The 30 countries that are best for your money, according to expats

The lion's share of global expats — 41% — relocated because of their career or their partner's career, whether by choice or out of necessity, according to the Expat Insider 2017 report from expatriate network and global guide InterNations. To compile the data, InterNations surveyed 12,519 expats, representing 166 nationalities and living in 188 countries around the world.

Love was the second most commonly cited catalyst, motivating 12% of moves overseas. Other reasons included wanting a better quality of life (8%), to have an adventure (7%), or simply because they enjoy living abroad (3%).

Although money may be a major motivating factor, the report found expats' satisfaction with their personal finances varied greatly depending on where they live. Cost of living made a difference, but expats struggled most in countries with a weak economy.

InterNations developed its 2017 personal finance index by ranking 65 countries based on how survey respondents felt about their financial situation, and whether their disposable income was sufficient to cover their expenses.

In Greece, which ranked last on the personal finance index despite falling in the middle of the pack for cost of living, half of expats reported not having enough household income to keep up with daily expenses, and 27% said they didn't have enough money to make ends meet. That's in sharp contrast to Vietnam, which took the top spot on the index, where 93% of expats said they have enough or more than they need to cover their cost of living.

For each country on the list, we compiled the average cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment in the center of town, utilities, and commuting, as well as the price of a cappuccino and a pint of domestic beer, according to global cost of living database Numbeo. All amounts are in US dollars and are current as of September 2017.

Below, check out what it costs on average to live in the top 30 countries on InterNations personal finance index.

30. Poland

Cost of living compared to US: 41% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $481.85

Utilities: $174.62

Commuter pass: $28.07

Cappuccino: $2.13

Domestic beer: $1.96

29. Oman

Cost of living compared to US: 32% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $615.60

Utilities: $57.48

Commuter pass: $25.97

Cappuccino: $4.49

Domestic beer: $7.79

28. Portugal

Cost of living compared to US: 26% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $588.11

Utilities: $103.61

Commuter pass: $42.44

Cappuccino: $1.39

Domestic beer: $1.79

27. Hungary

Cost of living compared to US: 35% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $442.50

Utilities: $178.73

Commuter pass: $36.95

Cappuccino: $1.45

Domestic beer: $1.56

26. Switzerland

Cost of living compared to US: 78% higher

Monthly:

Rent: $1,519.26

Utilities: $183.96

Commuter pass: $78.47

Cappuccino: $4.79

Domestic beer: $6.80

25. Kenya

Cost of living compared to US: 47% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $260.78

Utilities: $53.67

Commuter pass: $24.20

Cappuccino: $2.12

Domestic beer: $1.94

24. Costa Rica

Cost of living compared to US: 25% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $514.27

Utilities: $67.43

Commuter pass: $46.23

Cappuccino: $2.34

Domestic beer: $2.07

23. Belgium

Cost of living compared to US: 11% higher

Monthly:

Rent: $900.73

Utilities: $151.77

Commuter pass: $54.77

Cappuccino: $3.14

Domestic beer: $4.17

22. Russia

Cost of living compared to US: 41% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $521.04

Utilities: $112.79

Commuter pass: $29.43

Cappuccino: $2.25

Domestic beer: $1.21

21. Malta

Cost of living compared to US: 5% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $811.68

Utilities: $93.64

Commuter pass: $30.95

Cappuccino: $2.08

Domestic beer: $2.98

20. Indonesia

Cost of living compared to US: 45% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $261.98

Utilities: $55.18

Commuter pass: $13.49

Cappuccino: $1.92

Domestic beer: $2.25

19. Romania

Cost of living compared to US: 48% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $317.41

Utilities: $102.55

Commuter pass: $15.54

Cappuccino: $1.63

Domestic beer: $1.29

18. Cambodia

Cost of living compared to US: 37% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $348.08

Utilities: $81.33

Commuter pass: $26.10

Cappuccino: $2.01

Domestic beer: $1.00

17. Luxembourg

Cost of living compared to US: 25% higher

Monthly:

Rent: $1,618.73

Utilities: $257.21

Commuter pass: $59.53

Cappuccino: $3.66

Domestic beer: $5.95

16. Czech Republic

Cost of living compared to US: 35% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $524.80

Utilities: $178.92

Commuter pass: $24.66

Cappuccino: $1.89

Domestic beer: $1.37

15. Malaysia

Cost of living compared to US: 43% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $347.90

Utilities: $44.42

Commuter pass: $23.44

Cappuccino: $2.31

Domestic beer: $2.81

14. Taiwan

Cost of living compared to US: 12% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $388.54

Utilities: $60.69

Commuter pass: $33.28

Cappuccino: $2.42

Domestic beer: $1.65

13. Bahrain

Cost of living compared to US: 21% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $960.26

Utilities: $75.00

Commuter pass: $37.13

Cappuccino: $4.54

Domestic beer: $7.96

12. Nigeria

Cost of living compared to US: 56% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $445.74

Utilities: $38.14

Commuter pass: $26.47

Cappuccino: $2.23

Domestic beer: $0.84

11. Saudi Arabia

Cost of living compared to US: 36% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $403.37

Utilities: $40.59

Commuter pass: $40.00

Cappuccino: $2.63

Domestic (non-alcoholic) beer: $0.80

10. Thailand

Cost of living compared to US: 36% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $430.81

Utilities: $67.93

Commuter pass: $30.13

Cappuccino: $1.75

Domestic beer: $1.81

9. India

Cost of living compared to US: 64% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $170.16

Utilities: $32.29

Commuter pass: $9.35

Cappuccino: $1.43

Domestic beer: $1.56

8. Kazakhstan

Cost of living compared to US: 57% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $263.37

Utilities: $52.21

Commuter pass: $17.67

Cappuccino: $1.64

Domestic beer: $0.88

7. South Korea

Cost of living compared to US: 8% higher

Monthly:

Rent: $591.76

Utilities: $142.34

Commuter pass: $48.57

Cappuccino: $3.86

Domestic beer: $2.65

6. China

Cost of living compared to US: 39% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $515.49

Utilities: $51.55

Commuter pass: $18.35

Cappuccino: $4.07

Domestic beer: $0.92

5. Philippines

Cost of living compared to US: 53% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $235.75

Utilities: $74.92

Commuter pass: $9.78

Cappuccino: $2.00

Domestic beer: $0.98

4. Mexico

Cost of living compared to US: 52% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $272.72

Utilities: $39.40

Commuter pass: $17.03

Cappuccino: $2.01

Domestic beer: $1.40

3. Myanmar

Cost of living compared to US: 16% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $525.00

Utilities: $25.35

Commuter pass: $6.00

Cappuccino: $2.20

Domestic beer: $1.00

2. Colombia

Cost of living compared to US: 54% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $274.13

Utilities: $72.81

Commuter pass: $27.26

Cappuccino: $1.38

Domestic beer: $0.92

1. Vietnam

Cost of living compared to US: 45% lower

Monthly:

Rent: $397.63

Utilities: $56.76

Commuter pass: $6.60

Cappuccino: $1.66

Domestic beer: $0.88

The 30 countries that are best for your money, according to expats

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