Most affordable tax-free havens: Top picks for expats in 2025?

Tax-free countries are often depicted as "havens," offering a life without income tax. But how much do expats actually need to pay to settle in these destinations? Is relocating to them truly worth it?

William Russell's tax-free relocation report reveals the most budget-friendly tax-free countries for expats to consider relocating to. Taking into account factors such as monthly living expenses, average salaries, rent, and utility costs, the report assigns each country a "relocation score" out of 10. Based on these scores, the report ranks the world's most affordable tax-free destinations to move to in 2024 or the upcoming year. 

Euronews Business goes a step further by calculating leftover income after deducting rent, monthly expenses, and utility bills from the average net salary. This calculation isn't part of the report or rankings- it's just there to give you a better idea of what to expect.

Oman stands out as the most affordable tax-free country to move to in 2024, achieving a relocation score of 7.92. Why is Oman the most popular choice on the list? It's because Oman offers the lowest costs for purchasing or renting an apartment. Buying an apartment costs €108 per square metre, while the average monthly rent is €439.

Additionally, Oman offers the lowest monthly living expenses. For a single person, living costs amount to €699, with an extra €96 for utility bills.

With an average monthly net salary of €2,051 in Oman, the total cost of rent, living expenses, and utility bills comes to €1,234 - leaving you with €817 in leftover income each month.

To fly to Oman, a one-way economy ticket costs €214 from London or €464 from New York.

According to William Russell's research, Kuwait ranks as the second most affordable tax-free