For the fifth consecutive year, Vietnam has been recognized as the most affordable country for expatriates, ranking first in personal finance out of 46 destinations in the 2025 Expat Insider report published by InterNations. InterNations is the leading online platform and global community for expatriates living and working in different countries.
This annual research is based on a survey of over 10,000 expatriates from 172 different nationalities worldwide.
The personal finance index is assessed through three main factors: financial satisfaction, cost of living, and the affordability of a comfortable lifestyle.
Asian countries dominate the top 10
According to InterNations, the 10 most affordable countries for expatriates in 2025 are:
1. Vietnam
2. Colombia
3. Panama
4. China
5. Thailand
6. Indonesia
7. Philippines
8. Mexico
9. Malaysia
10. Brazil
Asian countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, make up half of the list, including Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Notably, no European country made it to the top 10.
“Compared to 2024, nine countries maintained their positions in the top 10. The only newcomer is Malaysia, which climbed from 11th place last year to 9th place this year,” the report stated.
In Vietnam, an impressive 89% of surveyed expatriates expressed satisfaction with the overall cost of living, significantly higher than the global average of 40%. Additionally, 87% of respondents indicated that their disposable income was enough or more than enough to live comfortably, compared to a global average of 69%.
With its reasonable cost of living, Vietnam has become a popular choice for expatriates seeking a long-term residence. The report reveals that 54% of those surveyed have lived in Vietnam for more than five years, and 30% plan to stay indefinitely.
Colombia and Panama, the second and third-ranked countries, respectively, also boast similar indices. In Colombia, a remarkable 92% of surveyed expatriates stated that their income was enough to live comfortably. Notably, none of the expatriates considered the cost of living a significant concern before moving to Colombia, which is a stark contrast to the global average of 21%.
Panama, on the other hand, is especially attractive to retirees, with 35% of expatriates there already retired, far exceeding the global average of 11%.
The 10 most expensive countries
On the other end of the spectrum, InterNations also revealed the 10 most expensive countries for expatriates:
– Norway (ranking 37th out of 46 countries)
– Australia
– Ireland
– South Korea
– Singapore
– Qatar
– Turkey
– Finland
– United Kingdom
– Canada (the most expensive)
Canada and the United Kingdom ranked lowest in personal finance, with 62% and 61% of expatriates, respectively, expressing dissatisfaction with the overall cost of living, far higher than the global average of 40%.
The report also noted three new entries in the top 10 most expensive countries: Qatar (42nd), Australia (38th), and notably, South Korea (40th), which dropped a significant 25 places since 2024.
The United States ranked 35th out of 46 countries in personal finance, narrowly escaping the bottom 10.
– 15:05 03/09/2025
