What does quality of life really mean for expats?
Okay, we can start all the way here. The Merriam Webster's dictionary defines quality of life as "overall enjoyment of life: general well-being”. But while this is a very well-worded explanation, it doesn't really go into detail as to what factors we may consider when evaluating the quality of life.
Expats may define quality of life in various ways, depending on their individual priorities and experiences.
For some, it may mean living in a safe and secure environment with a low crime rate, good healthcare facilities, and access to quality education.
For others, it may be having a healthy work-life balance, plenty of recreational activities, and a vibrant cultural scene.
For many, the cost of living, economic opportunities, and the ability to save and invest may be critical considerations.
Some may prioritize environmental factors such as clean air and water, green spaces, and sustainable living practices.
Ultimately, quality of life is a subjective measure that varies depending on an individual's values, needs, and expectations. Expats must consider their priorities carefully when evaluating potential destinations to ensure that they find the best possible quality of life.
What factors make up the quality of life for expats?
Several factors contribute to the quality of life, including:
- Safety and security: This includes crime rates, political stability, and access to emergency services.
- Healthcare: Access to quality healthcare facilities, services, and medications.
- Education: Access to quality education, including primary, secondary, and tertiary education.
- Economic conditions: Factors such as cost of living, employment opportunities, and wage levels.
- Environment: Quality of air and water, access to green spaces, and sustainable living practices.
- Cultural experiences: Opportunities for cultural engagement, arts, and entertainment.
- Social norms: Social support networks, community engagement, and inclusivity.
- Infrastructure: Quality of transportation, public services, and utilities.
- Work-life balance: The ability to balance work and personal life, including leisure time and family commitments.
These factors vary significantly depending on the location and the cultural context, and prospective expats must consider them carefully when evaluating their quality of life in a new destination.
How may expats define quality of life if they've never been to the host country?
When expats have never been to their host country, defining quality of life can be a challenging task.
In such cases, they may rely on various sources such as research, feedback from other expats or locals, official reports, and online resources to gain insights into the country's living standards, culture, and overall quality of life.
They may also consider factors such as the country's political stability, economic conditions, healthcare system, education system, environmental sustainability, and social norms to evaluate its overall quality of life.
However, since these sources may not always provide a complete or accurate picture of the country, expats must remain open-minded and flexible in their expectations when relocating to a new destination. They should also be prepared to adapt to new cultural norms and environments and seek out opportunities to learn and grow in their new host country.
What is the Quality of Life Index?
The Quality of Life Index is a tool used to measure the overall quality of life in different cities and countries around the world. It takes into account various factors, such as safety, healthcare, education, cost of living, environmental conditions, and cultural experiences, and assigns a score to each location based on these factors.
The index is used by expats, tourists, and researchers to compare living standards across different locations and to evaluate the overall desirability of a particular destination.
While the Quality of Life Index can provide a useful overview of living standards, it is important to note that it is based on subjective measures and may not necessarily reflect the experiences of individual expats in a particular location. Therefore, it is essential to consider personal factors and preferences when evaluating the quality of life in a new destination.
It's also important to note that there are different rankings available that calculate the Quality of Life Index. For instance, the Quality of Life Index by Numbeo places the Netherlands as the country with the highest quality of life in the world. However, according to the latest quality of life ranking by city from Mercer, it's Vienna (Austria) that deserves the title.
What questions should prospective expats ask themselves before moving?
Moving to a new country can be a significant change in your life, and it's important to consider various factors to ensure that you can keep up a comfortable lifestyle.
Here are some questions prospective expats should ask themselves to determine the potential quality of life in the country they are moving to:
- What is the cost of living in the country?
- What are the job opportunities and work culture like?
- How is the quality of healthcare and education?
- What is the climate like, and will it be suitable for you?
- How safe is the country, and what are the crime rates?
- What is the transportation system like, and how accessible is it?
- How diverse and inclusive is the society?
- How easy is it to make friends and connect with the local community?
- What is the local language, and how well do you speak it?
- What are the cultural norms and customs, and how well do you adapt to them?
By considering these questions and researching further into the country's culture, lifestyle, and overall environment, prospective expats can determine the potential quality of life in the country they plan to move to.
Quality of Life Index data for prospective expats
Mercer's Quality of Life City Ranking
Mercer leads in providing data on the quality of living for employees who are sent to work overseas. Their annual ranking of the quality of living in prevalent assignment locations is based on ongoing research conducted on the practicalities of daily life for expatriate employees and their families.
Numbeo Quality of Life Index by Country
Numbeo's quality of life index is a measure of the overall quality of life in different cities and countries around the world. It takes into account various factors, including the cost of living, safety, healthcare, pollution levels, traffic, and other indicators that affect people's well-being. Numbeo collects data from its users, who provide information on different aspects of life in their cities or countries.
Nomadlist: Best Places for Digital Nomads
Nomadlist's best places to live list is a curated list of cities and destinations that are deemed to be the best for digital nomads and remote workers. The list is compiled based on a range of factors, including the cost of living, internet speed, weather, safety, fun, and other important criteria for this community. Nomadlist is a platform that connects digital nomads and remote workers worldwide and provides information and resources to help them find suitable places to live and work.
Eurostat is the statistical office of the European Union, and it produces a range of statistics and indicators on various aspects of life in the EU. Eurostat does not have a specific quality of life index. Instead, it produces a range of indicators that are used to measure different dimensions of quality of life, such as income, employment, education, health, and environment.
Quality of life index data can be useful for expats who are deciding to move to a different country
By comparing quality of life index data for different countries, expats can make more informed decisions about where to move based on their personal preferences and needs.
However, it is important to note that quality of life index data should not be the only factor considered when making such an important decision. Other factors, such as job opportunities, visa requirements, language barriers, and personal circumstances, should also be taken into account. It is recommended that expats and prospective expats do additional research, including talking to other expats who have lived in the country, before making a final decision.
