Countries With the Best Healthcare for Expats (2025)

Again, there is no such thing as “free” healthcare. That said, coverage in Portugal is far more affordable than anything you’ll find in the states by any standard. You’ll pay anywhere from 13.25% to 48% in taxes here, depending on income. A portion of that goes towards healthcare and social services.

Private insurance costs between $440 and $1,100 every year. Paying for this may get you slightly shorter wait times at clinics, but isn’t entirely necessary.

Portugal’s life expectancy is nearly 83 years, thanks in large part to its healthcare system. It offers quick response for emergency service and easy access for maternity and childcare, along with mental health services.

Portugal’s numerous facilities providing preventative and emergency care often accept both public and private insurance. So, regardless of your coverage, you can get assistance. As a bonus, mental health service is available through public healthcare.

Wait times are generally short; we haven’t read about any medical horror stories about an inability to get care or be seen by a doctor. Such instances will occur in any system, but aren’t the norm in Portugal. Legal residents also have access, even if they aren’t citizens.

France’s healthcare is largely funded from taxes and government subsidies. The system handles about 77% of all costs. Between this and additional optional coverages, citizens and residents pay about 7% of total costs for care. Private insurance pricing is around $1,071 annually, but your pricing will depend on how comprehensive your plan is.

The French government regulates healthcare to help set maximum prices and ensure quality. Numbeo’s health index places France’s system as the seventh best in the world. This is due to its high life expectancy of 83-plus years, coupled with low personal expenses from covered individuals and families.

If you’re worried about bankrupting yourself in the possible event of an emergency health visit, then France may be the place for you. Most of its hospitals are state-run nonprofits; this encompasses 3,089 facilities throughout the country, which makes it accessible almost anywhere.

All citizens and legal residents have access to France’s public healthcare. Whether you’re moving here for a change of scenery for a few years or for a permanent new home, you benefit from this system.

Internations.org mentions wait times between six and 80 days to see a doctor, with only 10 needed on average to see a general physician.

Once you’re a fully settled legal resident, you’ll pay for most of your basic health needs through your taxes. Primary care visits, emergency hospital visits and similar expenses are low-cost, while some prescriptions require copays.

If you’re a temporary visa holder, you may need private insurance priced between $55 and $220 per month. Legal residents have access to socialized care.

Spain offers some of the best available care through well-trained physicians and staff.  Numbeo rates it as the 10th-best country in the world according to its healthcare index, just behind Thailand. This is largely due to its readily-available and reliable primary service network.

We recommend moving to a city if access to healthcare is important to you. Rural distances to the nearest hospital make for longer average drive times, with the nationwide average being 16  miles. If you live in a city like Madrid or Valencia, you’re more likely to be within walking distance of a medical facility.

Spain offers reasonably quick access for primary care at eight to nine days, which is the reason for its placement on our list. If you only have basic care needs, this is a great country to live in. However, specialist appointments can take three to four months after you’ve gotten a referral from your physician.

Costa Rica’s healthcare system is a low cost option for all age ranges, from children to retirees. Citizens and legal residents pay in. Even if you’re uninsured, a regular checkup would cost you between $60 and $75. Low costs extend to more serious procedures, which makes medical tourism popular.

Costa Rica is known for its holistic approach to modern medicine. Each citizen and resident in the public system is assigned teams of doctors, nurses and community health personnel. Numbeo’s health index gives Costa Rica a low score of 64.3, ranking it 50th in the world. This is due largely to long wait times for specialized care, however.

Accessibility is one of this country’s strengths when it comes to healthcare; most residents average less than three miles from the nearest hospital. Primary care offices are typically even closer.

All Costa Rican hospitals are operated by “La Caja,” which administers all health needs. They accept social health insurance. Many doctors work in these facilities while also operating their own private practices.

Unless you only need regular primary care checkups, wait times are going to be an issue. Depending on your ailment, non-emergency care through a specialist can take months or years. Retirees may want to reconsider a move here, as the average wait time for a hip replacement was reported at over 600 days in 2022.

If you’re looking to save money on healthcare costs, look no further. Your savings on major treatment and surgery can range upward of 36% here. Bypass surgery, for instance, costs $27,000 in Mexico. Compare this to $123,000 in the US, and it’s easy to see why so many cross the border.

Pricing for Mexico’s socialized care costs between $218 and $590 per year for most citizens and legal residents. Private insurance often costs around $1,700 and up, for comparison.

Mexico offers varied quality of care, depending on where you go for treatment. Private facilities are generally more reliable, but offices operated by public care provide comparable service in high-population areas.

Overall, you can have some peace of mind when you get treatment in Mexico. Numbeo gives it a high rating of 72.5 on its healthcare index, earning it the 22nd place rating among all countries.

Mexico has no shortage of hospitals, with more than 4,000 throughout the country. National Library of Medicine data shows that only 1,000 of them are publicly run, but these facilities house 75% of the total hospital beds. These hospitals have varied amenities across public and private sectors. Larger cities are a safer bet if you want specialized care.

If you have public insurance, your wait times for anything other than basic or routine appointments can range depending on where you’re located. Wait times for surgeries range between 11 and 14 weeks.

Thailand’s universal health plans are tax-funded. If you opt for private care, you can expect to pay premiums starting at $1,344 per year. If you’re among the thousands who visit this country each year for care, we recommend that you have private coverage of some kind.

Regardless of your residence status, you’ll be treated to excellent care here. Hospitals conform to Joint Commission International (JCI) standards, making this a hot spot for people all around the world.

Public hospitals are well-regarded, but private hospitals offer expedited wait times and more amenities, including access to greater ranges of treatments. If you only require basic care, we recommend either option. Thailand’s 77.5 healthcare index rating on Numbeo puts it in the top 10 in the world on this scale.

Thailand’s aim is to ensure that all citizens and residents have access to healthcare. The National Library of Medicine mentions that a majority of citizens live within 30 minutes of a hospital or care facility. As you get further into the countryside, travel times can range higher.

The country is home to more than 43,000 facilities, including offices and practices of all sizes; most of these are private. However, the majority of large hospitals are state-run for the public. Of these 2,400-plus facilities, just over 2,000 are open to the public.

Overall, you’ll receive faster care in a private facility. Public hospitals and clinics are noticeably cheaper and are better if you’re on a budget. Some elective or more serious necessary surgeries have long wait times of up to six months or more, but primary care appointments are easy to book.

Everyone below the above income figure has public healthcare. If you make more than this, you can choose between public and private options. About 14.6% of your gross salary will go towards this system.

If you’re lucky enough to be above this threshold, you can opt into private care. This will cost you between $4,584 and $7,200 per year if you choose this option.

Germany consistently ranks among the best countries in the EU and world for healthcare. The Numbeo health index gives its system an overall rating of 71.9, which places it just below Portugal for overall care, access and more.

There is no single governing body for German healthcare. This decentralization between national and state-wide authorities and self-governance aren’t typical, but don’t seem to lead to quality variance between regions.

Overall, Germany has 4.55 physicians per 1,000 people. This high number aids in overall accessibility. Additionally, nearly all hospitals accept public healthcare.

This country’s healthcare system handles primary and emergency services promptly. If you or a child or elderly family member are in dire need of attention, you’ll be treated to quick care. Germany’s wait time for elective and other surgeries is 31 days.

CEOWorld Magazine rated Taiwan as having the best healthcare in the world. It rated the country at 78.72 on its own 100-point scale. This rating is based on facility quality, infrastructure, overall access to care and more.

Expats in any country will have to establish legal residency and begin paying taxes to be eligible for healthcare. Start this process by securing employment in your new home.

If you’re looking more into private options than subsidized care, Cigna Global, International Medical Group and William Russell are all widely available picks.

The CEOWorld healthcare rating for the US is 56.7, which earns it the 16th overall spot on its list. The overall score is low due to the high overall amount the states spend on this amenity per capita. Poor outcomes like preventable and treatable deaths affect this rating.

Countries that offer free or subsidized healthcare include France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Spain and Italy. In these locations, you’ll be eligible for tax-funded coverage as long as you’ve established residency.

Portugal and Spain are each good options for the elderly for ease of access and overall quality. Costa Rica’s quality preventative care makes it another top pick for retirees.