If you dream about living abroad, but worry about the language barrier, living in a country where English is spoken can make your life easier and provide a sense of familiarity here are the Top 8 English Speaking Countries for Expats.

In this Blog we are going to discuss about some of the best English speaking countries for expats, retirees, and digital nomads, As we discuss each country , I will show you the quick breakdown of the cost of living popular cities and visa options, so that way you can visualize what life might be like in your new home.

Now this first country on our list, you might be Surprised to see here, and that is mentioned Below:

8. Netherlands

Top 8th Country in the world is Netherlands.

Many People in Netherlands start learning English at a very young age, and by the time they’re about university age, they could be very proficient. Now if you are thinking of moving to Netherlands and you want to learn the Language there, well the BBC says that Dutch is one of the easiest language to learn for English and German speakers because its a little bit of a mix in between those two languages.

If you ever been there, you might find it kind of intimidating to learn. I know I personally saw it as a difficult language, but fortunately, many people in The Netherlands speak English, especially in some of the bigger cities, uh, like Rotterdam and Amsterdam, which is one of the most diverse cities on the planet with more Than 180 nationalities represented there.

So it Seems that English has become a pretty common language there, and also is the language of business.So you’d be hard pressed to travel to many parts of The Netherlands where you won’t find anyone speaking English there.Even better The Netherlands often ranks at the top of many indices for the best places to live in the world, places with the best quality of life and also friendly people. its a very safe country, its well organized. You’ve got a great infrastructure.

its one of those places where everything just works. and when you’re able to communicate better in language that you speak, that makes things alot easier. Moving to The Netherlands is also a popular choice for job seekers with many opportunities there. it means you get to enjoy a high quality of life, a strong economy, low crime rate, and very efficient transit.

The Netherlands also ranks as number three of the world’s most educated nations.So moving there is a smart move. The Dutch healthcare system is also considered one of the best in the world. So if you move there and Get permanent residency or citizenship, then you can benefit from getting access to that healthcare system. if you’re thinking of moving to The Netherlands and you want a few suggestions of places to go, then Amsterdam sticks out as a very popular destination.

One of the most multicultural cities in the world, as I mentioned, with lots of things to do and nightlife, but it is the seventh most expensive city in the Europe. So if you are going there, then you need to have a pretty comfortable budget, especially when it comes to housing.

Trek is a beautiful city that’s easy to get around by bike and has a great transit as well. its an ideal place to retire or raise a family. It’s safe, friendly, and also close to nature and other travel hubs. Lighten is a smaller city with good amenities and activities to boot. It’s considered an upscale university town and has some neighborhoods with rowdy student housing, so be careful to research each neighborhood first.

As much as I love Netherlands and it is on of my favorite countries, there are some things that you want to consider first. First thing is the cost there So the cost of Living, it can be pretty high here, especially when it comes to housing. You’re looking at a cost of living of at least $1500 per month before taking rent into consideration. & if you are just going short term there to check it out on an exploratory trip, and you might get sticker shock at the Airbnb prices, especially if you’re there in peak season such as spring and summer.

I’ve seen Airbnbs going easily from $3500 to $8000 or even 10,000 euro per month in the more popular areas. Fortunately, you can get lower rent prices if you are going to be living there permanently and long term, but if you are going to be in the major cities, then housing can be tight. So this is one of the downside of moving there. Despite all the other benefits,

7. Phillipines

Philippines ranks as 7th Country where People Love to Learn or Speak English

The Philippines is one of the top three largest English speaking countries in the world along with the United States and India. it was actually once an American Colony, but of course, today is an independent nation. the two official languages there are English as well as Filipino. and while of course most locals speak the native tongue, English is the official language when it comes to business, government and also tourism.

If you’ve been Considering moving overseas for a long time, then chances are that the Philippines has made your list. Its popular for a couple of reasons, namely the low cost of living. So many people report being able to live in the Philippines for as low as $400 or $500 a month up to around a thousands $$$ per month.

But if you can have a cost of living of $2000 a month , then your money will go alot farther, Another major pro to living in the Philippines is the local people who are known for their hospitality and kindness & I can personally vouch for this one as well, I’ve always found Fillipinos to genuinely interested in getting to know you and willing to share their time with you. Favorite restaurants and also hidden gems around town culturally. Filipinos also love to socialize, so if you want to meet people and have a good social life, then the Philippines is a great choice.

A few places you can consider to put down roots include Sibu, a famous diver spot with modern amenities and a thriving expat community.

Palawan the best island to enjoy the Philippines. beautiful beaches, jungle, and dramatic waterfalls and rebel considered the safest city in the Philippines. It’s relatively easy to move to the Philippines permanently if you want that to be your home. They offer a pretty flexible retirement visa that you can qualify for as young as 35 years old, and they are also relatively low financial requirements, especially compared to other countries starting at a thousand to $1500 per month, and if you wanna get more information on that then I have another blog on the best and cheapest places to retire in the world , here is the link to that blog https://exploreworldo.com/10-best-places-to-retire-in-2025/

Their are some downsides to living in Philippines as far as development and infrastructure, as well as healthcare, which is available in the urban areas, but more rural areas can lack some of the infrastructure and high quality hospitals. Some Places also don’t have access to things like clean water. Power outages can also be common depending on where in the Philippines you are living and internet speeds can also be very slow, especially out in some of the more remote islands. But if You’re living in the most urban area, then you should be able to find speeds between 40 and 100 megabits per second on average.

6. Malta

Malta has been a popular holiday destination, but it’s also become a popular home away from home for many foreign residents, especially from English Speaking country such as US or UK.

Malta has two Official Languages, English and Maltese. Maltese is a s language with Arabic and Sicilian languages that has been spoken for centuries, but these days you’ll also find that almost everyone in Malta speaks English as well. and Italian is also prominent. Malta’s location between Italy and Africa gives its a unique cultural mix and 300 glorious days of sunshine per year. It’s a great place to base yourself if you are curious about exploring the region, including Africa, the Middle East and Europe. 20% of the Population in Malta are Foreigners, many of whom came for the laid back life-style and coastal atmosphere.

Maltese People are known to be kind, welcoming and warm, attracting alot of people for that reason. But also job seekers as depending on the type of visa or work permit you have, you can work there especially. There are alot of jobs in the tourism industry, but Malta also has a very popular retiree visa, investor visa and also a digital nomad visa for if you work remotely and earn your income abroad, malt is considered a safe country to live in with all the EU benefits.

Public Healthcare is free for EU residents and visitors, and non-Eu passport holders will want to purchase your own international or local private health insurance if you are going there.

If you’re keen on moving to Malta, then some of the best places to live includes Slamma , Valletta or for a slower pace of life. The island of Gozo Valetta, the capital city, has the most bars , restaurants and heritage sites. St Julians draws in a young crowd and is known for its night life, and Gozo is the northern Maltese Island and the best place to get some r&r Maltas.

Cost of Living is Considered moderate with unfurnished. Long Term rentals starting from around $ 500 Per Month But if you are looking for short term furnish-rentals , those can easily be more than a thousand euro per month up to 2000 or 2500 euro, So if you are going long term, you will always save money living in Malta. How ever you could come down with case of island fever because the only way out of the country is by plane or boat.

So if you want to explore, often your transportation costs can go up coz its small and a popular place to be

Malta is very densely populated. There is also a very high rate of car ownership, so with small spaces and narrow roads and alot of people on the road, if can feel quite crowded with a lot of traffic & also not the safest place if you are going to be cycling or riding a bike.

While Public Transit is free for residents, the buses fill up fast, especially if you are there during the high tourism season.

5. Malaysia

Next on our list is Malaysia. while Malay is the national language of Malaysia, English is used in many sectors, especially in business and government, and you’ll find it to be a widely spoken throughout the country, Its even spoken in rural areas, although you will notice a difference in the pronunciation and accent.

Malaysia is a beautiful country with modern cities contrasted with ethereal natural landscapes. it’s a melting Pot of Cultures, a mix of Malay, Chinese, East Indian and indigenous people, which has had a very positive influence on the food culture and also general acceptance towards others.

If you are interested in Living in Malaysia, then you are definitely not alone. About 250,000 foreigners choose to call it home, and its also known as a very friendly place and easy to make friends. Local People also prefer to eat in groups and communities, so it can be really easy to meet people. On the top of it all Malaysia’s wildlife is hard to beat. The rainforests are home to endangered species like orangutans, tigers, and turtles. Just by visiting , you will have a lot of opportunity to see wildlife on treks dives and other adventures.

Malaysia’s also well loved by expats and digital nomads alike for the low cost of living, which of course is prevalent throughout Southeast Asia, but here you get the English Speaking as well as the low cost of living and great nature and amenities, modernity, healthcare. So its really is a great place to live. As far ad cost of living, it really depends on where you live within the country, but many people report being able to live very comfortably on $1000 to $2000 per month. Private hotel rooms in the capital of Kuala Lampur start as low as $15 per night, and its also a great country to find cheap and delicious street food.

Malaysia Ranks just behind Thailand and Singapore for the third best healthcare in the region, and if you become a resident there, then you can opt into the local healthcare system. Malaysia is also a great base to travel to other parts of Asia. Many People Prefer living in Kuala Lumpur for its international airport and growing startup scene, but also check out Penang which has a more laid back vibe with all of the amenities you need, plus a growing number of co working spaces.

Of course living in Malaysia can come with some downsides. For one, the very hot and humid climate pollution can also be a problem. You may have seen some photos or videos of trash collecting in waterways, and Malaysia is also one of the largest exporters of palm oil, which can have a devastating impact on the environment and local spices.

4. Belize (Country in Central America)

Belize is the Only Country in central america where English is the official language. Although Creole and Spanish are also widely spoken.

The Population in Belize represents a diverse mix of culture, including English, Creole, Mennonite, and Mayan natives. While English is the Official Language, you’ll also find people speaking other languages there, and also a mix of indigenous languages if you love the beaches and jungles.

Well Belize offers plenty of opportunities for adventure. There’s a lot to enjoy from diving and island hopping to exploring Mayan ruins, The Weather’s warm, but not as warm as the people potentially who are often described as friendly, helpful, and welcoming.

If you are interested in moving to Belize, well, the government has made it pretty easy and straightforward for you to do so, including with their retirement visa that you can apply for as young as 40 years old.

Belize also has their digital nomad visa, which is called the work where your vacation visa pretty appropriate, and you can qualify for that if you earn at least $75,000 per year coming from outside of Belize or $100,000 per year. If you are couple or family, if you are working online in North American time zones, Belize falls into the central time zone with flights back to Canada, Mexico, and the US only a few hours away.

Popular areas for foreigners include Ambergris Caye, Caye Culker and Placencia. Placencia is on the main land and has the easiest access to amenities, but it’s also beautiful and tropical. One thing to know before you move to Belize is that there are mixed reviews on the quality of healthcare there with many expats, preferring to travel home to get care and then come back. Belize is also said to have some slow bureaucracy and infrastructure, so if you wanna order things in the mail or from Amazon, things like that could take longer to get there because you tropical time.

And while the cost of living is pretty reasonable there is a high tax on imported goods. So specially food items, electronics, things like that can get expensive because the economy relies heavily on tourism and agriculture. Poverty is prevalent, especially in rural areas with fewer economic opportunities and this paired with safety concerns can bring some added challenges to the decision to live in Belize.

There are some mixed reviews on the connectivity in Belize, whereas some people had pretty good experiences with the wifi and infrastructure there. Other People reported blackouts and also cell phone tower outages. So if you are going to be traveling anywhere in the world where you wanna make sure that you have good internet with you, then make sure to get one of the international hotspots that I use.

You can access to International Hotspots using this Link https://soliswifi.co/?rfsn=677586.c8e67 and if you think that the power might go out, then you’ll want to get a UPS universal power supply backup battery , and you can find that to by following this link : https://amzn.to/3NpTMHL

3. South Africa

Once a dutch territory and later colonized by Britain, South Africa has a High numbers of English Speakers, but that’s not all. The country has upwards of 11 official languages, including Africans, Zulu, and English. The number of Languages spoken in South Africa is just one indicator of how diverse this country is.

Since apartheid ended in the 1990’s, South Africa has been dubbed the rainbow Nation, celebrating its unique diversity and acting as a symbol of hope for the future But despite the apartheid ending, there are ongoing issues there with income inequality, unemployment ,poverty, crime, and government corruption. South Africa is a great place to be though if you love the outdoors.

Geographically, it’s one of the biggest countries on this list with plenty to see, do and explore. Take your pick from a number of beautiful landscapes and varied climates from coves and beaches to deserts, cliffs, waterfalls, and wine country, whatever you like. South Africa has it all. South Africa is also home to some of the most important archeological lines of all time, including the cradle of humankind. Some of the oldest humans remains on earth have been found at this one of a kind UNESCO heritage site. If you tempted to explore all that South Africa has to offer, the country does offer a retirement visa and a digital nomad visa.

A standout option for a place to live in South Africa would have to be a Cape Town. There is quite a diverse international community living there. But of course, one of the downside of living there is the crime rate. So this is one of those places where you’ll wanna be extra careful whether you’re in Cape Town or Johannesburg But as I mentioned, concerns around South Africa’s crime rate and safety are something to consider. It’s important to exercise caution there. No matter where you are, avoid walking alone at night and always take note of your surroundings.

2. Ireland

Ireland is Also a very popular English Speaking Country for international residents. While Irish is the first official language of the country, upwards of 98% of the population also speak English.

Ireland is also known for its emerald landscapes, friendly people, famous writers and musicians, Its a good place for Guinness, of course, but Ireland also has the second highest number of tea drinkers per capita in the world, just after Turkey and before England.

Ireland has pretty good healthcare, especially compared to the US when it comes to cost of living overall, especially when it comes to housing , and especially if you’ll be living in Dublin. Dublin is another one of those capital cities that’s attracted a lot of multinational companies, and those countries need employed from abroad, So this has put a lot of demand on housing, a lot of upward pressure on prices , and alot of limited availability which has really made the local people quite angry.

Cork, Galway and Waterford are a few options. Ireland’s in a good location when it comes to exploring the rest of mainland Europe. They also have international flights around the world and a lot of discounted flights through airlines such as (Ryan Air) https://www.ryanair.com/us/en ,besides the high housing costs , the other major downside of living in Ireland is the climate, although it does seem to have gotten a bit warmer and sunnier in recent years. But if you’re not a fan of clouds and rain, then this might not be the place for you Known as one of the cleanest greenest and safest countries in the world.

1. Singapore

Singapore is definitely at the top of our list when it comes to popular places for foreigners to relocate. Singapore has four official languages, Malay , Mandarin, Tamil and English.

Singaporean children learn English plus one of the other national language in elementary school, making them bilingual or even trilingual. English is Singapore’s official language when it comes to business law and government. it is a very business friendly climate so it attracts a lot of multinational companies from around the world.

A lot of Expatriots who are on work assignment in Singapore for a few years is not as big with the digital nomad community simply because of the high cost of living there. But it does draw many English Speaking international students. Finding a job Opportunity in Singapore in English is Possible, but your work visa will be tied to your employment contract, So if you wanna switch jobs in future , they could get complicated OutRanking Japan as the number one best healthcare in the world. Singapore offers subsidized public healthcare for residents with private options available.

The caveat is that expats can’t access it. They typically have to have their own insurance or pay out of pocket. As I mentioned, the cost of living in Singapore is one of the things that turns foreigners away from living there. if you don’t have a cushy work salary, going out to dinner for two could easily cost upwards of $100. So a lot of people like to take advantage of the more affordable street food in Singapore, but where it really gets expensive is housing, Singapore’s landmass, which is smaller than all of New York City limits available properties.

And because construction was halted during COVID builders have struggled to keep up with demand since then. If you can find a place to live there, then don’t be surprised to see your rent prices starting at around $3000 – $4000 per month.

If those prices don’t scare you all though, then popular expat neighborhoods includes Orchard Road, River Valley, Tanglin, and Holland Village.

Which of these countries are you the most interested in living in? Comment Below and Read my Next Blog on Top 10 Best and Worst Places to live in the world according to Expats.