Which country offers the most savings for Australian expats?

Portugal currently leads — roughly 36% lower cost of living than Australia, with a healthcare proxy of 88/100.

Do Australian citizens need a visa?

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

Will I still owe tax in Australia?

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

Best Countries for Australian Expats (2026)

Strong currency, expensive housing, and a love of long-haul travel — Australians have one of the widest sets of attractive expat options in the world.

Updated March 2026

Key takeaway

Portugal ranks #1 for Australian expats — about 36% cheaper than Australia on cost of living and 44% 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 Australian expats.

Portugal

64.1

Malaysia

63.4

Malta

61.6

United Arab Emirates

61.3

Cyprus

60.4

Estonia

59.9

South Korea

59.1

Spain

58.9

Thailand

58.3

Iceland

58.0

#	Country	Score	CoL vs Australia	Rent vs Australia	HC	Safety
1	PortugalVisa	64.1	−36%	−44%	88	90	vs Australia →
2	MalaysiaVisa	63.4	−66%	−75%	78	74	vs Australia →
3	MaltaVisa	61.6	−33%	−38%	82	84	vs Australia →
4	United Arab EmiratesVisa	61.3	−26%	+12%	82	88	vs Australia →
5	CyprusVisa	60.4	−32%	−50%	78	82	vs Australia →
6	EstoniaVisa	59.9	−26%	−59%	78	84	vs Australia →
7	South KoreaVisa	59.1	−32%	−46%	90	84	vs Australia →
8	SpainVisa	58.9	−32%	−47%	92	80	vs Australia →
9	ThailandVisa	58.3	−65%	−73%	76	70	vs Australia →
10	IcelandVisa	58.0	+20%	+0%	88	96	vs Australia →
11	CanadaVisa	57.7	−3%	−9%	84	80	vs Australia →
12	CroatiaVisa	57.1	−44%	−66%	74	82	vs Australia →
13	JapanVisa	56.9	−30%	−46%	92	95	vs Australia →
14	GreeceVisa	56.3	−36%	−69%	78	78	vs Australia →
15	HungaryVisa	56.2	−45%	−68%	72	78	vs Australia →
16	Singapore	55.9	−17%	+71%	95	95	vs Australia →
17	LatviaVisa	55.0	−38%	−68%	70	78	vs Australia →
18	RomaniaVisa	54.7	−52%	−73%	66	70	vs Australia →
19	Slovenia	54.0	−34%	−59%	80	88	vs Australia →
20	IndonesiaVisa	53.9	−66%	−80%	58	64	vs Australia →
21	Netherlands	53.6	−15%	−3%	90	88	vs Australia →
22	Bahrain	53.2	−47%	−53%	74	80	vs Australia →
23	Qatar	53.2	−19%	+12%	84	90	vs Australia →
24	South AfricaVisa	53.1	−55%	−72%	62	36	vs Australia →
25	GeorgiaVisa	52.7	−57%	−72%	60	60	vs Australia →

What we measured

Cost arbitrage — how much cheaper rent and overall cost of living are vs Australia.
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 Australian 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