Best cities
Best English-Friendly Cities for Expats
This ranking combines English-friendly trait signals with the English-friendly score.
cityregioncost/mointernetverdictscore
01StockholmSwedenMaybe: internet is the main reason to consider it, but affordability and our $4,760/mo estimate make it profile-dependent.❄️ Northern Europe$4,760/mo136 MbpsMAYBE10.002VictoriaCanadaGo: Canada's best climate, walkable, safe, with growing tech scene and island lifestyle. ~$3,800/mo.🗽 North America$3,800/mo106 MbpsGO9.903AdelaideAustraliaMaybe: excellent value for Australia, great wine and food, but somewhat isolated and can feel quiet. ~$3,300/mo.🦘 Oceania$3,300/mo90 MbpsMAYBE9.904CalgaryCanadaMaybe: great mountain access, no provincial tax, and growing tech scene, but harsh winters and car-dependent sprawl. ~$3,500/mo.🗽 North America$3,500/mo141 MbpsMAYBE9.905BrisbaneAustraliaGo: Subtropical river city on the rise — affordable Australian living with year-round warmth. Our estimate: ~$4,100/mo.🦘 Oceania$4,100/mo90 MbpsGO9.806LiverpoolUnited KingdomMaybe: incredible culture and value, but weather is relentless and the city has rough edges. ~$2,600/mo.🏰 Western Europe$2,600/mo90 MbpsMAYBE9.807LeedsUnited KingdomMaybe: strong economy and value, but weather is tough and city has rough edges beyond the center. ~$2,700/mo.🏰 Western Europe$2,700/mo90 MbpsMAYBE9.808HobartAustraliaMaybe: unique cultural and natural offering, but small, isolated, and limited professional opportunities. ~$3,300/mo.🦘 Oceania$3,300/mo68 MbpsMAYBE9.809OttawaCanadaMaybe: excellent infrastructure, safety, and tech scene, but cold winters, government-town blandness, and high costs. ~$3,600/mo.🗽 North America$3,600/mo141 MbpsMAYBE9.810Gold CoastAustraliaMaybe: outstanding beaches and climate, but car-dependent, expensive, and culturally thin beyond the beach. ~$3,900/mo.🦘 Oceania$3,900/mo68 MbpsMAYBE9.811ManchesterUnited KingdomGo: Northern England's creative powerhouse with real affordability and big-city energy. Our estimate: ~$3,250/mo.🏰 Western Europe$3,250/mo90 MbpsGO9.812SydneyAustraliaMaybe: Harbour city icon — beaches, brunch culture, and big-city energy in the sun. Our estimate: ~$5,400/mo.🦘 Oceania$5,400/mo117 MbpsMAYBE9.813Newcastle upon TyneUnited KingdomMaybe: exceptional value and culture, but harsh winters and limited international connections. ~$2,450/mo.🏰 Western Europe$2,450/mo90 MbpsMAYBE9.714CardiffUnited KingdomMaybe: great value for UK, walkable and compact, but limited international connections and name recognition. ~$2,550/mo.🏰 Western Europe$2,550/mo90 MbpsMAYBE9.715HalifaxCanadaMaybe: charming, walkable, and affordable by Canadian standards, but harsh winters, limited international connections, and small-city scale. ~$3,000/mo.🗽 North America$3,000/mo106 MbpsMAYBE9.716CorkIrelandMaybe: good tech scene and genuine character, but expensive, rainy, and smaller than it needs to be for nomad infrastructure. ~$3,200/mo.🏰 Western Europe$3,200/mo104 MbpsMAYBE9.717BristolUnited KingdomMaybe: Creative, green, and independent — England's most liveable mid-size city. Our estimate: ~$3,350/mo.🏰 Western Europe$3,350/mo90 MbpsMAYBE9.718ChicagoUSAGo: Big shoulders, deep dish, and lakefront — America's most underrated great city. Our estimate: ~$3,900/mo.🗽 North America$3,900/mo166 MbpsGO9.719TorontoCanadaMaybe: Canada's multicultural megacity — diverse, dynamic, and four-season. Our estimate: ~$4,900/mo.🗽 North America$4,900/mo183 MbpsMAYBE9.720VancouverCanadaMaybe: Mountains meet Pacific — stunning setting with world-class Asian food and outdoor life. Our estimate: ~$5,300/mo.🗽 North America$5,300/mo141 MbpsMAYBE9.721BelfastUnited KingdomMaybe: excellent value for UK, growing tech scene, and cultural energy, but weather is rough and some neighborhood awareness needed. ~$2,500/mo.🏰 Western Europe$2,500/mo67 MbpsMAYBE9.722GalwayIrelandMaybe: incredible atmosphere and culture, but expensive, small, and extremely rainy. ~$3,000/mo.🏰 Western Europe$3,000/mo104 MbpsMAYBE9.723CanberraAustraliaMaybe: excellent infrastructure and safety, but expensive, car-dependent, and can feel like a company town for government. ~$3,800/mo.🦘 Oceania$3,800/mo90 MbpsMAYBE9.724GlasgowUnited KingdomMaybe: Scotland's largest city — raw charm, great music, and real affordability. Our estimate: ~$2,850/mo.🏰 Western Europe$2,850/mo90 MbpsMAYBE9.725ChristchurchNew ZealandMaybe: Rebuilt from the earthquakes — New Zealand's garden city with mountain access. Our estimate: ~$3,350/mo.🦘 Oceania$3,350/mo119 MbpsMAYBE9.726WellingtonNew ZealandMaybe: Windy capital with craft beer, film, and a compact creative buzz. Our estimate: ~$3,650/mo.🦘 Oceania$3,650/mo119 MbpsMAYBE9.727PerthAustraliaMaybe: Australia's sunniest city — isolated, beautiful, and surprisingly liveable. Our estimate: ~$4,300/mo.🦘 Oceania$4,300/mo90 MbpsMAYBE9.728EdmontonCanadaMaybe: incredibly affordable for Canada with great festival culture, but extreme winters and car-dependent sprawl. ~$3,100/mo.🗽 North America$3,100/mo141 MbpsMAYBE9.629CairnsAustraliaMaybe: unbeatable natural access (Reef + Rainforest), but small, expensive, and seasonal tourist economy. ~$3,200/mo.🦘 Oceania$3,200/mo45 MbpsMAYBE9.630CebuPhilippinesMaybe: Philippines' island hub — affordable tropical base with English and dive culture. Our estimate: ~$1,600/mo.🌴 Southeast Asia$1,600/mo59 MbpsMAYBE9.631San DiegoUSAMaybe: America's finest climate — beaches, burritos, and a laid-back border vibe. Our estimate: ~$5,200/mo.🗽 North America$5,200/mo166 MbpsMAYBE9.632BostonUSAMaybe: America's walking city — Ivy League brainpower, seafood, and four rugged seasons. Our estimate: ~$5,600/mo.🗽 North America$5,600/mo166 MbpsMAYBE9.633Hong KongHong KongMaybe: Vertical city where East meets West — dim sum, skyline, and relentless energy. Our estimate: ~$5,600/mo.🏯 East Asia$5,600/mo247 MbpsMAYBE9.534Washington DCUSAMaybe: Power, monuments, and Smithsonians — free museums meet global policy energy. Our estimate: ~$5,300/mo.🗽 North America$5,300/mo166 MbpsMAYBE9.535HonoluluUSASkip: beaches, weather, and US infrastructure are outstanding, but $5,100/mo costs plus island isolation make it impractical for most nomads.🗽 North America$5,100/mo125 MbpsSKIP9.436PaphosCyprusGo: safety is a clear strength, nightlife is the main watch-out, and our estimate is about $2,500/mo.☀️ Southern Europe$2,500/mo39 MbpsGO9.437LarnacaCyprusGo: safety is a clear strength, nightlife is the main watch-out, and our estimate is about $2,500/mo.☀️ Southern Europe$2,500/mo59 MbpsGO9.338UtrechtNetherlandsGo: Charming Dutch university city with canals, cycling, and a small-city feel. Our estimate: ~$3,400/mo.🏰 Western Europe$3,400/mo123 MbpsGO9.239PuneIndiaGo: strong tech ecosystem, affordable, good English, abundant coworking, and more livable than Mumbai.🕌 South Asia$1,450/mo34 MbpsGO9.040MakatiPhilippinesGo: strong English, fast internet, vibrant social scene, and affordable — if you embrace Manila's energy.🌴 Southeast Asia$1,850/mo59 MbpsGO9.041VallettaMaltaMaybe: Valletta's English, history, Schengen access, and waterfront are superb, but $2,600/mo and cramped old housing make it conditional.☀️ Southern Europe$2,600/mo138 MbpsMAYBE9.042EindhovenNetherlandsGo: strong tech ecosystem, international community, lower costs than Amsterdam, and excellent Dutch infrastructure. ~$3,000/mo.🏰 Western Europe$3,000/mo123 MbpsGO9.043RotterdamNetherlandsGo: Bold, modern architecture and raw port-city energy — Amsterdam's cooler counterpart. Our estimate: ~$3,550/mo.🏰 Western Europe$3,550/mo123 MbpsGO9.044DumaguetePhilippinesMaybe: cost of living is a clear strength, internet is the main watch-out, and the estimate is about $1,150/mo.🌴 Southeast Asia$1,150/mo30 MbpsMAYBE9.045KochiIndiaMaybe: $1,250/mo buys Kerala food, English, backwater access, and solid tech zones, but monsoon humidity and island logistics matter.🕌 South Asia$1,250/mo25 MbpsMAYBE9.046The HagueNetherlandsMaybe: Seat of government, international courts, and a beach — the Netherlands' diplomatic hub. Our estimate: ~$3,450/mo.🏰 Western Europe$3,450/mo123 MbpsMAYBE9.047OsloNorwayMaybe: Fjord-side Scandinavian capital with design, nature, and eye-watering prices. Our estimate: ~$4,700/mo.❄️ Northern Europe$4,700/mo121 MbpsMAYBE9.048IloiloPhilippinesMaybe: cost of living is a clear strength, internet is the main watch-out, and the estimate is about $1,200/mo.🌴 Southeast Asia$1,200/mo59 MbpsMAYBE8.949HyderabadIndiaMaybe: $1,500/mo, English, HITEC City, and great food are compelling, but heat, traffic, pollution, and uneven city layout set the terms.🕌 South Asia$1,500/mo34 MbpsMAYBE8.950SliemaMaltaMaybe: English, EU access, fast internet, and walkability are excellent, but $3,150/mo costs and construction noise make value questionable.☀️ Southern Europe$3,150/mo106 MbpsMAYBE8.951BaguioPhilippinesMaybe: cost of living is a clear strength, nightlife is the main watch-out, and the estimate is about $1,150/mo.🌴 Southeast Asia$1,150/mo45 MbpsMAYBE8.952JaipurIndiaMaybe: visual culture, English access, and $1,150/mo costs shine, while extreme summer heat, dust, touts, and traffic require patience.🕌 South Asia$1,150/mo25 MbpsMAYBE8.953DavaoPhilippinesMaybe: cost of living is a clear strength, walkability is the main watch-out, and the estimate is about $1,300/mo.🌴 Southeast Asia$1,300/mo59 MbpsMAYBE8.954ChennaiIndiaMaybe: strong English, IT infrastructure, food, and $1,400/mo costs are real advantages if heat, traffic, and flooding risk are tolerable.🕌 South Asia$1,400/mo34 MbpsMAYBE8.955KuchingMalaysiaGo: safety is a clear strength, nightlife is the main watch-out, and our estimate is about $1,665/mo.🌴 Southeast Asia$1,665/mo67 MbpsGO8.856GhentBelgiumGo: walkability is a clear strength, weather is the main watch-out, and our estimate is about $3,150/mo.🏰 Western Europe$3,150/mo76 MbpsGO8.857AhmedabadIndiaMaybe: very affordable with strong food culture, but alcohol ban, extreme heat, and limited nomad infrastructure.🕌 South Asia$1,200/mo25 MbpsMAYBE8.858ReykjavikIcelandMaybe: World's northernmost capital — geothermal pools, Northern Lights, and creative energy. Our estimate: ~$4,200/mo.❄️ Northern Europe$4,200/mo228 MbpsMAYBE8.759BrusselsBelgiumMaybe: food is the main reason to consider it, but weather and our $3,770/mo estimate make it profile-dependent.🏰 Western Europe$3,770/mo99 MbpsMAYBE8.660Abu DhabiUAEMaybe: safety is the main reason to consider it, but affordability and our $4,990/mo estimate make it profile-dependent.🏜️ Middle East$4,990/mo196 MbpsMAYBE8.561NicosiaCyprusMaybe: safety is the main reason to consider it, but nightlife and our $2,500/mo estimate make it profile-dependent.☀️ Southern Europe$2,500/mo101 MbpsMAYBE8.062WindhoekNamibiaMaybe: English friendliness is the main reason to consider it, but nightlife and our $1,925/mo estimate make it profile-dependent.🌍 Africa$1,925/mo22 MbpsMAYBE7.963Johor BahruMalaysiaMaybe: affordability is the main reason to consider it, but walkability and our $1,665/mo estimate make it profile-dependent.🌴 Southeast Asia$1,665/mo89 MbpsMAYBE7.764DohaQatarMaybe: safety is the main reason to consider it, but nightlife and our $3,800/mo estimate make it profile-dependent.🏜️ Middle East$3,800/mo141 MbpsMAYBE7.665SwakopmundNamibiaMaybe: English friendliness is the main reason to consider it, but nightlife and our $1,925/mo estimate make it profile-dependent.🌍 Africa$1,925/mo15 MbpsMAYBE7.3