- Visitors will probably encounter government corruption.
- Bugs.