InterNations Releases 2014 Survey on Best Places to Expatriate

I’m an experienced global traveler — 70-odd countries and counting, multiple passports to my name — but sometimes, the places my fellow expats decide to expatriate to surprise even me.

As a researcher on the opportunities of expat life and the author of our own Plan B Club for prospective offshore migrants, I’m a regular reader of “expat surveys.” The best known is probably HSBC’s Expat Explorer, which compares and ranks countries based on issues of economics, lifestyle and family-friendliness.

But recently, I came across a survey that beats HSBC’s hands-down, in my opinion, at least for the purposes of people like you and me — the InterNations Expat Insider survey.

The results of the InterNations survey were surprising, to say the least. The top countries in its 2014 survey don’t even appear in HSBC’s list … while some of HSBC’s top destinations are ranked near the bottom by InterNations.

And I’ll bet the country ranked number one by InterNations will surprise you …

There’s No Accounting for Taste

The Romans used to say “De gustibus non est disputandum” … in matters of personal preference, there’s no point in arguing. Nobody’s in a position to judge another person’s subjective tastes … at least when it comes to alternatives. (Ethics and morality, of course, are another matter.)

But the fact that HSBC and InterNations produce vastly different results while both claiming to be based on surveys of “expats” tells me something.

You see, although it doesn’t say so, HSBC’s offering is clearly geared towards foreign corporate assignees. It reflects the opinions of people in the middle of their working lives, with families in tow, working abroad for their employers. Many of those respondents probably have little or no choice where they end up. Nor do they intend to remain overseas forever. It’s just a phase in their career.

But the InterNations Expat Insider surveys all types of expats — including independent people looking for greener pastures in their work, business or retirement life. That’s the sort of person for whom I developed the Plan B Club — the truly Sovereign global citizens amongst us.

Apples and Oranges

“Involuntary expats” such as corporate assignees can benefit from the Plan B Club, too, but its tools and guidelines are really for those of you in a position to make careful, deliberate choices about an overseas life, and to take your time doing so.

It’s no surprise, then, that the InterNations survey ranks countries such as Mexico, Spain and even the Philippines high on the list of those respondents who are looking abroad for comfort, value for money and a great lifestyle.

By the same token, HSBC’s top rankings for countries such as India, Bahrain and China (!) reflect the interests of go-getting careerists who will probably end up looking for very different places to retire.

And The Winner Is …

The country InterNations’ respondents ranked highest for overall quality of expatriate life is … the diminutive Andean country of Ecuador. Nine out of 10 expat respondents report being satisfied with their life there … enough to stay forever.

The South American country scored first place for “Personal Finance,” reflecting its low cost of living and low taxes. It also scored high in “Ease of Settling In,” with the highest result of all surveyed countries for making friends, settling down and feeling at home. Above all, Ecuador came in first place for personal happiness … the thing we’re all after.

All is not champagne and roses, of course. My father’s valuable Passport Book flags concerns about property rights … specifically whether “Ecuadorians and foreigners have the same rights and obligations under the law.” While there have been no limitations on the foreign ownership of land in Ecuador, some foreign-owned businesses have been expropriated. Also, in 2013, Correa got a press censorship law that created a new government media regulator that is engaged in media gagging.

The survey reminded me of a Tennessee couple I know who moved to Ecuador last year. I had met them while working in Haiti during the 2008 earthquake. Like me, the earthquake was their last big disaster relief assignment, and they wanted peace and quiet. But unlike me, they turned to Ecuador to find it … which surprised me at the time. Now I know they aren’t alone in finding what they were looking for in an odd place.

The lesson I take from this? If you think you might want to move abroad one day, take it from me: Get the advice and guidance you need from people who have your needs in mind, people like you — not just those of any old expat.

Kind regards,

Ted Baumann
Offshore and Asset Protection Editor

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