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30 Cities Where Expats Can Make Six Figures Around The World

Shannon May 1, 2021

Ever thought about moving to a new country and starting a new life? If you want to become a resident, you will need to find a job if you want to immigrate to a new country, whether it’s just temporary, or for the rest of your life. HSBC Expat conducted a study in 2018 to see where expats are making the most money around the world. Keep in mind that most of these jobs will required Bachelor’s or Master’s Degrees in various areas of study. The immigration laws also vary from country to country of course, so be sure to do your research and apply for visas that apply to each country.

Istanbul is a beautiful city full of culture. Credit: Pixabay

30. Istanbul, Turkey

Turkish is the main language, but many people in Istanbul also speak English. Its main exports are in clothing, textile, and leather.

Median Expat Income: $100,577

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Brussels is full of delicious things to eat. Credit: Pixabay

29. Brussels, Belgium

Belgium is very central to so many other European countries, that people speak French, German, and Dutch. Its culture, food, wine, and quality of living are very high. Just keep in mind that if you find a job there, they have the highest income tax in the world, ranging from 25 to 50% of your paycheck going to the government.

Median Expat Income: $102,482

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Vienna is a city full of culture and history. Credit: Pixabay

28. Vienna, Austria.

Vienna, Austria specializes in agriculture and exports their fine wine. Vienna is also the home to many famous artists, and it is full of history and museums. They speak German as their main language.

Median Expat Income: $103, 342

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The city of Auckland, New Zealand. Credit: Pixabay

27. Auckland, New Zealand

Since they speak English, there are a lot of opportunities for expats to try to find a job in nearly every field, so long as you are qualified. But the biggest industries in Auckland are mining and manufacturing.

Median Expat Income: $107,500

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There are tons of things to do in London. Credit: Pixabay

26. London, United Kingdom

London is a city full of culture- from Big Ben to the London Eye, there is plenty to see and do in the city, and it is just a short plane or train ride to most European countries. Its main exports are textiles and chemicals, but there are job opportunities in most industries, especially for people with great resumes to back them up.

Median Expat Income: $107,863

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Sao Paolo has big city living in a tropical climate. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

25. Sao Paolo, Brazil

Brazil is a major exporter of sugar and soy, and Sao Paolo is the 10th richest city in the world. In Brazil, they speak Portuguese, and it will be necessary for you to know the language if you would like to work there.

Median Expat Income: $113,516

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Muscat, Oman has beautiful architecture. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

24. Muscat, Oman

The two main exports coming out of Muscat, Oman are agriculture and oil. The main language is Arabic, so it’s best to know the language before you consider moving there.

Median Expat Income: $113,733

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Oslo is a beautiful city sitting on the water. Credit: Pixabay

23. Oslo, Norway

Oslo, Norway is a city built on the water, so you would have access to the beach, cruises, and other nautical activities. People speak Swedish and Danish in Norway, so it’s best to known one of those languages beforehand. The majority of the businesses and job opportunities in Oslo come from oil and maritime. Keep in mind that Oslo is one of the most expensive cities to live in the world.

Median Expat Income: $114,538

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Riyadh is a very modern and industrialized city. Credit: Pixabay

22. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has the second-largest reserve of petroleum gas in the world, so most of its jobs for expats can be found in the oil industry. The main language spoken is Arabic.

Median Expat Income: $116,679

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Oil is the main industry that keeps Malaysia’s economy going. Credit: Pixabay

21. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The oil industry makes up the vast majority of the economy in Malaysia, and it is therefore where you’re going to find the most jobs. The main language spoken in Malaysia are Hindi, Tamil, Cantonese, Mandarin. However, it was once frequented by the English, so you might get lucky and run into some people who know how to speak it.

Median Expat Income: $117,515

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Singapore is an affluent city-state with tons to do and see. Credit: Pixabay

20. Singapore

Most people in Singapore are bilingual, with the common language being fluent English and a second language of either Mandarin Chinese, Tamil, or Malay. This means that people in Singapore have their own dialect and accent that is called “Singlish”, but it’s very easy to understand once you get used to it. Their leading industries are in biotechnology and banking, but there are still plenty of other job opportunities for expats in other fields.

Median Expat Income: $117,515

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Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya. Credit: Pixabay

19. Nairobi, Kenya

Most job opportunities in Nairobi, Kenya come from foreign companies who have offices in Nairobi, and they are looking for employees with a high level of education. Locals speak both Swahili and English. The cost of living relatively is low compared to the rest of the world, so if you are making 6-figures, you can live like a king or queen.

Median Expat Income: $119, 182

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There is a lot of beautiful cultural experiences to visit in Thailand. Credit: Pixabay

18. Bangkok, Thailand

Agriculture and manufacturing are two of the biggest exports in Thailand, but the city of Bangkok also has offices for international companies. Cost of living can be very low in Indonesia, which is really attractive for expats, but there are certain luxuries that are very expensive, like alcohol and imported foods.

Median Expat Income: $119,601

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Kuwait is rich from the booming oil industry. Credit: Pixabay

17. Kuwait City, Kuwait

Kuwait is a country that is rich in oil, and that is where most of the jobs are. The main language that it spoken is Arabic.

Median Expat Income: $123,041

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Abu Dhabi has become one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Credit: Pixabay

16. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi is an extremely wealthy city, making the bulk of its money from the oil industry. The main language is Arabic, but many people speak English, as well. Just keep in mind that job opportunities for expats are really only given to men. Only 20% of the female population in the United Arab Emirates has ever worked, and it is usually in lower-paying jobs.

Median Expat Income: $127,456

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Doha is a wealthy city with beautiful modern architecture. Credit: Pixabay

15. Doha, Qatar

Doha is one of the wealthiest countries in the world because it has an abundance of petroleum oil and natural gas. So if you have experience in the industry, and you know how to speak Arabic, it may be a great place for you to live.

Median Expat Income: $131,408

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Tokyo Tower is just one of the many sights you can see in Tokyo. Credit: Pixabay

14. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo, Japan is home to some very popular global companies like Mitsubishi, Nintendo, and the anime industry. A lot of expats first move to Japan as English teachers, and then try to move on to higher-paying careers. Just keep in mind that if you want to get a higher paying job, you will need to be fluent in reading and writing Japanese. As a short-term visitor, there are actually a lot more signs being installed in English to help prepare for visitors coming during the 2020 Olympics.

Median Expat Income: $132,508

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The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous buildings in Australia. Credit: Pixabay

13. Sydney, Australia

As an English-speaking company, the opportunities for American expats moving to Australia are endless, so long as you have the education and work experience behind you. The main industries that run the economy in Sydney are manufacturing, finance, and tourism.

Median Expat Income: $134,368

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The Red Square in Moscow gives you a peek into the past. Credit: Pixabay

12. Moscow, Russia

Russia has an abundance of oil and natural gas, so anyone working in those industries may find work in Moscow. They speak Russian, of course, and most of the higher-paying jobs will require you to speak the language fluently.

Median Expat Income: $135,909

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Dubai is quickly growing to be a huge economic powerhouse. Credit: Pixabay

11. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

In Dubai, the oil, diamond, and gold industries have made the city extremely wealthy. Because of this, more and more expats are moving there, and there are also opportunities in luxury real estate. Just keep in mind that there are still very strict rules of conduct, especially for women. Please do your research before traveling there. The main language spoken is Arabic.

Median Expat Income: $138,177

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The Louvre in Paris has some of the most famous paintings in the world. Credit: Pixabay

10. Paris, France

Paris is the global center of art, fashion, and culture. Many artists and writers find themselves moving to Paris, but there are also job opportunities in a variety of other fields, as well. Everyone speaks French, and even if they know English, they expect you to at least try to speaking French, as well.

Median Expat Income: $139,602

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There is so much to do in Hong Kong, you can’t fit it all into one trip. Credit: Pixabay

9. Hong Kong, China

Since Hong Kong was once a British territory, most people are bilingual, speaking both Chinese and English. There are tons of businesses that are located in Hong Kong, and most of the job opportunities for expats are in business and finance. Just keep in mind that the city is very crowded, and it is also very expensive to live in a comfortable apartment.

Median Expat Income: $148,410

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Jakarta is a cultural center of Indonesia. Credit: Pixabay

8. Jakarta, Indonesia

Jakarta is the center of economics and the Indonesian stock exchange, and it is also a center for international diplomacy. One of the biggest reasons why expats like to move to Indonesia is the low cost of living, and it’s close to their famous island of Bali, where you can live like a King for only $20 a day. However, living in the city of Jakarta requires you to pay an entire year’s worth of rent up-front. Communicating with people can be a little complicated, because there are over 700 languages spoken in the city. The main language is a dialect of Malay, as well as Sudanese and Javanese.

Median Expat Income: $152,589

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When people think about Los Angeles, they automatically think about Hoyllwood. Credit: Pixabay

7. Los Angeles, United States

Los Angeles, California is the epicenter of the entertainment industry. Most of the big budget movies and TV shows are made in Hollywood, and people come from around the world to act, direct, and write for the big screen. Just keep in mind that the entertainment industry is extremely competetive, and cost of living is high.

Median Expat Income: $161,126

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There is always something going on in the “city that never sleeps”. Credit: Pixabay

6. New City City, United States

New York City is a mecca of a variety of fields, including business, finance, and the arts. It’s great for travelers, because it has a very good public transportation system. However, it’s best to have a plan before you show up, because the city can be competetive and very expensive to live in.

Median Expat Income: $182,240

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Geneva, Switzerland is a beautiful city. Credit: Pixabay

5. Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva resides in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and their biggest industries are in finance, banking, and watchmaking. If you work in the financial industry, you have a good chance of finding work there, especially if you can make a transfer with your current employer. Just keep in mind that it is the fourth most expensive city to live in.

Median Expat Income: $184,942

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Shanghai is a very wealthy city with tons to do. Credit: Pixabay

4. Shanghai, China

Shanghai has become one of the richest countries in the world, and most of the job opportunities come from businesses who need bilingual employees. There are also a lot of opportunities with Disney and in the health industry. Everyone speaks Mandarin Chinese. If you want someone who speaks English, you may need to hire a translator to help you if you are trying to buy products for a foreign company.

Median Expat Income: $202,211

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Zurich is a beautiful city. Credit: Pixabay

3. Zurich, Switzerland

There are job opportunities for expats in Zurich, Switzerland in web development, tech, and business. The main language spoken in Zurich is German, but there are also plenty of people who speak French and English.

Median Expat Income: $206,875

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The Golden Gate Bridge is just one of many sights to see in San Francisco. Credit: Pixabay

2. San Francisco, United States

San Francisco has tons of jobs in the tech industry, with their famous area of the city called Silicon Valley. This makes it a great place for people with computer science talent from around the world to move there. But just keep in mind that it is also one of the most expensive cities to live in.

Median Expat Income: $207,227

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Mumbai is filled with beautiful architecture. Credit: Pixabay

1. Mumbai, India

As the largest city in India, Mumbai is filled with English-style buildings left over from their occupation when the city was called “Bombay”, as well as plenty of traditional Indian culture. The city holds a lot of branches of both English and American companies. When it comes to six-figure opportunities for expats, they usually go to business managers and executives. The main language is Marathi, but a lot of people speak English as a second language.

Median Expat Income: $217,165

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