expatwhy.

/compare, up to four cities

Compare cities
side-by-side.

cost · internet
weather · safety
english · visa

Pick up to four. Each metric runs across one row, the better value per row is highlighted in terracotta. No paywall, no tracking, no “upgrade to see more”.

at a glance

Who wins what.

cheapest solo
Medellincolombia
$1,000/mo
fastest internet
Bangkokthailand
220 Mbps
cleanest air
Lisbonportugal
9 µg/m³ PM2.5
most coworking
Bangkokthailand
5 spaces
fewest quakes
Bangkokthailand
1 M5+ / 50yr
fewest storms
Medellincolombia
0 since 1980
best english
Lisbonportugal
85 / 100
cheapest int'l school
Medellincolombia
$8,500/yr
warmest now
Bangkokthailand
27°C
best overall
Lisbonportugal
7.7 / 10

the full data sheet, grouped by category

metricBangkokthailandLisbonportugalMedellincolombia
, money
Solo cost / mo$1,085$2,334$1,000
Family cost / mo$4,590$1,632
Rent 1br / mo$650$1,630$575
Cost confidence~ estimate✓ verified 2026~ estimate
, family education
Int'l primary / yr per child$14,500$13,000$8,500
Int'l secondary / yr (modelled)$19,000$17,000$11,000
Int'l preschool / yr per child$10,000$8,000$5,000
School cost basis✓ city-verified~ country baseline~ country baseline
, infrastructure
Internet (Mbps)220200100
Air PM2.5 annual (µg/m³)21914
Coworking (OSM)531
Wifi cafés (OSM)22312945
, livability
Temp now27°C19°C22°C
Safety score4.48.11.4
English (0–100)598566
Female safety5.57.52.0
LGBTQ+ friendliness8.09.07.0
Sun hours / year3,5883,6973,537
Rainy days / year16159212
EU work overlap (hrs)272
, verified risk
Earthquakes M5+ / 50yr / 200km1277
Largest quake on recordM5.3 (1983)M5.3 (1982)M7.2 (1992)
Tropical storms / since 1980890
Cat 1+ hurricanes000
, tax reality
Residency trigger180 days183 days183 days
Top marginal rate35%48%39%
ScopeRemittanceWorldwideWorldwide
Nomad regimeyesyesyes
, visa
Has nomad visayesyesyes
EU visa-free30 days90 days
, scores
Nomad score7.37.76.1
Solo score8.18.27.1
Family score6.38.05.6
Wellbeing score6.38.56.1

better value per row

Visa figures as of May 2026· verify with official immigration sources before deciding.