Every year, new lists come out ranking the best countries to move to. Some focus on retirees, others on young families, and others take a broad look at quality of life for anyone willing to pack up and start fresh. We sat down to compare four of the most widely cited lists for 2024 and share our honest reactions to each one.
We are Aaron and Patrick, co-founders of Your Pura Vida. We have made Costa Rica our home, and we love it here. But we also know that Costa Rica is not the right fit for everyone. That is exactly why we wanted to take an honest look at where else people are moving around the world and what draws them to those places.
The Four Lists We Reviewed
We pulled from four different sources to get a well-rounded picture:
- International Family Life — focused on families relocating with children
- Expatra — focused on the best countries to retire abroad
- InterNations — a massive global community for people living abroad, covering all demographics
- Travel + Leisure — a respected travel publication with broader lifestyle criteria
Each list uses different criteria, which means the same country can rank high on one list and not appear at all on another. That is actually one of the most interesting takeaways: where you should move depends entirely on who you are and what you need.
International Family Life: Best and Worst for Families
This list ranks the top and bottom five countries for families relocating abroad.
Top 5: Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Portugal, Malaysia
Bottom 5: Norway, Germany, Turkey, South Africa, New Zealand
Mexico topping the family list makes sense. It is close to North America, relatively affordable, and has well-established communities of foreigners in many cities. Spain and Portugal are perennial favorites for families drawn to European life, strong public services, and a slower pace.
The bottom five are more surprising. New Zealand, Norway, and Germany are all wonderful countries, but the cost of living in those places can be staggering for families. Turkey and South Africa likely rank low due to safety concerns when children are involved.
What caught our attention is that Turkey appears on the bottom of this family-oriented list but shows up on Expatra’s retirement list. That makes sense when you think about it. A retiree without school-age children has a very different risk calculus than a family with young kids.
Expatra: Top 10 Places to Retire Abroad
This list focuses specifically on retirees, and it skews heavily European:
- Portugal
- Spain
- Costa Rica
- Italy
- Greece
- France
- Republic of Cyprus
- North Cyprus
- Turkey
- Malta
Costa Rica is the only non-European country on this entire list. That says a lot about the strength of Costa Rica’s retirement options, including the pensionado visa, affordable healthcare, and a welcoming culture.
Portugal and Spain dominate the retirement conversation right now, and for good reason. The EU makes it straightforward for retirees to settle in, and both countries offer excellent retirement visa programs. We have friends building a house outside Porto right now, and the lifestyle they describe is exactly the kind of slower, more intentional living that draws people to Costa Rica as well.
The real takeaway here is that if you are considering retirement abroad, Europe and Costa Rica are the two strongest magnets — just for very different reasons.
InterNations: Top 10 for Global Movers
InterNations surveys its massive membership base to rank countries across quality of life, ease of settling in, working life, and personal finance:
- Mexico
- Spain
- Panama
- Malaysia
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Costa Rica
- Philippines
- Bahrain
- Portugal
This is the most diverse list of the four, spanning four continents. Mexico takes the top spot again, and the Costa Rica vs. Mexico comparison is one we get asked about constantly. Both countries are fantastic, but they attract different people. Mexico tends to appeal to those who want vibrant city life, deep cultural immersion, and lower costs. Costa Rica appeals to people who want to be immersed in nature, live at a slower pace, and accept some of the rougher edges that come with that.
Panama appearing on this list is interesting. We have done a Costa Rica vs. Panama breakdown before, and the communities tend to be pretty distinct — you are usually drawn to one or the other.
Malaysia showing up on two lists now is noteworthy. We do not have personal experience there, and we do not know anyone who has made the move, but clearly something about the cost of living, infrastructure, and quality of life is resonating with a large number of people.
Bahrain was the biggest surprise for us. It is the only Middle Eastern country on any of these lists, and we simply do not know enough about it to comment. If you have experience there, we would genuinely love to hear about it.
Travel + Leisure: Best Countries to Move To
This list comes from a publication that tends to attract a higher-income audience, and it shows:
- Portugal
- Costa Rica
- South Korea
- Canada
- Austria
- Ghana
- Singapore
- Sweden
- New Zealand
- Spain
Costa Rica ranking second on this list is significant. Travel + Leisure also named Costa Rica their 2024 tourist destination of the year, and the full article is worth reading for anyone considering the move.
Ghana is the standout here. It is the only African country on any of these lists, and it signals a growing interest in West Africa as a relocation destination. South Korea is also unique to this list, reflecting a niche but growing community of people drawn to Korean culture, technology infrastructure, and urban life.
Singapore appearing here makes sense given the audience. It is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but for people with the income to support it, the quality of life is exceptional.
What These Lists Tell Us About Choosing a Country
After reviewing all four lists, a few themes stand out:
Costa Rica appears on every single list. That consistency is meaningful. Whether the criteria are retirement, family life, overall quality of life, or lifestyle appeal, Costa Rica keeps showing up. It validates what we experience living here every day.
Your life stage matters more than any ranking. A country that is perfect for a retiree might be a poor fit for a young family, and vice versa. Turkey is a great example — a retirement haven on one list, a bottom-five country for families on another.
Cost of living is a quiet filter. Countries like Norway, Germany, Singapore, and New Zealand are all wonderful places to live. But for many people, the cost makes them impractical. Meanwhile, countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, the Philippines, and Thailand offer a dramatically different cost equation.
Culture fit is personal. As we said in the video, if you want deep cultural immersion in a Spanish-speaking country, you will lean toward Mexico or Colombia. If European life appeals to you, Portugal or Spain are the natural choices. If you want nature, adventure, and a laid-back pace, Costa Rica and Thailand are hard to beat.
The honest truth is that no list can tell you where to move. Lists can give you a starting point, but the decision comes down to visiting, experiencing, and figuring out what qualities matter most to you.
How We Can Help
We created Your Pura Vida to help people think through whether Costa Rica is the right fit. We offer scouting trips to help you see the country through the eyes of someone who actually lives here — not as a tourist. And if you decide Costa Rica is where you belong, we help with the full relocation process so you can land with confidence.
Reach out anytime at hola@yourpuravida.com, or book a free scouting call to start the conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular countries people are moving to in 2024?
Based on the four lists we reviewed, the countries that appear most consistently are Portugal, Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica, and Panama. Portugal and Costa Rica are the only two countries that rank in the top three on multiple lists, making them the strongest overall picks for 2024.
Why does Costa Rica appear on every relocation list?
Costa Rica offers a rare combination of proximity to North America, affordable cost of living compared to Europe or the United States, strong residency visa options, accessible healthcare, and an established community of people from around the world. It also ranks high for safety and natural beauty, which appeals to retirees, families, and remote workers alike.
Is it better to retire in Europe or Costa Rica?
It depends on your priorities. Europe offers deep cultural experiences, walkable cities, and EU healthcare systems. Costa Rica offers a lower cost of living, warmer weather year-round, and a more laid-back lifestyle. Both have strong retirement visa programs. We recommend visiting both before making a decision.
What should I consider before choosing a country to move to?
Start with your life stage and priorities. Are you retiring, raising a family, or working remotely? Consider cost of living, visa requirements, healthcare access, language, climate, safety, and how close you want to be to your home country. Most importantly, visit before you commit. We wrote a full guide on the qualities that matter most when moving abroad.
How do I get started if I am considering Costa Rica?
The best first step is a scouting trip where you can explore different regions, meet people who have already made the move, and get an honest picture of daily life. You can also browse our city and region profiles to start narrowing down where in the country might be the best fit.