How Should You Choose the Best Country to Live In?

Looking for somewhere to start a new life is one of the most exciting yet stressful moments you’ll experience. Making the right decision is crucial, so what are the key factors to take into account that will allow you to make a choice that improves your lifestyle?

The Quality of Life Index
Several studies have shown which countries and cities offer the best quality of life, depending on the specific criteria used. The 2025 Human Progress Index (HPI) rankings from CEOWorld put Switzerland at the top, ahead of Norway, Iceland and Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the Global Liveability Index is issued by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) each year, with Copenhagen rated as number one in 2025, followed by Vienna and Zurich.
Of course, you also need to take into account your tastes and needs. Are you looking for a warm climate, access to the beach, or a thriving cultural scene? Everyone who is thinking of moving to a new country should take some time to complete a list of their top requirements. It’s clear that we all look for different things from a city, so you shouldn’t simply accept other people’s opinions.

The Affordability Aspect
Where can you afford to live the kind of lifestyle that you would like? There are really two aspects to this: the amount you can earn there and the cost of living. If you need to find local work, you’ll want to research the job market to see what kind of salary you can expect with your skills and experience.
Finding out the cost of living isn’t quite as easy as it depends on your specific circumstances and what kind of lifestyle you want to lead there. The 2024 Cost-of-Living Cities Index by Compare the Market assessed 42 major cities, with the winner Seoul finishing ahead of Brisbane and Luxembourg in the final rankings.

The Need for Paperwork
All of the previous points should help you start to get a clear idea of where you want to live, but there’s still a hugely important issue to be dealt with before you can pack your bags and start again in a new city. This is the paperwork aspect, since most of us need to get a visa or citizenship. For digital nomads, many countries now offer special visas, with Costa Rica leading this list, followed by Estonia and Spain, but not everyone can take this route to starting a new life.

The example of the UK Spouse Visa shows us how a move can be much easier if you meet the eligibility criteria. In this case, just being married to a British citizen isn’t enough for you to be able to start living there. You need to meet the listed criteria and then carry out the application process, with new rules potentially being implemented as part of the UK Government’s 2025 Immigration White Paper.

By assessing each of these areas, you can work out how to make a decision that moves your life in the right direction. With so many possible destinations to choose from, you owe it to yourself to take the time necessary to choose wisely.

Further Reading:
You can find out more about a possible destination by reading our guide to Milan or checking the latest quality of life rankings.

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