The best places to work and live in all have powerful economies, a thriving job market, and high quality of life. Some top choices include Lisbon, Madrid, Geneva, and Auckland because they excel in these criteria.
Our article describes the 10 best cities to work and live, what makes these cities so appealing both from a lifestyle perspective and an economic one, and some of the visa options that are available for the countries.
Best Places to Work and Live: Key Takeaways
10 Best Places to Work and Live
01/ Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal, and it is positioned on the Atlantic Ocean, providing a pleasantly mild climate year-round. The city receives over 300 days of sun per year, and it costs an average of 37% less to live in than most US cities. Portugal also has a universal healthcare system that provides low or no-cost care to residents.
The country is known for its work-life balance, and Lisbon is no different. Employees receive between 22 and 25 days of leave a year with an additional 13 public holidays on top of that. The city is immigration-friendly with many expat groups from different nations, including France, England and the United States. Additionally, many businesses operate in English, particularly in service and tech.
Lisbon is a thriving tech hub, with a strong focus on SaaS, Fintech, TourismTech, and Green/Sustainable technologies. The city is also home to unicorns such as OutSystems, Talkdesk, and Farfetch.
Additionally, Lisbon’s tech ecosystem is supported by world-class events like the annual Web Summit. The Portuguese capital is home to the headquarters of international companies such as Siemens, Deloitte, BNP Paribas, Nestlé, and Revolut.
Those looking to work and live in Portugal can do so through several visas including the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa for remote professionals earning at least €3,680 per month and the D3 Visa Portugal for highly qualified professionals who have a job offer or employment contract. Both options can lead to permanent residency and citizenship after five years.
02/ Madrid, Spain
Madrid has some of the best public transport in Europe thanks to its Metro network and high-speed rail (AVE) connecting the city and country. The city is a cultural hub with over 80 museums and more than 14,000 restaurants. Rent tends to be 30% to 50% less than it is in comparable American cities.
Spain has strong labor laws and generally provides employees with over 30 days of leave per year including public holidays. Additionally, companies provide their employees with other benefits like health insurance, flexible working hours, and meal vouchers. The nation’s GDP grew by 3% in 2024 and is projected to grow by 2.9% in financial 2025.
The country has several visas available for professionals including the Spain Digital Nomad Visa and the Highly Qualified Professional Visa Spain. According to the latest Digital Nomad Index by our Global Intelligence Unit, Spain is the best country for remote professionals in the world.
03/ Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva provides exceptional quality of life with some of the highest salaries in Europe, lowest crime rates, and a profoundly multicultural environment in which over 190 nationalities are represented. The diversity of the city means that English is often spoken in and out of business.
Geneva has an international job market, with strong demand in sectors such as finance, international organizations, luxury items, and scientific research. This French-speaking city is home to several global institutions, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office (UNOG).
The average monthly salary for a manager-level position in Geneva often exceeds CHF 11,000 (~$14,000). Switzerland is a tax haven, as it has lower income tax than most of Europe and low cantonal tax rates.
The Swiss Residence Permit by Lump Sum Taxation allows high-net-worth individuals to negotiate a lump-sum annual tax with an individual canton that cannot be lower than CHF 435,000 (~$550,000). The individual then acquires temporary residence rights in Switzerland, which can eventually lead to Swiss citizenship after 10 years.
04/ Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland is the economic center of New Zealand and the main hub for expats in the country. As a coastal city, it has access to beaches, regional parks, and even volcanoes. The country has some of the best healthcare in the world, and Auckland boasts pheromonal facilities like the Southern Cross Brightside Hospital.
As the financial powerhouse of the country, Auckland has a bustling job market particularly for multinational corporations, financial institutions, and specialized roles. Employees are entitled to four weeks of paid annual leave after a year of work. This helps keep an excellent work-life balance in Auckland, and New Zealand generally.
The New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa is a residency by investment program with a starting cost of NZD $5 million (~$3 million). Investors first get temporary residency, which can be converted to permanent residency after three or five years depending on the investment option. Citizenship can also be acquired after five years of legal residence.
05/ Dublin, Ireland
Dublin is the capital of Ireland and an increasingly popular choice for expats. This is because of the immense employment opportunities, friendly English locals, and convenient travel access to Europe. The city is compact and well-serviced by public transport, making it easy to navigate on foot.
Major multinationals like Google and Meta have headquarters in Dublin, and it is a hub for industries such as tech, pharmaceuticals, and finance. Employment comes with very competitive salaries and at least 20 days of paid leave per year. Additionally, employers tend to offer flexible hours and hybrid work models.
The Ireland Startup Entrepreneur Visa (STEP) allows entrepreneurs with a unique, and highly scalable business idea to live and work in the country. The program requires that the entrepreneur has at least €50,000 in funding and will create jobs in Ireland. The visa is valid for an initial two years, which is extendable by another three.
06/ Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver is located between the Pacific Ocean and the Northshore mountains which provides easy access to outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, and biking. The city has a largely mild climate with warm summers and rare snow in the winter. Due to Canada’s immigration-friendly nature, the city is a diverse mix of people and cuisines.
The city offers salaries that are ~14% higher than the Canadian average. Additionally, benefits like paid leave and health insurance are standard. The biggest industries in Vancouver are tech, green energy, and film with a great deal of jobs available in these markets.
Canada has several visa options tailored to employees including the Express Entry program, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). Each program will have different requirements, with the Express Entry option providing skilled workers with a path to permanent residency.
07/ Singapore City, Singapore
Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world with exceptionally low crime rates and a strict, reliable legal system. The city-state is a global hub for business, and it boasts low tax rates on personal income. It is connected by an incredibly efficient public transit system, making it unnecessary to own a car.
Singapore generally provides high salaries for its employees particularly in the finance and technology sectors. The country also has one of the lowest personal income tax rates in the world. It houses the Asia-Pacific headquarters of many multinational companies including Google and Microsoft.
To be able to live in Singapore individuals will need the sponsorship of a citizen or permanent resident or a business that wants to employ them. Even though the country is immigration-friendly, it does not have the visa options of a nation like Portugal or Spain.
08/ Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is one of the best places to work and live because of the exceptional quality of life that it offers. The city has over 400 kilometers of cycle paths, making it one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world. Copenhagen enjoys very low crime rates, making it particularly safe for locals and expats alike.
Work culture in Copenhagen emphasizes flexibility with 37-hour work weeks and five to six weeks of paid leave per year. The average monthly salary before tax is DKK 52,000 (~$8,000). However, taxes are high in the country to fund the extensive welfare programs the state operates like free universal healthcare.
To be able to stay in Denmark for more than 90 days and work in Copenhagen, individuals will need both a residence and work permit. These can be obtained for work, study, or family reunification, and applications usually take four to six months to process.
09/ Berlin, Germany
As the capital of Germany, Berlin is a global economic and cultural center. The city provides excellent public transport, top-tier healthcare, and a thriving job market with the tech sector being particularly active. The cost of living in the city is lower than other major capitals like Paris and London with monthly costs ranging between €1,200 to €1,800 per month.
Employees in Berlin receive between 25 and 30 days of paid leave per year and work between 38 and 40 hours per week. Salaries are competitive with the average range being €45,000 to €65,000. Startups, tech firms, and the creative industries are all represented in the city, providing a wealth of opportunity for skilled professionals.
The Employment and Job Seeker Visa is ideal for those who would like to live in Berlin as it allows skilled workers to find employment. Unlike most work visas, this program allows individuals to live in the country without a job offer first. Temporary residence is granted initially, allowing professionals to find employment.
10/ Austin, USA
Austin, Texas is a rapidly developing city for multinational corporations and startups alike. Companies like Dell, Tesla, and Oracle all have their headquarters there. Residents of Texas enjoy no state income tax, although they do still need to pay federal taxes. The atmosphere is friendly, and thanks to the boom of the tech sector, the city has a diverse food culture.
Thanks to tech giants like Apple and Samsung, Austin’s job market is bustling with opportunities, especially for the tech savvy. The cost of living is also much less than it is in many of the coastal cities of the US with average monthly expenses ranging between $2,500 and $3,500.
The E-2 Visa and the EB-5 Visa are excellent options for entrepreneurs and investors looking to establish residency in the US. The E-2 Visa allows expats to live and work in the US by investing in a US business. The EB-5 Visa is a residency by investment program with a starting cost of $800,000.
