• Mercer's Quality of Living City Ranking 2024 looks at factors such as political stability and healthcare.
• There were 12 Asian cities that made it into the top 100 in the rankings this year.
• Singapore was the only Asian city to make the top 50.

If you're considering moving to Asia, a new report can help determine which city would be the top choice.

Mercer, a human resource consulting service, recently released its yearly Quality of Living City Ranking, which ranks 241 cities across five continents. The ranking process considers factors such as political stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and socio-cultural environment.

In an era of remote work, the ranking also considered the cost of living in different cities.

Mercer said that the most "successful destinations" were those that "blend flexible governance around mobile talent with a high quality of life and an affordable cost of living."

Although many European cities were featured high on the list, with Zurich maintaining its top spot, 12 Asian cities made the top 100 this year. Singapore was the only city in Asia to make the top 50, at 30th position.

Take a look at the top 10 cities in Asia:

10. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (85th)

Abu Dhabi recently ranked second, with Dubai taking first place, among the most popular locations for executive nomads, according to the Executive Nomad Index by real estate firm Savills.

The capital of the UAE is known for its modern skyline and shopping megacenters. Expats make up more than 80% of its population, per InterNations, a Munich-based expat network.

9. Taipei, Taiwan (85th)

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is tied with Abu Dhabi at 85th. Between 2019 and 2021, Taiwan was ranked first out of 59 destinations in the InterNations Expat Insider survey for the job security expats enjoy and the state of the local economy.

Alex Teachey, a New Yorker who moved to Taipei in 2020, previously told BI that he enjoys the city for its affordability.

"I live a 20-minute bike ride from my office — I never could have afforded anything remotely similar if I'd stayed in New York City," he said.

8. Dubai, UAE (83rd)

Known for its glitzy skyscrapers and modern architecture, Dubai is also an expat hotspot. According to the Dubai Statistics Center, 92% of its 3,655,000-person population are non-Emirati.

Expats in Dubai previously told BI that they liked the city for its convenience and ease of making friends. "There are so many interesting and new people to meet here with different perspectives than we're used to," said Kiran Ali, who relocated to the city with her family earlier this year.

7. Seoul, South Korea (81st)

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, clearly has more to offer than just K-pop. With a population of 9.4 million, the city is popular for expats seeking affordability and a rich culture.

Besides Seoul, Busan was the second city in South Korea to make the top 100, ranking 100th.

6. Hong Kong (76th)

Hong Kong is known for being a global financial center with a thriving food scene. It is also one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with an overall density of around 17,311 people per square mile.

Kaitlyn Cheung, who moved from California to Hong Kong, previously told BI that she was impressed by the country's efficient public transport system and found the city to be diverse. "I routinely made friends from all over the world, which allowed me to broaden my horizons and learn about different cultures," she said.

5. Nagoya, Japan (74th)

Located in the center of Japan, Nagoya is the capital of Japan's Aichi Prefecture with a population of 2.3 million people.

LaJuan, a content creator, moved to a shoebox apartment in the city and pays $230 a month in rent. He appreciates the city's slow and simple pace of life.

"Nagoya, to me, is a perfect balance of both city life and just having some space for yourself," he told BI.

4. Osaka-Kobe, Japan (68th)

Osaka is a port city known for its nightlife and history. It's Japan's second-largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. Kobe, a city known for beef, is 22 miles from Osaka, or just 12 minutes away by the Shinkansen bullet train.

Grace Cheng, who visited Japan 11 times, said Osaka is ideal for foodies. "Whenever I go there, my sole mission is to eat," she told BI, adding that she recommends the city's tonkatsu and takoyaki.

3. Yokohama, Japan (58th)

Located less than 20 miles south of Tokyo, Yokohama is a port city with skyscrapers and is home to Japan's biggest Chinatown.

The district around Yokohama Station earned the top spot for livability in the Greater Tokyo rankings by Recruit Co., a Toyko-based human resource service, for seven consecutive years, per local reports. The same survey found that reasons for wanting to live in the area include the availability of cultural facilities and large-scale shopping complexes.

"Yokohama was so safe that I took public buses by myself at 8 to meet friends in different parts of the city," Alicia Erickson, who moved to the city as a kid, told BI.

2. Tokyo, Japan (56th)

The capital of Japan is home to over 14 million residents and is easily recognized for its neon-lit skyscrapers and busy streets.

David McElhinney, who moved to Tokyo in 2018, was surprised by cultural differences. He added that knowing how to speak a little Japanese goes a long way in the city. "Big cities — especially ones as dynamic, complex, and multifaceted as the Japanese capital — always bring new surprises," he said.

1. Singapore (30th)

Singapore, a small island nation in Southeast Asia, was ranked the highest among Asian cities on the list. Widely hailed as the "most expensive city," Singapore's foreign workforce makes up around 30% of its population of 6 million.

Nick Burns, who transferred from San Francisco to Singapore, said he appreciates the city for its affordable healthcare, safety, and hawker food. "I can't see us leaving anytime soon," he said.

• Analucy Benavides, 30, felt major burnout and stress in her corporate job.
• She thought leaving the US to relocate to El Salvador was the change of pace she needed.
• In El Salvador, she found community and purpose.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Analucy Benavides. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When I graduated from college in 2016, I got my first "big girl job," working for a national non-profit in Maryland focused on disaster response and humanitarian aid. I started as an emergency dispatcher, then became a compliance analyst, before being promoted to a program manager role for our disaster response efforts.

I loved my job and the greater mission we served, but I started to feel burnout — especially once the COVID-19 pandemic began. During the pandemic, the first thing I would hear in our morning meeting was the death toll. Waking up to those numbers every day for months on end started to take a toll on me mentally and physically.

At the time, I was in a really dark place and knew I needed a change of pace. I felt being somewhere where I could enjoy tropical weather and the sun, near family, would be a good place to start. When the company I worked for decided to go fully remote, relocating became feasible.

I decided to return to my roots

While relocating to El Salvador, full-time would be new to me, visiting was not. I'm a first-generation American born in the United States, but all of my family was born and raised in the small, Central American country. My dad is buried in El Salvador, and every year for Día de Los Muertos, I visit to clean his tomb, leave flowers, and pay my respects.

In November 2020, while I was visiting and spending time with my uncle, there was a pinging in my heart telling me not to leave. That feeling lingered when I got back to Maryland, and I decided to start preparing to relocate.

I began shipping things that I wouldn't be able to take in my carry-on luggage, but knew I would have a hard time finding there like basic electronics and one of my go-to snacks, peanut butter. I was a little worried about leaving my mom, my sister, and my grandma, who are all based in Maryland, but I knew moving abroad was the best decision for me and my health.

In January 2021, I bought a one-way ticket to El Salvador. I arranged to live in my grandma's former house, which still belongs to her but was empty at the time. Structurally, it appeared more like a field house, but it had an indoor shower, bathroom, and A/C, which were not common amenities for other homes in the very rural area.

I found community in El Salvador

My grandmother grew up in El Salvador, and everyone who knew my connection to her was more than willing to help out. For example, there were not many transportation options in the area I moved to. The bus was often broken, but when I needed a ride, people traveling through the area were more than willing to drop me off at my destination.

In the evenings, I would usually go on an hour-long walk or run. If the neighbors didn't see me, they would check in to make sure I was OK. When I was sick, they brought me hot chocolate and soup. These small gestures not only meant so much to me but also made this country feel like home.

Content creation helped me discover my passion

After a year of living abroad and working remotely at my corporate job, I decided to resign. After five years, I felt that I had completed my purpose within the organization and there knew there wasn't room to grow. I decided to put myself first.

Luckily, I had been pursuing content creation on the side, and having more free time allowed me to focus on that growing interest. I documented my day-to-day life living abroad on TikTok. I vlogged when I went to the market to get food, and I shared how I navigated the culture shock of re-discovering wellness habits we consider normal in the US, such as getting waxed or getting my nails done.

I also documented more meaningful events, like community-building efforts. My grandma's house is situated next to a river, and sometimes, there was a lot of litter in it despite people using that river to wash clothes. It was important to me to help the community prioritize keeping it clean, so we all participated in a river cleanup, which I shared with my followers.

I wasn't monetized on TikTok at the time, so my income while living in El Salvador came from finding freelance gigs. I worked as a social media manager for a US-based makeup company owned by a Salvadorian and an interpreter. The social media management position supplied supplemental income, while being an interpreter provided the bulk of my income. I speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese and would translate in all three languages. I earned around $35,000 in one year of freelancing, which was enough to live comfortably in El Salvador.

I eventually returned to Maryland

After two years abroad, I decided to move back to Maryland in January 2023 to care for my mother, who had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Now that I'm also taking care of my mother and her medical bills, my freelancing salary would not be enough. I was able to get a full-time local government job working with immigrant communities who don't speak English, while still pursuing content creation on the side. Connecting with the community in El Salvador helped me feel reconnected to my purpose, and in my current position, I'm also helping assist my fellow community members.

While I'm based in Maryland with my family right now, I do have plans to move abroad again. I know I can return any time I want to be reminded of my family's history.

• A small town in Italy is offering homes for 1 euro to attract Americans amid the recent election cycle.
• Ollolai's initiative is part of Italy's broader "Case a 1 euro" program started in the 2010s.
• There is also an option for digital nomads to work there for a month for only 1 euro.

In the lead-up to an administration change, you might hear someone say they're leaving the country for good. A small comune on the island of Sardinia in Italy is listening.

Ollolai, a town of 1,154 people, according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics, created a website geared toward helping Americans find homes in its town for just 1 euro (or about $1.05), taking advantage of the latest election cycle.

"Are you worned out by global politics," the new website reads. "Looking to embrace a more balanced lifestyle while securing new opportunities? It's time to start building your European escape in the stunning paradise of Sardinia."

Roughly one dollar for a home in a picturesque town in the middle of an Italian island — about 50 miles from the beach — might sound too good to be true. The homes offered aren't in the best condition and would require about $25,000 in renovations which must be completed within three years, according to previous reporting from Business Insider.

But if you're willing to put some effort into your home, Ollolai will welcome you.

"We just really want, and will focus on, Americans above all," Mayor Francesco Columbu told CNN. "We can't of course ban people from other countries to apply, but Americans will have a fast-track procedure. We are betting on them to help us revive the village, they are our winning card."

"Of course, we can't specifically mention the name of one US president who just got elected, but we all know that he's the one from whom many Americans want to get away from now and leave the country," Columbo told CNN.

The transition team for President elect-Donald Trump did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

This isn't a new program — and Ollolai isn't even the first town to try the approach.

"Case a 1 euro," which means "houses at 1 euro," is a program across Italy that launched in the 2010s to revitalize the dwindling populations in more rural towns. Ollolai started offering 1-euro homes in 2018, but other towns, like Sicilian commune Gangi, started giving away vacant houses in 2015.

Americans moving to Europe, and Italy specifically, has been a somewhat common trend. But if you don't want to commit fully to moving across the ocean, a redirect from the Ollolai website luring potential buyers offers an option for digital nomads.

"Work from Ollolai" is a program that lets "successful professionals" live in the municipality for just 1 euro as long as they "promote an exchange of information" to rural communities through presentations, classes, or projects.

That covers rent and, according to the website, guests can stay for a maximum of one month.

• I'm Australian but spend part of the year in New Orleans, and there's been some culture shock.
• American coffee isn't exactly my style, and biscuits are something totally different in the US.
• I easily got a driver's license in the US, which is good since there are drive-thrus everywhere.

Long before my first visit to New Orleans, I fell in love with the US city's historic culture. As an Australian, I never thought I'd get to call The Big Easy home, but now, I split my year living between the two countries.

Adjusting to life in New Orleans was an eye-opening experience, full of unexpected surprises and plenty of head-scratching moments.

Here are some of the biggest culture shocks I've encountered as an Aussie in the US.

I'm still getting used to American coffee

I never realized just how serious Australians, especially Melburnians, are about their coffee. I'm used to a certain standard and flavor.

Luckily, there are a handful of places that serve great coffee in the States — but I emphasize the word "handful."

After five years, it still astounds me to see Americans embrace sugary, syrup-filled drinks that barely resemble what I consider coffee.

Additionally, I can't believe drip coffee is still a thing here. It's a rarity where I'm from in Australia.

I thought it was way easier to get a driver's license in the US

In Australia, getting my driver's license was a drawn-out process involving learner's permits, over 120 hours of logged driving with a licensed driver, and a strict test.

In the US, getting my license felt like a breeze by comparison. I just had to sit in a theory class for a few hours and then spend eight hours behind the wheel with an instructor.

After that, my test was driving around the block, parking, using my turn signal, and boom, I had my license. The ease was both impressive and a little scary, considering they were letting me drive on what was recently the wrong side of the road to me.

The rules around getting licenses vary from state to state, and many Americans under the age of 18 have to undergo a more formal course/testing process. But I'm still shocked by how different my two experiences were.

I'm still getting used to linguistic differences around food

Navigating the language differences between the US and Australia, especially with food, is like playing a guessing game.

Imagine my surprise when I ordered biscuits for the first time in the US and got something more closely resembling scones. I was expecting what I now know to call a cookie.

I wonder if I'll ever stop ordering some chips and realizing too late that I should have said "fries." In Australia, both fries and chips are called chips — we just differentiate by saying "hot chips" for fries.

Things also get lost in translation with my accent

My Australian accent has caused some wild misunderstandings in the US.

From getting "Greary" written on my coffee cup instead of "Ree" to a drive-thru worker at Taco Bell thinking I was attempting to order pizza when I just said, "I have a mobile order," it's a daily game of "Guess What I Said."

It keeps things entertaining, to say the least, and it's also why I love being able to order via an app whenever I can.

Southern food has been a culinary awakening

New Orleans cuisine is an adventure for the taste buds. I've learned to embrace savory grits (I'd usually add sugar and eat them as porridge back home), and I've grown to love gumbo's rich flavors.

I fell in love with Southern food shortly after my arrival in the States. Still, walking into a whole new world of gastronomy was an adjustment.

There are some dishes — like white beans — that I just can't make my palate enjoy, and I have days when I long for the local fish-and-chip shop back home.

There's a drive-thru for everything in New Orleans

In New Orleans — and in many cities in the US — you can pull through the drive-thru for pretty much everything, from coffee shops to bars.

The strange looks I got from locals while taking a photo of a drive-thru bank for friends back home were amusing, and the concept of picking up a daiquiri to-go felt wild to me at first.

Now, I'm kind of hooked. It's the ultimate lazy convenience.

Americans use so much ice

Compared to what I'm used to in Australia, everything is supersized in the US. A "small" soda feels like a bucket to me.

However, I really don't understand why Americans love their drinks filled to the brim with ice.

Once you take that out, there's hardly any liquid, no matter how big the cup is.

Tipping culture is so confusing to me

The first time I came to the US, my biggest worry wasn't getting through immigration or having the right documents — it was tipping.

It sounds silly now, but I still find the practice of figuring out what percentage of my total I should leave behind confusing.

In Australia, tipping service workers isn't expected, and base wages are typically higher.

• Michelle B. Dallocchio left the US in 2019 and moved first to London and later Italy.
• Dallocchio, an Iraq War veteran, said she felt increasingly unsafe in the US.
• She said moving to Europe was the best decision for her family and she has no regrets.

This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with Michelle B. Dallocchio, an Iraq War veteran of Pacific Islander heritage who left the US for Europe. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I served in the US Army from 1998 to 2006, including a year in the Iraq War. I served out of love for the country, but I don't view the US through rose-colored glasses.

Right before the 2016 election, a car followed me as I drove home from work to my Las Vegas neighborhood. All of a sudden, he started honking and losing it.

He rolled down the window, and started screaming at me. He threatened me and made racial remarks about deporting me. This experience was a turning point for me.

After that as a licensed gun holder, I started carrying a gun — a Glock 17 — in my bag every day.

I had already been on edge, and I thought to myself, "I can't do this anymore. This is bananas."

My husband and I had a long talk, and I told him: "This is not the future I want for my kids."

From the US to Europe via LA

I didn't have a good feeling about the way things were headed in the US.

When Trump won the presidential election in 2016, we agreed to move abroad, though my mind was made up months before the results were in.

We couldn't leave the US straight away, so we relocated to Los Angeles in August 2018. We thought if my husband, who works in hospitality, got experience working in a major city, it would improve his chances of finding work at an international hotel. My husband is Italian, which made going to Europe an option.

He received multiple offers within months of relocating, but the most solid and sensible offer came in 2019 to work at the Westin in London.

That summer, we finally got word that we could relocate to the UK.

My husband's employer helped us through all the corresponding residency paperwork, particularly for my daughter and me. This was pre-official Brexit and being married to an EU citizen helped at the time.

Very quickly, I found a sense of security in London that had become elusive back home. As English is my first language, it wasn't difficult to adjust to life in London.

Every place has its problems. You'll deal with crime and safety issues wherever you go. But I felt a lot less endangered in the UK.

There are stricter firearms laws in the UK. It's illegal to carry a weapon there. I felt there was less tolerance for anti-social behavior in public. There are higher rates of violent crimes in the US.

Moving abroad has its challenges

There are other challenges associated with a long-distance international move.

We were fortunate that my husband's new employer at the time provided relocation assistance to cover part of the moving costs, which would have been quite expensive out-of-pocket.

In 2022, we moved to Florence, Italy, where I encountered some overt racism. People in Italy would openly stare at me and I felt like an exotic animal in a zoo.

This year, we moved to Milan, and things are better in a big city. I can now get by in conversational Italian unless the Milanese dialect takes the conversation light-years away from my grasp.

Moving to Europe has propelled my husband's career in amazing directions. He now manages four hotels.

As an artist and author, living in the UK and Italy has added to my artistic vision.

Moving back to the US is a hard no

Ultimately, I have no regrets about moving abroad.

I really miss the national parks in the US and seeing my friends for a gossip over brunch. But, I don't miss the problems that made my life so difficult, whether it was racism or overpriced healthcare.

The 2024 election was the nail in the coffin for us going back to the US. It's a hard no for I don't know how long, and I've accepted that.

Watching Trump's victory from afar was difficult because it's a country I once fought for. Now, it feels like progress is unraveling.

As the results came in, people I care about started reaching out, saying, "We need to go." I've spent the last few days looking up options for people.

My first piece of advice is always to check if you qualify for another citizenship.

Countries like Italy and Portugal allow citizenship by descent. I ask my friends, "How close is that ancestry, and how realistic is it for you to relocate based on it? Can you get another passport?"

If that's not so possible, I suggest considering digital nomad visas or, depending on your vocation, looking for other job opportunities overseas.

For us, moving abroad and ending up in Italy was the right move.