The global economic situation is far from positive and prosperous at the moment, which means that many people are considering a move overseas in a bid to escape the worst of the financial doom and gloom in their own home countries. The only trouble with such a decision is that you have to ensure that you've picked the right country to relocate to, otherwise you could be in a situation worse than before if you're not careful! Many countries have survived the ravages — whether directly or indirectly — of economic recessions and downturns, therefore you need to do a whole lot of homework before choosing where exactly to move if you are to prosper. As a start, read HSBC's Expat Explorer survey results for 2011, which reveal the top 5 countries where expats currently earn more money to spend and enjoy. Saudi Arabia Expats in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoy attractive employment packages and have significantly strong disposable income — in part because the salaries are non-taxable. Packages normally include accommodation or reimbursement toward accommodation — and if you remove taxation and housing from your monthly wage, you're left with a lot more money to do with it what you will. Getting paid for the educational expenses for children which some companies include in the package is just icing on the cake. Another reason why expats report strong disposable income levels in the Kingdom is that there is less for them to spend their money on locally. Saudi Arabia, unlike Dubai for example, is not a party capital. Individuals and families working in Saudi Arabia often prefer to hie off somewhere else to spend their money. Egypt Interestingly, Egypt scores exceptionally well in HSBC's Expat Economics survey; in their Expat Experience survey, less so. The grim political scene is a major contributing factor in this regard and with people attaching priority to personal security, for instance, there have been adverse effects nationwide. Expats living in Egypt cite strong salary options, strong disposable income, and rather than splurging their excess wealth, they are far more likely to save their money. Again, perhaps, this is because of the instability that Egypt is presently facing. It does not offer an environment where expats would think of staying for the medium- to long-term—at least for the time being. Singapore Singapore is a high-paying, high-earning location, where expats also benefit from lower levels of taxation. They end up having more disposable income as a result but the cost of living in Singapore can be very high and demanding. This means while Singapore reached No. 2 in terms of nations where expats' incomes are highest, it dropped down a notch as soon as affordability was brought into the equation. Expenses over accommodation and education are exceedingly high which undoubtedly punch multiple holes in expats' pockets. Russia Russia scored particularly high for income levels and disposable income levels, with expats reporting that on many levels, affording a decent standard of living in Russia was eminently achievable. However, from our own research, there is a very noticeable discrepancy between salary levels for jobs in different sectors. In certain sectors, expats in Russia might find high-paying jobs with limited salary options. Therefore, if you're looking at Russia, make sure your salary expectations are realistic! Switzerland Switzerland has a lot in common with Singapore for expats in terms of money matters. It's a nation with high salaries and low taxes, where expats enjoy strong disposable income — but the cost of living does take a toll on your savings; from accommodation to groceries, from education to healthcare, costs are universally high. __
