Global Living Report 2026: people are happier, more financially secure, and building better lives abroad

Living abroad is not just something people dream about anymore. More people are actually doing it, and for many, it is working.

Remote work has made it easier to take your job with you. International relationships are bringing people across borders. Others are moving for better weather, a lower cost of living, or the chance to experience a different culture. Whatever the reason, global living is becoming less of a leap and more of a lifestyle choice.

For the bunq Global Living Report 2026, we surveyed 7,100 people with international lifestyles across Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, and the US.

The results are clear: life abroad is helping people feel happier, more financially secure, and more in control of their work-life balance. There are still challenges, of course. Moving countries comes with admin, surprise costs, and moments of missing home. But overall, the story is a positive one.

Happiness is one of the biggest wins

61% of respondents say they are happier since pursuing a global lifestyle. And when you look at the bigger picture, the result is even stronger: 93% say their happiness has either improved or stayed the same.

That is a strong result, especially when you consider how much change comes with moving abroad. New systems, new routines, new languages, new social circles. Even with all of that, most people say life has either improved or remained steady.

A big part of that seems to come from the reasons people choose this lifestyle in the first place. The top motivation was experiencing different cultures, chosen by 47% of respondents. Better weather or climate came next at 39%, followed by lower cost of living at 29%.

Work is moving with people

One of the most encouraging findings is that moving abroad does not have to mean putting your career on hold.

53% of respondents say their work-life balance has improved since living internationally. Another 40% say it has stayed the same, meaning 93% have either improved or maintained their work-life balance since pursuing a global lifestyle.

That is helped by the fact that many people are not starting from zero. 44% kept their existing job after moving abroad, while 26% found a new role that supported their international lifestyle.

This says a lot about how work is changing. A global lifestyle is no longer only for people taking time out, freelancing from beaches, or making a huge career pivot. More often, people are keeping their job and changing everything around it.

There is growth in it too. 32% say living internationally has helped them grow their professional network. New countries bring new contacts, new industries, and new ways of thinking about work.

People feel more financially secure

Money is another area where global living is having a positive impact. 56% of respondents say they feel more financially secure since pursuing an international lifestyle. Another 24% say their financial security has stayed the same, meaning 80% feel at least as financially secure as before if not better off.

That financial confidence shows up in everyday life. Respondents say living internationally has allowed them to grow their social network, enjoy better accommodation, dine out more, spend more time on hobbies, support their family financially, and grow their savings.

In other words, it is not just about having more money on paper. It is about what that money makes possible.

There are still surprises. 79% of respondents say they have faced an unforeseen cost while travelling, moving, or living abroad. The most common were local taxes, medical expenses, banking fees, housing costs, data roaming charges, and visa fees or fines.

But those bumps do not change the overall picture. For most people, global living has either improved their financial security or helped them maintain it.

Life abroad opens people up

Living internationally changes more than your address. It changes your perspective.

43% of respondents say their values have changed because of the cultures they have lived or worked in. That feels like one of the most interesting findings in the report, because it gets at something bigger than lifestyle perks.

When you live somewhere new, you start noticing things you used to take for granted. How people work. How they spend time. How they eat, socialise, rest, plan, save, and celebrate. Over time, those differences can shift what matters to you.

There is also a strong social side to global living. 51% say their friendships have been positively affected by working or living internationally, and 39% say it has helped them grow their social network.

That is the part that often gets missed. Moving abroad can sound lonely from the outside, but many people are building bigger, more international communities because of it.

Home gets bigger

Of course, people still miss home. Across every country surveyed, family and friends came out on top as what people miss most.

After that, the answers became more specific. People from the UK missed British humour and the NHS. Irish respondents missed Irish food and drink, and the craic. Dutch respondents missed Dutch food and drink, and Dutch culture. French and Spanish respondents mentioned food, drink, and humour. German respondents pointed to German food and drink, as well as the healthcare system.

It is a nice reminder that home is not just a location. It is the jokes, meals, habits, services, people, and small cultural details that make life feel familiar.

But missing home does not mean global living is not worth it. In many ways, it shows how international life stretches someone’s idea of home. You can miss where you came from and still love where you are. You can feel connected to more than one place. You can build a life that carries bits of each country with it.

The challenges are part of the journey

The most common challenges respondents face are language barriers at 41%, time zones at 33%, and healthcare at 27%.

These are real, but they are also the kind of challenges people learn to navigate. A new language becomes less intimidating. Time zones become part of the routine. Healthcare systems become easier once you understand how they work.

That learning curve is part of international life. It can be frustrating, but it also builds confidence. Every form filled in, every appointment booked, every local phrase learned, every new system figured out makes the next step easier.

How global living is making life better

The bunq Global Living Report 2026 shows that international living is helping people build lives that feel more open, balanced, and rewarding.

93% say their happiness has either improved or stayed the same. 93% say the same about their work-life balance. And 80% feel their financial security has either improved or remained stable.

There are challenges, from language barriers and time zones to healthcare and surprise costs. But for most respondents, global living is not making life harder. It is helping them build a life that feels happier, more balanced, and more secure.

Read the full bunq Global Living Report 2026 to see how global living is changing happiness, finances, work, and well-being.