Editor’s note: This article is part of our Meaningful Travel Forecast series and official travel report for 2019. With the world becoming more interconnected and technologically advanced, jobs and career paths for an assortment of qualified citizens across different countries are starting to pop up as quickly as text message notifications from your BFF are. Companies are realizing the benefits to remote work, and individuals are cashing in on the opportunities to work from anywhere in the world they can find WIFI and a decent place to live.
Read the GoAbroad Official Report on the 10 Best Cities for Expats 2019
Expat culture and all its related freedoms and favorable circumstances are thriving. Some cities are embracing this global citizen lifestyle as quickly as new jobs are becoming available. Start dreaming and planning where you want to take your life, get rid of that excess clutter you’ve been meaning to in your closet, and let the adventure commence. These are our top picks for the 10 best expat cities in 2019!
The best expat cities in 2019
1. Seoul
Seoul has been in the top of the top cities for expats for some time. Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certifications and job placements are extremely abundant here, just as English is becoming more widely spoken. And spoken well...did you listen to BTS’s speech at the United Nations?! Even though the TEFL world is always a safe and reliable fallback, South Korea has so much more to offer than just a teaching job. Seoul is a modern powerhouse for emerging technologies, head-turning and likes-tapping fashion, and architectural and city design made to capture your heart. Seoul does not stop short of giving its all for anything, including both a scenic and awe-inspiring walk along the glass, steel, and concrete jungle and a variety of bars, cafes, and parks to be your final destination. No matter what your interests and passions fall towards, Seoul can make it happen and help get you there.
- Traveler’s program pick: Paid Teaching Jobs in South Korea in August with TravelBud
2. Melbourne
Nestled on the southern tip of the continent, Melbourne is Australia’s stylish teenage daughter (metaphorically speaking). To fully appreciate this city, it helps to be a local for a little bit, not just a tourist...i.e. EXPAT HEAVEN! Melbourne is one of the best cities for expats in so many ways. Did you know that Melbourne actually has public holidays for certain sporting events? If you like watching football or horse racing, this is great for you. Even if you don’t really care for watching sports, you. still. get. the. day. off. Awesome, right? Also great is expats is the amount of too-cool-for-school vibes you can find (or not) hidden away across the city. Melbourne is notorious for its hip, cosmopolitan atmosphere, a comforting background for the right expat.
- Traveler’s program pick: Work & Travel Australia with Alliance Abroad Group
3. London
Home to people encompassing over 270 nationalities, London doesn’t stop short when it comes to being a global city. On par with (or moving beyond New York City), London is an international nerve center connecting the world’s businesses, fashion, art, and culture. This well-equipped city for expats gives a long introduction of its past and an solid plan for an inspiring future.
- GoAbroad’s program pick: International TEFL & TESOL Training
- Traveler’s program pick: BUNAC
4. New York City
Shout out to all the non-US citizens reading this piece—You can come to our homeland (the good ol’ USA) for the expat experience of a lifetime. New York City is the world’s city; the experiences it offers just can’t be beat. And don’t get us wrong, they’re not all rosy cocktails and skipping around Central Park. New York City is full on—the highs and lows of the human experience and everything in between. Get ready for the ride of your life in one of the best expat cities of 2019!
- Traveler’s program pick: Au Pair placements with InterExchange across the US
As concerns about student debt in Europe and North America continue to grow, the concept of a working holiday is coming back into fashion.—Thomas Pastorius, Alliance Abroad
5. Vancouver
One cannot think of Vancouver without filling their minds with images of a modern cities nestling up against gorgeous woodlands. Ski trips, kayaking the Sound, and delicious wineries await the intrepid traveler who decides to work abroad in Canada this year. Find work in hospitality jobs, ski resorts, as an outdoor guide, or in more professional settings, like nursing or finance. As our friendly neighbor to the north, we’re thrilled that expats are flocking to this gorgeous west coast dream boat city in 2019!
- Traveler’s program pick: Work at a Camp in Canada with International Camp Network
6. Berlin
Edgy. Grungy. Artsy. This is Germany like you’ve never seen before—and it doesn’t disappoint. From uncovering living history in the public walls reminding of hardship to making your own custom chocolate bar at the Ritter Sport Factory, the old capital and divided capital city of East Germany will keep you coming back for me. Find jobs abroad in hospitality, renewable energies, or as a teacher in international schools. And eat kebabs on the reg (promise?).
- Traveler’s program pick: Nomaden Berlin's Kickstarter Program for Entrepreneurs
7. Dubai
Sky-high Dubai is one of a kind! Never have we seen a city walk the line of tradition and opulence with such grace. This desert behemoth means long commutes, but it also means access to the center of the modern world. Don’t feel bad if the National Mosque brings you to tears from it’s beauty—it happens to the best of us. Oh, and did we mention that teaching jobs in Dubai are some of the most lucrative in the whole world…?
- Traveler’s program pick: Teach Away
8. Auckland
Auckland often gets bypassed for the cool little capital of Wellington, but New Zealand’s north-North Island city can rock its own rhythm. From the karaoke bars and hipster coffee shops of Karangahape Road to the sweeping views of a nearby volcano (!), there’s plenty to keep you inspired in Auckland. Auckland is one of the best expat cities in 2019 because of its access to nature, high quality of living, and ample jobs (#ThanksWorkingHolidayVisa!). Work on a hop farm then pull beer in a bar before becoming an adventure guide. In Aoteoroa, you can have it all!
- Traveler’s program pick: Become an Au Pair with AuPair Link
9. Prague
Were you one of those children obsessed with fairytales? Did you one day dream of living among castles and gorgeous landscapes and cobble stone streets? Then it's time to live out your childhood fantasies—and work abroad in 2019 in Prague! A modern city with a fable-friendly old town, it won't take but two strolls over the Vltava to capture the magic of this Eastern bloc charmer.
The teaching job scene is p-p-poppin' here, and it's a great place to start the adventure with a TEFL certificate program, too!
- Traveler’s program pick: Get TEFL Certified with TEFL Worldwide Prague
Prague has garnered the attention of TEFL certificate seekers because it has the job market to match. We expect continued growth across multiple sectors as the Czech Republic firmly takes its place in the expat map.—Megan Lee
10. Copenhagen
Cool little Copenhagen is a growing hotspot for expats—and not just because of promises of hygge. This cultured, bike-friendly urban center gives you upfront access to one of the most overlooked but powerful Northern European cultures. Find jobs abroad in Denmark in journalism, media, and sports. You’ll love earning in krones—and no judgment if you celebrate your decision to move to Denmark by binge watching Little Mermaid 1, 2, AND 3.
- Traveler’s program pick: Find a Teaching Job in Teach Away
Next steps to find jobs abroad in the best cities for expats
Here are a handful of resources to get you started on your very own journey to becoming an expat abroad. 2019 could be YOUR year to find international jobs—and we can help make it happen! Get free program recommendations that match your travel goals, or use MyGoAbroad to bookmark and compare program options with confidence.
Still hungry for more? Bookmark these bad boys:
Work Abroad Inspiration
Program Selection Advice
- How to Choose Between Work Abroad Programs
- 8 Best Jobs Abroad This Year
- Short & Sweet (and Well-Paid) Summer Jobs Abroad
Paying for Your Life Abroad
- How to Save for a Work Abroad Program
- 10 Cheapest Countries to Live & Work
- 10 Highest-Paid Teaching Jobs Abroad
[Get Matched with 5 Work Abroad Programs for FREE]
Participate in work abroad programs this year!
Make friends, make memories, and make money!! $$
These best expat cities are primed and ready to welcome hoards of international earners in 2019. Whether you want to rock remote work life or find something that connects you to other working locals, your options span the gamut. Take it easy in laidback Vancouver or go hardcore in New York. Get your hands dirty on a farm in New Zealand or become a professional shawty as a financier in London.
Whatever career path beckons you, don’t swipe left and ignore that call! Take a chance on the world, yourself, and your future by living and working in the best expat cities of 2019.
