Some of the best experiences in life often take place in a completely new environment. While the thought of change can be frightening to some, living overseas can help you widen your network and enrich your experience. Should you consider living and working overseas?
Living overseas may finally give you the growth that you have always been looking for. While there are definitely pros and cons to living in an entirely different environment and culture, the benefits often outweigh the disadvantages. However, there are still a lot of things to consider when choosing to live overseas.
According to HSBC's annual Expat Explorer survey, expats ranked which countries are best to live in based on their own experience, Business Insider reported. The participants of the said survey also took into consideration the countries' economic status and whether it is great for raising your children abroad.
The publication then noted on the top 20 best places to live overseas based on the survey's results. The United States ranked 16th because of its "financial freedom, career growth, and a sound family life."
The U.S. also ranked third in terms of career progression and fourth for entrepreneurship. The cost of living varies from one state to another, but the survey suggests that New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco are the most expensive cities to live in.
Switzerland, which used to rank first on the list, dropped to the tenth spot. According to the publication, Switzerland dropped from the first place because of its high cost of living. The country, however, still ranks first in economics and fourth for quality of life.
New Zealand came in at second because of its low crime rate, which makes it best suited for raising a family.
Singapore is the overall top best place to live in based on all of the categories involved.
"One of the cleanest and safest cities in the world, Singapore is a multicultural hub that's worked hard to earn its place among the thriving Asian Tiger economies," said HSBC.
If living overseas is not for you, then maybe you can take advantage of this list and invest in real estate overseas. As previously reported here on Realty Today, investing in real estate overseas may be one of your best decisions to make in life.
A real estate investment abroad can help diversify your portfolio and serve as a retirement plan in the future.