Happy Expats in the Asian Tiger Cubs
Top Findings
- The Tiger Cubs perform well in the Finding Friends subcategory, only Thailand (14th) misses a spot in the top 10.
- 85% of expats in Thailand rate the quality of medical care positively (vs. 71% globally).
- Ranking 55th out of 59 countries, Indonesia is in the bottom 5 of the Quality of Life Index.
- Malaysia receives some of the best results across the five countries, even ranking first for language.
- 40% of expats in the Philippines find it difficult to get high-speed internet access (vs. 12% globally).
- 63% of respondents rate the air quality in Vietnam negatively (vs. 20% globally).
Comparing Life across the Asian Tiger Cubs
All five Asian Tiger Cubs perform exceptionally well in the Personal Happiness subcategory. Except in the Philippines (78%), which is also close, 80% or more expats in the Tiger Cubs share that they are happy with their lives in general (vs. 75% globally). The Tiger Cubs also perform well in the Finding Friends subcategory, where only Thailand (14th) misses a spot in the top 10. In fact, Malaysia even comes in second regarding the ease of finding new friends (66% vs. 48 % globally).
Vietnam comes in first in the Personal Finance Index, with 90% of expats that feel that their disposable household income is enough or more than enough to cover daily life expenses (vs. 77% globally). Furthermore, over four in five expats in the other four Tiger Cub destinations also say that their disposable household income is enough or more than enough. The Asian Tiger Cubs also perform very well in the Cost of Living Index, with Vietnam (1st) and Malaysia (2nd) ranking in the top 3. More than 80% of expats in both destinations are satisfied with the cost of living compared to the other three destinations, where this factor was regarded favorably by still above-average shares of 64 to 70% of expats (vs. 48% globally).
In the Quality of Life Index, three out of five Tiger Cub destinations come in the bottom 10, while Thailand (33rd) is in the midfield in this index and Malaysia (19th) performs the best. Except for Malaysia (31st), they all perform very poorly in the Quality of the Environment subcategory, particularly due to poor results for water and sanitation. Indonesia (58th) and Vietnam (57th) even come in the bottom 3 for this factor, with only 34% of expats in Indonesia satisfied with the water and sanitation (vs. 77% globally). On the other hand, the Asian Tiger Cubs perform comparatively well in the Work & Leisure subcategory, with Indonesia’s 29th place the worst result. Thailand, for example, ranks tenth for work-life balance, with 72% of expats satisfied with this factor (vs. 66% globally).
The Pandemic’s Impact on Expat Life
Compared to the global average, expats in the Asian Tiger Cubs are more likely to have decided not to move back home because of the pandemic. In fact, close to one in three expats in Vietnam (31%) decided not to move back home in comparison to 18% of expats worldwide who said the same. Asked about the pandemic’s biggest impact on their personal life, expats in the Tiger Cubs, except for Indonesia (22%), are more likely than the global average (28%) to say personal travel was impacted the most. In Malaysia, as many as two in five respondents (40%) gave this answer.
Social media is one of the most important sources of information regarding COVID-19 and related regulations for expats in Indonesia (53%), Malaysia (49%), and the Philippines (44%). Respondents in Thailand (50%) similarly refer to social media as a source but also heavily rely on expat news (55%), as do expats in Vietnam (45%).
Thailand: Great for the Budget…
Ranking 14th out of 59 countries overall, Thailand performs best in the Cost of Living Index (10th). While only 48% of expats globally rate the cost of living in their country of residence positively, 70% of respondents in Thailand are happy with this aspect of life abroad. An expat from the USA says: “The cost of living is lower than in other large and developed places.” Similarly, Thailand performs well in the Personal Finance Index (12th): two-thirds of expats (67%) are satisfied with their financial situation (vs. 64% globally). Additionally, 82% of expats say their disposable household income is enough or more than enough to cover their living expenses (vs. 77% globally).
The cost of living is lower in Thailand.
…with Happy Expats…
Thailand lands in a mediocre 33rd place in the Quality of Life Index. On the one hand, the country performs very well for the quality of its medical care (7th), with 85% of expats rating this factor positively (vs. 71% globally). “I like the first-class medical facilities and healthcare in Thailand,” shares a British expat. Thailand also ranks among the top 10 in the Leisure Options subcategory (7th), with most expats (82%) satisfied with their socializing and leisure activities (vs. 67% globally). Moreover, the country comes 7th out of 59 in the Personal Happiness subcategory, with 85% of expats being happy with their life in general (vs. 75% globally).
On the other hand, Thailand does not do well in the Quality of the Environment subcategory (51st). In fact, over half the expats (51%) rate Thailand’s air quality negatively (vs. 20% globally). A US American expat in Chiang Mai is unhappy with “the smoky season” and further explains that “in Thailand, there is the worst air quality in the world for about three months every year”. Similarly, 22% of expats are dissatisfied with the water and sanitation infrastructure (vs. 12% globally). Thailand also lands in the bottom 10 for its political stability (55th): 40% of expats rate this factor negatively (vs. 16% globally).
…but Few Career Opportunities
Thailand’s performance is weakest in the Working Abroad Index (42nd): 45% of expats are unhappy with the career opportunities (vs. 33% globally), and 29% rate the state of the local economy negatively (vs. 19% globally). Most expats (72%) are satisfied with their work-life balance (vs. 66% globally), and over two-thirds (69%) are happy with their working hours (vs. 66% globally). In Thailand, full-time employed expats work an average of 44.4 hours a week (vs. 43.2 hours globally). However, only about a third (34%) work full time in the first place (vs. 55% globally).
Indonesia: A Bad Quality of Life…
Overall, Indonesia ranks 31st. It receives its worst results in the Quality of Life Index (55th), even ranking second to last in the Health & Well-Being subcategory (58th) — only ahead of the USA (59th). Over one in three expats (35%) rate the affordability of healthcare in Indonesia poorly (vs. 21% globally), and 44% are unhappy with the quality of medical care (vs. 14% globally). An Italian expat says: “The healthcare system is not good and does not appear to be improving.”
Indonesia also lands among the bottom 10 in the Travel & Transportation subcategory (53rd), with 45% of expats rating the transportation infrastructure negatively, compared to only 15% globally. The country does badly in the Quality of the Environment subcategory (53rd), too. For example, half the expats (50%) are dissatisfied with the water and sanitation infrastructure — a much higher share than the global average of 12%. “The sea gets dirtier and dirtier! All kinds of rubbish fills in the rivers and goes to the sea,” complains a German expat. Despite all this, the majority of expats (80%) is generally happy with their life in Indonesia (vs. 75% globally).
… and Dissatisfying Local Economy…
Indonesia ranks very poorly in the Working Abroad Index (47th), with 39% of expats rating the state of the local economy negatively — 20 percentage points more than the global share (19%). Additionally, more than two in five (44%) are unhappy with the local career opportunities (vs. 33% globally). The most popular career paths in Indonesia are in education (16%), finance (11%), and manufacturing and engineering (11%). Less than half the expats in Indonesia (49%) work full time (vs. 55% globally), while 15% have a part-time job (vs. 12% globally). On average, expats in Indonesia work longer hours than the global average: full-timers work 46.9 hours per week (vs. 43.2 hours globally), which might be why only 61% of expats are satisfied with their working hours (vs. 66% globally).
…but with a Friendly Population
Indonesia ranks in the top 10 of the Ease of Settling In Index (8th). This is mostly due to the great results in the Friendliness (7th) and Finding Friends (8th) subcategories: 90% of expats rate the general friendliness of the population positively (vs. 69% globally), and 86% say the local people are friendly towards foreign residents (vs. 67% globally). And while just 44% of expats worldwide find it easy to make local friends, this is the case for 63% of respondents in Indonesia. In fact, half the expats (50%) say their circle of friends and acquaintances includes a mix of locals and expats (vs. 48% globally), and 29% are mostly friends with local residents (vs. 20% globally). A US American expat shares: “It is a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and I feel welcome wherever I go.”
I feel welcome wherever I go in Indonesia.
Malaysia: Easy to Settle In…
Ranking 4th out of 59 countries, Malaysia places above the global average in every index. The country does particularly well in the Ease of Settling In Index (2nd), where only Mexico (1st) ranks higher. In fact, most expats find it easy to settle down in Malaysia (77% vs. 62% globally) and to make new friends (66% vs. 48% globally). When it comes to their social circle, 64% of expats in Malaysia describe their friends and acquaintances as a mixed group of expats and locals (vs. 48% globally). “Making friends is not difficult,” says an Indian expat.
Making friends in Malaysia is not difficult.
Malaysia ranks first worldwide in the Language subcategory, with 92% of expats finding it easy to live there without speaking the local language (vs. 54% globally). This may well be due to Malaysia’s colonial past and the fact that English is widely spoken across the country, as over a quarter of expats (27%) say they do not speak any of the local languages in Malaysia (vs. 13% globally), and half (50%) speak them only a little (vs. 30% globally). With Malaysia coming in third place in the Feeling at Home subcategory, 74% of expats also consider themselves at home in the local culture (vs. 63% globally).
…with Low Cost of Living…
Malaysia also does exceedingly well in the Cost of Living Index (2nd), where just Vietnam (1st) performs better. In fact, 82% of expats rate the cost of living in Malaysia positively, compared to just 48% globally. A Japanese expat shares “the very reasonable living costs” as their personal highlight about living in Malaysia. What is more, the country performs well in the Personal Finance Index (9th). Almost three in four expats (73%) are satisfied with their financial situation (vs. 64% globally), and 85% say their disposable household income is enough or more than enough to cover their expenses (vs. 77% globally).
…and an Above-Average Quality of Life
The country ranks lower in the Quality of Living Index (19th), but still does well for a number of factors featured in this index. Most expats are happy with both their socializing and leisure activities in Malaysia (80% vs. 67% globally) and their life in general (85% vs. 75% globally). Additionally, 82% of expats rate the quality of medical care positively (vs. 71% globally), and 71% are satisfied with its affordability (vs. 61% globally). Most expats (82%) are also happy with the transportation infrastructure (vs. 76% globally). A US American expat says she likes the “cultural diversity, good healthcare, and friendliness. It’s a beautiful country.” On the downside, Malaysia ranks 36th in the Safety & Security subcategory, with over a quarter of expats (26%) rating its political stability negatively (vs. 16% globally). The country does worst in the Working Abroad Index, but it still lands in an above-average 25th place: 72% of expats are satisfied with their working hours (vs. 66% globally), and 69% are happy with their job in general (vs. 68% globally).
The Philippines: Great for Personal Finance…
Overall, the Philippines comes in an average 26th place. However, the country lands among the top 10 in the Ease of Settling In Index (7th), performing particularly well in the Finding Friends subcategory (6th): 61% of expats find it easy to make local friends in the Philippines (vs. 44% globally), and 59% say finding new friends is generally easy (vs. 48% globally). In a similar vein, the Philippines does well in the Friendliness subcategory (9th), with the majority of expats (81%) describing the local population as friendly towards foreign residents (vs. 67% globally). While globally only 20% of expats say they have mainly local friends and acquaintances, this is the case for 43% of expats in the Philippines. “Out of the 18 countries I have been to so far, the people here are the friendliest I have ever met,” says a Canadian expat.
The people in the Philippines are the friendliest I have ever met.
The country also performs very well in the Personal Finance Index (10th): 72% of expats are satisfied with their financial situation (vs. 64% globally), and 83% say their disposable household income is enough or more than enough to cover their expenses (vs. 77% globally). Interestingly, just 38% of expats in the Philippines have a yearly income of more than 50,000 USD, while this is the case for 49% of expats worldwide. On the other hand, more than half the expats in the Philippines (51%) have a gross annual income ranging from 12,000 USD to 50,000 USD (vs. 36% globally). The fact that 42% of respondents in the Philippines are already retired might play some role here. But it surely also helps that 64% of expats rate the cost of living in the Philippines positively (vs. 48% globally) — 25% are even very satisfied with this factor (vs. 14% globally).
…but a Flop for the Local Infrastructure
Ranking 56th in the Quality of Life Index, the Philippines only does better than three other countries — Kuwait (59th), India (58th), and Egypt (57th). The Philippines even comes second to last in the Digital Life subcategory (58th), where 40% of expats find it difficult to get high-speed internet access (vs. 12% globally). A US American expat says: “There is very poor infrastructure where I live. The internet is slow, but it is getting better.” Close to three in ten expats (29%) also find paying without cash difficult (vs. 9% globally).
Over half the expats (51%) rate the transportation infrastructure in the Philippines negatively, compared to only 15% globally. And less than half (49%) rate the quality of medical care positively (vs. 71% globally). The Philippines also performs poorly in the Quality of the Environment subcategory (50th): 28% of respondents are unhappy with the water and sanitation infrastructure (vs. 12% globally), and close to one-third (31%) say the air quality is not good (vs. 20% globally). A British expat says that he does not like “the traffic congestion and poor social/government services provided to citizens.” On the upside, 80% of expats are happy with the climate and weather (vs. 66% globally), and 70% rate their socializing and leisure activities positively (vs. 67% globally).
Vietnam: Number One for Finances…
Coming in 10th place out of 59 countries overall, Vietnam ranks first in both the Personal Finance and Cost of Living Indices. When asked what they like most about their life abroad, multiple expats in Vietnam answer with “the cost of living”. In fact, most expats (85%) rate this aspect positively (vs. 48% globally). Additionally, 78% are satisfied with their financial situation (vs. 64% globally), and nine in ten expats (90%) say their disposable household income is enough or more than enough to cover their living expenses (vs. 77% globally).
Vietnam also does well in the Working Abroad Index (9th), with the vast majority of expats (86%) expressing overall job satisfaction (vs. 68% globally). Vietnam places first worldwide for this factor and fourth in the Career Prospects & Satisfaction subcategory. Additionally, 49% rate the local career opportunities positively (vs. 45% globally). Most expats are also happy with their work-life balance (78% vs. 66% globally) and their working hours (67% vs. 66% globally). Interestingly, expats with full-time employment in Vietnam work an average of 44.5 hours per week, which is actually more than the global average of 43.2 hours a week.
…Where It’s Easy to Find Friends…
Placing 25th in the Ease of Settling In Index, Vietnam does especially well in the Finding Friends subcategory (9th). According to 63% of expats, making local friends is easy (vs. 44% globally), and 67% find it easy to make new friends in general (vs. 48% globally). In fact, more than a quarter of expats in Vietnam (26%) are mostly friends with local residents (vs. 20% globally), while another 45% have a mixed circle of friends and acquaintances that includes both locals and expats (vs. 48% globally). It might help that the majority of expats (81%) finds the local residents generally friendly (vs. 69% globally). However, another 81% consider it difficult to learn the local language — almost twice the global average of 42%. Perhaps this is why 39% of expats do not speak it at all, compared to 13% globally. A Canadian expat shares: “I do not like being unable to speak Vietnamese, but it is one of the hardest languages to learn.” Luckily, 72% of expats find it easy to live in Vietnam without local language skills (vs. 54% globally).
…but with a Bad Quality of Life
Despite its great performance in the overall ranking, Vietnam ends up among the bottom 10 in the Quality of Life Index (53rd). More than three in five expats (63%) rate the air quality in Vietnam negatively (vs. 20% globally), and 42% are unhappy with the water and sanitation infrastructure (vs. 12% globally). A Swiss expat shares: “Plastic pollution is a major problem, especially along the coast.” Vietnam also performs poorly in the Digital Life subcategory (54th): half the expats (50%) rate the availability of online government services negatively (vs. 21% globally), and one in four (25%) finds it difficult to pay without cash (vs. 9% globally). But despite the poor performance for the quality of life, the majority of expats in Vietnam (85%) is still generally happy with their life (vs. 75% globally).
Plastic pollution is a major problem in Vietnam.
