Which country offers the most savings for American expats?

Portugal currently leads — roughly 40% lower cost of living than United States, with a healthcare proxy of 88/100.

Do American citizens need a visa?

Most destinations on this list offer a digital nomad, retirement, or long-stay visa accessible to American passport holders. Confirm specifics before relocating.

Will I still owe tax in United States?

Tax residency rules in United States typically depend on physical presence and ties — consult a cross-border adviser before relocating.

Best Countries for American Expats (2026)

Americans benefit from the world's reserve currency and access to almost every long-stay visa programme — geo-arbitrage savings can be enormous.

Updated March 2026

Key takeaway

Portugal ranks #1 for American expats — about 40% cheaper than United States on cost of living and 49% cheaper on rent.

Score blends cost arbitrage, a healthcare proxy (88/100), safety (90/100), visa access, and English fluency.

City-level costs inside Portugal vary a lot. Compare cities with Pro →

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

Higher = better cost arbitrage and lifestyle fit for American expats.

Portugal

64.6

Malaysia

63.7

Malta

62.1

United Arab Emirates

61.9

Cyprus

60.9

Estonia

60.5

South Korea

59.6

Spain

59.4

Iceland

58.9

Thailand

58.6

#	Country	Score	CoL vs United States	Rent vs United States	HC	Safety
1	PortugalVisa	64.6	−40%	−49%	88	90	vs United States →
2	MalaysiaVisa	63.7	−68%	−77%	78	74	vs United States →
3	MaltaVisa	62.1	−37%	−43%	82	84	vs United States →
4	United Arab EmiratesVisa	61.9	−30%	+3%	82	88	vs United States →
5	CyprusVisa	60.9	−36%	−54%	78	82	vs United States →
6	EstoniaVisa	60.5	−30%	−62%	78	84	vs United States →
7	South KoreaVisa	59.6	−36%	−50%	90	84	vs United States →
8	SpainVisa	59.4	−36%	−51%	92	80	vs United States →
9	IcelandVisa	58.9	+13%	−8%	88	96	vs United States →
10	ThailandVisa	58.6	−67%	−75%	76	70	vs United States →
11	CanadaVisa	58.4	−9%	−16%	84	80	vs United States →
12	CroatiaVisa	57.5	−47%	−69%	74	82	vs United States →
13	JapanVisa	57.4	−34%	−50%	92	95	vs United States →
14	GreeceVisa	56.8	−40%	−72%	78	78	vs United States →
15	HungaryVisa	56.6	−48%	−71%	72	78	vs United States →
16	Singapore	56.5	−22%	+57%	95	95	vs United States →
17	LatviaVisa	55.5	−42%	−71%	70	78	vs United States →
18	RomaniaVisa	55.0	−55%	−75%	66	70	vs United States →
19	Slovenia	54.5	−38%	−62%	80	88	vs United States →
20	IndonesiaVisa	54.2	−68%	−82%	58	64	vs United States →
21	Netherlands	54.2	−20%	−11%	90	88	vs United States →
22	Qatar	53.8	−24%	+3%	84	90	vs United States →
23	Bahrain	53.5	−50%	−57%	74	80	vs United States →
24	South AfricaVisa	53.4	−58%	−74%	62	36	vs United States →
25	Hong Kong	53.2	−25%	+30%	88	80	vs United States →

What we measured

Cost arbitrage — how much cheaper rent and overall cost of living are vs United States.
Healthcare proxy (0–100) — blended outcome data, infrastructure, and resident satisfaction.
Safety proxy (0–100) — petty + violent crime + perceived nighttime safety.
Visa access — whether the destination offers a digital-nomad or long-stay visa accessible to American citizens.
English fluency — day-to-day usability for new arrivals before learning the local language.

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

What we measured

Other origins