The 5 most and least expensive countries for expats to move to in 2025

While Switzerland is the world's most expensive country for expats currently, Mexico is the least expensive country in terms of the cost of living, with an overall score of 0.67 out of 10.

Packing up for a new life abroad comes with more than just excitement and adventure—it also means recalculating what everyday life will cost. This year has seen some countries testing our wallets, whilst others are letting our money go further than we imagined. A recent study by William Russell unveiled the most and least expensive countries for expats in 2025. 

*While the survey was not conducted in Asia, HRO believes the results remain relevant to our readership owing to their region-wide implications.

Here are the results below: 

Most expensive country for expats

Switzerland

Expat expenditure score: 9.29/10

Switzerland has the highest cost of living, scoring 9.29 out of 10. The central European nation has the highest average price of a gym membership at £65.74/US$87.40 a month, and the most expensive cinema tickets at £18.15/US$24.13 per ticket on average.

It also places second for average public transport tickets (£3.08/US$4.10) and restaurant meals (£99.84/US$132.74).

Iceland

Expat expenditure score: 8.48/10

Iceland takes second place, with the most expensive public transport at £3.77/US$5.01 and petrol costs at £1.84/US$2.44 per litre. It also has the costliest monthly internet bills (£60.44/US$80.36) and eating out costs, at £103/US$136.95 on average for two people.

However, it has some of the cheapest utility bills on the list, at £64.31/US$85.50 a month, on average.

Norway

Expat expenditure score: 7.72/10

Norway rounds out the top three. However, it has the third-highest public transport costs, at £3.00/US$3.99 for a one-way ticket. The country also ranks in the top five for the price of a restaurant meal, £71.47/US$95.02, and average monthly internet costs around £44.24/US$58.82.

Least expensive countries for expats

Mexico

Expat expenditure score: 0.67/10

Mexico is the least expensive country in terms of the cost of living, with an overall score of 0.67 out of 10. The North American nation has the cheapest average utility bills and the cheapest gym membership on the list at £46.06/US$61.24 and £25.21/US$33.52 respectively.

Lithuania

Expat expenditure score: 2.23/10

Lithuania has the cheapest average internet bill, at £11.64/US$15.47 per month. It also ranks in the top five for public transport costs, at £0.85/US$1.13 for a one-way ticket, giving it an overall score of 2.23 out of 10.

Poland

Expat expenditure score: 2.23/10

Poland has the second-cheapest cinema tickets, at £5.77/US$7.67 and monthly internet costs at £12.26/US$16.43, and ranks third for its gym membership prices at £27.71/US$36.84 per month.

Some other statistics are as follows: 

Most expensive country for petrol: Iceland

Due to its high fuel tax rates, Iceland has the most expensive average petrol prices, at £1.84/US$2.44 per litre. Due to its high fuel tax rates, Iceland has the most expensive average petrol prices, at £1.84/US$2.44 per litre.

Most expensive country for utility bills: Austria

Austria has the highest utility bills on the list, averaging £282.19/US$375.19 a month, thanks to increasing infrastructure maintenance costs being passed on to customers.

Most expensive country for internet bills: Iceland

Due to the lack of competition from internet providers in a country as small as Iceland, it has the most expensive average internet bills, at £60.44/US$80.36 a month.

Most expensive country for gym membership: Switzerland

Switzerland has the highest gym membership fees at £65.74/US$87.40 a month on average.

Most expensive country for cinema tickets: Switzerland

For those considering a move to Switzerland, the cost of this activity is the highest average cinema ticket price, at £18.15/US$24.13.

Most expensive country for restaurants: Iceland

The average restaurant bill in Iceland will set you back £103/US$136.95 for two people. This is due to the country’s reliance on food imports, which pushes prices up.

Highest countries in cost of living

Estonia

Estonia takes the top spot as the country spending the most on the cost of living. Estonians spend around a sixth (14.7%) of their monthly income on essentials. The highest cost is utility bills, averaging £229.95/US$305.74 a month, nearly a tenth (9.4%) of the average monthly income.

Greece

Greece takes second place, with an average income of £1,975/US$2,520 a month, £274.50/US$364.97 of which is spent on the cost of living, or nearly one-sixth (13.9%).

The cost of living is so high in Greece due to a sharp increase in inflation caused by rising food and energy prices. From January to July 2024, food prices in Greece rose by 3.9%, 0.6% higher than the EU average.

Slovak Republic

Next is the Slovak Republic, where the average resident spends a seventh (13.6%) of their income on the cost of living. High inflation rates and a lack of real wage growth in recent years have contributed to the country’s high cost of living.

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READ MORE: Top 10 most expensive cities for expats in 2025