Community Blogs

Doha, Qatar

• Feb 8

As an expat, you will find opening a bank account in Qatar relatively easy. The country’s high expat population means that local banks understand the needs of f...

Ahmed Al-Rashid

42

London, United Kingdom

• Feb 7

Whether you’re a US citizen living in the UK, or a UK citizen or resident traveling to the US frequently, a USD account can be a handy tool to make cross curren...

Priya Sharma

36

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

• Feb 7

UAE job recruitment takes ~35 days. CVs must include professional photo, use English, font 10-12, 2-3 pages. Dress formally: suits for corporate, modest clothing. Research company thoroughly before interviews.

Aisha Rahman

33

Paris, France

• Feb 7

French higher education is known for its top quality, ranking fifth best in the world in 2021. This is one of the main reasons why the country is among the t...

Olivia Martin

43

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

• Feb 7

Playa del Carmen offers quality private healthcare at 30-60% lower costs than the US. Major facilities include Hospiten Riviera Maya, Costamed, Amerimed, and Hospital Joya. Verified English-speaking doctors include Dr. Luis Medina, Dr. Bernardo Diaz, and Dr. Eduardo Roviroso.

Miguel Hernandez

69

Brussels, Belgium

• Feb 7

Belgium expat life: 1.4M expats (13% population). High living standards, excellent healthcare, strong work-life balance. Brussels rent over 1,000/month. Top 10 global quality of life.

Sophie Van Den Berg

51

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

• Feb 7

No federal income tax in UAE. Corporate tax 9% (profits over AED 375,000). VAT 5%. Property tax 5% in Dubai. 193 Double Taxation Agreements protect expats.

Aisha Rahman

56

Berlin, Germany

• Feb 6

Germany offers free state schools (Gymnasium, Realschule, Hauptschule, Gesamtschule) and private options. International schools cost 14,000-20,000 yearly. Abitur exam qualifies for university.

David Miller

53

Tokyo, Japan

• Feb 6

Japan's health insurance is mandatory for residents staying over 3 months. Public insurance costs ~5% income (¥17,500/month for ¥350,000 salary). Private insurance adds ¥25,000-65,000/month.

Sarah Tanaka

46

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Feb 6

Dutch healthcare costs 158.72 euros monthly with 385-euro annual deductible. GP visits free. Ranked 4th globally for innovation. Government regulation ensures universal coverage and patient choice.

James Van Der Berg

65

Mexico City, Mexico

• Feb 6

Find cheap flights: be flexible by 2-3 days, use Google Flights, set price alerts, check budget airlines separately. Tuesday/Wednesday often cheapest.

Sarah Mitchell

53

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

• Feb 6

The UAE has no official minimum wage. Average 2025 salary is AED 13,450 (US$3,663), but varies widely by industry. Top management earns AED 37,882 while general labor earns AED 10,083 monthly.

Aisha Rahman

55

Mexico City, Mexico

• Feb 6

Mexico medical tourism: 50-70% cheaper than US. Doctor visits $40-80, MRIs $200-400. Top facilities (ABC, Medica Sur) match US/European quality.

Sarah Mitchell

63

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

• Feb 6

UAE healthcare system offers public coverage for nationals and private insurance for expats. Learn about costs, facilities, and emergency services.

Aisha Rahman

65

Bangkok, Thailand

• Feb 6

Find doctors, GPs, and specialists in Thailand. Learn about costs, opening hours, how to register, and emergency procedures for expats.

Lisa Thompson

55