The daydream of packing it all up and spending your retirement years abroad is easily one of the most popular second-act fantasies in America.
Whether you’re actively eyeing a lower cost of living, looking for better healthcare or just want to spend your days drinking espresso in a sunny European square, the idea of becoming an expat sounds like the ultimate reward after decades of the daily grind.
But as any seasoned traveler will tell you, there is a massive difference between spending a blissful week on vacation and actually trying to build a life in a foreign country. In fact, according to a brand-new global report from international health insurance specialists William Russell, the single biggest mistake people make when planning an overseas relocation is assuming that a popular tourist destination automatically guarantees an easy transition.
Instead, the study argues that your long-term happiness hinges on one major factor: how welcomed you actually feel by the locals.
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To find the world’s most welcoming cities for expats, researchers crunched the numbers on everything from local happiness and comprehensive safety data to social friction—specifically measuring how worried newcomers are about facing public insults or social tension. And the number-one city on the list might come as a major surprise, especially since it routinely gets a reputation for being a bit reserved.
Zürich, Switzerland officially locked down the top crown as the most welcoming city on the globe for expats, scoring a massive 9.06 out of 10.
While Switzerland is famous for its breathtaking alpine views and chocolate, it isn’t usually the first place people think of when they imagine warm, outgoing local culture. However, the data proves that Zürich delivers where it actually matters for retirees and newcomers: absolute peace of mind. The city paired a world-class safety score with remarkably low levels of social friction, meaning expats can navigate daily life, use public transit, and build community without the low-grade anxiety or baseline hassles that plague other major global hubs.
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Following closely behind the Swiss capital is a tie for the number-two spot, split between Singapore and Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo’s high ranking is particularly fascinating because Japan actually ranked dead last overall in the report’s national integration index due to its complex visa paths and smaller migrant population. Yet, much like Zürich, Tokyo acts as a highly accessible urban sanctuary that completely redefines personal safety and community respect for outsiders.
Rounding out the top five are Copenhagen, Denmark—which claimed the highest overall happiness score in the entire index—and Munich, Germany.
If you’re currently sitting at your kitchen table looking at a map and weighing your options, the index offers a fantastic checklist of cities where the infrastructure is practically built to help you settle in without the standard bureaucratic headaches.
Prague in the Czech Republic took the number-six spot as a culturally rich European gem, followed by the zero-income-tax haven of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates at number seven. Warsaw, Poland landed at number eight, offering a highly secure gateway to the EU at a fraction of Western Europe’s price tag, while Seoul, South Korea and Hong Kong rounded out the top ten.
“The first few months are when most challenges arise, such as navigating healthcare systems and securing a stable income,” notes William Cooper, Director at William Russell. “Preparing for those early stages is often more important than the choice of destination.”
Ultimately, whether you are seriously mapping out a retirement move to a quiet European pocket or just love the idea of keeping your options open, the data is a great reminder that the best places to grow old aren’t just about the weather—they’re about finding a community that keeps the welcome mat rolled out.
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