InterNations Ranks Panama as Top Destination for Expats in 2025
InterNations’ latest Expat Insider survey, which gathered responses from 10,085 expatriates across 46 countries, has identified Panama as the best country for expats in 2025. The survey assessed destinations based on five key categories: working abroad, personal finance, quality of life, expat essentials, and ease of settling in, with participants rating up to 53 factors on a scale of one to seven.
Latin America and Asia Dominate Expat Preferences
For the second year running, Panama topped the list, with 94% of expats expressing satisfaction with their life abroad. The country’s appeal lies in its combination of affordable living costs, sound infrastructure, pleasant climate, and welcoming culture. About 35% of respondents are retirees, and 18% cited retirement as their primary reason for relocating to Panama. The cost of living for a single person is estimated to be 36.3% lower than in the United States.
Panama also offers attractive visa options for expats, including the Friendly Nations visa, Pensionado Program, and Remote Worker visa, further enhancing its accessibility.
Colombia, which advanced from fifth place last year to second, was praised for its financial affordability and quality of life. Eighty-one percent of expats reported satisfaction with their financial situation, and 92% felt their disposable income was sufficient for a comfortable lifestyle. Colombia’s cost of living is 62.2% lower than in the U.S., with rent prices 76.2% lower.
Expats also highlighted Colombia’s friendliness and ease of cultural integration, with 36% planning to stay indefinitely and 47% uncertain about leaving. The country offers various visa categories, including migrant and visitor visas with subtypes for investment, work, retirement, study, and digital nomads.
Asian Countries and Spain Among Top Destinations
Asian countries such as Thailand (4th), Vietnam (5th), China (6th), Indonesia (8th), and Malaysia (10th) secured strong positions, reflecting a growing trend of positive expat experiences in Asia. Spain was the only European country to make the top 10, ranking ninth. Kathrin Chudoba, Chief Marketing Officer at InterNations, highlighted the growing importance of personal finance for expats amid economic uncertainty and inflation.
United States Ranks 36th, Falling Behind in Key Areas
The United States did not rank within the top 20, placing 36th, a slight drop from 35th last year. According to Chudoba, the U.S. received lower ratings across affordability, availability and equal access to services, healthcare quality, political stability, and personal freedom. Only 58% of expats in the U.S. felt they could freely express their opinions, below the global average of 63%.
Top 10 Best Countries for Expats in 2025
- Panama
- Colombia
- Mexico
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- China
- United Arab Emirates
- Indonesia
- Spain
- Malaysia
FinOracleAI — Market View
The 2025 Expat Insider survey highlights Latin America and Asia as leading regions for expats, driven by affordability, quality of life, and cultural integration. Panama and Colombia’s strong rankings emphasize the growing appeal of these markets for retirees and remote workers. The U.S.’s lower standing reflects concerns over cost and political climate, which may influence future expat inflows.
Impact: neutral
