ARE you sick of gloomy weather, skyrocketing bills and tax rises? Maybe you’ve been thinking about quitting the UK for a life in the sun – if so, you’re not the only one.
Thousands of expats flock to sunny Dubai every year to enjoy its financial perks, but many are choosing lesser-known tax havens in Europe and further afield, where you can TRIPLE your salary and enjoy beachfront lifestyles. We reveal the secret hotspots – and how YOU can move there.
Hard-working Brits are being clobbered by soaring living costs and a dismal jobs market, while bills including council tax and inheritance tax are going up.
Fed-up workers are even being punished for getting salary rises, as frozen tax bands see millions dragged into paying more income tax.
An estimated 246,000 Brits left the UK last year, according to the Office for National Statistics.
You can tap out too by moving to a country with lower taxes, a better cost of living, and sunnier climates.
From Malta’s free public transport to Panama’s golden retirement visa offering discounts for life, these are the “hidden gems” of the expat world.
We’ve rounded up the top destinations to move to, and how you can make your dreams of escaping the UK a reality.
Dubai – no income tax, great job opportunities and year-round sunshine
If sunshine, ZERO income tax and a luxury lifestyle all sound appealing, Dubai is the perfect place for you.
The modern city remains a “standout choice” for British expats thanks to its unmatched tax perks, high salaries, great healthcare and strong career opportunities, says Mike Harvey, managing director at 1st Move International.
English is widely spoken, and a huge 85% of Dubai’s 3.5million residents are expats, so making new friends shouldn’t be a challenge.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) charges no income tax, so take-home pay is considerably higher than if you work in the UK. There’s also no capital gains tax – money you pay to the taxman when you sell something that has gone up in value – or inheritance tax on your estate when you die.
Salaries in Dubai are just below the UK average – around £3,205 a month, or £38,460 a year – but take-home pay is far higher as there’s no tax.
The most in-demand jobs are in areas including AI, cybersecurity, data science, finance, engineering, healthcare and digital marketing.
A digital marketing manager can earn more than £100,000, according to Hays Middle East 2026 Salary Guide, while you could earn over £75,000 working as a personal assistant.
The cost of living in Dubai is said to be cheaper than in London, although slightly higher than the UK average.
If you’re single, you’ll need roughly £856 a month to live off, excluding rent, according to the cost of living database Numbeo. Meanwhile, a family of four would need around £3,008, excluding rent. This is compared to £835 for a single person living in the UK, and £2,898 for a family of four.
Renting a one-bed apartment in the city centre costs £1,791 on average – cheaper than central London’s £2,000+ rents.
However, if you love spending your weekends at the pub, it’s worth noting that Dubai is one of the most expensive countries to drink in, with the average price of a pint at almost £10. Alcohol is restricted to licensed venues, mainly in hotels and private clubs, and drinking in public is illegal and could land you in jail.
You’ll need to get a residence visa if you want to live and work in Dubai or anywhere else in the UAE.
You can get a standard work visa if you are sponsored by a company based there. This is valid for up to two years, but can be renewed if you want to stay.
A Green visa allows you to live and work in Dubai for five years without being sponsored by a company – but there’s strict criteria to hit.
You’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree or diploma to get one, and have a salary of at least 15,000 AED (£3,050) a month, or an annual income of 360,000 AED (£72,580) for the past two years if you’re self-employed.
There’s also a ten-year golden visa, which is available to people working in certain skilled professions, including healthcare, AI and software engineering, or to those who invest in Dubai property worth over AED 2million (roughly £407,000).
- Best for: Luxury lifestyle and safety
- Watch out for: Cultural shocks – you’ll need to dress modestly in public places like malls, and public displays of affection are illegal
Greece – Cheap pints, income tax discounts and low rent costs
If you want to be by the sea and enjoy gorgeous sunny weather, Greece could be the ideal place to live. Athens, Crete, Rhodes and Corfu are among the expat hotspots.
The country offers great tax perks for expats, including for workers from the UK.
You could get 50% of your income exempt from tax for up to seven years under what’s known as the Special Tax Regime for Relocated Employees.
You will need to be employed by a Greek company or Greek branch of a foreign company, or be self-employed, to benefit, and declare that you plan to stay in the country for at least two years.
It applies to all industries, so you’ll be able to get the tax exemption whether you’re an office worker or a van driver.
Workers in Greece pay between 9% and 39% on income up to €60,000, and 44% on anything over that. The government has also recently introduced tax breaks for young people and families.
Someone earning an average salary of €17,707 (£15,188) would pay 20% in tax – although salaries for expat professionals tend to be higher than this.
Living costs are lower than in the UK – the average price of a pint is €5 (£4.30) – but average salaries are also lower.
You’ll need around £677 in living costs before rent, while a family of four would need £2,388.
Rents are significantly lower than in the UK, with a one-bed apartment up to €483 (£415) a month on average.
However, the country is experiencing a cost-of-living crisis with salaries unable to keep up with rising energy, food and housing prices.
According to Indeed, the services sector, which includes jobs like finance and sales, is the country’s largest employer, while there are also plenty of roles in the tourism industry.
An executive assistant can earn around €34,000 (£29,162) a year, according to Randstad, while sales managers take home an average of €65,000 (£55,751) a year.
English is widely spoken in cities like Athens, but be aware that you may face a language barrier as Greek is the main language.
You will need to apply for a long-term residence permit if you want to move to Greece, which is valid for two years.
If you fancy retiring there, Greece has introduced a seven per cent flat tax on most foreign income, including pensions, for expat retirees.
- Best for: Brits looking for a slower pace of life in the sun
- Watch out for: Local salaries can be low and prices have been creeping up in recent years
Don’t get caught out by double tax trap
IF you’re thinking of making the move abroad, it’s crucial to research the tax rules for the country you’re thinking of relocating to – or you could be hit with a double whammy tax bill.
If the country you’re emigrating to doesn’t have a double tax agreement with the UK, then you could be charged tax on your income from both countries.
Dubai, Malta, Greece, Panama and Saudi Arabia all have tax agreements in place.
If you’re planning on going back and forth between your new home and the UK to visit family, you could also be caught out by being dragged back into the UK tax system.
If you spend more than 183 days in the UK in the tax year, then you will normally be considered a UK resident and will have to pay tax on your worldwide income.
The rules can be more complex, however, and the Statutory Residence Test – which looks at your ties to the UK – will determine whether you are considered a tax resident.
Malta – cultural similarities to UK, free public transport and 300 days of sunshine a year
With its glorious climate and cultural similarities to the UK, this holiday hotspot has become another top destination for expats.
“Thanks to its warm climate, English-speaking population and competitive tax system, Malta offers an appealing balance of lifestyle and opportunity,” Mike Harvey, managing director at 1st Move International, says.
“For Brits who want sunshine, safety and a straightforward transition into an English-speaking workforce, Malta is becoming an increasingly attractive option.”
Its generous tax system is a huge draw for people looking to move abroad – not to mention its 300 days of sunshine.
There is strong demand for work in IT, data analysis, engineering and tourism.
An engineer in Malta can earn up to €55,000 (£47,174), according to Reed, while you can earn over €65,000 (£55,751) working in tech/IT.
The tax residency scheme offers a flat 15% tax rate on foreign income brought into Malta, and there’s no inheritance, wealth or estate tax. VAT is also slightly lower than in the UK at 18%.
You don’t pay any income tax on the first €12,000 you earn. Single taxpayers then pay 15% on any earnings between €12,001 and €16,000, and 25% on anything between €16,001 and €60,000. You pay 35% on earnings over €60,000. Married couples and those with children pay less tax.
And if you earn any income in the UK while living in Malta, you won’t be charged tax twice on the same income.
Estimated monthly living costs for a single person are £670 before rent, or £2,485 for a family of four – and pints are just £3.40 on average.
Renting a one-bed apartment in one of Malta’s city centres, like Sliema or St Paul’s Bay, will set you back around €1,053 (£903).
The country also offers several favourable residency schemes for foreign workers, while its cost of living remains lower than many other Western European countries.
Since Brexit, Brits who wish to relocate to Malta must apply for a visa.
If you get a job offer from a Maltese employer, you can apply for a Single Permit, which will allow you to live and work there for up to a year – and it can be renewed if you keep your job. You can apply for full residency after five years.
If you can afford it, the Global Residence Programme allows you to pay an annual fee to get a full residence permit and enjoy tax perks on your income.
You must pay €15,000 a year and either buy or rent a property on the island. In exchange, you’ll be allowed to live in Malta, and you’ll be able to travel freely to other European countries in the Schengen zone without a visa.
- Best for: Similarities to the UK – they drive on the same side of the road, English is widely spoken, and there’s even an M&S
- Watch out for: If you’re planning on driving, traffic can be a major issue especially around city centres
I left London for sunny Malta – it was easy to get a job and it’s saved me £8,000
FED up with London’s rainy weather and high rents, Michael Kilbey decided to up sticks in his 30s and head to Malta. He’s now one of the island’s 15,000 British expats living his best life by the sea.
After spending his summer on the island in 2022, the 39-year-old English language teacher from Hertfordshire decided to leave behind his life in London and make it his permanent home – and he hasn’t looked back since.
“Malta is a home away from home,” says Michael. “There’s an English pub across the road from where I live, and the Maltese can all speak English here.
“It’s like a little extension of England – they drive on the same side of the road, even the plug sockets are the same!”
Michael’s main motivation for leaving the UK was “adventure and escaping the gloom I was feeling in London. I hated the cold and the rain and getting on crowded trains everyday.
“Now I get up every morning and I’m right next to the sea, I can walk to work in the sunshine,” he says.
On top of the laid back lifestyle, he also discovered significant financial perks to living on the island.
As a qualified English teacher, he said he found it very easy to find a job at one of Malta’s many private language schools.
His part-time modelling career has also taken off since he moved – an industry he says is very lucrative in Malta for good-looking British expats.
He earns roughly the same salary teaching as he did working in London – €26,000 a year for 21.5 hours a week- but the best thing is that everything else is a lot cheaper.
“The buses and public transport here are completely free and my rent is a lot cheaper than it was in London. Supermarket food isn’t so cheap as a lot is imported – but everything else is cheaper.”
The biggest saving he’s made since moving is his rent costs, which are half of what he was paying for a room in Wood Green, north London.
He now pays €500 for a “very spacious” two-bed apartment in St Paul’s Bay that he shares with his partner Anna-Maria, from Sicily, who he met a year ago while living on the island.
He estimates he’s saved around £8,000 in total on rent and public transport since making the move.
Michael’s teaching job allowed him to get a Single Permit to live and work on the island, which he has to pay €300 every September to renew. He didn’t need sponsorship to get it, but he has to prove that he’s working at least 20 hours a week.
He’s fallen so in love with the country that he’s planning on applying for a permanent residency, and buying a property soon with his partner.
Panama – low cost of living and ‘golden’ retirement visa
The Central American country is fast becoming one of the expat world’s “best-kept secrets”, according to 1st Move International’s Mike Harvey.
It boasts year-round sunny weather, low living costs (a pint is less than £2) and miles of coastline and sandy beaches.
It has even been voted the best place in the world for expats to live by global expat network InterNations for two years running. Those who have moved say there are good career prospects and money, and housing and admin are easy to manage.
Spanish is the official language, but you’ll find English speakers in tourist and expat areas like Panama City and Coronado.
Average salaries are roughly 25,634 PAB (around £19,150), but the cost of living is far lower than in the UK.
A one-bed apartment somewhere central will set you back around £683 a month, or around £529 in quieter areas.
There are jobs to be found in tourism, banking and construction, while there is also demand for English teachers and private tutors. Some international companies with regional headquarters in Panama include Nestlé, Adidas, Hyundai and Mars.
A construction supervisor can earn up to £27,253 a year, according to ERI SalaryExpert, while an accountant could earn over £30,000.
Its territorial tax system means you’ll only be charged on income tax earned within the country, and any overseas income will be completely exempt.
Any income you earn in Panama over 11,000 Panamanian Balboa (£8,219) will be taxed at 15%, while anything over 50,000 PAB (£37,360) will be charged at 25%.
The Friendly Nations Visa is one of the most popular residency routes for Brits, which you can be granted if you get a job from a company in Panama, or if you buy property or pay a fixed deposit.
This will give you a two-year temporary visa, after which you can apply for permanent residency.
Panama also boasts one of the best retirement programmes in the world through its Pensionado Visa, which offers permanent residency and huge discounts, including 20% off hospital bills, half-price cinema and sporting event tickets, 25% off utility bills, and 25% off airline tickets.
Anyone over 18 can get this golden retirement visa – you just need to prove you have a lifetime monthly income, typically from a pension or annuity, of $1,000 a month (£747), and $250 (£187) for your spouse.
- Best for: Older expats looking to eventually retire due to its Golden Pensionado visa
- Watch out for: Dangerous ‘no-go’ zones like El Chorrillo should be avoided
Saudi Arabia – £100k+ salaries, zero income tax and great job prospects
There are more than 30,000 UK expats working in Saudi Arabia, enjoying its hot temperatures and world-class beaches.
Ross Naylor, a financial planner who works with British expats, says the country’s tax perks are its key attraction.
“There is no income tax and no capital gains tax,” he said, “which gives working Brits a great opportunity to accelerate their savings and significantly boost their retirement planning.
“In addition, Saudi Arabia is undergoing rapid economic and infrastructure development, with many large-scale projects that attract international talent.”
High salaries are another big perk. Pay for “middle-management” jobs in industries including human resources, finance, engineering, and IT can pay up to £155,000 – almost triple what you’d earn doing some of these jobs in the UK.
There is high demand for workers in healthcare, project management, teaching, engineering, hospitality, and social media.
You’ll need around £581 per month in living costs before rent, or £2,122 for a family of four.
Renting is also a lot cheaper than in the UK – a one-bed apartment in a central city location will cost you around £455 a month.
Most expats live in compounds – gated residential communities with pools, gyms, shops and schools – with other professionals.
However, the country is governed by Sharia law, which makes it a very different culture from the UK. Alcohol is banned, and you’ll need to dress conservatively when out in public.
The most common route for moving to Saudi Arabia is to secure an employment visa. To do this, you’ll need to get a job at a Saudi-based company that will sponsor you to move. Your family can also move by getting a Dependent Residency visa.
This will be valid as long as you are employed in Saudi Arabia. If you change jobs, your residency and sponsorship can be transferred to this new employer.
The country also offers a “Green Card” to investors and entrepreneurs. You previously had to own property and invest in Saudi but there are now seven routes to this visa including a special talent, such as healthcare or scientific professionals, or gifted with recognised achievements in sports, culture or arts.
- Best for: Anyone who wants to earn a high salary and pay no tax
- Watch out for: Huge cultural and religious differences to the UK- alcohol is banned and you must dress modestly in public
