1🇮🇳MumbaiIndia
~$880
India's financial center and home to its main stock exchanges, warm coastal climate with a heavy summer monsoon. 0–30% progressive (plus surcharge and cess) · Tropical monsoon
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🇮🇳BangaloreIndia
~$1,000
Center of India's IT industry, mild year-round climate, English widely used in business. 0–30% progressive (plus surcharge and cess) · Mild tropical
3🇲🇾Kuala LumpurMalaysia
~$1,160
0% tax on foreign income, Muslim-friendly hub, DE Rantau nomad visa, accredited private hospitals at low cost. 0% on unremitted foreign income; DE Rantau nomad visa · Tropical · nomad visa
4🇲🇾PenangMalaysia
~$1,200
UNESCO heritage city, affordable (~30% of the NYC cost index), English-speaking, well-known street food, established expat retirement community. 0% on unremitted foreign income; MM2H long-stay visa · Tropical island · nomad visa
5🇵🇭ManilaPhilippines
~$1,360
English is an official language and the personal income tax is graduated to 35%.. Progressive 0-35% · Tropical · nomad visa
6🇰🇪NairobiKenya
~$1,400
English-speaking East African capital with a technology sector and a two-year remote-work permit.. Progressive tax up to 35% · Temperate highland · nomad visa
7🇿🇦JohannesburgSouth Africa
~$1,440
Financial centre of South Africa on the Highveld, home to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, English-speaking, remote-work visa available since 2024. Progressive 18–45%; national rate · Subtropical highland · nomad visa
8🇿🇦Cape TownSouth Africa
~$1,520
Mediterranean coastal climate on the Atlantic, English-speaking, remote-work visa available since 2024. Progressive 18–45%; national rate · Mediterranean · nomad visa
9🇲🇺Port LouisMauritius
~$1,680
French and English speaking, progressive tax to 20%, Indian Ocean lifestyle, Premium Visa for remote workers. 0–20% progressive (max 20%) · Tropical island · nomad visa
~$2,320
EU safety, Atlantic coast, established nomad community. Progressive tax up to 48% (IFICI incentive for some) · Mediterranean · nomad visa
11🇲🇹VallettaMalta
~$2,320
EU island, English-speaking, Mediterranean sunshine, Global Residence tax option. 0–35% progressive (Global Residence: 15%) · Mediterranean · nomad visa
12🇨🇾LimassolCyprus
~$2,360
EU base, non-dom status exempts foreign income for 17 years, large Russian/Israeli/British expat community. 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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Answer 6 questions and get your own top 3 ranked by budget, tax, climate and lifestyle.
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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.
Other shortlists
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.