1🇮🇳BangaloreIndia
~$1,000
0–30% progressive (plus surcharge and cess) · Mild tropical
City finder
Best English-speaking cities for expats
Cities in our dataset where you can live and work in English, ranked from the lowest cost of living. A practical shortlist if you are not ready to learn a new language first.
Take the 2-minute quiz →2🇮🇳MumbaiIndia
~$1,120
0–30% progressive (plus surcharge and cess) · Tropical monsoon
3🇲🇾PenangMalaysia
~$1,200
0% on unremitted foreign income; MM2H long-stay visa · Tropical island · nomad visa
4🇵ðŸ‡ManilaPhilippines
~$1,360
Progressive 0-35% · Tropical · nomad visa
5🇰🇪NairobiKenya
~$1,400
Progressive tax up to 35% · Temperate highland · nomad visa
6🇿🇦JohannesburgSouth Africa
~$1,440
Progressive 18–45%; national rate · Subtropical highland · nomad visa
7🇿🇦Cape TownSouth Africa
~$1,520
Progressive 18–45%; national rate · Mediterranean · nomad visa
8🇲🇾Kuala LumpurMalaysia
~$1,680
0% on unremitted foreign income; DE Rantau nomad visa · Tropical · nomad visa
9🇲🇺Port LouisMauritius
~$1,680
0–20% progressive (max 20%) · Tropical island · nomad visa
~$2,320
Progressive tax up to 48% (IFICI incentive for some) · Mediterranean · nomad visa
11🇲🇹VallettaMalta
~$2,320
0–35% progressive (Global Residence: 15%) · Mediterranean · nomad visa
12🇨🇾NicosiaCyprus
~$2,400
0–35% on employment; non-dom 0% on dividends/interest · Mediterranean
This list includes cities in our dataset tagged English-speaking, sorted by cost-of-living index (New York = 100). Budgets are indicative monthly estimates for one person.
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Where can I live abroad speaking only English?
The cities above all have English as a working language or a large English-speaking expat community, from Lisbon and Kuala Lumpur to Dubai, Amsterdam and Dublin. The list sorts them by cost of living.
Which English-speaking city is cheapest for expats?
The cities at the top of the list above have the lowest cost-of-living index. Southeast Asian hubs such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang usually rank as the most affordable.
These figures are indicative and based on public datasets. They are not tax advice. Consult a licensed tax advisor or financial professional before making relocation or employment decisions.