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What Countries and Places Offer the Best Life Quality?

MTF

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Let me add some thoughts to the topic and cover some countries to kick off a discussion.

For me, some of the most important requirements are (no place will meet all of them):
  • Good weather. This means sunny for most of the year (so that you never go more than a few days without sunshine), and the average daytime temperature during the winter shouldn't be lower than about 60-70 degrees F/15-20 degrees Celsius), with maximum summer temperatures around 85-95 F/30-35 C). Ideally, dry heat as I don't like high humidity and sweating like a pig after a short walk. The best climates for me personally are subtropics, semi-arid, arid climates, or Mediterranean climates.
  • Personal safety. If I have to constantly worry about my safety or can't feel comfortable walking around in most neighborhoods, it's just not conducive to a good lifestyle.
  • Easy access to the wilderness areas. I can't stand big cities for more than a few days. Living in a place like Bangkok would be a nightmare for me. Good hiking trails, plenty of places where you can get away and be by yourself is a must.
  • Coastal. I enjoy being close to the ocean or at least sea. It offers many opportunities for sports and there's this special vibe that coastal cities have.
  • Easy to stay fit and healthy. In this aspect, some places are much, much easier than other. For example, I find it motivating to hang around fit, healthy people because it inspires me to work out harder and take better care of my health. I also look for a place where I can climb outdoors and recently, as a new filter, I'd like to be in a place where I can surf. Air quality is important, too.
  • Friendly, laid-back and welcoming people. I wouldn't be able to live in a place like most of Asia where no matter how long you live there, you're always a foreigner. I also would find it hard to live in an Islamic country (I like visiting these countries, but I wouldn't be able to live there long-term). I love places where I can easily blend in and where everyone (or most people) assume that I'm a local. This obviously depends on your ancestry and how you look. I also enjoy cultures where people are laid-back and warm by nature.
  • Reasonable taxes and good infrastructure. I used to look at low taxes as one of the key requirements, but now I look more at what you actually get for the taxes you pay. For example, zero taxes sound awesome, but if in exchange you have to live on a small Caribbean without much to do, you aren't really getting a good deal lifestyle-wise. Likewise, if the taxes are low but the infrastructure is weak and you don't feel safe, then I'd rather pay more in taxes and live in a place where I don't have to worry whether somebody will break into my car.
  • Reasonable cost of living. Doesn't have to be super low (higher costs of living motivate you to think bigger), but some places are just outrageously expensive.
  • Reasonable population density. I hate high traffic density and crowds. Living in the middle of nowhere isn't fun, but so isn't living in a place where it's always hard to find a parking spot, where there are huge traffic jams, and where you need to account for crowds in everything you do.
  • Good local food. This is actually related to health and fitness, but by itself, it's also a pretty important factor. I wouldn't be able to live in many places in the US where your choice is pretty much limited to fast food and supermarkets don't really carry anything of high-quality and locally made (like for example Spain and their great cheeses or Cyprus and their great fruits).
I could probably list a few more requirements, but these are the first that come to my mind.

Now, for some specific countries/places which would currently be my top picks, in no particular order (I'll only cover the ones I enjoyed the most but I can discuss other countries which I didn't particularly like if anyone's interested):
  • Australia. I'm currently staying in the Sunshine Coast/Noosa region for a couple of weeks learning how to surf. It's safe, well-developed, sunny, the air is clean, and people are friendly. Drawbacks include high prices (real estate is ridiculously expensive), some dangerous animals to watch out for (you should be fine if you aren't completely careless, though), and strong UV radiation. Hiking is okay, but nothing to write home about. It's a bit of a pain in the a$$ to enjoy the outdoors here. If you hate sunscreen like I do and you don't want to get badly sunburned, you can only spend time outside in the morning or late afternoon with only brief amounts of time in the middle of the day (if you don't mind putting on tons of sunscreen or covering yourself despite hot weather, then you won't mind this). Obviously, this applies to all places featuring tropical/subtropical climate and it's still better to deal with strong sun than with cloudy, cold weather all the time.
  • Cyprus. Very friendly people, beautiful architecture, nice landscapes, incredible beaches, pretty pleasant climate all year round (though summer may get too hot). The biggest drawback for me: it's an island. If the Republic of Cyprus reunites with the north, it will be a much better option. Another disadvantage: it gets dark very early in the winter (4:30 pm and it's already dark). It's weird because it can be pretty warm and sunny, but you don't have much time to enjoy it.
  • Canary Islands. I've been twice to Tenerife and plan to visit some of the other islands soon, too. Again, they're islands so it's a big drawback. However, the advantage is that they're pretty close to each other so if you get bored, you can easily fly to another island. Other than that, infrastructure is fine, food is good, people are welcoming, and there's a lot of hiking and many other opportunities to spend time outdoors. Climate is described as one of the best in the world as it's never too cold or too hot. Just avoid the tourist areas like parts of southern Tenerife.
  • Southern Spain - it's colder than in the Canary Islands, but you're on the mainland. Certain areas are much sunnier than the Canary Islands, and since you're on the continent, you have many more options for spending free time. I like the architecture, relaxed culture, and endless possibilities for sports.
Other options I'm yet to research:
  • Greece. Certain parts of the country might be nice (Crete would probably be best climate-wise but I haven't been there yet - I visited a smaller island in a colder region of the country).
  • Mexico. Lived on a tiny island for a few months there. Safety in certain areas is an issue, but there are probably plenty of places that could be pleasant and comfortable.
  • Southern Portugal. Might be a bit too cold during the winter.
  • New Zealand. As above, and it's not exactly the sunniest place in the world.
  • Uruguay. Also cold during the winter.
  • Nicaragua. One of the safest countries in the region, but infrastructure is an issue.
Last but not least, here's a good article about choosing a place where you'll be happiest: WHERE WILL YOU BE HAPPIEST? with the author (British multimillionaire) describing his selection process.
 
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Chapas

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Just made my way down to a small country in the Balkans by the Adriatic Sea called Montenegro. Plan is to stay here for 3 months and launch my own digital agency. Will keep you updated of the life quality here. So far this is what I have heard and read beforehand, and what I have experienced in my 2-3 days here.

Low Cost of Living: This is a relatively young country (only 12 years), so it is still developing and is not a part of the EU yet - even though they plan to join within 5-10 years. Right now we are renting an apartment in a huge house owned by a very nice and successful Montenegrin family for 300 dollars a month. In a very nice area. From what I heard you can get your own seaview apartment for 400-500 dollars if you sign a year-long lease. Groceries are cheap, eating out is cheap, public transport is cheap. Not aware of all the prices yet, but compared to other places I have lived and visited in Europe, this is by far the cheapest.

Weather: Today it was 15 degrees celsius. We sat by the beach without jackets on. So amazing to see enjoy the winter sun. In the summer the weather should be around 30/35 degrees celsius. The locals says it tends to rain heavily in the winter though, however, so far we have only experienced that when we arrived on the first day. But the more it rains, the more productive I get, so I can live with that haha.

Nature: The nature is amazing. Just google some pictures and you will see for yourselves. It is just like Switzerland. The only difference is that it is by the coast and it is 10 times cheaper. Cannot wait to experience the beauty of this country.

People: Everyone I have met so far has been very helpful and friendly. English is not widely spoken by the older generation, however, all younger people I have encountered so far have spoken great english.

Low Crime: This is just from what I have been told by the family we rent our apartment from. The crime level should be very low, and so far I have felt safe everywhere I have walked. Corruption is everywhere in Eastern Europe, however, as far as I know it is on a very low level here.

Low Taxes: Compared to where I grew up in Denmark (40 % income tax), the tax in Montenegro is only around 11 %. Furthermore, it is very cheap and easy to start your own business here and once you have done it you can get a business residency in the country, which means you will not be needing any visa to stay here - and you can bring your family with you. This is something I will look more into during my time here, and keep you updated about the law on this subject, if anyone is interested.

Investment Opportunities: Montenegro is still somehow undiscovered - especially by the western world. There are a lot of Russians here, and many of them have already invested in the country. There are a lot of foreign investments happening in the major coastal cities of the country, and I believe it is just a matter of 5-10 years before the prices will rise and the country will develop like the neighbouring Croatia. Especially if Montenegro gets accepted into the EU.

So far, this is all I know about this little hidden gem. I will keep you guys updated during my time here!
 
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MTF

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You can live anywhere in the world. Where do you live and why?

What does a perfect place need to offer to maximize your personal life quality?

What do you find super important (for example, low taxes or good weather) and what you don't particularly care about (like cheap public transport)?

What are your experiences of living in or traveling to various places around the world?

Some places were covered in my thread on best entrepreneur-friendly outdoorsy places, but this is a more general thread focused on the quality of life. Feel free to share specific places or just countries in general (or just describe some general qualities of a perfect place).

I'll share some of my experiences and observations later on.
 
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AgainstAllOdds

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If you're single:

Get Tinder Premium.

Change your location to the richest part of the city you're considering to live in.

Look at the quality of girls and who you're matching with. If the girls are unattractive to you, scratch it off your list. Dating is a huge part of quality of life. Some cities have a lot prettier girls than other cities/countries.
 
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MTF

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@Get Right, how do you handle crazy high humidity in the summer?

@Chapas, awesome write-up, thanks for sharing! For me it's still too cold in the winter, but the place definitely has a lot of advantages, particularly for digital nomads or entrepreneurs who like emerging markets.

@AgainstAllOdds, I like the strategy of having two or three homes. The only issue is that you aren't 100% free because you need to move before you're considered a tax resident in each place (and when entering the country, there's always this little worry that for some reason they won't let you in).

So for example if I wanted to live in Australia for a few months a year, I'd have to be very careful not to spend there more than 6 months a year in total. Each time I'd have to explain why I want to stay for so long, and worry that they won't let me stay that long (a tourist visa doesn't really give you permission to live there part-time).

This is much easier for EU residents because you can theoretically move between countries without any paperwork whatsoever and split your time between, say, Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal or Cyprus in the winter, and Northern, Central or Eastern Europe in the summer.

Still, I like the idea a lot as no place is perfect and sooner or later gets boring (so two or three homes are great to keep things exciting). It just requires a bit more thought than establishing one permanent home base and traveling from there.
 

AgainstAllOdds

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Hi
According to me Sweden and Norway are two countries which offer you the best quality life style.

Why?

It's cold, ultra leftist, dark for a good portion of the year, expensive, high taxes, even higher sin taxes...

What's the appeal?
 
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The Abundant Man

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This is the place of the future after the next 200 years or so
 

MTF

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I'll try to chime in and write a long post when I have more time, but to summarize:

Get two houses. Get the best of both worlds. Don't establish tax residency if you don't have to.

Still waiting for your post man!

Why bother searching, when Eric Weiner has done all the work for you already :hilarious:

This isn't 100% applicable to people who weren't born there. Many factors that make these places supposedly the happiest in the world have to do with growing up in a large family or a tight-knit community which isn't easily accessible to a person moving there.

Besides, it's a bit silly to assume these are the happiest places in the world because we're all looking for something different. I for one would absolutely HATE living in Iceland. I wouldn't live there even if you paid me seven figures a year. Yet he says it's one of the happiest places in the world (yeah, I can see that - no sunlight for several months, cold as hell, and always windy; paradise on earth indeed).
 
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Chapas

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Yes, please do. I have never looked into residency/visas but am curious now.

Montenegro is on my short list of places to take an extended vacation, for sure.

I haven't looked at it in a while, but I remember the incredible views (mountains next to coast line), and the "no one has heard of this country" part being a big selling point for me.

I had completely forgotten how insanely cheap the rent is, until your post. I've not seen airbnb prices this low in any other place in the world (that I've desired to visit).

I will keep you updated! I am paying around 300 euros for our apartment now through AirBnB. It is almost twice the size of the apartment I lived in for the last 3 months in the outskirts of Copenhagen. Which I paid 800 euros for. The value is insane down here.

Went to the most popular beach bar/restaurant to relax today. It was pretty packed, but the views are amazing. We had 3 big beers, 1 aperol spritz and 2 pizzas. It set us back 20 euros. Would not even be able to get 2 pizzas for that prize back home in Denmark lol.

The people here are seriously some of the most friendly ones I have ever come across. Maybe it is because it is off season and we are some of the only "tourists" around. Maybe they are like this 365 days a year. Nevertheless, I feel good here!
 

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I'm dying to hear what you discovered using this trick.

I can make an entire thread on this, but to summarize: everyone has different tastes. Basically change your global location around a bit to see what you like and what your match rates are.

Your best matches will be in places where you wouldn't expect - since it's where your exotic factor is highest. For example, one place I traveled to was Kazakhstan. There, you should be able to match with a number of Asian-Russian mixed models... however, it's also not a place you want to live.
 

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I have been loving Mexico so far.

Was living in Mazatlan, then Mexico City, and I move to Oaxaca tomorrow.

People are very chill, hard-working and ambitious, and easy to connect with.

Traffic sucks for the most part but infrastructure (malls, parks, facilities etc) is decent and the upper-class areas of Mexico (I live in Sante Fe right now) are excellent.

Tons of little towns and areas to explore and so much culture. Plus the food is so good ha!

I originally planned on staying just a few weeks but met a great girl here. They are very family orientated and quite conservative which is what I prefer.

I plan on living in Oaxaca for all of 2019 so I will update this again at some point in the future.
 
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Chapas

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If you're single:

Get Tinder Premium.

Change your location to the richest part of the city you're considering to live in.

Look at the quality of girls and who you're matching with. If the girls are unattractive to you, scratch it off your list. Dating is a huge part of quality of life. Some cities have a lot prettier girls than other cities/countries.

Haha this is so true! It was one of the reasons I moved to Moscow two and a half years ago. Already had 5 dated set up before ever stepping my foot in the city. Best piece of advice ever!
 

Hijena1

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Care to elaborate? What would have to happen for you to feel comfortable moving back? Would you feel comfortable living there if you were financially independent?

The economy is not in a great shape. Croatia has only tourism nothing else. Everything else is suffering. For example, speaking with my own experience the government is purposely "closing" small businesses (mostly in agriculture) just to give control to someone else who is bigger.

But still I would love to live there. If financially independent I would go back in a heart bit, those countries can be paradise if you have the money. Making 1600$ a month would be a good reason to go back.

The money and opportunity were the reasons for moving out. Working for 600$ a month without the benefits it is not satisfying plus the future is not looking promising. When speaking to you about this, back then I was only thinking about getting a job, but now in the FSL mindset that is different. You have shaken the ground under my legs with these simple questions.

What do you write??
 

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@Private Witt, where did you live? How was personal safety over there?

I lived in Bogota for close to three years.

First of it was a ton of fun and the women (most peoples reason for living in Colombia ha) were super feminine and very friendly.

The food, culture, nightlife, and cost of living are great too.

As for safety you just have to be aware.

No leaving your phone or wallet on a table in a cafe, no using obvious laptop or drone carry bags, no flashing money or watches etc.

Then you just have to be smart about logistics - don't go solo into certain areas, don't get drunk and get a taxi by yourself, don't walk around at night with no plan.

To be honest I broke all of these rules once or twice and was still fine. I had a few friends get robbed but usually, the reason was them making it easy for that to happen.

Basically - if you are an easy target you will likely even up getting robbed at some point. But it's easy to avoid that for the most part.
 

Madame Peccato

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Have you considered moving over the border to enjoy one of the best tax systems in the world? Or perhaps Campione d'Italia, which comes with numerous tax benefits.

A lot of people who live here work in Switzerland and come back here for weekends. A way of life I never fully understood, or well, I understand it partially since they enjoy way higher income, but at that point I don't see the reason to not just move there, but I digress.

The reason I didn't consider Switzerland is that whenever I visited it I didn't like the country much. My uncle lives there. I can't quite figure out what exactly irks me so much about it, but every time I've been there I've felt uncomfortable. Italians aren't exactly well liked there, most Swiss people see us as "immigrants who are stealing their job" (not very different from how immigrants are seen in the rest of the world to be honest).

Campione has a giant Casino (the only """redeeming""" quality of the city), but it's on its way to closing down, they just laid off 500 employees. Other than that it's like every other place in Italy.

I just don't feel like Italy is a country I have any faith in whatsoever. It's not just about taxes, it's also about the (economic) laws that are being put in place in 2019 and beyond. I don't expect this country to survive much longer before bankruptcy (like Greece in 2015).

Why are they awful?

Awful was perhaps a poor choice of word, and it's probably just the specific zone I'm in and not Italy as a whole, but the older people absolutely loathe anything that isn't manual labor or jobs that are related to farming. A lot of the younger people are leaving / have already left, there's no opportunity for anyone. This is the result of living in an isolated part of the country. Also Italians are very good at circumventing the laws in general, we are liars, we gave birth to the Mafia, we are taught since a young age that we can't trust anyone.

We are one of the countries with the highest average age in Europe, and it heavily reflects on the mentality of the people who live here. Tribalism is rampant, "knowing someone" is the main way of getting anything done. Tax evasion is everywhere (we're actually one of the countries with the highest % of people who evade taxes), and the half of the population that pays taxes has to pay for everyone else. The scholastic system is old and outdated, my father still has to follow protocols from the 20s for his job, and that's the case for a lot of professions. Our bureaucracy is beyond salvation, our systems are outdated, the government gives employment to a lot of parasites...I just want out man.
 

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Loving this thread, so interesting to read about everyone's experiences!

I personally lived in Japan for the best part of 4 years and would move back in a heartbeat were it not for pets and settled spouse (but planning for my business to go international with Japan as a main target, so I'll at least have plenty of nice trips there :) ). It definitely has its pros & cons, and it's not for everyone.

My favourite elements were:
* Beautiful weather fully experiencing all four seasons and a culture which revered nature, even in intensely overpopulated cities like Tokyo
* Similar to above, easy to access an abundance of hikes, rivers, mountains etc.
* Extremely safe (people would leave their laptops on the tables at Starbucks then pop out to another shop, sleep on the subway with their iPhones in their laps, etc.)
* Efficient transport
* Polite, friendly culture, amazing customer service (instead of 'the customer is always right' they say 'the customer is God')
* Great eats, very easy to eat healthily and access high quality freshly prepared food even in 24 hour convenience stores
* "Kawaii" culture which was kind of like being in Pokémon or Disneyland every single day
* Everyone is a little bit spiritual (you'd find temples and shrines everywhere amongst the city skyscrapers as a standard)
* Few dangerous wild animals
* High quality of living, infrastructure etc.

That's all I've got off the top of my head!
 

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@Chapas how necessary is it to know the local language? My English is good, and I don't mind putting in the time to learn at least the ropes of the local language to make sure I don't have any problem with stuff like the local Police, Banks, Hospitals, the Government and the likes

It is difficult for me to say. Everytime I speak with someone here I ask if they know English or Russian. And it is always 50/50. In some cases they only speak the local language.

I think it is always a good idea to learn the local language. I do not find it difficult, but maybe because many words remind me of Russian words.

I still think you will get by with English here in the beginning. Young people do understand English mostly. There is an expat community here as well and a Facebook group called something like Expats of Montenegro.

Now you are looking at places in Eastern Europe, you should definitely check out Budapest. I lived their 3 times. Amazing city and a really international vibe. Also I do not think Romania is that bad. Met international people who lived in Cluj and they loved it.

Eastern Europe has so many gems. Maybe Croatia would be something for you as well. Only been there for 2 weeks but loved the place and the people.

Good luck on where ever you go!
 

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So, the Europe wins? :D

Depends what your priorities are.

If I was an employed professional I'd much rather live in the USA than anywhere in Europe. When I was doing international recruitment I frequently found things like a 25 year old sales rep in the US earning more money than the UK Sales Director managing a team of 30 people...at the same corporation.

I can only imagine how shitty the slowlane is in less wealthy European countries.
 

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This is something I will look more into during my time here, and keep you updated about the law on this subject, if anyone is interested.

Yes, please do. I have never looked into residency/visas but am curious now.

Montenegro is on my short list of places to take an extended vacation, for sure.

I haven't looked at it in a while, but I remember the incredible views (mountains next to coast line), and the "no one has heard of this country" part being a big selling point for me.

I had completely forgotten how insanely cheap the rent is, until your post. I've not seen airbnb prices this low in any other place in the world (that I've desired to visit).
 

Chapas

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Sitting at the beach restaurant in Montenegro, I looked around at the crowd. And one thought hit me. I have not seen a single overweight or obese person in my one week here. Then it got me thinking that I have not even seen a single McDonald's or any other fast food restaurant here. Thought it was a coincidence until I researched some more when I got home. I found this interesting article about why western fast food chains are not entering the Montenegrin market. It is kind of unique as I do no think I have ever been to any country without seeing a McDonald's.

Will McDonald’s Ever Have a Chance in Montenegro?
 
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GuestUser4aMPs1

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Just made my way down to a small country in the Balkans by the Adriatic Sea called Montenegro. Plan is to stay here for 3 months and launch my own digital agency. Will keep you updated of the life quality here. So far this is what I have heard and read beforehand, and what I have experienced in my 2-3 days here.

Low Cost of Living: This is a relatively young country (only 12 years), so it is still developing and is not a part of the EU yet - even though they plan to join within 5-10 years. Right now we are renting an apartment in a huge house owned by a very nice and successful Montenegrin family for 300 dollars a month. In a very nice area. From what I heard you can get your own seaview apartment for 400-500 dollars if you sign a year-long lease. Groceries are cheap, eating out is cheap, public transport is cheap. Not aware of all the prices yet, but compared to other places I have lived and visited in Europe, this is by far the cheapest.

Weather: Today it was 15 degrees celsius. We sat by the beach without jackets on. So amazing to see enjoy the winter sun. In the summer the weather should be around 30/35 degrees celsius. The locals says it tends to rain heavily in the winter though, however, so far we have only experienced that when we arrived on the first day. But the more it rains, the more productive I get, so I can live with that haha.

Nature: The nature is amazing. Just google some pictures and you will see for yourselves. It is just like Switzerland. The only difference is that it is by the coast and it is 10 times cheaper. Cannot wait to experience the beauty of this country.

People: Everyone I have met so far has been very helpful and friendly. English is not widely spoken by the older generation, however, all younger people I have encountered so far have spoken great english.

Low Crime: This is just from what I have been told by the family we rent our apartment from. The crime level should be very low, and so far I have felt safe everywhere I have walked. Corruption is everywhere in Eastern Europe, however, as far as I know it is on a very low level here.

Low Taxes: Compared to where I grew up in Denmark (40 % income tax), the tax in Montenegro is only around 11 %. Furthermore, it is very cheap and easy to start your own business here and once you have done it you can get a business residency in the country, which means you will not be needing any visa to stay here - and you can bring your family with you. This is something I will look more into during my time here, and keep you updated about the law on this subject, if anyone is interested.

Investment Opportunities: Montenegro is still somehow undiscovered - especially by the western world. There are a lot of Russians here, and many of them have already invested in the country. There are a lot of foreign investments happening in the major coastal cities of the country, and I believe it is just a matter of 5-10 years before the prices will rise and the country will develop like the neighbouring Croatia. Especially if Montenegro gets accepted into the EU.

So far, this is all I know about this little hidden gem. I will keep you guys updated during my time here!

Thank you for talking about this country. You've found a gem.

One quick Airbnb search later in Bar and I could not BELIEVE what you could get for $500/mo...

Huge Windows, in a Huge House, with a Huge desk.

That said...the query was for April. Probably still cold and wet.

When's a good time to visit @Chapas? Is everything dead there right now?
I figured it'd pick up in the summer months...this listing specifically shot up to $2k/mo in June.

f5a5fb0f-7360-4f40-8377-268ce00dbda2.jpg 81e8081b-8f97-4a68-8747-5941caa2cd5d.jpg fb091db6-f088-41ab-a823-e5a8b6a3e338.jpg 0a4932f7-165b-471a-b421-a04e52bf9b62.jpg
 

MTF

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I like Poland very much. It's a central european country, mostly white, west culture mixed with east culture - very special and unique combination. You have mountains and sea, lakes and forests - everything 200-400 km from Warsaw.

IMO plenty of places have mountains, sea, lakes and forests, but if it's cold and cloudy most of the year (as @Smuggo mentioned), it doesn't really mean that much. I guess the same can be said (except for the West/East culture) about Slovenia, Norway, Iceland, UK, Ireland, and many more countries.

Since I love sun I have plans to move to the south Spain where I can kite whenever I want to.

Tarifa or somewhere else? How's kiteboarding in Poland? Only possible in the summer because of the temperature or do you do it in a wetsuit year round?

What about Australia? I always heard it is the best country to live by far if you put all key attributes together.

It's a good place to live, but like every other, has its drawbacks. I too believed it's the best country to live in, but after being there twice I think it's just another place. Good, but not perfect.

For me, the main drawbacks include:
  • high taxes - the highest personal income tax is 45%, which is crazy high. Granted, I didn't see a single homeless person there (but this obviously depends on where you are; there are a lot of homeless people in Melbourne for example), the infrastructure is good, and the country is very safe when it comes to personal safety (crime, etc.).
  • expensive - again, depends on the location, but if you want a good lifestyle, you'll probably live by the coast which is extremely expensive in the nicest areas (I'm particularly talking about real estate).
  • distance - it's not like Europe, Asia or even many places in the US where you can fly abroad in a couple of hours at most. Except for New Zealand, it takes about 5+ hours or more to fly to another country, and even then, you're limited to the small Pacific countries and a few countries in Asia. Everything else requires a super long flight.
  • nanny state - you're required to wear a helmet all the time when cycling, it's super easy to get a speeding ticket for driving just slightly past the limit (thankfully it didn't happen to me), alcohol consumption comes with many regulations (it doesn't bother me as I don't drink but might be an issue for many people), some websites are banned (like all torrent sites - obviously you can use VPN, but still, shows how intrusive the government is). They have obsession with safety, which some might consider sensible, but which I consider too infringing on personal freedom.
  • dangers everywhere - speaking of safety, you actually need to be more cautious daily, particularly if you like spending time outdoors. You go swimming at the beach, you need to be extremely aware of what's happening around you because there are rips everywhere. Forget about swimming on an unpatrolled beach (normal in many places around the world) unless you're a very good swimmer. Depending on the place, there are some dangerous sea creatures which, even if they won't kill you, can hurt you pretty bad (a few days ago, thousands were stung by blue bottles, which is extremely painful). If you go take a piss in the bushes by the beach, you need to be careful not to surprise a brown snake (one of the most poisonous snakes in the world). Then there are regular flash floods, cyclones, and heat waves.
I still think that Australia could be a pretty good place to live, but it's not perfect. No place is - it's a matter of finding one that comes with advantages important to you and drawbacks you can tolerate.
 

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I am happy to live in any country that has:

  • No government corruption
  • Hospitals for everyone with the best services
  • Strong economy
  • You don't need a personal relation to get a job
  • No tribalism
  • Freedom of speech
  • Ability to have residency even if you get fired from your job

Yeah lol. These stuff are like no brainer rights, sadly we suffer from it mostly in Jordan.
 

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