What’s the best country to live in? This is a loaded question. It kind of depends
on what you’re looking for. Maybe you’re trying to live in a country where you have
the most freedom possible. Or perhaps you are in search of a land of opportunity. Of course,
there is always the chance that you just want to be happy. Join us on
an adventure around the world to find out the best country you could live in!
The best country to live in for safety is Iceland.
There are several reasons why Iceland is the safest country to live in, from its relative
isolation to its low crime rates. But did you know that Iceland is one of the only
countries in the world with a mild climate that doesn’t have snakes, poisonous spiders, ticks,
or mosquitoes? That's right; you can walk freely around the nation without worrying
about catching a bloodborne pathogen or getting attacked by a venomous animal.
There are still plenty of insects, they just are relatively harmless except for being annoying.
There are also no large apex predators on the island. Arctic foxes have made their home in
Iceland, but they are rarely a threat to humans. This means you can wander around
the beautiful landscapes of Iceland without fear of being attacked by a hungry bear or
a roaming pack of wolves. But what about other humans? What is the crime rate like in Iceland?
The answer is extremely low, which is kind of surprising when you consider the fact
that Iceland has one of the largest percentages of armed citizens in the
world. One-third of all Icelanders own a gun. These weapons are mainly for hunting,
and it’s incredibly rare that any humans are injured by guns in Iceland. In fact, Iceland is
one of few countries in the world where police officers don’t walk around with guns. Instead,
officers carry pepper spray and batons, which is totally fine as they rarely have to use either.
Iceland also has one of the lowest murder rates in all of Europe. To put this into perspective, only
one person was murdered in Iceland in 2019. To be fair, there are only about 360,000 people living
on the island, but the homicide rate is still very low, even when adjusting for population size and
density. And 2019 wasn’t just a fluke. Iceland has only averaged between 1 and 3 murders over
the last several years. This just goes to show how low crime rates are in the country. In a perfect
world, there would be zero murders, but this isn’t a perfect world, and unless you live on a
remote island all by yourself, chances are murders will happen no matter what country you live in.
The police in Iceland also tends to be more helpful than their counterparts in other
countries. Some criminologists chalk that up to having more women in prominent roles
both in the police force and in important positions in government. On top of that,
the country has a strong welfare system and low inequality, both of which are important
to keep crime rates down. Even though Iceland is technically part of Europe,
it’s far enough away from the main continent that problems such as the brewing conflict
between the E.U. and Russia won’t really impact the island nation.
Iceland is well over 1,500 miles from mainland Europe and over 2,000 miles from Canada. Its this
relative isolation would likely save the island nation from any immediate world conflicts. Plus,
since Iceland generates all of its own energy using geothermal plants,
along with wind and solar power, it’s not reliant on other countries for its energy supplies. And
although Iceland currently doesn’t drill for oil, there are likely spots rich in fossil
fuels just off the coast of the island. So, if it ever came down to it, Iceland could probably
procure anything it needed within its own borders or by using the bountiful waters off its coast.
Iceland is probably the way to go if you are looking for
the best country to live in in terms of safety.
But what if you are looking for job opportunities? Someplace where you
can work hard seasonally, make money, and then enjoy the life of a nomad.
The best country to live in for seasonal job opportunities is New Zealand.
The average monthly salary for workers in the country is just over $3,000 per month.
This is a good chunk of change, especially when you take into consideration that the
cost of living is around $900 a month plus rent. If you are thrifty and find
cheap places to live, New Zealand is the land of opportunity if you are looking for a job.
New Zealand has a pretty relaxed work-life balance with a government that tends to care
for its citizens and take their needs seriously. As long as you’re not looking for the hustle and
bustle of city living, New Zealand can be a great place to work while having a beautiful island to
explore. In fact, for the size of the island itself, you may be surprised to find that you
can experience all four seasons throughout the year by visiting different parts of the country.
However, New Zealand might not be the best fit if you are looking to start
a business or move up in a corporation. There are definitely plenty of opportunities to work,
but a job isn’t the most important part of life for many New Zealanders, which is why it’s a
great country to work in seasonally and then use your hard-earned paychecks to enjoy life to its
fullest. New Zealand is consistently ranked one of the happiest countries in the world,
and this all because of it relaxed culture that allows people living there to hop from job to job.
If you get a working visa, it won’t be too hard to find a position at a tourism company
or as an adventure guide. There are also plenty of opportunities for work in the service industry. If
it’s seasonal work you're looking for, New Zealand is one of the top countries to live in. Although,
you may find yourself wanting to settle down and live there full time as the people, culture, and
lifestyle in New Zealand end up being extremely appealing for those who just moved there to work.
However, what if you have worked hard and now you are incredibly
rich? Where do the extremely wealthy tend to settle down?
The best country to live in for the super-rich is Monaco.
This insanely small city-state sits on the French Riviera and is smaller than
Central Park in New York City. You heard that right; the entire country of Monaco
is smaller than a park in Manhattan. However, it’s here that many wealthy
people take up residence. What makes Monaco so appealing to the rich? Two words: low taxes.
Monaco has no income tax, no property tax, and no capital gains tax in the country. There is
a 1% annual rental tax, but most people living in Monaco own some sort of property. It’s absolutely
not cheap to live there, but if you can afford to buy a place, you can take advantage of a lifestyle
with practically no taxes. This is why Monaco is the best place to live if you are extremely rich.
But the perks don’t stop there for the wealthy citizens of Monaco. Not only is it one of the
best countries for tax breaks, but it also has beautiful weather year-round. If you are
rich enough, you can sit on your veranda overlooking the aqua-blue waters of the
Mediterranean while you eat caviar and drink expensive champagne, which comes across the
border from your next-door neighbor, France. Or if you don’t feel like staying in, you can eat at
one of the country’s several Michelin Stared restaurants, where everyone knows your name.
The seafood is always fresh, and the wine flows freely into Monaco from France and
Italy. On top of all these luxuries, there is never a shortage of events.
Lavish parties on mega-yachts parked in the harbor are a weekly occurrence,
and the Circuit de Monaco hosts the Grand Prix yearly. When there is nothing else to do,
you can always drive your expensive Ferrari around the streets so tourists can gawk at you.
Yes, Monaco is the country to live in if you are super rich. And to be fair, if you aren’t rich,
you can’t afford a property there. Prime real estate in Monaco can sell for over $9,000 per
square foot. This is almost double what it costs for a similar place in New York City,
which happens to be the most expensive city to live in in the United States. If you need
to get away, you can cross the border into France and fly out of the airport at Nice,
so there is always a way out if you ever feel trapped in the tiny country you call home.
If you are not yet a resident of Monaco, it’s important to know that you need to keep at least
a half million dollars in a bank within the country at all times as you work towards your
citizenship. After ten years of living there, you are automatically granted citizenship,
and you can live out the rest of your life in Monaco's tax haven.
The country also has top-of-the-line healthcare, for a price, of course.
If you’re rich and can afford to live in Monaco, it’s definitely the best country
to spend your time in. But what about the rest of us? Where could you live if you
are a normal person, making a normal amount of money and still be happy?
The best country to live in for happiness is Finland.
Year after year, northern European countries are ranked the happiest places in the world. But if
you want to live in the country at the top of this list, you need to live in Finland. Even
though the country's climate can be brutally cold in the winter and in some parts, the sun
disappears for months at a time, the Finns are, on average, the happiest people on the planet.
Much of Finland's happiness comes from the government,
which sounds crazy to most of us. Around 80% of Finns trust their police force,
and about the same amount support the decisions made by the government. As a
result of high taxes, universal healthcare, and relatively equal wealth distribution,
people living in Finland feel more connected to one another and their country as a whole.
That being said, if you are looking to become rich or the boss of your own company,
Finland probably isn’t the place for you. The average income tax for the
country is between 16 and 24 percent. However, for wealthier households,
the income tax can be above 30%. And that is on top of other taxes like property and regional
taxes that the government takes each year. These high tax rates mean a lot of your paycheck gets
funneled back into the government, but the benefits far outweigh the losses to income.
Much of the money the government collects goes to improving the infrastructure of the country.
Beautiful parks are maintained using this money, along with other town benefits like new bike lanes
and better public transportation. In fact, Finland takes pride in funding its public transportation
sector to ensure buses and trains run on time and are comfortable for everyone on board.
The country also has a “housing first” policy that gives people the support and help they need
to recover from hardships such as drug addiction. Once they receive these services, the government
helps them find a home where they can live in a stable environment and rejoin society. This
is what every welfare program strives to do; the difference is that in Finland, this has actually
become a reality. And it may seem crazy, but even though the government provides a lot of services
and funds public works across the country, the Finns place freedom above almost anything else.
People living in Finland believe that they can only be free and
independent if everyone in the country is equally free and independent. Therefore,
it’s an absolute necessity that everyone is cared for, especially those who need the most
help. What it comes down to is that if you live in Finland, your basic needs are met. You also
have access to good healthcare, education, and jobs that allow you to thrive in life.
Sometimes we think that working for a lucrative company or making tons of
money is where happiness stems from, and there is no doubt that even in Finland,
you do need money to buy the things you want. But if all of your basic necessities
are provided to you by the government, it alleviates stress and costs from your life.
This is why Finns are almost always rated as some of the happiest people in the world.
But even in Finland, jobs are important, just not in the same way as in other countries. Many
Finnish companies are putting employee happiness above profits. One model that
is changing the workplace is the flat working model. The flat working model
organizes a business in a way where there is little or no hierarchical system within
the company. This means that management and the staff work together at all times
and meetings rarely consist of only a few individuals, if they even happen at all.
This model results in less supervision and all workers being more involved in
the decision-making processes. It also allows for better communication and a closer-knit
team. But really, what the flat working model does is create a workplace environment where
people are much happier and feel a sense of achievement. The interesting part is that
this model doesn’t just increase happiness; workplace productivity tends to go up as well.
This happiness in the workplace is heightened due to the fact that many Finnish businesses
allow their workers more flexible schedules and fewer constraints when at work. This
allows them to focus on their job but doesn’t necessarily mean they need to
come to work every day from 9 to 5. Instead, this flexibility and flat working model allows
many people living in Finland to feel a sense of camaraderie while at work and achievement
when they leave work. This carries over into their personal life, which there is plenty
of time for since workdays are shorter and much more flexible than in most countries.
There can be no denying that someone’s happiness at work is linked to their happiness at home. If
you dread going to your job every day, then all you’re doing is working for the weekend. However,
the Finns have found that if you find happiness and accomplishment in your job,
you will undoubtedly be happier in all aspects of your life.
Finland is also highly committed to closing the gender pay gap and reducing inequality.
If you are happy with the status quo and only care about becoming rich,
then you probably won’t find much happiness in Finland. For everyone else,
it’s in this country that fathers spend just as much time with their school-aged children
as mothers do. This is because there is equal opportunity for both sexes in the workplace.
Unlike most countries, the inequality gap in Finland is shrinking. The rich are not
getting richer at the expense of the poor becoming poorer. Most Finnish citizens make
a living wage that allows them to enjoy their hobbies while still saving money
for travel and other expenses. The Finns believe that the only way for society to
work is if everyone is happy. This is why they place so much emphasis on quality of
life and supporting one another over becoming rich and exploiting their fellow citizens.
What about if you just need to get out of your country? You don’t care where you live as long
as it’s a place where ex-pats are welcome, and you can make a new life for yourself.
The best country to live in for expats is Switzerland.
An expat is someone who lives outside of their native country by choice. Oftentimes these people
have skills that allow them to contribute to the new society they call home. When surveyed,
over 90% of expats residing in Switzerland said it was a wonderful place to live with plenty of
opportunities. One survey found that expats living in Switzerland averaged a salary of
$200,000 U.S. dollars a year. This is a staggering number and is likely much more
than you are currently making at your current job. But high pay is not the
only thing that makes Switzerland a great place for expats to live.
This European country has some of the best skiing,
hiking, and leisure activities in the entire world. All of which is supplemented by an
excellent healthcare system. However, it’s the ability to get around both Switzerland
and the rest of Europe that makes this country so appealing to many expats.
Switzerland is in a prime location. It’s surrounded by France, Italy, Germany, Austria, and
Liechtenstein, which means there’s a plethora of cultures right on your doorstep. Plus, the train
system both within and going out of Switzerland is an affordable and quick way to visit other
nations whenever you have some free time. This is a big plus for expats living in Switzerland.
Switzerland also has its own culture, and each region has influences from the
countries around it. Therefore, if you live in Switzerland, just exploring the country
itself can be an adventure. This brings us to another facet of the country that makes it
ideal for expats. Oftentimes, when people leave their home country to start a life somewhere else,
they leave everything behind. This includes cars, bikes, and other modes of transportation. It just
doesn’t make sense to ship your car halfway across the world, especially when you live
in Switzerland. This is because it has one of the best public transportation systems in the world.
Switzerland has a ticketing option that allows you to ride any type of public transportation
for a set price. The trains and buses are always clean, and the government invests billions of
dollars each year into infrastructure to maintain its state-of-the-art transportation system.
The country and the drinking water are both safe, which is not true of every
nation in Europe. The crime rate is low, and around 80% of people living in Switzerland
say they feel safe walking around the streets of the country. As an expat,
your transportation is already set up for you, you can make good money,
and you have access to some of the best outdoor recreation areas in all of Europe.
And surprisingly, Switzerland is the only country in this video that you’ll see twice.
The best country to live in if you want freedom is, once again, Switzerland.
When comparing the amount of freedom citizens enjoy in their country,
there are two main indicators that are often taken into consideration. Personal
freedom and economic freedom. When compared to other nations,
the freedom enjoyed by people living in Switzerland is higher than pretty much
anywhere else in the world. So if you are someone who doesn’t like to be told what
to do—within reason, of course—Switzerland might be the best place for you to live.
Personal freedoms such as the ability to move around the country freely or to choose which
religion you want to practice will never be hindered by the Swiss government. In fact,
freedom of speech and expression in Switzerland is ranked as the highest
it can possibly be according to the CATO Freedom Index. In Switzerland,
no one will tell you who to love or force you to become a part of a particular belief system.
Along with personal freedom, the government ensures that taxpayer dollars are spent
responsibly while allowing its citizens to enjoy monetary growth. This economic freedom
allows people to do what they want with their money. And although there are some restrictions
and tariffs put on imported goods, they are nowhere near as oppressive as other nations.
If you are looking to live a wild life where you can do whatever you want whenever you want,
Switzerland probably isn’t the country you’re looking for. The security and
safety of the country are some of the reasons its citizens can enjoy so much
freedom. People feel safe staying out late and walking home alone in Switzerland,
which cannot be said of many countries in this day and age.
What if you’re looking for the best country in the world if you want it all? Where can you move
to experience a safe, relaxed lifestyle with good healthcare, a government that cares,
and economic opportunity? The answer is probably not what you’re expecting.
The best country to live in the world if you’re looking for it all is Australia.
In a country where everything is seemingly trying to kill you,
from the poisonous snakes and spiders to the rampant wildfires, this may seem
surprising. But there are numerous reasons why Australia is one of the best places to live in
the entire world. It’s a stable country with good healthcare, excellent education, and an
economy that allows for decent-paying jobs even though the cost of living is reasonably modest.
There is plenty to do and see in Australia. Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne all have
solid infrastructure, job opportunities, and vibrant culinary scenes. That being said,
the beaches of Australia are one of the country’s biggest draws, and if you are going to be spending
time surfing the big waves, it’s good to know that the healthcare system is one of the best in the
world. Australia has a universal healthcare system where all procedures are covered,
including dentistry. The government cares about its citizens and shows it by making
sure the healthcare system is well-funded, and everyone has access to the help they need.
However, perhaps the biggest draw for Australia is that their economy is strong,
and it has one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world. This is because international
commerce has grown steadily over the years. The Australian economy was able to recover and grow
much more quickly than other countries in the region after the COVID-19 pandemic. Jobs are
plentiful, especially in the finance, banking, and digital service sectors,
which means there are plenty of jobs for people living in Australia. If you move to Australia,
you will probably want to live on the outskirts of cities as the metropolitan
areas can be slightly expensive. However, there is plenty of outdoor activities to keep you busy.
The migration process to Australia is relatively easy compared to other countries,
which is also a big draw, but it’s what these immigrants have brought with them that makes
the nation a great place to live. Due to the numerous possibilities, people from other nations
are flocking to the island and bringing their own ideas, cuisines, and cultures with them.
Australia itself is becoming a hub for immigrants as it offers the chance for a
good education and plenty of opportunities. The laid-back attitude and the government's
willingness to invest in the infrastructure of the country and its citizens make Australia one
of the best places on the planet to live. Not to mention that the UN ranks Australia as having
one of the highest quality of life indexes in the world. All of these factors are also why
Australia is ranked in the top ten happiest countries in the world almost every year.
Now watch “Safest Countries to Hide Out if World
War 3 Starts.” Or check out “Easiest (and Hardest) Countries to Take Over.”