Community Blogs

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

• Mar 19

New expats should be aware that opening a bank account in Saudi Arabia can be a long process. Therefore, they might want to budget enough cash to tide them o...

Fatima Hassan

Worldwide, Global

• Mar 19

Why Financial Planning Becomes Critical for Expat FamiliesExpatriate finances are uniquely complicated. Your wealth and assets sit suspended between two countri...

The Expat Collective

Doha, Qatar

• Mar 18

With people from all over the globe living on this peninsula, you’ll find a range of options within the education system in Qatar. From various languages of ins...

Warsaw, Poland

• Mar 18

Poland couple expenses: 6,200-7,500 PLN monthly (€1,450-1,750) in Lodz. Rent 2,900 PLN (60-70m²), groceries 1,150 PLN. Warsaw/Krakow 20-30% more.

jamesmitchell

Bangkok, Thailand

• Mar 18

Hospitals in Thailand consist of public and private entities, which anyone in Thailand can access. However, newcomers to Thailand mainly receive medical care th...

Warsaw, Poland

• Mar 18

Expensive in Poland: housing (13-16K PLN/m²), rent (2,600-3,500+ PLN), communal fees (800-1,144 PLN/month), coffee shops. Housing costs exploded since 2019.

jamesmitchell

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

• Mar 18

Xenotes tour explores four cenote types in 8 hours: zip-lining/rappelling at Fire Cenote, kayaking at Water Cenote, swimming Earth Cenote's stalactites, descending Wind Cenote-all with guides, lunch, transport for $150-180.

London, United Kingdom

• Mar 18

If you live and work in the UK, learning how pensions work can help you plan a secure retirement in the UK. The UK pension system has traditionally ranked highl...

Priya

Bern, Switzerland

• Mar 18

Whether you’re getting to grips with Geneva or locating to Lugano, everyday life in Switzerland can be a challenge for new arrivals. However, luckily, there are...

Ingrid

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

• Mar 17

Moving to a new country like Luxembourg is exciting. From exploring the local museums and restaurants, to simply getting around your nearest supermarkets in Lux...

Thomas W

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Mar 17

Why the Dutch Take Insurance Seriously With roughly a quarter of the Netherlands below sea level, it's no wonder the Dutch are insurance-conscious. They spend a...

Rome, Italy

• Mar 17

This guide walks through the basics, although you’ll also require professional support to navigate any tax questions you may have about your own unique situati...

Marco R

Warsaw, Poland

• Mar 17

Get fair exchange rates in Krakow: avoid kantors showing only selling rates. Fair spreads are under 0.10 PLN. Spot scams and find honest kantors.

jamesmitchell

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Mar 17

Is the Netherlands a Good Place to Have a Baby?After six years in the Netherlands, I can confidently say that yes, it's an excellent place to be pregnant and gi...

Europe

• Mar 17

It can be demoralizing, wading through streams of listings, uploading reams of applications and motivation letters, into what feels like a black hole. But lo...

The Expat Collective