Where a US salary goes furthest
The arbitrage everyone talks about is real, but it is smaller than people assume once local tax residency applies. This ranking runs a $130,000 salary through each country’s actual brackets rather than assuming you pay nothing.
The ranking
| # | City | Match | Monthly cost | Left over | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 86% | $3,676 | $6,175 | 6,175 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 80/100Connectivity scores 100/100English usability scores 92/100No remote-work visa route |
| 2 | Dubai United Arab Emirates | 84% | $3,417 | $7,417 | 7,417 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 82/100Connectivity scores 100/100English usability scores 88/100 |
| 3 | Stockholm Sweden | 82% | $2,723 | $3,592 | 3,592 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 78/100English usability scores 96/100Safety scores 84/100No remote-work visa route |
| 4 | Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates | 81% | $2,960 | $7,873 | 7,873 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 84/100Connectivity scores 96/100English usability scores 86/100 |
| 5 | Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR | 81% | $3,435 | $5,795 | 5,795 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 80/100Connectivity scores 96/100Safety scores 86/100No remote-work visa route |
| 6 | Copenhagen Denmark | 81% | $3,274 | $2,496 | 2,496 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 94/100Safety scores 88/100No remote-work visa route |
| 7 | Seattle United States | 78% | $4,162 | $4,154 | 4,154 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 100/100Connectivity scores 84/100Healthcare scores 86/100No remote-work visa route |
| 8 | Barcelona Spain | 77% | $2,519 | $4,173 | 4,173 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 80/100Healthcare scores 84/100 |
| 9 | Doha Qatar | 77% | $2,777 | $8,056 | 8,056 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 84/100Safety scores 92/100English usability scores 80/100No remote-work visa route |
| 10 | Valencia Spain | 77% | $1,912 | $4,779 | 4,779 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 83/100Safety scores 80/100Healthcare scores 84/100 |
| 11 | Toronto Canada | 77% | $3,435 | $4,155 | 4,155 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 98/100Affordability scores 77/100Safety scores 76/100No remote-work visa route |
| 12 | Vancouver Canada | 77% | $3,541 | $4,197 | 4,197 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 96/100Affordability scores 76/100No remote-work visa route |
| 13 | Tel Aviv Israel | 76% | $3,626 | $3,259 | 3,259 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 84/100Healthcare scores 84/100No remote-work visa route |
| 14 | Amsterdam Netherlands | 76% | $3,440 | $3,345 | 3,345 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 96/100Safety scores 76/100Healthcare scores 86/100No remote-work visa route |
| 15 | Lisbon Portugal | 76% | $2,416 | $3,170 | 3,170 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 78/100English usability scores 82/100Safety scores 78/100 |
The top five, in detail
Zero income tax and a remote-work visa; housing, schooling and the car you will need eat most of the tax saving.
Capped childcare fees and universal healthcare make family costs unusually low relative to the headline tax rate.
Dubai’s tax profile at roughly 20% lower housing cost, with a quieter, more family-oriented and more car-dependent city.
A ~15% effective tax ceiling and superb transit, paid for entirely in square metres.
Other guides
Frequently asked
How was this where a us salary goes furthest list produced?
It is a calculation, not an opinion. Each of the 70 cities in the dataset is scored 0–100 on ten dimensions, weighted by the criteria for this guide (Money left over on $130,000 gross, taxed locally; Broadband speed; English proficiency; Safety and healthcare), and ranked on the weighted average. Costs are measured against a $130,000 gross salary taxed under each country's own rules.
What household does this price?
1 adult, in a 1-bed, city centre, at a moderate lifestyle, without a car. You can change all of that in the live tool.
What is the number one where a us salary goes furthest?
Singapore, Singapore, with a 86% match and a modelled monthly cost of $3,676 for this household. The best-run city in Asia with low taxes and top-tier healthcare — housing and car ownership are the exceptions.