There are plenty of reasons to move abroad, from job prospects and joining your other half to simply wanting to live somewhere with better weather.
If you need a bit of guidance when deciding where to go, we have good news, as Remitly’s Immigration Index 2026 is out now.
The index evaluates 82 countries across 34 metrics, including the cost of living in terms of food, rent, mortgages and purchasing power, culture, education systems, happiness, healthcare, safety and salaries.
In this year’s ranking, Switzerland came out on top overall, having placed second in 2025.
“Switzerland stands out for its exceptional earning potential (ranking first globally for this category); strong healthcare access; high safety standards; and great earning potential,” Remitly wrote in the ranking.
“Switzerland’s appeal is further enhanced by a well-established immigrant community and public utility infrastructure. Scoring highly in newly evaluated metrics such as international school offering and energy provisions has earned Switzerland its top spot.”
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to picking where to live, but here’s some of the top-rated places across the globe.
The most immigrant-friendly nations to move to in 2026
Hot on the heels of Switzerland, Iceland was ranked number two having taken pole position last year.
Remitly praised the Nordic country for its earning potential, safety, and environmental performance, noting that the lower number of international schools explains the drop in ranking.
“With strong family-friendly policies and one of the world’s happiest populations, Iceland offers immigrants a high quality of life in a close-knit society,” Remitly added.
Third place went to Luxembourg, thanks to its strong earning potential, high safety levels and excellent public transform, making it hugely attractive to those seeking “stability, mobility and a high standard of living in the heart of Europe”.
The only country in the top five overall that is outside of Europe, Australia ranked fourth thanks to its “welcoming immigrant community, strong earning potential and outdoor-focused lifestyle”.
Rounding out the top five is Germany, which Remitly called a “dependable choice for immigrants seeking opportunity within Europe’s largest economy, supported by strong worker protections and long-term career prospects”.
The country also is home to some of the most affordable cities to purchase property in.
The top 10 countries to move to:
- Switzerland
- Iceland
- Luxembourg
- Australia
- Germany
- Ireland
- US
- Denmark
- Norway
- Spain
The best family-friendly countries
Looking at family-friendly metrics including the education system, maternity and paternity leave, annual childcare costs, and number of international schools, Spain is in first place.
“With a strong social infrastructure, the European nation continues to stand out as a destination for families looking to build stability and opportunity abroad,” Eva Borislavova, Remitly Europe CEO, said.
“For many, that combination of access, support, and quality of life makes Spain an increasingly compelling choice.”
Aside from Spain, only three other European countries made it into the top 10 in this category: The UK in eighth, Iceland in ninth, and Croatia in 10th.
The rest of the top 10 was rounded out by China (second), the US (third), Sri Lanka (fourth), the UAE (fifth), Australia (sixth) and Bangladesh (seventh).
The countries with the best cost of living balance
Remitly’s ranking also looked at which countries offer the best cost of living balance by looking at purchasing power, mortgage costs as a percentage of income, the average rent compared to salary, and the average cost of eating out.
Saudi Arabia came out top, with strong wages relative to living costs and lower housing burdens for homeowners. (NB: Data was collected prior to the US-Israel attack on Iran).
In Europe, Norway ranked the highest for cost of living balance, coming in fourth, followed closely by Denmark in fifth.
Luxembourg came out eighth, with Ireland in ninth place.
Other countries in the top 10 include Bangladesh (second), the US (third), Oman (sixth), Pakistan (seventh), and Nepal (10th).
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