Top 15 European Countries for American Expats in 2026. [Survey Results]

Wondering which are the best European countries for American expats in 2026? In this season finale, we’re breaking down the InterNations' 2025 Expat Insider Survey—a massive study of over 10,000 expats across 46 countries—to uncover which European nations are delivering for expats. We focus only on the top and bottom 15 European countries overall and across these critical categories: Working Abroad, Personal Finance, Quality of Life, Expat Essentials, Ease of Settling In, and the General Happiness factor.

The data reveals unexpected winners: Spain dominates quality of life rankings while Cyprus quietly claims spots in both the top 15 overall  (#14) and happiness rankings (#6). Austria surprises at #4 for quality of life despite its reputation for unfriendly locals. Ireland leads Europe for working abroad, followed by the Netherlands, while Portugal and Spain stand out for personal finance. Other top 15 countries included Denmark, Norway, Belgium, and more!

Hear Jeffrey’s analysis of how Emily in Paris is a great story of an American confronting and accepting life abroad and his theory about how €2 beers are likely fueling Spanish happiness scores.

Join us for this wide-ranging conversation on expat life and what the data reveals!

February 3, 2026 • The Living Abroad Academy • Season 1 • Episode 9 • 55:27