2024 was filled with numerous challenges, among which geopolitical upheavals and an economic crisis stand out. That is why the main factor that expats paid attention to when choosing a city to move to this year was stability. Find out which cities in the world were named the best for expats

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The development of remote work has significantly affected the mobility of people in the world. Digital nomads can easily change their place of residence without leaving their favorite job. Also, the geopolitical crisis of 2024 forced people with high capital to look for more peaceful places to move. These factors significantly affected migration flows in the world in the year that is ending.

Read more about the cities that were named the best for expats in 2024.

How were the best cities for expats in 2024 chosen?

Consulting firm Mercer has published its new quality of life report for 2024, in which the largest cities in the world were analyzed based on 39 factors, including political stability, healthcare, education, recreation and housing.

According to the analysis, Western Europe remained the main destination for expatriates seeking a high standard of living, safety and cultural richness in 2024.

When it comes to city analysis, the leaders in Mercer’s list are always known for their excellent public services, ease of living and appeal to expats. These destinations are rated not only for their high standard of living, but also for their balance between urban amenities and nature.

The world’s best cities for expats in 2024

1st place – Zurich, Switzerland

Switzerland’s main financial centre, Zurich, took first place in the Mercer ranking thanks to its high quality of public services, low crime rate, vibrant culture and strong commitment to sustainable development.

Zurich is known for its fairytale atmosphere, as the city is located on the shores of a picturesque lake. It also has a well-developed public transport system. Another significant advantage is that it offers expats a high standard of living.

However, its appeal also has some drawbacks, in particular, the very high cost of living here, which can be a significant problem for some expats.

2nd place – Vienna, Austria

Vienna is among the leaders, as it has a low crime rate, relatively low pollution, a good healthcare system and quite high salaries. The city is very convenient to live in, and there is also a well-developed public transport system. In addition, most expats noted the beauty of Vienna.

3rd place – Geneva, Switzerland

Another Swiss city that made it into the top three best cities in the world for expats. Geneva can be noted for its strong international community, exceptional healthcare system and beautiful natural landscapes.

4th place – Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is an ideal place for digital nomads and expats, as it has a low cost of living and an excellent public transport system. It is also known for its safety. Expats especially note the perfect work-life balance in Copenhagen.

5th place – Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland consistently ranks high in global quality of life surveys. This is due to the city’s clean environment, low crime rate, excellent healthcare system and good work-life balance.

Also making the top ten:

- 6th place – Amsterdam, Netherlands

- 7th place – Frankfurt, Germany

- 8th place – Vancouver, Canada

- 9th place – Bern, Switzerland

- 10th place – Basel, Switzerland

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Mercer’s Global Quality of Living Index

According to the analysis, cities that offer a balance between affordability and quality of life are becoming increasingly desirable in 2024. This trend is exemplified by cities like Los Angeles, which rose 26 places in the ranking due to improvements in crime, air quality and internet access.

While Western Europe leads the way in terms of quality of life versus cost of living, other parts of the world are also seeing changes. Due to ongoing political instability and rising costs of living, Singapore, the highest-ranked city in Asia, fell one place to 30th, while Hong Kong fell sharply to 76th.

Boston led the way in the US at 32nd, overtaking New York City, which was only 45th.

Sydney saw a slight decline, dropping three places to 12th, while Melbourne and Canberra took 20th and 29th place.

The worst cities for expats in 2024

At the bottom of the Mercer ranking are cities suffering from political instability, lack of infrastructure and ongoing conflicts, which were named the worst for expats in 2024:

- 241st place – Khartoum, Sudan

- 240th place – Baghdad, Iraq

- 239th place – Bangui, Central African Republic

- 238th place – Sana’a, Yemen

- 237th place – Port-au-Prince, Haiti

- 236th place – N’Djamena, Chad

- 235th place – Damascus, Syria

- 234th place – Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

- 233rd place – Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

- 232nd place – Tripoli, Libya

Lack of infrastructure and security issues were the main factors that affected the the attractiveness of these cities for expats.

The ranking of the best and worst cities for expats is an important indicator, as it helps those who are considering moving abroad to start a new phase and choose a destination that meets both personal and professional goals.

Let us remind you! At the end of 2024, the number of Americans considering moving abroad increased significantly. Typically, Americans choose English-speaking countries and states in Europe. We talked about the most popular destinations for Americans to move to in 2024 and available migration options earlier.

Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

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