Which country offers the most savings for Australian expats?

Portugal currently leads — roughly 28% 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 28% 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.

Top 10 by lifestyle-adjusted score

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

Portugal

63.1

Malaysia

61.4

United Arab Emirates

60.5

Estonia

60.4

Malta

59.2

Cyprus

58.9

Iceland

58.7

Spain

58.1

Canada

58.0

Thailand

56.3

#	Country	Score	CoL vs Australia	Rent vs Australia	HC	Safety
1	PortugalVisa	63.1	−28%	−44%	88	90	vs Australia →
2	MalaysiaVisa	61.4	−50%	−75%	78	74	vs Australia →
3	United Arab EmiratesVisa	60.5	−19%	+12%	82	88	vs Australia →
4	EstoniaVisa	60.4	−30%	−59%	78	84	vs Australia →
5	MaltaVisa	59.2	−14%	−38%	82	84	vs Australia →
6	CyprusVisa	58.9	−20%	−50%	78	82	vs Australia →
7	IcelandVisa	58.7	+15%	+0%	88	96	vs Australia →
8	SpainVisa	58.1	−26%	−47%	92	80	vs Australia →
9	CanadaVisa	58.0	−5%	−9%	84	80	vs Australia →
10	ThailandVisa	56.3	−49%	−73%	76	70	vs Australia →
11	HungaryVisa	56.1	−44%	−68%	72	78	vs Australia →
12	South KoreaVisa	55.9	−6%	−46%	90	84	vs Australia →
13	JapanVisa	55.7	−21%	−46%	92	95	vs Australia →
14	CroatiaVisa	55.6	−32%	−66%	74	82	vs Australia →
15	GreeceVisa	55.5	−29%	−69%	78	78	vs Australia →
16	LatviaVisa	54.7	−36%	−68%	70	78	vs Australia →
17	RomaniaVisa	54.1	−48%	−73%	66	70	vs Australia →
18	Slovenia	53.3	−29%	−59%	80	88	vs Australia →
19	Netherlands	52.6	−7%	−3%	90	88	vs Australia →
20	Qatar	52.5	−14%	+12%	84	90	vs Australia →
21	IndonesiaVisa	52.4	−54%	−80%	58	64	vs Australia →
22	Singapore	52.3	+12%	+71%	95	95	vs Australia →
23	Sweden	52.1	−11%	−42%	88	84	vs Australia →
24	South AfricaVisa	52.1	−48%	−72%	62	36	vs Australia →
25	Finland	52.0	−7%	−38%	86	90	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