Best Cities for Expat Entrepreneurs in 2026What Matters After the Visa Honeymoon

The first year abroad is forgiving. The visa is new, the paperwork feels like an adventure and the lifestyle feels like the point. By year three the questions change: can I renew or convert this permit, where am I tax resident, does my bank still like me, and what happens to the kids' school. Expat entrepreneurs need a city that holds up under those questions.

This ranking scores eight cities on long-term residency, business setup, tax position, lifestyle and cost. It differs from our guides for ecommerce entrepreneurs, online entrepreneurs and nomad entrepreneurs, which weigh operations, company structure and short-stay rules.

What Changes When You Stay for Years

Short-stay rankings reward cheap rent and easy entry. Long-stay rankings should reward permanence. A city that lets you renew, convert to a longer permit, hold a business bank account and bring family without constant reinvention beats a cheaper city where every year is a new bureaucratic puzzle.

• ▶Long-term residency: a realistic route to renew, extend or convert your status.
• ▶Business setup: how simply a foreigner can form and run a company.
• ▶Tax position: how favorable and predictable your personal and company tax is.
• ▶Lifestyle: healthcare, schools, safety and daily quality of life.
• ▶Low cost: how cheap day-to-day living is (a higher score means cheaper).

1. Dubai: The Best Long-Term Founder Route

Dubai scores 20 of 25. Founders have a real long-term path: the UAE golden visa reportedly covers entrepreneurs who own or partner in a UAE-registered SME startup earning at least AED 1 million in annual revenue, founders with an idea approved by a recognized incubator or authority, and founders of a previous project sold for at least AED 7 million.

Corporate tax is 9% above AED 375,000 and 0% below, and the UAE does not levy personal income tax. Cost of living is the trade-off.

2. Lisbon: The Best Lifestyle With an EU Base

Lisbon scores 19. Portugal's D8 route reportedly requires €3,680 a month in average income in 2026, and Portugal is supported by Stripe and Shopify Payments, which keeps the business side clean. Living costs are lower than most Western European capitals. Portuguese tax treatment for new residents has shifted repeatedly, so take current advice before committing.

3. Tallinn: The Best Digital Business Setup

Tallinn scores 19, mostly on business setup. Estonia's e-Residency costs about €150 for the card and €265 to register an OÜ, and the company pays 0% corporate tax on profits kept in the business. Residency is the catch: e-Residency is not a visa or residence permit, so living in Estonia requires a separate route.

4. Singapore: Top Infrastructure at Top Cost

Singapore scores 18. The Employment Pass reportedly starts at S$5,600 a month for the general sector at age 23 and under, rising to about S$10,700 at 45 and above, and is assessed under the COMPASS framework. Corporate tax is 17% with start-up exemptions, and the lifestyle is excellent, but the cost of living is the highest on our list.

5. Madrid and Barcelona: The Longest EU Permits

Spain scores 18. The digital nomad visa reportedly requires roughly 200% of the national minimum wage, about €2,800 a month, and a permit applied for inside Spain is reportedly issued for three years. Holders may qualify for the 24% Beckham Law flat tax. Spain is supported by Stripe and Shopify Payments.

6. Medellín: The Cheapest Realistic Long Stay

Medellín scores 17, almost entirely on cost. Colombia's digital nomad visa reportedly needs about $1,400 a month and grants up to two years. Permanent options are thinner than in the EU or UAE, so it suits expats who want a low-cost multi-year base rather than a settled life.

7. Bangkok: A Wonderful Place to Live, A Hard Place to Build

Bangkok scores 15. The Long-Term Resident visa is aimed at wealthy individuals and pensioners, such as the Wealthy Global Citizen category with roughly $1 million in assets, and foreign ownership of most Thai companies is generally capped at 49%. Tax residency starts at 180 days, and remitted foreign income has been taxed since January 1, 2024. Most expat founders here run a foreign company.

8. Bali: Easy to Love, Hard to Settle

Bali scores 13. The E33G remote worker visa needs about $60,000 in annual income and runs one year, renewable once. Indonesian tax residency generally follows a 183-day test, and recent guidance suggests holding a KITAS may be treated as evidence of intent to reside. Stripe is only in preview for Indonesia. It works as a lifestyle base, not a place to build permanence.

Pick Your Expat City by What You Will Care About in Year Three

Before You Move: A Short Checklist

• ▶Confirm the visa allows you to run your own business, not just work for a foreign employer.
• ▶Count the days that trigger tax residency and decide where your company is taxed.
• ▶Check that you can open a business bank account and a payment processor.
• ▶Compare healthcare, schooling and insurance if you are moving with family.
• ▶Book a cross-border tax adviser before the move, not after.

For the banking side, see our guide to the best banks for ecom founders, and for founder networks in these cities see the best ecommerce communities.

This post is general information, not legal or tax advice. Visa rules and thresholds change frequently, so verify every figure with the official government source or a qualified adviser before you apply.