After a year of lockdowns, many people are looking for a change – whether it’s a temporary move to become a digital nomad or a more permanent change to become an expatriate in a new country.

But with so many countries to choose from, deciding on your new home can be daunting.

Luckily, expat community organization InterNations have got you covered. They have just published their Expat Insider 2021 Survey which uncovers the best destinations for living and working abroad.

The main indices measured in the seventh edition of the survey of more than 12,000 expatriates included quality of life, ease of settling in, working abroad, personal finance, and cost of living.

Respondents also discussed how the Covid-19 pandemic had impacted their life abroad, but these responses did not influence the overall ranking, the report said.

The study covers expats’ satisfaction with the quality of life, ease of settling in, working life, personal finance, and the cost of living in their respective countries of residence.

This year, respondents were also asked to feedback on their experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it has impacted their lifestyle abroad.

Top 10 countries for expatriates to work and live:

1. Taiwan
2. Mexico
3. Costa Rica
4. Malaysia
5. Portugal
6. New Zealand
7. Australia
8. Ecuador
9. Canada
10. Vietnam

Where should expats avoid in 2021?

Of the 59 countries analysed, the lowest scoring included Kuwait (59th), Italy, South Africa, Russia, Egypt, Japan, Cyprus, Turkey, India and Malta (50th). According to the research, Kuwait is the hardest country for expats to feel at home in, Italy is the worst for personal finances and expats in South Africa have concerns around their safety.

The UK was 45th, ranking badly for personal finance and ease of settling in – however, it scored higher for working abroad, coming in at 29th. The notoriously bad weather was taken into consideration, too.