Guess which country is ranked #1 for expats?

Those of us who love to travel know the feeling: you're in some completely foreign place and you find yourself thinking "Could I live here?" Sometimes, the answer is an overwhelming "Yes!"

Even if you think you could live in a foreign place, the idea of packing up your life and family and disconnecting from all the comforts of home can be daunting enough to quell your wanderlust. Being a stranger in a strange town -- especially if every shopkeeper asks you where you're from every single day for three years (I'm looking at you, Liverpool, where I went to college) -- is not always easy.

Well, here's some news that may or may not surprise you. According to Reuters, "The second annual Expat Experience survey, commissioned by HSBC Bank International, revealed that expats in Canada have the best quality of life and found it among the easiest places in the world to integrate with the local population."

The survey, which reached 3,146 people living and working in 50 countries, ranked Australia as number two -- but don't expect that English-speaking was the only factor considered; the third was Thailand, and it was closely followed by Vietnam, Hong Kong, Brunei and Malaysia. Go Asia!

Britain actually ranked among the least satisfying places for expats, particularly because of the high cost of living -- the salaries may be larger, but it doesn't really help.

Alan Smith, Head of International Wealth Management at HSBC International, in his summary of the report, says: "High salary doesn't always mean a high quality of life." This is at least half true; the lowest paid expats reportedly live in Australia (#2) and Belgium (dead last).

You can read the full HSBC Expat Experience report here.

[via Reuters]

Filed under: United States, News