How the AbroVa Expat Index is calculated

Most expat indices are black boxes. Ours isn’t. Every country’s score (0–10) is a weighted blend of three factors, computed the same way for all 196 countries. Here is exactly how.

The formula

• Affordability — 40%. Based on the estimated monthly cost for a single person (USD). Cheaper countries score higher, scaled linearly against the most and least expensive countries.
• Visa ease — 35%. Based on our visa-difficulty rating (1 = easiest to enter/stay, 10 = hardest). Easier countries score higher.
• Development — 25%. Based on GDP per capita (log-scaled), as a proxy for infrastructure, healthcare, and earning potential.

Each factor is normalised to 0–10, multiplied by its weight, and summed. If a factor is missing for a country, the remaining factors are re-weighted proportionally so no country is unfairly penalised.

Data sources

Cost figures come from AbroVa’s country research (monthly budgets for rent, groceries, transport, healthcare, and eating out, normalised to USD). Visa-difficulty and development figures come from our country profiles. Figures are estimates intended for comparison, not official statistics.

Update cadence

The index is refreshed periodically as country data is updated. Current snapshot: September 2026.

Known limitations

• Cost is country-level; large cities (e.g. capitals) can be significantly higher.
• Safety, healthcare quality, and climate are not yetin the composite score — they’re on the roadmap. This means a cheap, easy-visa country can rank high even if other factors are weaker; always read the full country guide.
• Figures are AI-assisted estimates and should be verified against official sources before you move.

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