To establish the finest cities for expats, Global Citizen Solutions assessed every location throughout seven livable cities indicators: price of dwelling, security, air high quality, healthcare, ease of settling in, English proficiency, and enhanced mobility. The staff used data from publicly out there datasets to create a rating between 0 and 100.
Under that methodology, Lisbon earned the prime spot as the finest metropolis for expats in 2026. The Portuguese capital garnered a rating of 88.49 in Global Citizen Solutions’ examine, incomes constantly excessive rankings throughout all classes. It’s amongst the least costly capitals in the index, one of the cleanest cities in terms of air high quality, and it boasts a better security rating than different European metropolises like Paris, Rome, and Barcelona.
Additionally, Portugal affords expats a number of pathways to residency, together with its versatile digital nomad visa, which permits members to resume for as much as 4 years, and its residence-by-investment program, which affords a path to citizenship.
Clocking in at No. 2 on the listing is Amsterdam, with a rating of 81.97 because of sturdy security ranges, high-quality healthcare, and clear air—maybe as a result of the well-known biking tradition. The Dutch capital additionally had the highest stage of English proficiency throughout the index’s European cities, making each day life terribly accessible for American expats.
Melbourne ranks as the highest-performing metropolis exterior Europe in third place. The cosmopolitan Australian metropolis scored 81.79 factors as a result of its accessible dwelling setting and remarkably clear air. “High-quality healthcare, stable governance, and well-developed urban systems support a reliable standard of living, particularly for residents relocating from other English-speaking countries,” the report says.
Vienna scooped up fourth place with a rating of 81.07 primarily based on its sturdy efficiency in healthcare, comparatively manageable price of dwelling, well-connected public transportation programs, and expansive inexperienced areas.