A simple way to compare countries on ten criteria with weights you set yourself, a worked illustrative example for three countries and the most common mistakes people make when choosing.
In brief
Choosing a country gets easier when you score it on a short list of criteria that matter to you. This guide uses 10 criteria, a weight from 1 to 5 for each and a score from 0 to 10 per country, so you can see a clear percentage rather than a gut feeling. The worked example compares three countries and is illustrative: the scores are the author's assessment, not data, and the result differs once your own priorities are entered. In the example the three totals come out close (about 70% to 72%), which is a useful reminder that several good options often exist.
Why a scoring method helps
A list of pros and cons tends to turn into a long list for every country. A weighted score shows what actually decides the choice for you. It also makes a conversation with a partner or family member easier, because each person can set their own weights and see where you agree.
The ten criteria
- Budget: what a comfortable month costs, including rent, health cover and a reserve.
- Visa route: how clear and achievable the path to residence is for your passport and situation.
- Climate: the temperatures and seasons you enjoy.
- Language: how easily you can live and work in a language you speak.
- Healthcare: access, quality and what it costs with your cover.
- Schools: options for children, including international schools.
- Taxes: the overall tax position for your income type, to be confirmed with an adviser.
- Community: how easy it is to meet people and find your community.
- Property market: whether renting or buying is straightforward and what you can afford.
- Safety: how safe you feel day to day.
How to score
- Give each criterion a weight from 1 (nice to have) to 5 (essential).
- Give each country a score from 0 to 10 per criterion, based on sources you trust and on your own trial stay.
- Multiply each score by its weight and add the results.
- Divide the total by the maximum possible (the sum of the weights times 10) to get a percentage.
- Repeat with a second set of weights, for example your partner's, and compare.
A worked illustration
The weights in this example are: budget 5, visa route 5, climate 3, language 2, healthcare 4, schools 2, taxes 4, community 3, property market 2, safety 4. They add up to 34, so the maximum is 340.
The scores below are the author's own illustrative assessment for a Russian-speaking remote worker, not data, and are shown only to demonstrate the method.
- Spain: 6, 6, 9, 6, 9, 7, 5, 8, 7, 8 gives a total of 239, which is about 70% of 340.
- Georgia: 8, 9, 7, 7, 5, 5, 8, 8, 6, 7 gives a total of 246, which is about 72%.
- UAE: 4, 7, 5, 8, 8, 8, 9, 8, 7, 9 gives a total of 244, which is about 72%.
Now change the weights for a family with children: healthcare 5 and schools 4, which raises the sum of weights to 37 and the maximum to 370. The totals become 262 for Spain, 261 for Georgia and 268 for the UAE, about 71%, 71% and 72%. The ranking barely moves, which shows that the three options are close and that a trial stay will help you decide. Treat this as a method demonstration, not a ranking of countries.
What the scores usually show
- Close totals mean that several countries are good for you, so the deciding factors become practical: the visa route and the first month.
- A single low score on an essential criterion is worth more attention than a high total.
- If one weight dominates your decision, say so honestly: for some people it is only the visa route.
Common mistakes when choosing
- Choosing from a ranking alone. Rankings such as the InterNations survey (31 destinations, fieldwork February to March 2026) show how other expats feel, and your priorities may differ.
- Ignoring the visa route until the end. Check it first, on the official portal, because it can decide the outcome.
- Comparing only costs. A cheaper month is not always a better month once healthcare and schools are included.
- Skipping a trial stay. Visit in the season you will actually live there, not only in the best one.
- Buying property too early. Rent first; see our guide on residence through property for the cases where buying is part of the visa route.
Next steps
- Read our guide to whether a move is right for you and take the twelve-question self-test there.
- Shortlist three countries and score them with the method above.
- Plan a trial stay in the top one, as described in our trial-year guide, and compare the cost of living in our 12-country guide.
- Read the guide for the country you choose from our list in the decision guide.
- Should you move abroad: benefits, preparation and how to decide
- A trial year abroad: how to test a move before you commit
- Cost of living abroad compared: 12 countries
- Relocating abroad with family
- Residence through property: which country gives it
- Tax residency when relocating
FAQ
How many countries should I compare? Three is usually enough. More than that makes the score hard to interpret, and a trial stay in your top choice is more useful than a fourth spreadsheet row.
Where do I find the scores? Use official sources for visa and taxes, our cost-of-living guide for budget, and your own trial stay for climate, community and safety. Be honest that some scores are personal judgement.
What if two countries score the same? Then the visa route and the practical first month decide. A short trial stay in each is often the most reliable tiebreak.
Should the weights be the same for everyone in the family? No. Each person can set their own weights, and the comparison shows where you agree and where you need to talk.