Researching Cost of Living, Healthcare, and Quality of Life Abroad

Moving abroad sounds nice until you look at the price of a one-bedroom in Zurich and immediately want to throw up. Before you get too attached to a destination, research what it costs to live there, how the healthcare works, and what daily life looks like for someone who isn't on vacation.

Cost of Living

Numbeo and Expatistan are the two most widely cited cost-of-living comparison tools. They let you compare your current city to potential destinations across categories like rent, groceries, restaurants, and transportation. Good starting point, but they're crowdsourced and lack neighborhood-level detail.

Rent by city block. In central Paris, an apartment can cost close to EUR 2,200+. Move one arrondissement over and roughly the same flat can be twice as expensive. Move to the banlieue and prices drop significantly. The neighborhood within your destination city matters a lot.

Taxes. Compare gross salary against your new tax burden. In France, workers typically face higher payroll charges, but those payments fund universal healthcare, subsidized childcare, strong worker protections, and five weeks of paid leave. In Switzerland, income taxes are often lower, and residents pay separately for mandatory health insurance and face significantly higher living costs. Get to the number that matters, which is disposable income after taxes, insurance, housing, and core expenses.

Currency risk. If you earn in one currency and spend in another, exchange rates will affect your budget month to month. The USD lost about 8% against the EUR between early 2024 and early 2025.

Healthcare

Most OECD countries have universal or near-universal healthcare coverage, but the variations will matter depending on your situation.

Public systems (UK, France, Spain, Italy, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.). Residents get access through tax-funded programs, typically covered once you have legal residence. Wait times for specialists can be long. Routine and emergency care is generally excellent and low-cost or free at the point of service.

Insurance-based systems (Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). Residents must carry health insurance, often through a regulated private market. Monthly premiums range from EUR 100-400 depending on the country and your age. Coverage is comprehensive.

What to research for your destination

• When does coverage start? Some countries have a waiting period after arrival.
• Do you need private insurance to bridge the gap?
• What's the out-of-pocket cost for a GP visit, a specialist, prescriptions?
• If you have a chronic condition, confirm your medications are available and covered.

The OECD Health at a Glance report compares healthcare spending, outcomes, and access across 38 countries. Dense but worth skimming for your shortlist.

Quality of Life

The OECD Better Life Index lets you weight 11 topics (housing, income, jobs, community, education, environment, civic engagement, health, life satisfaction, safety, work-life balance) by what matters to you and compare countries. Best interactive tool for this.

InterNations Expat Insider Survey polls 12,000+ expats annually on quality of life, ease of settling in, working abroad, personal finance, and more. The 2024 survey ranked Panama, Mexico, and Indonesia highest for overall expat satisfaction.

Climate and daylight. Moving from Miami to Helsinki in November will affect your mood, energy, and social life. Research average temperatures, sunshine hours, and seasonal patterns. If you've never lived through a Scandinavian winter, spend a week there in January before committing.

Walkability and transit. If you're coming from a car-dependent city, you might love having walkable neighborhoods and reliable public transit. Look at your destination on Google Maps Street View. Walk the commute virtually. Check the transit app.

Comparison framework

Make a comparison spreadsheet for your top 2-3 destinations.

• Monthly rent for your target apartment size and neighborhood
• Estimated monthly groceries, dining, and transportation
• Healthcare coverage model and estimated out-of-pocket costs
• Tax rate on your expected income
• Quality of life factors that matter most to you (safety, walkability, social scene, weather)