The Best Places To Move To From The UK
With the cost of living on the rise, Brits have been offered advice on ten of the best places to move to if they’re fed up with the UK. The team at Your Overseas Home have revealed their top destinations around the world, for prospective expats who are looking to live longer, benefit from lower taxes, or simply enjoy more space.
Portugal offers a lot to individuals who are currently a little tired of life in the UK. The cost of living is considerably lower, and Lisbon and Porto are quickly becoming two of the most vibrant expat hubs in Europe.
For those fed up shoehorning themselves onto overcrowded roads or public transport, New Zealand is the place to be if open space is a priority. There are fewer than a tenth of the UK’s population living in New Zealand, yet they have 10% more land than the UK.
If you’re looking for open space but don’t want to move so far away, then Cyprus with its low population density could be a great alternative.
Christopher Nye, chief editor at Your Overseas Home, comments:
“Is it all getting a bit too much in the UK? We certainly wouldn’t blame you if you were dreaming of swapping the grey UK winter for sunny skies overseas.
“If you’re ready to bail out for a year or two – or even forever – we’ve revealed some of the best places to move to around the world if you are fed up with living in Britain.”
Ten of the best places to move to if you’re fed up of the UK:
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Live longer in Spain
It’s official – the Spanish live longer! According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, by 2040 the life expectancy in Spain will hit 85.8 years. This means Spaniards will be outliving the Japanese, who are known for their longevity. The Spanish lifestyle not only allows you to enjoy a guilt-free afternoon nap (everyone is doing it!), but there’s the Mediterranean diet, almost 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, and 5,000km of gorgeous coastline to enjoy.
Living here also allows you to remain within the Schengen Area. If you hold a passport you are able to move freely within the 26 Schengen countries. Also, if you can work remotely, Spain offers super-fast internet and is excellent for digital nomads, particularly Valencia. The city was voted the 7th best city in the world for those able to work remotely. You’ll enjoy a great sense of community, a whole range of affordable property choices, and Spain’s cost of living is considerably lower. Renting is some 40% cheaper in Spain than in the UK.
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Get affordable visas in Portugal
Portugal’s “golden visa” allows you to obtain legal residency in return for buying a property in Portugal. You will need to spend €350,000 (£304,800) on a home. You can convert this temporary residence into permanent residence after five years of ownership. Additionally, Portugal recently announced plans to offer a new work visa that would allow remote-capable workers to relocate to the country for up to a year!
Portugal offers plenty to individuals weary of life in the UK. The cost of living is lower, and Lisbon and Porto are now two of the most vibrant expat hubs in Europe. In fact, in PwC’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate Report for Europe in 2019, Lisbon just knocked Berlin off the top spot. Tourists can’t get enough of the city, and international companies are moving in fast. To top it all off, Portugal offers rich history, natural beauty, and an all-important 280 days of sunshine per year. Also, Portugal is another country located within the Schengen Area.
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Cyprus is like the UK, but sunnier!
The vast majority of Cypriots speak English, they drive on the left hand side of the road, and many of their laws are based on the UK’s, so moving to Cyprus really isn’t too different – it’s just much sunnier!
The third largest island in the Mediterranean, Cyprus is also an incredibly picturesque country with an active and thriving international community. If you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of a big city, then Cyprus with its low population density could be a great alternative.
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Enjoy virtually no taxes in the Bahamas
If you’d like to lose less of your hard-earned money in tax, perhaps life in a former British colony where there are virtually no taxes will appeal? The Bahamas is idyllic. It’s made up of 29 islands and 661 keys (i.e. sandbanks/coral reefs), many of which are large enough to build your dream home on. While you once only required $500,000 (£384,000) to secure a Golden Visa, the government is looking to increase this to $1,000,000 (£768,000). So act fast! Additional perks to moving to the Bahamas include easy access to Miami in just 55 minutes. From there you can catch affordable flights to the rest of the world.
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Ample space in New Zealand
Fed up with shoehorning yourself into an overcrowded tube carriage every morning? We don’t blame you. If it’s space you’re after, New Zealand could be the country for you. There are fewer than a tenth of the UK’s population living in New Zealand, yet they have 10% more land than we do in the UK.
New Zealand is also a beautiful nation. You can spend weekends at the beach, exploring national parks, hiking, swimming, skiing, bungee jumping… In fact, if it is adrenaline-inducing, New Zealand has it by the bucket load. Furthermore, New Zealand is the second safest country in the world according to the Global Peace Index, plus they average around 2,000 sunshine hours per year. Nelson, for example, one of the sunniest spots, enjoys an average of nearly 2,500 annual hours of sunshine. That’s about twice (TWICE!) the UK average.
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Be welcomed in the Cayman Islands
A hundred different nationalities live in the Cayman Islands. Not bad when you consider its population is a thousandth that of the UK, at under 60,000! One huge bonus of the Cayman Islands is that as a British citizen, you don’t require a visa to live there. And if you’re tempted to bail out with the kids to enjoy some of the world’s best beaches, it is home to some of the best schools in the region, most of which follow either the British or American curriculum. The crime rate is far lower than most other Caribbean islands and the island’s tropical climate means temperatures rarely dip below 28 degrees. Oh, and it’s a tax haven…
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Equality for all in Iceland
Iceland is just a three-hour flight from the UK and most people speak at least a little English. It is also one of the most forward-thinking nations on Earth. In 2019 it became the first country in the world to make it illegal for men to earn more for doing the same job as women. Additionally, the World Economic Forum ranks Iceland as number one for gender equality in regards to health, economics, education and politics.
In fact, the 2018 World Happiness Report ranked Icelanders the 2nd happiest nation on Earth. Maybe that’s why violent crime is virtually non-existent. They are also one of the most sustainable countries on the planet, generating 25% of their national power via geothermal energy.
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Ultimate liveability in Australia
Australia’s cities are repeatedly voted the most liveable in the world. The Economist conducts an annual survey – The Global Liveability Index – which delves into factors like healthcare, culture, environment, infrastructure, stability and education to determine where are the most liveable spots on the planet. Spoiler – Australian cities always dominate. Melbourne has a liveability score of 97.5 out of 100, and was number one in the world for seven years before Vienna defeated it in 2018.
Weather, food, incredible natural scenery, an active lifestyle and friendly people make Australia a great choice. Plus, there is no language barrier, and there are plenty of job opportunities available, which will help you to secure the visa you need to live and work Down Under. Living here allows you to access excellent subsidised healthcare, you can hop on cheap flights to Asia, and the coffee is sublime.
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Low crime rates in Singapore
For big city life without the big city crime stats, head to Singapore, the city with the world’s second lowest crime rate after Tokyo. The official language is English, which will allow you to settle in quickly and to easily find employment in one of many job opportunities that exist here, many of which are incredibly highly paid. Plus, income tax here is just 12%, which will leave you with a lot more of your salary to play with.
Being close to the equator means days are long and sunny. The average temperature throughout the year is 29 degrees. Also, Singapore ranks highly for cleanliness, education and for having a life expectancy of over 85 years. One massive bonus is Singapore’s location which allows easy, affordable access back to Europe or to the rest of Asia.
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Island life in Costa Rica
How do you fancy life surrounded by jungle, ocean, beaches and volcanoes? It’s undeniable – Costa Rica is paradise. Additionally, healthcare in Costa Rica is excellent and affordable. Private plans start from just $50 (£38) per month.
You’ll be welcomed into a friendly and established expat community. Many people have made the move specifically to enjoy the ‘Pura Vida’ – the Costa Rican way of life. This focuses on relaxing, letting things go and being grateful for what you have.