📋 Detailed results

1. You are...

3146 responses
  1. ✈️ Settled expat 39% (1240)
  2. 💻 Digital nomad 19% (612)
  3. 🏖️ Vacationer / Traveler 18% (555)
  4. 🌍 Future expat 15% (480)
  5. 🎓 Student abroad 8% (259)

2. What is your nationality?

3146 responses
  1. Spain 5% (161)
  2. Thailand 5% (153)
  3. Morocco 5% (152)
  4. Belgium 5% (148)
  5. Germany 5% (147)
  6. United States 5% (144)
  7. Brazil 4% (141)
  8. Singapore 4% (139)
  9. Canada 4% (137)
  10. Colombia 4% (135)
  11. Netherlands 4% (133)
  12. Italy 4% (132)
  13. Mexico 4% (130)
  14. United Kingdom 4% (128)
  15. Switzerland 4% (126)
  16. Japan 4% (122)
  17. France 4% (122)
  18. Australia 4% (122)
  19. India 4% (119)
  20. Argentina 4% (117)
  21. Portugal 4% (116)
  22. United Arab Emirates 3% (106)
  23. Senegal 2% (65)
  24. South Korea 2% (58)
  25. Tunisia 2% (50)
  26. Vietnam 1% (43)

3. What is your native language?

3146 responses
  1. 🇫🇷 French 12% (380)
  2. 🇬🇧 English 10% (312)
  3. 🇪🇸 Spanish 10% (302)
  4. 🇩🇪 German 8% (254)
  5. 🇵🇹 Portuguese 7% (217)
  6. 🇷🇺 Russian 5% (171)
  7. 🌐 Other 4% (138)
  8. 🇨🇳 Chinese (Mandarin) 4% (134)
  9. 🇰🇷 Korean 4% (126)
  10. 🇹🇭 Thai 4% (125)
  11. 🇹🇷 Turkish 4% (123)
  12. 🇮🇩 Indonesian 4% (116)
  13. 🇸🇦 Arabic 4% (115)
  14. 🇯🇵 Japanese 4% (114)
  15. 🇻🇳 Vietnamese 3% (106)
  16. 🇳🇱 Dutch 3% (105)
  17. 🇮🇳 Hindi 3% (104)
  18. 🇵🇱 Polish 3% (103)
  19. 🇮🇹 Italian 3% (101)

4. What country do you currently live in?

3146 responses
  1. Switzerland 5% (150)
  2. Mexico 5% (150)
  3. Colombia 5% (149)
  4. Singapore 4% (139)
  5. France 4% (138)
  6. Portugal 4% (138)
  7. Japan 4% (137)
  8. United Arab Emirates 4% (137)
  9. United Kingdom 4% (135)
  10. United States 4% (135)
  11. Australia 4% (134)
  12. India 4% (133)
  13. Germany 4% (133)
  14. Canada 4% (132)
  15. Netherlands 4% (129)
  16. Morocco 4% (128)
  17. Thailand 4% (127)
  18. Italy 4% (125)
  19. Brazil 4% (125)
  20. Spain 4% (123)
  21. Argentina 4% (116)
  22. Belgium 4% (115)
  23. Tunisia 2% (63)
  24. South Korea 2% (58)
  25. Senegal 2% (51)
  26. Vietnam 1% (46)

5. How long have you been abroad?

3146 responses
  1. 📆 1 - 3 years 27% (859)
  2. 🗓️ 3 - 5 years 24% (756)
  3. 🏠 5+ years 17% (542)
  4. 📅 6 months - 1 year 16% (489)
  5. ⏱️ Less than 6 months 11% (331)
  6. ✨ Not yet 5% (169)
👥 Breakdown by profile

✈️ Settled expat

📆 1 - 3 years 27%
🗓️ 3 - 5 years 24%
🏠 5+ years 17%
📅 6 months - 1 year 15%
⏱️ Less than 6 months 11%

🌍 Future expat

📆 1 - 3 years 28%
🗓️ 3 - 5 years 25%
🏠 5+ years 17%
📅 6 months - 1 year 15%
⏱️ Less than 6 months 9%

🎓 Student abroad

📆 1 - 3 years 31%
🗓️ 3 - 5 years 25%
📅 6 months - 1 year 16%
🏠 5+ years 15%
⏱️ Less than 6 months 8%

🏖️ Vacationer / Traveler

📆 1 - 3 years 25%
🗓️ 3 - 5 years 23%
🏠 5+ years 17%
📅 6 months - 1 year 17%
⏱️ Less than 6 months 14%

💻 Digital nomad

📆 1 - 3 years 28%
🗓️ 3 - 5 years 24%
🏠 5+ years 18%
📅 6 months - 1 year 16%
⏱️ Less than 6 months 9%

6. Why did you move abroad? (multiple answers)

6005 responses
  1. 💼 Work / Transfer 23% (1404)
  2. 🏃 Adventure / Discovery 12% (745)
  3. 🌴 Quality of life 11% (670)
  4. 💕 Love / Family 10% (622)
  5. 🎓 Studies 9% (557)
  6. 💰 Financial reasons 9% (516)
  7. 🌐 Other 7% (409)
  8. 🏖️ Retirement 6% (386)
  9. 🏥 Health reasons 6% (357)
  10. 🕊️ Political reasons 6% (339)
👥 Breakdown by profile

✈️ Settled expat

💼 Work / Transfer 23%
🏃 Adventure / Discovery 12%
🌴 Quality of life 11%
💕 Love / Family 10%
🎓 Studies 9%

🌍 Future expat

💼 Work / Transfer 21%
🏃 Adventure / Discovery 12%
🌴 Quality of life 11%
💕 Love / Family 11%
🎓 Studies 10%

🎓 Student abroad

💼 Work / Transfer 26%
🏃 Adventure / Discovery 15%
🌴 Quality of life 12%
🏖️ Retirement 9%
💕 Love / Family 8%

🏖️ Vacationer / Traveler

💼 Work / Transfer 26%
🌴 Quality of life 12%
🏃 Adventure / Discovery 12%
💕 Love / Family 11%
🎓 Studies 9%

💻 Digital nomad

💼 Work / Transfer 22%
🏃 Adventure / Discovery 13%
💕 Love / Family 12%
🌴 Quality of life 12%
💰 Financial reasons 10%

7. What problems have you encountered? (multiple answers)

6305 responses
  1. 🗣️ Language barrier 14% (855)
  2. 😔 Loneliness / isolation 13% (815)
  3. ⚖️ Legal issues 13% (802)
  4. 🏦 Opening a bank account 12% (780)
  5. 🏠 Finding housing 12% (769)
  6. 📋 Administrative procedures 12% (767)
  7. ✅ None, everything went well! 12% (763)
  8. 🏥 Access to healthcare 12% (754)
👥 Breakdown by profile

✈️ Settled expat

🗣️ Language barrier 14%
🏠 Finding housing 13%
😔 Loneliness / isolation 13%
⚖️ Legal issues 12%
✅ None, everything went well! 12%

🌍 Future expat

😔 Loneliness / isolation 13%
🏦 Opening a bank account 13%
🗣️ Language barrier 13%
⚖️ Legal issues 13%
🏥 Access to healthcare 12%

🎓 Student abroad

⚖️ Legal issues 14%
😔 Loneliness / isolation 13%
🏦 Opening a bank account 13%
✅ None, everything went well! 13%
📋 Administrative procedures 12%

🏖️ Vacationer / Traveler

🗣️ Language barrier 14%
🏠 Finding housing 13%
😔 Loneliness / isolation 13%
🏥 Access to healthcare 13%
🏦 Opening a bank account 12%

💻 Digital nomad

⚖️ Legal issues 14%
🗣️ Language barrier 14%
📋 Administrative procedures 13%
😔 Loneliness / isolation 13%
🏥 Access to healthcare 12%

8. Which impacted you the most?

3146 responses
  1. 📋 Admin procedures 30% (941)
  2. 🏠 Housing 24% (758)
  3. 🗣️ Language 14% (432)
  4. 🏦 Banking 10% (307)
  5. 🏥 Healthcare 10% (306)
  6. 😔 Loneliness 8% (243)
  7. ⚖️ Legal 5% (159)
👥 Breakdown by profile

✈️ Settled expat

📋 Admin procedures 30%
🏠 Housing 23%
🗣️ Language 14%
🏦 Banking 11%
🏥 Healthcare 9%

🌍 Future expat

📋 Admin procedures 33%
🏠 Housing 19%
🗣️ Language 16%
🏥 Healthcare 12%
😔 Loneliness 9%

🎓 Student abroad

📋 Admin procedures 32%
🏠 Housing 29%
🗣️ Language 14%
😔 Loneliness 9%
🏥 Healthcare 7%

🏖️ Vacationer / Traveler

📋 Admin procedures 28%
🏠 Housing 25%
🗣️ Language 13%
🏦 Banking 11%
🏥 Healthcare 10%

💻 Digital nomad

📋 Admin procedures 28%
🏠 Housing 27%
🗣️ Language 13%
🏥 Healthcare 10%
🏦 Banking 8%

9. What is your total monthly budget?

3146 responses
  1. 💎 $3,500 - $5,000 26% (803)
  2. 💳 $2,000 - $3,500 24% (754)
  3. 🏆 More than $5,000 20% (627)
  4. 💵 $1,000 - $2,000 16% (517)
  5. 💰 Less than $1,000 14% (445)
👥 Breakdown by profile

✈️ Settled expat

💎 $3,500 - $5,000 26%
💳 $2,000 - $3,500 23%
💵 $1,000 - $2,000 18%
🏆 More than $5,000 18%
💰 Less than $1,000 14%

🌍 Future expat

💎 $3,500 - $5,000 25%
💳 $2,000 - $3,500 22%
💵 $1,000 - $2,000 19%
🏆 More than $5,000 18%
💰 Less than $1,000 15%

🎓 Student abroad

💳 $2,000 - $3,500 27%
💎 $3,500 - $5,000 23%
🏆 More than $5,000 22%
💵 $1,000 - $2,000 15%
💰 Less than $1,000 13%

🏖️ Vacationer / Traveler

💎 $3,500 - $5,000 26%
💳 $2,000 - $3,500 25%
🏆 More than $5,000 23%
💵 $1,000 - $2,000 14%
💰 Less than $1,000 12%

💻 Digital nomad

💎 $3,500 - $5,000 25%
💳 $2,000 - $3,500 25%
🏆 More than $5,000 22%
💰 Less than $1,000 15%
💵 $1,000 - $2,000 13%

10. The cost of living in your host country is...

3146 responses
  1. 🟠 More expensive 32% (1011)
  2. ⚪ About the same 27% (855)
  3. 🔴 Much more expensive 20% (631)
  4. 🟡 Cheaper 14% (434)
  5. 🟢 Much cheaper 7% (215)
👥 Breakdown by profile

✈️ Settled expat

🟠 More expensive 33%
⚪ About the same 28%
🔴 Much more expensive 19%
🟡 Cheaper 14%
🟢 Much cheaper 7%

🌍 Future expat

🟠 More expensive 30%
⚪ About the same 26%
🔴 Much more expensive 20%
🟡 Cheaper 16%
🟢 Much cheaper 8%

🎓 Student abroad

🟠 More expensive 32%
⚪ About the same 30%
🔴 Much more expensive 19%
🟡 Cheaper 14%
🟢 Much cheaper 5%

🏖️ Vacationer / Traveler

🟠 More expensive 32%
⚪ About the same 27%
🔴 Much more expensive 22%
🟡 Cheaper 13%
🟢 Much cheaper 6%

💻 Digital nomad

🟠 More expensive 33%
⚪ About the same 26%
🔴 Much more expensive 21%
🟡 Cheaper 13%
🟢 Much cheaper 7%

11. How do you manage health coverage?

3146 responses
  1. 🌐 Private international insurance 28% (880)
  2. 🏛️ Local social security 22% (702)
  3. 🏢 Employer insurance 22% (699)
  4. ❌ No coverage 16% (500)
  5. ❓ I don't know 12% (365)
👥 Breakdown by profile

✈️ Settled expat

🌐 Private international insurance 28%
🏛️ Local social security 23%
🏢 Employer insurance 21%
❌ No coverage 16%
❓ I don't know 12%

🌍 Future expat

🌐 Private international insurance 25%
🏛️ Local social security 24%
🏢 Employer insurance 23%
❌ No coverage 15%
❓ I don't know 13%

🎓 Student abroad

🌐 Private international insurance 27%
🏛️ Local social security 23%
🏢 Employer insurance 22%
❓ I don't know 14%
❌ No coverage 14%

🏖️ Vacationer / Traveler

🌐 Private international insurance 31%
🏢 Employer insurance 24%
🏛️ Local social security 19%
❌ No coverage 15%
❓ I don't know 11%

💻 Digital nomad

🌐 Private international insurance 27%
🏢 Employer insurance 23%
🏛️ Local social security 23%
❌ No coverage 17%
❓ I don't know 10%

12. How do you send money abroad?

3146 responses
  1. 📱 Wise, Revolut, N26... 36% (1120)
  2. 🏦 Traditional bank 22% (687)
  3. 🚫 I don't send money 18% (576)
  4. 💸 Western Union, MoneyGram... 12% (390)
  5. ₿ Crypto 12% (373)
👥 Breakdown by profile

✈️ Settled expat

📱 Wise, Revolut, N26... 36%
🏦 Traditional bank 21%
🚫 I don't send money 19%
💸 Western Union, MoneyGram... 13%
₿ Crypto 11%

🌍 Future expat

📱 Wise, Revolut, N26... 32%
🏦 Traditional bank 22%
🚫 I don't send money 16%
₿ Crypto 16%
💸 Western Union, MoneyGram... 14%

🎓 Student abroad

📱 Wise, Revolut, N26... 36%
🏦 Traditional bank 25%
🚫 I don't send money 17%
💸 Western Union, MoneyGram... 11%
₿ Crypto 10%

🏖️ Vacationer / Traveler

📱 Wise, Revolut, N26... 39%
🏦 Traditional bank 23%
🚫 I don't send money 19%
💸 Western Union, MoneyGram... 10%
₿ Crypto 9%

💻 Digital nomad

📱 Wise, Revolut, N26... 35%
🏦 Traditional bank 21%
🚫 I don't send money 18%
₿ Crypto 14%
💸 Western Union, MoneyGram... 12%

13. Your satisfaction with life abroad?

3146 responses
  1. 😊 Satisfied 41% (1288)
  2. 🤩 Very satisfied 31% (982)
  3. 😐 Neutral 17% (541)
  4. 😕 Dissatisfied 8% (238)
  5. 😫 Very dissatisfied 3% (97)
👥 Breakdown by profile

✈️ Settled expat

😊 Satisfied 43%
🤩 Very satisfied 30%
😐 Neutral 17%
😕 Dissatisfied 8%
😫 Very dissatisfied 2%

🌍 Future expat

😊 Satisfied 40%
🤩 Very satisfied 28%
😐 Neutral 21%
😕 Dissatisfied 8%
😫 Very dissatisfied 4%

🎓 Student abroad

😊 Satisfied 42%
🤩 Very satisfied 31%
😐 Neutral 18%
😕 Dissatisfied 5%
😫 Very dissatisfied 4%

🏖️ Vacationer / Traveler

🤩 Very satisfied 38%
😊 Satisfied 37%
😐 Neutral 14%
😕 Dissatisfied 8%
😫 Very dissatisfied 3%

💻 Digital nomad

😊 Satisfied 40%
🤩 Very satisfied 31%
😐 Neutral 17%
😕 Dissatisfied 8%
😫 Very dissatisfied 4%

14. Which services would be useful? (multiple answers)

6234 responses
  1. 🗣️ Language courses 15% (922)
  2. ⚖️ Legal help (visa, contracts) 14% (894)
  3. 🤝 Expat community 14% (892)
  4. 🏠 Finding housing 14% (891)
  5. 🚨 Repatriation / emergencies 14% (881)
  6. 🛡️ International insurance 14% (880)
  7. 📋 Admin help (taxes) 14% (874)

15. Would you pay for legal or admin help?

3146 responses
  1. 👍 Yes, if reasonably priced 39% (1239)
  2. 🤔 Maybe, depends 29% (922)
  3. ✅ Yes, without hesitation 18% (575)
  4. 🚫 No, I look for free options 13% (410)

16. Do you know what SOS-Expat.com is for?

3146 responses
  1. ❌ No, I'm discovering it through this survey 40% (1274)
  2. 🤔 I've heard of it but I'm not sure exactly 23% (710)
  3. ✅ Yes, it's a platform to solve any type of problem worldwide in under 5 minutes 20% (634)
  4. 💡 I thought it was something else 17% (528)

17. Any advice for future expats or travelers? (optional)

⚠️ n=20 20 responses
"Always keep copies of your documents."
"Stay flexible and patient."
"Open a local bank account ASAP."
"Don't underestimate culture shock."
"Plan your paperwork well in advance."
"Make local friends quickly."
"Join expat communities online."
"Open a local bank account ASAP."
"Stay flexible and patient."
"Get health insurance before you leave."

🔀 Cross-analysis

Duration × Satisfaction
Duration × Satisfaction
🌐 Private internatio... 🏢 Employer insurance 🏛️ Local social secu... ❌ No coverage ❓ I don't know
Mexico 31% 47 17% 25 23% 35 18% 27 11% 16
Switzerland 27% 40 29% 44 23% 35 11% 16 10% 15
Thailand 34% 43 23% 29 20% 26 13% 17 9% 12
Netherlands 33% 42 21% 27 26% 34 10% 13 10% 13
Portugal 30% 42 22% 31 17% 24 19% 26 11% 15
United Arab Emirates 28% 39 18% 25 31% 42 12% 17 10% 14
Colombia 28% 41 16% 24 22% 33 23% 35 11% 16
Morocco 32% 41 20% 26 22% 28 16% 20 10% 13
United Kingdom 26% 35 30% 40 23% 31 12% 16 10% 13
United States 30% 40 26% 35 20% 27 13% 18 11% 15
Origin × Destination
Origin × Destination
🇫🇷 French 🇬🇧 English 🇪🇸 Spanish 🇩🇪 German 🇵🇹 Portuguese 🇰🇷 Korean 🌐 Other 🇷🇺 Russian
United States 17% 24 9% 13 10% 15 8% 11 10% 14 3% 4 2% 3 5% 7
Morocco 15% 23 9% 14 11% 17 6% 9 5% 7 6% 9 2% 3 7% 11
Spain 9% 14 12% 20 10% 16 8% 13 6% 10 4% 7 3% 5 2% 4
Colombia 12% 16 15% 20 9% 12 10% 14 6% 8 6% 8 3% 4 6% 8
Germany 12% 17 13% 19 13% 19 5% 7 4% 6 5% 8 3% 4 5% 7
Japan 16% 19 8% 10 9% 11 7% 9 11% 14 2% 3 1% 1 3% 4
Singapore 4% 6 11% 15 14% 19 9% 13 9% 13 3% 4 6% 8 7% 10
Netherlands 14% 19 11% 15 8% 10 8% 11 5% 7 3% 4 3% 4 7% 9
Switzerland 15% 19 11% 14 8% 10 11% 14 8% 10 3% 4 5% 6 4% 5
United Arab Emirates 17% 18 7% 7 10% 11 8% 8 10% 11 7% 7 4% 4 4% 4
Profile × Willingness to pay
Profile × Willingness to pay
😊 Satisfied 🤩 Very satisfied 😐 Neutral 😕 Dissatisfied 😫 Very dissatisfied
✈️ Settled expat 43% 539 30% 369 17% 209 8% 97 2% 26
💻 Digital nomad 40% 243 31% 188 17% 107 8% 49 4% 25
🏖️ Vacationer / Traveler 37% 207 38% 211 14% 77 8% 42 3% 18
🌍 Future expat 40% 190 28% 133 21% 102 8% 37 4% 18
🎓 Student abroad 42% 109 31% 81 18% 46 5% 13 4% 10

🌍 Responses by country

FR
915 10%
US
726 8%
GB
354 4%
DE
315 3%
CA
302 3%
AU
266 3%
ES
227 2%
BR
191 2%
IT
190 2%
JP
165 2%
SG
163 2%
IN
162 2%
SE
159 2%
PT
159 2%
NL
157 2%
RU
153 2%
MX
153 2%
AE
152 2%
CH
151 2%
AR
150 2%
KW
147 2%
IL
143 1%
PL
142 1%
CZ
142 1%
QA
141 1%
IE
141 1%
NZ
140 1%
TH
138 1%
SA
138 1%
TR
136 1%
CL
135 1%
TN
134 1%
MA
134 1%
HK
133 1%
UA
133 1%
CO
132 1%
BE
129 1%
VN
129 1%
DK
129 1%
PE
129 1%
KE
127 1%
TW
125 1%
PH
125 1%
JO
125 1%
LB
125 1%
KR
124 1%
ZA
122 1%
NG
116 1%
NO
114 1%
EG
112 1%
CI
110 1%
MY
108 1%
SN
99 1%
ID
93 1%

📰 Data & Press

Are you a journalist or researcher? This data is freely reusable with attribution to SOS-Expat.com.

Source: SOS Expat : https://sos-expat.com/en-bi/expat-surveys/the-great-expat-traveler-survey/results

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