The cost of living in top "send" countries

The United States

The US, the fourth largest country in the world is not so much a country as a whole continent made up of 50 individual states. Its attractions are many and varied. So diverse in every way, it boasts some of the most stunning landscapes on the planet - from vast, flat prairies to rugged mountain ranges. Its many cities offer hugely varying lifestyles - from the fast, go-getting pace of New York to the more laid back Californian vibe of San Francisco.

It has one of the highest standards of living in the world and a sizeable economy, plus, a wealth of natural resources. It’s no wonder it attracts so many immigrants to its shores. And, thanks to them, it has a remittance market  worth $131 billion. Its top receive countries are Mexico, China, India, The Philippines and Vietnam.

Send money from the US

So let’s look more closely at the cost of living in the US. Check out our blog for a more detailed breakdown.

Data sourced by Numbeo

Saudi Arabia

This sparsely populated and arid kingdom in the Middle East occupies about four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula. Once a country of small cities and towns, it’s become increasingly urban; centres such as Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina have grown into large cities, and the capital, Riyadh, a former oasis town, has grown into a modern metropolis. Most of the Bedouin, the traditional nomads have settled in cities or agrarian communities. The abundant oil fields in the Persian Gulf have made the country synonymous with petroleum wealth.

When it comes to remittances - the market is worth $45 billion. But where do people send money to from Saudi? The top receive countries are India, Egypt, Pakistan, the Philippines and Indonesia.

When it comes to choosing to live in Saudi Arabia - consider some of these figures.

Data sourced by Numbeo.

United Arab Emirates

This federation of seven emirates lies along the Eastern coast of the Arabian peninsula. The largest of these, Abu Dhabi, is the centre of the oil industry. The official language is Arabic, but other languages are also spoken.

Unspoiled beaches and opulent resorts draw tourists from all over the world. But that’s not all. Only about 1/9th of people here are citizens thanks to a large influx of South Asian immigrants. This could be why its remittance market is worth so much - $29 billion. Where do people send? The top receive countries are India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt and the UK.

If you are considering moving to UAE - these cost of living figures may be of interest to you.

Data sourced by Numbeo.

United Kingdom

A relatively small island made up of four geographic parts - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - the UK (or Britain) has long been a popular destination for immigrants to settle.

Once named the most beautiful island in the world by the travel guide Lonely Planet, the UK boasts some truly breathtaking and diverse scenery. From the stunning beaches of Cornwall to the dramatic mountains of Scotland, there’s something for everyone.

The capital, London, a melting pot of cultures is also a leading financial and commercial hub. The UK’s significant contributions to the world economy include many artistic and cultural exports – one of the reasons why English is so widely spoken all over the world.

The country retains links with the Commonwealth and is a member of NATO. The people of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin account for half the country’s ethnic population.

Its remittance market is worth $25 billion and top receive countries include Nigeria, India, France, Pakistan and Germany

Send money from the UK

Here are some cost of living figures.

Data sourced by Numbeo.

Germany

Situated in Central Europe, Germany is one of the continent's largest countries boasting a wide variety of landscapes - from the mountains of the south to the sandy, rolling plains of the north. Its spiritual heart is the magnificent, east-central city of Berlin, which has recovered from the devastation of World War 2.

A member of NATO and the EU, Germanyattracted many “guest workers” since the 1950s - the largest group of these being Turkish.  Not surprisingly then it has a high value remittance market worth $24 billion. The top receive countries are Turkey, Italy, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece.

Send money from Germany

Here’s what the cost of living looks like there.

Data sourced by Numbeo.

Canada

With its stunning scenery, breathtaking, untouched and natural land composed of beautiful lakes, rivers, mountains and coastlines, Canada is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful countries on earth.  

With its ten provinces and three territories extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and northward to the Arctic Ocean, it’s the second largest country on earth after Russia - covering 9.98 million square kilometres. The country is also officially bilingual - French and English.

Although Canadians are comparatively few in number, they’ve created a truly multicultural society, welcoming immigrants from every other continent. Plus, Canada harbours and exports a wealth of natural resources, as well as being rich in intellectual and cultural property.

With so many coming to live there from other countries, it’s not surprising that its remittance market is worth $23 bn with people mainly sending to these top receive countries - the Philippines, India, the United States, China and Pakistan.

Send money from Canada

Here are some interesting cost of living figures in Canada. Check out our blog post for a more detailed breakdown on all the living costs there.

Data sourced by Numbeo.

France

La Belle France is an appealing and much visited country for so many reasons - great food, the world’s best wine and stunning landscapes. Its beautiful capital, Paris, is rich in history, culture and romance.

France is situated in Europe’s north west and plays a significant role in international affairs. It’s also one Europe’s largest agricultural producers and one of the world’s oldest nations with a tendency towards individualism.

It has welcomed generations of immigrants, particularly from the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa. So it’s no wonder that so many still send money to the countries they have such strong links with. The

French remittance market is worth $21 billion and the top receive countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Spain and Portugal.

Send money from France

Thinking of moving here? Here are some interesting cost of living figures.

Data sourced by Numbeo.

Italy

Italy is a rich and varied land in south-central Europe with the Mediterranean sea on one side, the Adriatic on the other. Its varied scenic landscapes include the Alps, lakes, vineyards of Tuscany and lovely coastline. What’s more, no one town is like another with few direct roads between them.

Its long 3,000 year history culminates now in a high standard of living and highly developed culture. It enjoys the prosperity brought by tourism and is part of the EU, Council of Europe and NATO.

Walking through the streets of its capital, Rome, truly is like walking back in time. Here you can in the “dolce vita” while visiting its many historic sites, including the Vatican.

Since the 1970s, Italy has been welcoming immigrants from less-developed nations - predominantly females from the Philippines and other Asian countries. There’s also been a male influx from Northern Africa and hundreds of Middle Eastern immigrants post-Arab Spring.

Its remittance market is worth $16 billion with the top receive countries being Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Romania and Morocco.

Data sourced by Numbeo.

Spain

A beautiful country in south western Europe it accounts for about 85% of the Iberian peninsula.  It’s long been a favourite travel destination for its vibrant cities like Barcelona and Madrid, historic sites like Alhambra, snow-capped mountains and of course, its enticing resorts of the Costas and Balearic islands.

Nearly half of Spain is covered in vegetation of some kind, but only a small portion is dense woodland. The country’s waters offers a diversity of fish and shellfish, which have been sadly subject to overfishing at times.

Spain has been inhabited by many different people from North Africa and western Europe, including the Iberians, Celts and Basques. It also has a large Romanian and Moroccan population.

The Spanish remittance market is worth $16 billion and its top receive countries are France, Morocco, Romania, Ecuador, and China.

Send money from Spain

If you’re thinking of moving to this lovely country, you may find these cost of living figures interesting.

Data sourced by Numbeo.

We’re here to help you send money

If you’re planning on moving to, or even visiting, any of the countries listed above, we’re here for you if you need to make a money transfer. We offer a fast, low cost and convenient, online service. You can either send money on our app or from our website 24/7, 365 days a year.  And our Customer Care team is always on hand to help.

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