Vietnam stands out as the most affordable place for expats to live, according to a recent report by InterNations. This Southeast Asian country has consistently held the top spot for the past four years, ranking first out of 53 destinations in terms of personal finances. While Vietnam scored lower in categories like quality of life and expat essentials, it excelled in factors related to personal finance. More than 12,000 expats participated in the survey, providing insights into the best and worst places to live, working abroad, and overall quality of life.
Vietnam is closely followed by countries like Colombia, Indonesia, Panama, and the Philippines in terms of affordability for expats. Asian countries dominated the top 10 list, with six out of the positions filled by countries in this region. Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have emerged as popular choices for expats due to their affordable housing options and low cost of living.
A staggering 86% of expats living in Vietnam rate the cost of living favorably, which is more than double the global average of 40%. Additionally, 65% of respondents in the country express satisfaction with their financial situation compared to the global average of 54%. Moreover, 68% of expats in Vietnam believe that their disposable household income is more than enough to lead a comfortable life, compared to 41% globally. These statistics highlight the financial benefits of living in Vietnam for expats.
Expats in Vietnam not only enjoy low costs of living but also tend to earn more compared to the global average. The country sees a high percentage of expats reporting a gross yearly income of $150k USD or more. Job satisfaction among expats is also high in Vietnam, with the country jumping from 24th to 3rd rank in 2024 for this factor. Work-life balance is prioritized over career advancement in Vietnam, leading to a stress-free and fulfilling work environment for expats.
In addition to personal finance, the InterNations Expat Insider study explores other aspects of life abroad for expats. Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines were among the top 10 destinations globally for expats, based on indices like general happiness, quality of life, ease of settling in, working abroad, and expat essentials. These countries offer a well-rounded expat experience, making them popular choices for individuals seeking to live abroad.
Leave a Reply