City Guides
These earlier worldwide guides remain available for readers and search history. Modern Expat Magazine's new reporting now focuses on Thailand, with Phuket as its editorial home.
Asia
Choose a country, then compare the city guides with practical detail on housing, healthcare, schools, admin, transport and everyday life.
Bangkok
The city that has everything.
Chiang Mai
Low cost, high quality of life, strong community.
Phuket
The practical side of island life: where to work, shop, eat well, stay healthy and get around.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui suits remote workers, retirees and families who want developed island services with direct air access.
Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan suits independent remote workers and people who value nature, community and a less built-up island.
Hua Hin
Thailand's original beach escape.
Pattaya
Pattaya suits retirees, remote workers, families and service-sector professionals who want a developed coast within reach of Bangkok.
Da Nang
Da Nang is one of Vietnam’s easiest lifestyle bases for remote workers who want beach access without giving up urban services.
Ho Chi Minh City
Choose Ho Chi Minh City for professional opportunity, international services and a large, fast-moving social scene.
Hanoi
Hanoi is best for residents who want Vietnam’s political and cultural capital rather than a frictionless beach base.
Bali
Bali works best for remote workers and families who value community, warm weather and a broad lifestyle scene, and who can choose one compact home area.
Jakarta
Jakarta suits professionals and families who need Indonesia's commercial scale and can organise life around a compact corridor.
Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta suits students, researchers, artists and location-independent workers who value culture, affordability and a more Indonesian social environment.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur suits remote workers, regional professionals and families who want big-city services at a lower cost than Singapore.
Penang
Penang is a strong fit for residents prioritising food, culture, healthcare and a calmer pace over a large corporate market.
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is a strong fit for families, remote workers and Singapore-linked households who can tolerate road and border uncertainty.
Manila
Manila works for people who need services, international connections and a large social ecosystem.
Cebu
Cebu suits an expat who wants a smaller international base than Manila while retaining strong services.
Siargao
Siargao can suit a remote worker who is comfortable with island logistics and seasonal weather.
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the strongest Cambodian base for people who need professional access, international education and the country's deepest services.
Siem Reap
Siem Reap can be a rewarding base for independent workers, hospitality professionals and culture-focused residents who accept a smaller service ecosystem.
Kampot
Kampot works best for independent workers, hospitality operators and retirees who want a small-town community and can maintain strong medical and connectivity backups.
Vientiane
Vientiane is the most practical Laos base for professionals, families and long-stay residents who need institutions, schools and the country's best healthcare access.
Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang suits culturally engaged remote workers, hospitality professionals and long-stay residents who value small-scale life and can maintain medical and connectivity contingencies.
Tokyo
Tokyo works for expats who value opportunity, transit and cultural range.
Osaka
Osaka suits people who want a major city and Kansai mobility without Tokyo’s scale.
Fukuoka
Fukuoka suits expats who want a connected Japanese city without Tokyo’s footprint.
Okinawa
Okinawa suits an expat who wants subtropical island life and can accept car dependence, weather disruption and a smaller service network.
Seoul
Seoul can be a strong base when your legal status, address, language plan, transport and seasonal budget are explicit.
Busan
Busan can be a strong base when your legal status, address, language plan, transport and seasonal budget are explicit.
Jeju
Jeju can be a strong base when your legal status, address, language plan, transport and seasonal budget are explicit.
Europe
Choose a country, then compare the city guides with practical detail on housing, healthcare, schools, admin, transport and everyday life.
Valencia
Valencia is a compelling middle ground: more relaxed than a mega-city while still offering services and transport.
Malaga
Málaga can be a strong remote-work base if you secure a legitimate long-term home, reliable internet and a heat-resilient routine.
Alicante
Alicante suits an expat who wants Mediterranean access without a megacity footprint.
Barcelona
Barcelona is a strong fit for people who want culture, professional networks and car-light city living.
Lisbon
Lisbon is Portugal's strongest fit for people who need international flights, a broad professional network and city-scale culture.
Porto
Porto suits people who want a smaller Portuguese city with culture, universities, business links and ocean access.
Madeira
Madeira suits remote earners, retirees and families who actively want island life and can base essential services around Funchal.
Rome
Rome works when you choose a practical neighbourhood and accept that the city is not a single walkable centre.
Milan
Milan is strongest for career networks, international services and fast rail.
Florence
Choose Florence for a dense daily life, strong rail connections and extraordinary cultural access.
Sicily
Sicily suits people who value climate, community and a slower rhythm more than frictionless logistics.
Marrakech
Marrakech can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Tangier
Tangier can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Casablanca
Casablanca can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Athens
Athens suits professionals, creatives, families and remote workers who want Greece's deepest opportunities and services.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki suits students, academics, remote workers, families and professionals who value a compact social city and northern Greek connections.
Crete
Crete suits remote earners, retirees, families and locally connected professionals who want year-round island life.
Paris
Paris works for people who value opportunity and urban culture and can trade space for access.
Nice
Nice suits an expat who wants Mediterranean access and a manageable city scale.
Montpellier
Montpellier can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Split
Split suits remote workers, families, maritime or regional professionals and retirees who want Adriatic city life with substantial services.
Zagreb
Zagreb suits professionals, families, students and remote workers who want Croatia's deepest services without coastal seasonality.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik suits remote earners, tourism-linked professionals and retirees who actively want a small Adriatic city and accept seasonal intensity.
Middle East
Choose a country, then compare the city guides with practical detail on housing, healthcare, schools, admin, transport and everyday life.
Dubai
Dubai can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, cooling, healthcare and seasonal budget are explicit.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, cooling, healthcare and seasonal budget are explicit.
Goa
Goa can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Bengaluru
Bengaluru can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Mumbai
Mumbai can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Istanbul
Istanbul suits people who enjoy density, history and variety and can handle traffic, language and paperwork.
Antalya
Antalya suits an expat who wants Mediterranean living and can build a year-round plan.
Izmir
Izmir can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Africa
Choose a country, then compare the city guides with practical detail on housing, healthcare, schools, admin, transport and everyday life.
Cape Town
Cape Town can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Durban
Durban can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Nairobi
Nairobi can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Mombasa
Mombasa can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Cairo
Cairo can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Alexandria
Alexandria can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Dahab
Dahab can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Port Louis
Port Louis can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Grand Baie
Grand Baie can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
North America
Choose a country, then compare the city guides with practical detail on housing, healthcare, schools, admin, transport and everyday life.
Mexico City
Mexico City suits professionals, creatives, families and remote workers who want a global city with deep local identity.
Playa del Carmen
Playa suits remote workers, hospitality professionals and active long-stay residents who value a compact coastal centre and regional connections.
Merida
Mérida is a strong fit for families, retirees and remote workers who value cultural life, regional healthcare and a manageable city.
New York
New York can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Miami
Miami can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Austin
Austin can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
San Diego
San Diego can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Toronto
Toronto suits people who value opportunity and diversity and can budget for housing and transit.
Vancouver
Vancouver suits people who value nature and Asia-Pacific connections and can budget for housing.
Montreal
Montreal suits people who want culture and a strong neighbourhood life and are ready to learn French and plan for winter.
South America
Choose a country, then compare the city guides with practical detail on housing, healthcare, schools, admin, transport and everyday life.
Medellin
Medellín suits remote workers and entrepreneurs who value transit, social networks and a year-round city lifestyle.
Bogota
Bogotá suits professionals, families, researchers and culture-focused remote workers who can live near the non-negotiable destination.
Cartagena
Cartagena suits hospitality professionals, Caribbean-focused businesses and remote workers who actively want a hot coastal city.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Cordoba
Córdoba can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Mendoza
Mendoza can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Sao Paulo
São Paulo can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Florianopolis
Florianópolis can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, safety, healthcare and budget are explicit.
San Jose
Greater San José is Costa Rica's most practical base for professional work, specialist medicine, schools and government processes.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo suits remote workers, tourism professionals and families who want a social beach town with broad everyday services.
Nosara
Nosara suits well-funded remote workers, families and wellness professionals who want a nature-led routine and can maintain transport, water and medical contingencies.
Santiago
Santiago can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Montevideo
Montevideo can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Lima
Lima can be a strong base when your lawful status, exact address, transport, climate, healthcare and budget are explicit.
Oceania
Choose a country, then compare the city guides with practical detail on housing, healthcare, schools, admin, transport and everyday life.
Melbourne
Melbourne suits people who value culture, food, universities and neighbourhood life.
Sydney
Sydney suits people who value opportunity density and coastal access and can budget for housing.
Brisbane
Brisbane suits people who want a growing city with outdoor access and a less intense pace than Sydney.
Perth
Perth suits people who value space, outdoor life and a calmer metropolitan pace.
Auckland
Auckland suits people who need a larger job and services market while still wanting beaches and regional access.
Wellington
Wellington suits people who want a dense, creative and civic city and can accept small homes, steep streets and weather.
Christchurch
Christchurch suits people who want a calmer city and South Island access.