Nine in ten expats 'enjoy better quality of life abroad'

Nine in ten British expatriates (89 per cent) say they enjoy a better quality of life in their adopted country, according to research by NatWest.

Natural environment, climate, leisure and expatriate healthcare are top of the list for expats' quality of life, the International Personal Banking Quality of Life Report, jointly produced with the Centre for Future Studies (CFS), found.

Reduced working hours, more leisure time and a better work-life balance were also noted as things emigrants prefer about their life abroad.

The vast majority (87 per cent) of expats said they would rate their work-life balance as being excellent or good, and 89 per cent said the same about their working environment.

More than nine in ten (92 per cent) respondents said their expatriate experience has surpassed expectations, and less than one-fifth (19 per cent) said they would return to the UK at some point, down from 26 per cent who said the same in 2008.

Dave Isley of NatWest said: "It seems the grass really is greener for [British expats] living abroad as our study shows. The fact that fewer expats say they will return to the UK in the future, compared to three years ago, proves that the pace of life, work-life balance and earning potential abroad means life as an expat is sunnier in more ways than one - and that they are weathering the financial storm."

The survey also found that expatriate professionals earn on average £20,000 more than their UK counterparts, and 92 per cent reported a salary increase over the last three years.