10 worst cities in the world for expats, and yes, Hong Kong made the cut: Paris and Frankfurt are among 6 in Europe, while high housing costs and poor work-life balance are deterrents for Tokyo

Dec 4 , 2022

Milan, Paris and Istanbul (left to right) are some of the worst cities in the world for expats to live in, according to a recent survey. Photos: Unsplash, SCMP

Networking site InterNations released its annual ranking of the best and worst cities for expats, with six of the 10 worst cities in Europe, two in Asia and one each in North America and Africa

Expats said high costs of living in Paris and Hong Kong put a damper on living there, while safety seems to be an issue in Johannesburg, which came in as the worst city to live in globally

When it comes to figuring out where to live, affordability, quality of life, safety and accessibility are some of the top criteria for expats to consider. But what makes a city terrible to live in? Expensive housing, feeling unsafe, lack of job opportunities are some of the top deterrents for expats.

Networking site InterNations surveyed almost 12,000 expats living in 181 countries from February 1 to February 28. Expats surveyed included foreign assignees, international hires and individuals who relocated to other countries to look for work. The survey was first conducted in 2014 and, this year, it ranked 52 destinations around the world, which were evaluated on overall livability, as well as quality of life, ease of settling in, working abroad, personal finance and expat essentials.

Valencia, a port city in Spain, was voted the top city for expat living. InterNations said what stood out to the expats surveyed was the affordability of public transport and how safe they felt in the city. However, six out of 10 of the lowest-ranked cities were also in Europe. There were also two cities in Asia, one in North America and one in Africa.

Here’s the list of the worst cities in the world for expats to live in …

10. Rome, Italy

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy. Photo: EPA-EFE

Rome, the capital of Italy, is one of two Italian cities to make InterNations’ worst-rated list. According to InterNations’ survey, 73 per cent of respondents said dealing with local authorities is difficult, and 50 per cent of those surveyed said they perceive the online administrative and government services negatively. Over 30 per cent also said they are concerned with the Italian economy.

“While the red tape in Italy can be aggravating, the government bureaucracy does have some advantages,” InterNations wrote in its city guide. “Most expats living in Rome with a valid visa, residence permit and/or residence certificate are entitled to the same public healthcare as Italian citizens.”