The Best Countries to Live in 2026

Planning to relocate can be exciting, but it can also be fraught with concern. When considering moving abroad, whether for a holiday or to live, we will inevitably review safety, affordability and whether it offers what we look for in terms of healthcare, green spaces, education and more.

We took the most recent Numbeo Quality of Life Index to explore the best countries to live in for 2026 and beyond.

The Numbeo Quality of Life Index currently ranks the following 10 countries as the best to live in. It factors in purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, property prices, commute times, pollution and climate to deliver a comprehensive ranking, allowing nationals and expats to have a clear understanding of the quality of life within a chosen country.

As of December 2025, the top ten countries to live in are:

Luxembourg ranks as the best country to live in for 2026, thanks to an exceptional quality of life that includes low unemployment, a stable economy, decent wages and low levels of crime.

One key factor that makes living in Luxembourg so attractive is the healthcare system. It’s widely acknowledged as one of the best in the world, and with universal coverage coupled with robust social benefits, expats and nationals can feel comfortable knowing that high-quality care is available.

Additionally, state-funded international schools in a multilingual education system prove to be of huge benefit for expats. Combine this with free public transport, and school runs or dashes to work no longer become a petrol- and cost-draining chore.

Luxembourg also fares well environmentally, with both its climate and pollution levels much more favourable than those seen in many other European countries.

Work-life balance is always a factor in any relocation, and in Luxembourg, it is something that people achieve relatively easily. There is a tremendous focus on well-being in Luxembourg. The theatre, museums, cinema and a host of live music events make it easy to switch off after work. Combine this with an abundance of green space, and you can feel the pressures of life lifting as soon as you step out of the office.

Luxembourg is also a great base for those who may need easy connections to the rest of Europe. Its central location makes flights to London, Munich, Vienna, Madrid and many more very easy. Paris can be reached via a high-speed train service, too.

Overall, Luxembourg provides a pleasant and calm environment that removes you from the hustle and bustle found in many other European countries. Combine this with high levels of safety, an excellent education system, a much-envied health system and a myriad of job opportunities, and you can see why it ranks so highly.

The Numbeo Quality of Life Index also ranks countries on safety. It factors the general perception of crime levels, perceived safety, concerns about specific crimes and the severity of both property and violent crimes.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranks as the safest country in the world to live. This is due to the advanced surveillance systems that operate throughout the country, combined with a strong police presence and strict penalties for offenders.

Cities such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah regularly feature in listings for the safest cities in the world, further enhancing the nation’s placement as the safest country in the world to live.

Women, children, couples and families can all feel safe in the UAE and go about their normal lives with minimal concern that they may be victims of a crime. Whether it’s walking at night, shopping in busy areas or socialising with friends, the risk of crime remains low.

That being said, many things accepted as normal in many Western countries are criminalised in the UAE. Swearing, drinking without an alcohol license, drug possession and homosexuality are just some of the things that could see you arrested with penalties ranging from a fine to death sentences. It is also important to respect the local traditions and culture to ensure you don’t fall foul of any laws. Women, for example, must dress modestly, covering the tops of arms and legs when in public.

Overall, the UAE is very safe, and expats will find it very unlikely they will be a victim of crime. Just adhere to the rules and understand what is deemed illegal before travelling to have the safest experience in the UAE.

Healthcare plays a key role in relocation plans. From costs to standards and from accessibility to international support, expats want to feel confident that their healthcare needs are not only met but exceeded when moving to a new country. Taiwan currently ranks number one and is joined in the top ten by fellow Asian nations South Korea, Japan, and Thailand.

Taiwan has a world-renowned healthcare system that achieves 99.9% coverage. Its mandatory enrollment ensures that citizens and residents have easy access to low-cost, comprehensive healthcare benefits. This includes inpatient and outpatient care as well as dental care, pharmaceuticals, and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). Furthermore, mental health care is also covered, enabling a broad range of services to be made available to those living in Taiwan.

Over recent years, the country has consistently featured among the top countries in the world for healthcare, and its positioning in the 2025 rankings makes it the 7^th successive year that Taiwan has been recognised for having the best global healthcare.

Compared to many other countries where out-of-pocket expenses can be high, Taiwan manages to keep them quite low. Roughly 10%-20% of costs for care are likely to be covered by the patient, with the remainder covered by the government. A comprehensive international health insurance policy can help reduce any out-of-pocket costs even more.

Patient satisfaction in Taiwan is generally high, with rates of 90% commonly hit in recent years. Many hospitals are also internationally accredited by bodies such as JCI for their advanced specialities, high levels of care, excellent staff and streamlined processes.

As an expat, access to the public system is quick and easy if employed there. Simply holding an ARC and being employed means you are enrolled from your first day of employment. This then gives you access to a wide range of low-cost healthcare services. Non-working expats will be eligible after living in Taiwan for six months.

The cost of living is another key factor when choosing where to live. Numbeo uses two indices here. One is for local purchasing power, and the other is for the cost of living. The cost of living index does not incorporate wages, taxes and social security, therefore making it not truly representative of income compared to expenditure. The Local Purchasing Power Index is the most useful tool for expats as it shows how far the average salary may go.

Kuwait stands out globally for its exceptional local purchasing power. Expats can enjoy getting more value from their income here than they can in many other countries. For relatively high wages, the cost of living is what many would deem moderate or low.

This makes Kuwait an attractive option for those who want their money to go a little further. Everyday expenses, such as groceries and utilities, can be more expensive than they are in some other low-cost countries, but the costs are generally offset by the higher earning potential that allows for a higher disposable income.

It’s this that leads many digital nomads, retirees and even families to consider Kuwait as a new home.

We’ve listed some of the typical expenses below to give you an idea of how much you could be spending in Kuwait:

These costs demonstrate that eating out can be inexpensive, and transportation is extremely cheap. Housing costs can be high and will vary per location, but compared to many Western cities, they remain favourable.

Property prices are another key indicator of whether a country is a good place to live. If too much of your income is being spent on rent or mortgages, there is less disposable cash to use on enjoying your new life abroad. Currently, Oman has the best house prices compared to income, with South Africa and the USA completing the top three. The top ten countries for this metric are as follows:

Oman is a country showing significant growth within its property market. 2025 has been deemed a year of strength and development. The current Numbeo reports indicate that mortgages as a percentage of income are approximately 30% but in areas such as Muscat, this edges much closer to 50%. Whilst this still sounds relatively high, compared to London (119%), New York (108%) and Paris (106%), Oman is significantly more affordable.

Various reports state that the average earnings for expats in Oman range from 600 OMR per month to more than 5,000 OMR (£1,165-£9,709), depending on job role. To enable money to go even further, many employees include benefits such as transport costs and sometimes accommodation. This means that expats working in Oman have more disposable income after paying their mortgage/rent and commuting to and from work.

One notable factor is that income tax does not apply in Oman. Combine this with the low cost of living, and it becomes much easier for income to be saved, invested and utilised for a better standard of living. For comparison, buying a house in Oman could cost a little over $1,000 per month, whereas a similar property in London can cost close to $6,000 each month.

Pollution is naturally a concern for many of us. The health risks are well-documented. When planning to relocate, the effects of pollution may weigh heavily on the mind, especially if moving abroad with young children, elderly relatives, or those in poor health. As perhaps expected, many of the best countries in the world for managing and preventing pollution exposure are Nordic countries. On the Numbeo list, Finland is currently the best country in the world to live in for pollution levels, with Iceland, Estonia, Sweden and Norway making up the top five.

Finland has some of the cleanest air in the world, thanks to the vast forests and low industrial emissions. It constantly ranks among the top countries for meeting WHO guidelines with fine particulate matter levels of just PM2.5. Only a handful of countries are close to this.

Trees cover more than 75% of the land area of Finland, allowing for far more oxygen to be produced than you would find in heavily developed urban areas. There are currently more than 40 national parks in Finland, all contributing to the clean air that expats, tourists and nationals benefit from.

This lack of pollution and substantially cleaner air also helps with sleep. Studies have shown that sleeping in cleaner air makes people feel much better, more relaxed and more focused.

If you visit Lapland, you can find the exact spot of the cleanest air in the world by heading to Pallas. This is where the WHO recorded the crispest, cleanest air in the world. For many expats, though, city life may be more likely, and for the cleanest air in Finnish cities, you should head to Oulu.

This clean air also helps with food. Berries and herbs growing in the wild can be picked and eaten (as long as they are not toxic!) without fear of contamination from fumes or chemicals. You’ll notice just how clean the air in Finland is through the abundance of “beard moss”. You’ll see if growing on trees and looking like threads dangling from branches. This is a lichen extremely sensitive to air pollution, so if it’s thriving, you know you are in a very clean air zone.

If you are relocating in 2026, speak to the team at Expatriate Healthcare. We provide comprehensive health insurance and expat travel insurance to ensure expats can move without the fear of unexpected medical or travel expenses.