Best Countries in North America for Americans to Move To (2026)
The full North America ranking from the 2026 Expat Almanac. Every country in the region scored across 10 weighted metrics for American families evaluating an international move. Sorted by composite score below; the Expat Almanac's full methodology explains what each score measures.
The 2026 North America rankings
In the 2026 Expat Almanac, United States leads North America with a composite of 75.2, followed by Canada (73.6).
North America on the Expat Almanac covers the United States and Canada. Freedom Files does not currently advise on relocation TO the US since our client base is already American, and Canadian residency for Americans runs through immigration counsel rather than an investment-migration program. Both countries are included in the ranking for benchmark purposes: if you are evaluating whether an international move actually improves on staying home, this is the row-by-row read. Puerto Rico is scored separately in the Caribbean region because its Act 60 program targets a different reader. The rankings below sort by composite score.
| Rank | Country | Score | Quality of Life | Safety | Taxes | Climate | Healthcare | Citizenship Path | Friendliness | Infrastructure | Connectivity | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 75.2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 2 | Canada | 73.6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
Weighing several destinations? We work backward from your goals to a shortlist and a plan.
Get my Blueprint →Tax scores are illustrative, based on typical profiles of American families relocating abroad. Individual outcomes vary substantially. This is not tax or legal advice, consult a licensed professional.
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Frequently asked questions
Which North American countries are covered on this page?
The United States and Canada. Mexico is deliberately grouped under Latin America on Freedom Files because its residency programs, tax structure, and expat community operate on that model. Puerto Rico is scored in the Caribbean region because its Act 60 tax structure targets a different reader profile. Both decisions match how our advisors actually route client conversations.
Does Freedom Files help Americans move to Canada?
For most clients, no. Canadian permanent residency for Americans runs through federal immigration counsel via Express Entry, the Start-up Visa, provincial nominee programs, or family sponsorship. None of those routes is investment-migration in the way the Expat Almanac's featured destinations are. If Canada is your target we can refer you to Canadian immigration counsel directly.
Why is the United States on the Expat Almanac?
As a benchmark. Every reader lands on this Expat Almanac trying to answer the same question: does moving abroad actually improve on staying home for my family, or does home already win on the metrics that matter to us? The US row is there so the answer is a comparison rather than an assumption.
Why is Mexico grouped under Latin America rather than North America?
Because that is how American movers actually think about Mexico. The programs (Economic Solvency, Investor Visa), the tax structure (worldwide with US treaty), the cost-of-living arbitrage, and the expat community all match the Latin American pattern rather than the US/Canada pattern. Grouping it with Latin America keeps our region pages honest about which destinations they cover.
What's Puerto Rico's status in the Expat Almanac?
Puerto Rico is scored in the Caribbean region because its Act 60 tax structure is the point of interest for the American readers who evaluate it. A US territory means American citizens can relocate without a visa; the Act 60 individual and export-services decrees offer a legitimate low-tax setup with specific bona fide residency requirements. See the Caribbean regional page for the full picture.
Other regions in the Expat Almanac
Every region gets the same treatment. Head back to the full Expat Almanac or open a sibling region below.
Europe
Best countries in Europe for American expats
Latin America
Best Latin American countries for Americans to move to
Caribbean
Best Caribbean countries for American families
Asia-Pacific
Best Asia-Pacific countries for Americans moving abroad
Middle East & Africa
Best Middle East and African countries for American expats
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