Planning your own exit? These are the best and worst cities to emigrate to

With Brexit negotiations reaching fever pitch, there are more bristling Britons looking to skip the country perhaps than usual. But where to go?

Taipei, Singapore or Manama, says a new survey, and you might want to steer clear of Riyadh, Jeddah and Rome.

That’s according to the 2018 report from InterNations, which bills itself as the largest expat community worldwide and quizzed more than 18,000 respondents living and working abroad on a variety of factors such as quality of urban living, getting settled, work life, as well as finance and housing.

Taipei, capital of Taiwan, came out on top, with Asian cities accounting for half those in the top ten. London can be found lingering right near the bottom of the 72-strong list - rated to be the fifth worst city for expats, followed by Paris (6th) and Dublin (7th worst).

So, Taipei. Interesting. One British survey respondent declared of the modern metropolis: “It’s more relaxed and less stressful than other cities, such as Hong Kong or New York.”

It’s a view backed up Telegraph Travel’s Juliet Rix, who wrote of Taipei this year: “One moment I feel as though I am in Tokyo, the next in Beijing – but Taipei is more relaxed than either. People are friendly but not intrusive, polite without being formal, it’s clean but not pristine. Men and women coalesce, as do young and old.”

Additionally, in no other city on the list were expats more satisfied with the availability, affordability, and quality of medical care, as well as local transportation and their personal safety, according to the findings.

As for holidaying there, most tourists to Taiwan are Asian but numbers from the West are growing – and UK visitors now have easier access than ever before with direct flights to Taipei five times a week as of March, should you want to dip your toe in.

In second place was Singapore, home to many a British expat. According to our expert guide: “Unlike any city in the world, Singapore is a melting pot of different cultures, a juxtaposition of new and old architecture (think shop houses against a backdrop of skyscrapers) and it offers a whole spectrum of dining options ranging from deliciously affordable street food to pricey, Michelin starred haute cuisine.”

Bahrain’s capital, Manama, rounded out the top three best cities for expats. Our expert Robin McKelvie has this to say about it. “The only island state in the Arab world is blessed with a rich history and culture that provides an intoxicating, solid backbone to the slick modern hotels, restaurants and attractions that help make Bahrain the region’s most welcoming destination, as well as its most distinctive. It’s no wonder that legend has it that this is the site of the Garden of Eden.”

Three European cities made it into the top ten from InterNations’ report: the German city of Aachen was rated the seventh best place to emigrate to, followed by the Czech Republic capital of Prague (8th) and the Spanish city of Madrid (9th).

Why did London fare so poorly? It’s expensive, for one thing - you need to be earning a hefty salary to afford property in its most desirable boroughs, and our capital also performed badly on the Getting Settled Index. It’s a common complaint that Britons aren’t a particularly welcoming bunch when it comes to overseas visitors, and London has a reputation for being particularly insular for those hoping to make new friends.

As far as emigrating goes, if you’re pondering a move, it really depends on what you’re looking for. Last year, Telegraph Travel weighed up the best options for country categories including the cheapest (India), friendliest (New Zealand), safest (Finland) and even the most forested (a South American nation you may never have heard of). You can find the complete guide below.

Are you an expat? Or, should you wish to become one, where would you head? Cast your votes in the comment box below.