RelocateCompassCompare countries
Pick any three destinations and compare real numbers — cost of living, taxes, salaries, and visa routes — side by side.
Spain
Sun, culture and Mediterranean lifestyle
Tax levelModerate
PR pathway~5 yrs
Budget/mo1,200–2,500 EUR/mo
Portugal
Cosy Europe on the Atlantic coast
Tax levelModerate
PR pathway~5 yrs
Budget/mo1,000–2,000 EUR/mo
Thailand
The land of smiles and tropical paradise
Tax levelLow
PR pathway~10 yrs
Budget/mo20,000–45,000 THB/mo
| Capital | Madrid | Lisbon | Bangkok |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 47M | 10.3M | 70M |
| Language | Spanish (Castilian) — official. Regional: Catalan, Basque, Galician | Portuguese | Thai |
| Currency | EUR | EUR | THB |
| Avg gross salary | 1,800–2,500 EUR/mo | 1,200–1,800 EUR/mo | 25,000–50,000 THB/mo |
| Est. net salary | ~1,496 EUR/mo | ~990 EUR/mo | ~30,000 THB/mo |
| Income tax rate | 24% | 23% | 15% |
| Monthly cost (comfortable) | 1,640 EUR | 1,510 EUR | 36,950 THB |
| Rent (comfortable) | 850 EUR | 800 EUR | 14,000 THB |
| Time to PR | ~5 yrs | ~5 yrs | ~10 yrs |
| English-friendly | Limited | Yes | Limited |
| Visa routes available | Remote Work, Financial Independence, Employment, Education | Financial Independence, Remote Work, Investment, Employment, Education | Remote Work, Financial Independence, Employment, Education |
Pros & cons
Spain
Pros
- Relatively affordable cost of living (outside top cities)
- Mild climate with lots of sun
- Quality food and produce
- High quality of life and safety
- Path to EU permanent residency and citizenship
Cons
- High unemployment and competition for jobs
- Slow bureaucracy
- Language barrier outside major cities
- Lower salaries compared to Northern Europe
Portugal
Pros
- Low prices by EU standards
- One of the safest countries in the world
- Very high English proficiency
- D7 passive income threshold among the lowest in the EU
- EU permanent residency after 5 years
Cons
- Citizenship now takes 10 years (7 for EU/CPLP) after the 2026 reform
- D8 digital nomad threshold is high — €3,680/mo in 2026
- AIMA residency appointment queues have grown significantly
- Local salaries are low relative to Western Europe
- Lisbon and Algarve housing costs have risen sharply
Thailand
Pros
- Very low cost of living
- LTR Visa: 10-year stability with 0% tax for qualifying holders
- World-renowned private healthcare
- Large, established expat communities
Cons
- LTR Visa requires $80,000/year income (or $40,000 with qualifications)
- Traditional PR is effectively unattainable (tiny annual quota)
- 2024 tax change made remitted foreign income taxable for non-LTR holders
- Working on a tourist visa is illegal