Which country offers the most savings for Canadian expats?

Portugal currently leads — roughly 34% lower cost of living than Canada, with a healthcare proxy of 88/100.

Do Canadian citizens need a visa?

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

Will I still owe tax in Canada?

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

Best Countries for Canadian Expats (2026)

High taxes and brutal housing in Toronto and Vancouver push Canadians toward Mexico, Portugal, and Southeast Asia for warmth and savings.

Updated March 2026

Key takeaway

Portugal ranks #1 for Canadian expats — about 34% cheaper than Canada on cost of living and 39% 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 Canadian expats.

Portugal

63.9

Malaysia

63.3

Malta

61.3

United Arab Emirates

61.0

Cyprus

60.1

Estonia

59.6

South Korea

58.8

Spain

58.6

Thailand

58.2

Iceland

57.5

#	Country	Score	CoL vs Canada	Rent vs Canada	HC	Safety
1	PortugalVisa	63.9	−34%	−39%	88	90	vs Canada →
2	MalaysiaVisa	63.3	−65%	−73%	78	74	vs Canada →
3	MaltaVisa	61.3	−31%	−32%	82	84	vs Canada →
4	United Arab EmiratesVisa	61.0	−23%	+23%	82	88	vs Canada →
5	CyprusVisa	60.1	−30%	−45%	78	82	vs Canada →
6	EstoniaVisa	59.6	−23%	−55%	78	84	vs Canada →
7	South KoreaVisa	58.8	−30%	−41%	90	84	vs Canada →
8	SpainVisa	58.6	−30%	−42%	92	80	vs Canada →
9	ThailandVisa	58.2	−64%	−70%	76	70	vs Canada →
10	IcelandVisa	57.5	+24%	+10%	88	96	vs Canada →
11	CroatiaVisa	56.8	−42%	−63%	74	82	vs Canada →
12	JapanVisa	56.6	−28%	−41%	92	95	vs Canada →
13	GreeceVisa	56.1	−34%	−67%	78	78	vs Canada →
14	HungaryVisa	56.0	−43%	−65%	72	78	vs Canada →
15	Singapore	55.5	−14%	+87%	95	95	vs Canada →
16	LatviaVisa	54.7	−36%	−65%	70	78	vs Canada →
17	RomaniaVisa	54.5	−51%	−70%	66	70	vs Canada →
18	IndonesiaVisa	53.8	−65%	−78%	58	64	vs Canada →
19	Slovenia	53.7	−32%	−55%	80	88	vs Canada →
20	Netherlands	53.2	−12%	+7%	90	88	vs Canada →
21	Bahrain	52.9	−45%	−48%	74	80	vs Canada →
22	Qatar	52.9	−17%	+23%	84	90	vs Canada →
23	South AfricaVisa	52.9	−54%	−69%	62	36	vs Canada →
24	GeorgiaVisa	52.5	−56%	−69%	60	60	vs Canada →
25	Hong Kong	52.3	−18%	+55%	88	80	vs Canada →

What we measured

Cost arbitrage — how much cheaper rent and overall cost of living are vs Canada.
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 Canadian 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