What is ExpatsList?
ExpatsList.org is where newcomers to a city meet its residents. It combines a business directory, classifieds marketplace and community blogs, so a newcomer can find a business locals use, read recommendations and stories, ask a question and get an answer from someone nearby.
What We Offer
Business Directory
Find community-recommended businesses across 40+ categories: healthcare, legal services, real estate, restaurants, and more. Each listing includes contact info, ratings, and community reviews.
15700+ listings across 46 cities
Classifieds
Post and browse classified ads for housing rentals, job opportunities, items for sale, and community events. Deal directly with newcomers and locals in your city.
Free to post & browse
Community Blogs
Read and write about settling in, including what worked, what to avoid and whom to call. Newcomers and locals write the posts.
Written by residents, not tourists
Starter Packs
Curated city guides with essential tips for new arrivals. From getting around to finding healthcare, our Starter Packs help you settle faster with what earlier newcomers learned the hard way.
Curated essentials for each city
Community Recommendations
Discover vetted spots recommended by the community. From the best tacos to trusted mechanics, find places the community actually uses and loves.
Real recommendations from the community
Cities We Cover
United Arab Emirates
- Abu Dhabi
- Dubai
United States
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New York
- Orlando
- Phoenix
- San Diego
- Tampa
Indonesia
- Bali
- Ubud
Thailand
- Bangkok
- Koh Phangan
- Koh Samui
Panama
- Boquete
- Panama City
Canada
- Calgary
- Halifax
- Montréal
- Toronto
Mexico
- Cancún
- Isla Mujeres
- Los Cabos
- Mexico City
- Playa del Carmen
- Puerto Morelos
- Puerto Vallarta
- San Miguel de Allende
- Sayulita
- Tulum
Vietnam
- Da Nang
- Hoi An
El Salvador
- El Zonte
- La Libertad
Laos
- Luang Prabang
Costa Rica
- Nosara
- Tamarindo
Spain
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Puerto Rico
- Santurce
Cambodia
- Siem Reap
Poland
- Warsaw
More cities coming soon. Want us to add your city? Let us know
Who We Serve
Expats
People who moved for work, family or a better life and need a home, a doctor, a lawyer and a mover they can rely on
Digital Nomads
Remote workers and retirees choosing where to live next and setting up when they arrive
Retirees Abroad
Enjoying retirement in a new country
Students
International students studying abroad
Trust & Verification
ExpatsList uses verification badges to help you identify trusted businesses and community members. These badges signal authenticity, quality, and commitment to the community.
Look for these badges when browsing business listings or community blogs.
Verified Business
Gold BadgeThe gold verification badge appears on business listings that have been claimed and verified by their owners. When you see this badge, you can trust that:
- Ownership is confirmed: the actual business owner controls this listing, not a third party
- Information is accurate: contact details, hours, and services are actively maintained
- Reviews are monitored: the owner can respond to customer feedback
Benefits for Business Owners
- • Priority placement in search results and category pages
- • Stand out from unverified competitors with a trust badge
- • Respond to reviews and build customer relationships
- • Full control to update photos, hours, and business details
Verified Member
Blue BadgeThe blue verification badge appears on member profiles of trusted community contributors. When you see this badge, you know:
- Identity is confirmed: this is a real person whose identity we've verified
- Content is quality: they contribute helpful blogs, reviews, and tips
- Community standing: a recognized, active contributor to the community
Benefits for Members
- • Build credibility: your badge shows readers they can trust your content
- • Increased visibility: verified member content gets priority placement
- • Author recognition: your name and badge appear on all your blog posts
- • Community trust: other expats know you're a genuine contributor
- • Profile badge: blue checkmark displayed on your public profile
Get Your Business Verified
Do you own a business that newcomers need? Claim your listing to get the gold verified badge and take control of your online presence.
- 1. Find your business in our directory
- 2. Click "Claim this business" on your listing
- 3. Verify your ownership (phone, email, or document)
- 4. Your gold badge appears within 24 hours
Get Your Profile Verified
If you know your city well, whether you settled here or never left, you can earn the blue verified badge by helping others.
- 1. on ExpatsList
- 2. Write a helpful blog post about expat life
- 3. Our team reviews your contribution
- 4. Quality contributors receive the blue badge
Why Verification Matters
Fight Misinformation
Verification separates real businesses and real residents from fake or misleading accounts.
Build Community Trust
A newcomer taking advice from a stranger needs to know whom to believe. Verification shows who has earned that.
Quality Over Quantity
Verification rewards those who invest in accurate info and helpful content, not just volume.
How ExpatsList Compares to Alternatives
| Feature | ExpatsList | Facebook Groups | Google Maps | InterNations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community-focused curation | Varies | |||
| Searchable directory | ||||
| 100% free | ||||
| No algorithm manipulation | ||||
| Classifieds marketplace | Limited | |||
| Community blogs |
Our Story
Built by newcomers for the next ones
ExpatsList started with a simple frustration. Finding a business you can rely on as a newcomer is hard, and search results do not tell you which ones the people already living there use.
Our Mission
We want to be the first place a newcomer looks for a business, a recommendation or an answer, and the first place a local goes to help.
Why We're Different
Everything here comes from someone who lives there: the businesses, the recommendations, the stories and the answers. Every feature is built for the first months in a new city, when the language is new, the systems are unfamiliar and there is no one to ask.
We Were Newcomers Too
We have filled in visa paperwork in a language we did not speak, searched for an English-speaking doctor at two in the morning and found the places only locals know. ExpatsList is what we wish we had had in our first month.
Ready to Explore?
Join the newcomers, expats, remote workers, retirees and locals who use ExpatsList to find businesses they can rely on and settle in faster.
Have questions? Contact us
