The 7 Countries Where Expats Say They'll Never Move Back Home

There's a particular kind of conversation that happens at expat meetups and online forums, usually late in the evening after a few drinks or a long day of comparing notes on visa paperwork. Someone asks the obvious question: would you ever move back? More often than not, the answer is a firm no, followed by a list of reasons that sound less like nostalgia and more like relief. Recent survey data from InterNations and other expat research groups gives some shape to that instinct, showing which countries consistently produce residents who have no intention of returning to their home countries.

Panama: The Top Choice For Comfort And Ease

Panama has held the top spot in InterNations' Expat Insider survey for consecutive years, and the numbers explain why so few expats there talk about leaving. Moving up two spots from its 2023 position, Panama sits in first place, with 82 percent of expats saying they are happy with their life there, 14 percent higher than the global average, and almost three quarters reporting satisfaction with their financial situation. It also ranked as one of the easier countries to secure a visa, which removes a lot of the bureaucratic stress that pushes people to reconsider their move.

Affordability plays a major role in the loyalty expats feel toward Panama. Panama occupies the top spot of the Personal Finance Index among expat destinations worldwide. Combine that with a stable currency pegged to the US dollar and a well established expat community, and it becomes clear why so many people who arrive for a short stint end up staying for good.

Mexico: Friendliness That Turns Into Belonging

Mexico has occupied a spot near the top of expat rankings since these surveys began, and the reasons go beyond sunshine and tacos. Expats love Mexico, which has ranked among the top five best places to live abroad since the InterNations survey was first launched in 2014, and this year Mexico ranked No. 1 for ease of settling in, with 73 percent saying making local friends is easy compared to just 39 percent globally. That kind of social integration is rare, and it tends to be the deciding factor for people who eventually stop thinking of themselves as temporary residents.

Money matters too, and Mexico performs well on that front as well. The majority of expats, 81 percent, say their financial situation is enough for a comfortable life, and 69 percent feel they are paid fairly for their work, though 32 percent of expats in Mexico are already retired. For retirees especially, the combination of low cost of living and genuine warmth from locals makes the idea of moving back to a colder, pricier home country feel unnecessary.

Colombia: A Rising Favorite With Real Staying Power

Colombia's climb up the expat rankings has been one of the more notable shifts in recent surveys, and it isn't a fluke tied to one good year. All three Latin American countries at the top of the ranking shine in the Ease of Settling In Index, where they occupy the top three spots, with expats appreciating the friendliness of the population and finding it easy to integrate into local culture and make friends. Colombia sits right alongside Panama and Mexico in that respect, which says a lot about the region as a whole.

Visa access has also improved considerably, making long term settlement less of a headache. Colombia has launched new visa programs to attract skilled professionals. Between the ease of settling in, the improving job market for remote and skilled workers, and a genuinely welcoming culture, expats in Colombia rarely frame their stay as temporary anymore.

Spain: Quality Of Life That's Hard To Walk Away From

Spain has built a reputation as the country expats point to when they talk about lifestyle over logistics. Spain has ranked No. 1 for quality of life for the fifth year in a row, with one in five expats saying they moved there for a better quality of life, compared to just 9 percent globally. That's a significant gap, and it suggests Spain is attracting people who are chasing a specific way of living rather than just a job or a cheaper rent.

Daily life in Spain tends to reinforce that decision rather than test it. According to InterNations' survey, Spain ranks high for leisure options, culture and nightlife, and great food, with 87 percent of expats happy with Spain's culinary variety and dining options, and cities like Madrid and Barcelona have become magnets for long term foreign residents who came for a trip and never quite left. Once someone has built a routine around long lunches, walkable cities, and a genuinely different pace of life, going back to a nine to five commute somewhere colder starts to feel like a step backward.

Portugal: Safety And Healthcare That Ease The Mind

Portugal's rise in expat popularity has been steep, and it's rooted in something more practical than charm alone. Portugal is one of the safest countries, ranking 7th on the 2025 Global Peace Index, and its public healthcare system provides excellent and accessible care with subsidized or low cost medication and treatments. For people who spent years worrying about health insurance premiums or emergency room bills back home, that alone can be a reason to stay put permanently.

Cost of living seals the deal for many. A cost of living that stays well below most of Western Europe makes it easier to understand why so many retirees from the US, UK, and Brazil put down roots in Lisbon, Porto, or the Algarve and never look back. Portugal also ranks near the top of the Personal Finance Index among expat destinations, which reinforces the sense that the math simply works better there than it did back home.

Thailand: Affordability Meets A Genuine Sense Of Freedom

Thailand has quietly built one of the most loyal expat populations in Asia, and remote workers in particular have driven that trend. Thailand and Vietnam are becoming hubs for entrepreneurs and online workers due to affordability and infrastructure. That infrastructure includes reliable internet, established coworking spaces, and a cost of living that lets people stretch a modest income much further than they could manage at home.

The country's ranking on financial metrics backs up the anecdotal enthusiasm. Thailand occupies the second spot of the Personal Finance Index among global expat destinations, just behind Panama. Recent Expat Insider data also places Thailand among the top five overall destinations worldwide, a position that reflects both affordability and a lifestyle that many expats describe as simply more relaxed than what they left behind.

Vietnam: A Fast Growing Hub With Long Term Appeal

Vietnam has moved from a niche backpacker stop to a serious contender on global expat rankings, and the shift has been fairly rapid. Vietnam is becoming a hub for entrepreneurs and online workers due to its affordability and infrastructure. That combination of low costs and improving digital services has made it particularly attractive to younger expats who might otherwise have chosen more established destinations in Europe.

The country's standing in recent surveys reflects that momentum. Half of the top 10 spots in the 2025 ranking go to Asian countries, with Thailand coming in at No. 4 and Vietnam following closely at No. 5. For expats who arrived expecting a short term adventure, the pace of improvement in daily life, from healthcare access to housing availability, has been enough to turn a temporary stay into something far more permanent.