Top 10 destinations for Expats

If you are planning to move overseas choosing the right country to live in is vital. With the weakening of the pound against the Euro over the past year many Britons have been returning home as they simply can no longer afford to live out their dream in warmer climates. The cost of living has become extremely expensive for many expats living within the Euro zone and for some it has simply become too much!

However not everyone is being deterred from moving to France or Spain, the warm weather, relaxed culture and overall quality of life offered on the continent is still just as appealing as it has ever been for some Brit’s.

Here is a list of the top 10 destinations for Expats

1. Australia – The sunny beaches, great cities and English spoken language make Australia so appealing especially with the young. Many 16-35 year old people move to Australia either to travel or to work professionally. Salaries may not as high as potential earnings in the UK but overall quality of life is far better.
2. Spain – The Costa’s remain popular with 10% of British Expats who chose to move to sunny Spain. The Spanish Expat community is very strong and in some regions British shops, bars and cafes make you feel as though you’ve never left Blighty. However if you are looking to embrace the Spanish way of life and culture many rustic villages and towns away from the coast offer a far simpler way of life.
3. USA – America is a top destination for Brit’s outside of Europe. The recent weakening of the pound against the Dollar will make holidays to the USA more expensive than in recent years. However many Brit’s looking to relocate to America will be in for a pleasant surprise when looking to purchase a house in the USA. House prices over the past 2 years have fallen dramatically meaning that in many states you will be able to grab yourself a luxurious home that will be far more palatial than anything you could afford in the UK, especially in areas such as Florida and on the outskirts of New York.
4. Canada – Here similar to Australia wages are quite considerable lower than potential earnings in the UK but of the 603,000 Brit’s living in Canada many value the standard of living here as far more important.
5. Ireland – 291,000 British people currently live in Ireland, which offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.
6. New Zealand – The scenery, language and climate make New Zealand a popular destination to live, according to the BBC over 215,000 Britons now live in New Zealand.
7. South Africa – The cost of living here and the colonial past keep Britons coming to this wonderful country. The immanent World Cup is likely to encourage more Brit’s to pack up and move to South Africa after they experience the warmer weather and the stunning landscapes. The South African Government will be doing a lot to improve the crime rates in South Africa over the coming months before this country has the world’s attention during the games. This will improve the quality of life for so many British expats in South Africa.
8. France – Over two thirds of British expats lived in France in 2008 but with the increase in the cost of living in France thanks to the weakening of the pound France has fallen into 8^th position. It is still by far the most popular overseas destination for the over 55’s.
9. Italy – Great food, warm weather and friendly locals make Italy a top country to live in overseas.
10. Thailand – The exotic culture, beautiful landscape and beaches make Thailand a popular destination for British Expats. The food and culture offer a completely different way of life for many Brits looking to escape the monotony of British life.

If you are moving overseas……

The exchange rate will play a huge part in influencing your decision to move abroad. With the recent weakening of the pound some countries are becoming too expensive for British people. International money transfers are a way of sending your funds abroad and can be carried out via your local high street bank or by using a Foreign Exchange Broker. You will find that Foreign Exchange Brokers offer far better rates for currency transfer than banks do.

When moving abroad it is vital that you contact a Foreign Exchange Broker as early of possible to discuss current exchange rates and recent movements in the currency markets in order to find out how much money you will have if you convert your pounds into a foreign currency.

At Compare Currency we offer free and impartial information on the UK’s leading Foreign Exchange Brokers so that you can find the best deal when sending money overseas. Visit our money transfer tables now to find out what is on offer.

For more information on sending money overseas and how to transfer money visit our money transfer guide.

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