Travel Europe: Ranked – The best and worst European cities for expats

Ranked: the best and worst European cities for expats – what international experience teaches us

The article Ranked: the best and worst European cities for expats touches on a topic that has become increasingly important in today’s world: where can expatriates truly build a good quality of life abroad?

According to the rankings and reports referenced by Euronews and the InterNations Expat Insider survey, some of the best European cities for expats included:

• Valencia, Spain
• Lisbon, Portugal
• Madrid, Spain
• Basel, Switzerland
• Vienna, Austria
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Zurich, Switzerland
• Stockholm, Sweden
• Berlin, Germany

These cities performed strongly in areas such as:

• quality of life
• healthcare
• public transportation
• work-life balance
• safety
• climate
• social life
• infrastructure
• expat friendliness

Valencia and Lisbon especially became very popular because they combine relatively affordable living with good climate, relaxed lifestyle, and strong international communities. Vienna and Zurich, meanwhile, are often praised for stability, safety, healthcare quality, and overall organization.

The reports also identified several cities that expatriates considered more difficult places to live long term. Among the lower-ranked European cities were:

• Paris, France
• Frankfurt, Germany
• London, United Kingdom
• Stockholm (for social integration challenges despite high quality of life)
• some Nordic cities where expats reported difficulties building friendships and integrating socially

Outside Europe, Johannesburg ranked among the worst globally in the 2022 survey.  

One interesting observation from these studies is that “best” and “worst” are often not determined only by income or infrastructure. Some highly developed cities scored poorly because expats experienced:

• loneliness
• bureaucracy
• difficulty integrating socially
• housing costs
• stress
• weak work-life balance

Meanwhile, some cities with lower salaries ranked very highly because expats felt happier, safer, and more socially connected there.

That is why international relocation today has become much more about overall life quality than only economic opportunity.

After decades of international travel, business development, and living abroad ourselves, we have seen that relocating internationally is rarely only about salaries, taxes, or weather. The real experience of living abroad is much deeper. It involves emotional adaptation, cultural understanding, healthcare access, safety, bureaucracy, financial planning, social integration, and long-term personal wellbeing.

For many people dreaming about moving abroad, Europe still represents stability, infrastructure, history, public transportation, healthcare systems, and cultural richness. Cities in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, and the Nordic region continue attracting retirees, remote workers, entrepreneurs, and internationally minded families.

At the same time, the article correctly highlights that not every destination works equally well for expatriates. Some cities may appear attractive on social media or tourism campaigns but become challenging in everyday life due to housing costs, bureaucracy, taxation, integration difficulties, or limited social connections.

This is something many new expatriates underestimate.

One important reality is that moving abroad often looks easier from the outside than it feels emotionally during the first years. Even experienced professionals can face loneliness, uncertainty, language frustrations, administrative stress, or difficulties building a social network.

That is one reason why practical preparation matters enormously before relocation.

For people considering Ecuador or Latin America, our article 9 mistakes new expats make when moving to Ecuador — and how to avoid them ↗ discusses many of the realities international families encounter after relocating abroad. While Ecuador and Europe are very different environments, many emotional and practical challenges are surprisingly similar.

The best expatriate destinations are usually not only the cheapest or the most beautiful. They are the places where people can realistically build a balanced daily life over many years.

From our international perspective, successful expat destinations often combine:

• personal safety
• healthcare access
• manageable cost of living
• efficient transportation
• social stability
• openness toward foreigners
• financial predictability
• opportunities for meaningful social interaction
• emotional quality of life

Europe performs very strongly in many of these categories, particularly for retirees and internationally experienced professionals.

Healthcare access is another critical factor that many expatriates only fully understand after moving abroad. A beautiful city or low cost of living loses importance quickly if healthcare systems become difficult to navigate during emergencies or aging.

This is especially relevant for retirees and long-term expatriates who increasingly prioritize health security and financial protection as they age. Our guide Health insurance in Ecuador for expats – what you should know ↗ explains why international health insurance planning has become one of the most important parts of modern relocation planning.

Retirement planning itself is also changing globally. Many expatriates today remain financially active far beyond traditional retirement age. Some continue consulting, running businesses, investing internationally, or supporting children and grandchildren living in different countries.

Because of this, long-term financial planning and protection become increasingly important for internationally mobile families. Our article 3 reasons you need life insurance in retirement – plus why it’s easier to apply now ↗ explores why life insurance and retirement protection remain highly relevant even after active working years.

Another interesting aspect about European expat destinations is that personal expectations strongly influence satisfaction. Some expatriates seek excitement, nightlife, and urban energy. Others prioritize calmness, nature, slower lifestyles, healthcare quality, or cultural familiarity.

For Nordic expatriates especially, southern Europe often offers an attractive balance between climate, lifestyle, healthcare, and affordability. Spain and Portugal continue ranking highly among retirees partly because they combine relatively relaxed lifestyles with solid infrastructure and international communities.

Germany, on the other hand, often attracts professionals and entrepreneurs because of its economic stability, organization, and business opportunities. Having lived nearly three decades in Hamburg ourselves, we understand both the advantages and the emotional complexities of integrating into another culture long term.

One important lesson international living teaches is that no destination is perfect. Every country has strengths and weaknesses. Successful expatriates are usually not those who idealize a country, but those who adapt realistically, remain open-minded, and prepare carefully.

In the end, the best city for an expat is rarely determined only by rankings. It depends on personality, life stage, finances, health, family structure, language abilities, and long-term goals.

The growing global interest in expatriate living also reflects something deeper about modern life. More people today are searching for freedom, flexibility, better quality of life, lower stress, international experiences, and environments that better match their personal values.