Case File #93

TownleapBest Countries to Move to

Cost, safety, visa paths — the stuff you actually lose sleep over.

City TinderRight-swipe your dealbreakers. Left-swipe your nightmares.

How it works

1

Tell us what matters

Visa paths? Budget? Safety? Coast or mountains?

2

Get matched

Cities ranked by your relocation priorities

3

Compare & move

Real data on cost, residency & quality of life.

City of the Day

A city you probably weren't thinking about. Maybe you should be.

🇹🇭

Chiang Mai

Rent from $462/mo — yes, really

$462/mo rent31°C summersMountainsVery safe

Data from World Bank, IMF, UNODC, Numbeo, EIU, EF EPI & Ookla

By the numbers

Rent in Rosario (AR) is 19x cheaper than New York

Dubai has the fastest city internet of any city in our database — 378 Mbps

52 cities in our database have active or hub-level startup ecosystems

Bangkok has a homicide rate of just 0.01 per 100k — one of the world's safest cities

Dubai peaks at 41°C in summer — pack accordingly

12 cities are in countries with improving democracy trends in 2025

14 cities offer a path to permanent residency in 3 years or less

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best country to move to from the US or Europe in 2026?

It depends on your priorities. For affordable relocation within Europe, Lisbon and Barcelona offer Mediterranean climate at relatively affordable rents. Prague and Warsaw are cheaper. For stability and quality of life, Vienna and Stockholm rank high. Outside Europe, Tbilisi and Buenos Aires offer low cost and easy residency. Use our City Tinder quiz to find the best match for your situation.

Which European cities have the lowest cost of living?

Tbilisi (Georgia), Belgrade (Serbia), and Batumi (Georgia) have the lowest rents. In the EU, Budapest (Hungary) and Krakow (Poland) are significantly cheaper than Western Europe. Check our Rankings page for real data.

Where should I move from Russia or Ukraine?

Cities with easy entry for both Russian and Ukrainian passports: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi (Georgia — visa-free 1 year), Belgrade, Novi Sad (Serbia), Budapest, Debrecen (Hungary), Buenos Aires (Argentina — PR in 2 years), Medellín (Colombia), Bali (Indonesia), Istanbul (Turkey), Yerevan (Armenia — PR in 1 year). See the Open Door Cities collection for all options ranked by affordability and livability.

How does Townleap compare cities?

Using real data: Numbeo (cost of living), EIU (democracy), UNODC (crime), Ookla (internet), EF EPI (English proficiency), and World Bank (economics). Every score is derived from real data — nothing invented. Try the comparison tool to see two cities side by side.

Which cities are easiest to get residency in?

Georgia allows visa-free stays up to 1 year for most nationalities. Portugal, Greece, and Spain have golden visa and digital nomad visa programs. Each city page includes residency info for that country. See the full Residency & Visa Guide for a ranked breakdown, or explore Remote Work Visa cities.

What are the best affordable European cities with good weather?

For warm summers and affordable rent, look at Athens (Greece), Budapest, Belgrade, and Istanbul. These cities combine summer temps of 24–33°C with rents under $1,000/month. See our Warm & Affordable Europe collection for a ranked list.

What are the best cities in Asia for expats?

Singapore tops Asia on safety and infrastructure but has high rents. Kuala Lumpur offers a strong balance of affordability and English proficiency. Bangkok and Chiang Mai are popular for low costs and warm weather. See our Asia & Pacific collection for a full ranked list.

Is it cheaper to live in Europe than in the US?

For most European cities, yes — significantly cheaper. New York rent averages $4,100/month for a 1-bedroom city centre apartment; Los Angeles $2,430; Chicago $2,410. Compare that to Lisbon ($1,547), Barcelona ($1,400), Prague ($900), or Budapest ($662). Quality of life metrics — safety, healthcare access, democracy — are comparable or better across Western Europe. Compare any two cities for exact numbers.