Expats Rank Colombia 11th-Best Among 59 Nations in Living-Working Survey

The latest InterNations global survey of the “best and worst” nations for living and working abroad finds that Colombia ranks 11th out of 59.

Colombia’s highest rating (third overall) is in the “personal finance index” but its worst ranking (38th overall) is in the “working abroad index,” according to InterNations.

“With more than 12,000 respondents, this is one of the most extensive surveys about living and working abroad, sharing insights into expat life in 59 destinations,” according to Munich-based InterNations.

Besides making it into the top 10 for “personal finance,” Colombian ranks fourth in “ease of settling-in,” fifth in “cost of living,” and 25th in “quality of life,” according to the survey.

In total, “46% of expats in Colombia have mostly local friends and acquaintances, which is 26 percentage points more than the global average (20%). Close to two-thirds (65%) also agree that finding new friends in general is easy in Colombia, whereas globally only 48% of expats feel this way.”

Meanwhile, “81% of respondents rate the cost of living in Colombia positively, compared to just 48% globally. Colombia ranks high in the personal finance index (third), where only Vietnam (first) and Mexico (second) perform better,” according to the survey.

“Most expats (84%) in Colombia say their disposable household income is enough or more than enough to cover their expenses (versus 77% globally). What is more, 76% are satisfied with their financial situation (versus 64% globally) — 40% even very much so (versus 23% globally).

“The majority of expats (86%) is happy with their life in general (versus 75% globally), and nearly all of those with a partner or spouse (98%) are happy with their relationship (versus 87% globally).

“Actually, more than three in five expats in Colombia who are in a relationship (61%) are romantically involved with a local resident, which is a lot more than the global average (38%).

“For the majority of expats (97%), Colombia’s natural environment is also a highlight (versus 84% globally). However, with close to one in four expats (23%) rating their personal safety negatively (versus 8% globally), Colombia lands in the bottom 10 of the ‘safety & security’ subcategory (50th).

“Another 19% also rate the country’s peacefulness negatively, ten percentage points more than the global average (9%). And less than half the expats (49%) are happy with the political stability in Colombia (vs. 64% globally),” according to the survey.

Another Colombia weak spot is the “working abroad index,” ranking 41st in the “career prospects & satisfaction” subcategory, “with just 31% of expats rating the local career opportunities positively (versus 45% globally) and one in five (20%) being dissatisfied with their job (versus 16% globally),” according to InterNations.

“Moreover, 22% of expats rate the state of the local economy negatively, which is slightly above the global average (19%),” the survey added.

According to the survey, the top 10 destinations for expats are Taiwan (first), followed by Mexico, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Portugal, New Zealand, Australia, Ecuador, Canada, and Vietnam (10th).

The worst countries for expats are Kuwait (59th), Italy, South Africa, Russia, Egypt, Japan, Cyprus, Turkey, India, and Malta (50th), the survey concluded.