• HSBC Expat released its annual expat survey to find the countries where expats earn the highest income and have the most job opportunities.
  • There are countries from all over the world, including the US, China, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
  • Switzerland is the best country to live abroad if you want to make more money – the average expat salary is $202,865.

Everyone has to leave home at some point. But rather than head across the country, some people head across the world in search of greener pastures.

Choosing where to go can be an overwhelming decision. HSBC Expat is making that decision a whole lot easier thanks to its annual survey of 25,000 expats around the world.

The survey, released Thursday, reveals the best countries to live in the world to earn the highest income as an expat. While the US and Switzerland made the top ten, it seems the direction to move is east. Asian countries made up seven of the top ten countries for expat incomes.

We pulled out the top 30 countries for expat incomes, 12 of which are above $100,000. Have a look – you might find your new home.


30. Philippines

Foto: sourceARTYOORAN/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $59,134


29. Turkey

Foto: Istanbul, TurkeysourceDmitry Polonskiy/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $60,793


28. Mexico

Foto: Pedestrians cross Zocalo Street in Mexico City, Mexico.sourcesmileyunita/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $66,940


27. Poland

Foto: sourceAndrzej Rostek/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $67,966


26. Russia

Foto: sourceAlexey Malchenko/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $69,076


25. South Africa

Foto: sourceAndrea Willmore/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $71,854


24. Brazil

Foto: sourceBarichivich/iStock

Average Income for Expats: $73,647


23. Thailand

Foto: sourceJan Schneckenhaus/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $74,777


22. Ireland

Foto: source4kclips/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $78,212


21. France

Foto: sourceShutterstock/Ioan Panaite

Average Income for Expats: $83,683


20. United Kingdom

Foto: sourceScott Barbour/Getty

Average Income for Expats: $86,844


19. New Zealand

Foto: sourceAriel Schwartz/Business Insider

Average Income for Expats: $88,041


18. Sweden

Foto: sourceOleksiy Mark/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $88,400


17. Taiwan

Foto: sourceweniliou/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $88,473


16. Vietnam

Foto: sourceShutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $90,408


15. Canada

Foto: sourceInga Locmele/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $91,842


14. Germany

Foto: sourceVanderWolf Images/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $95,337


13. Saudi Arabia

Foto: sourceFrancisco Anzola/Flickr

Average Income for Expats: $99,615


12. Bahrain

Foto: sourceFlickr/Chris Price

Average Income for Expats: $102,670


11. Malaysia

Foto: sourceShutterstock/zhu difeng

Average Income for Expats: $117,269


10. Australia

Foto: sourcePomInOz / Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $125,803


9. Japan

Foto: sourceKoichi Kamoshida/Getty

Average Income for Expats: $127,362


8. Indonesia

Foto: sourceShutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $127,980


7. India

Foto: sourceIuliia Khabibullina/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $131,759


6. United Arab Emirates

Foto: sourceShutterstock/evenfh

Average Income for Expats: $155,039


5. Singapore

Foto: sourceShutterstock/joyfull

Average Income for Expats: $162,172


4. China

Foto: sourceAndrew Milligan Sumo/Flickr

Average Income for Expats: $172,678


3. Hong Kong

Foto: A cityscape of Hong Kong is see from the Peak on August 8, 2000, moments after sunset.sourceBobby Yip/Reuters

Average Income for Expats: $178,706


2. USA

Foto: sourceShutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $185,119


1. Switzerland

Foto: sourceFedor Selivanov/Shutterstock

Average Income for Expats: $202,865