Expat Insider 2026: Czechia ranks high for quality of life, low for belonging

Czechia remains an attractive place to live for foreign residents thanks to its public transport, safety and work-life balance, but language barriers and difficulties building local connections continue to weigh on the expat experience.

Czechia ranks 25th out of 31 destinations in the latest Expat Insider 2026 survey by InterNations, with the country performing strongly in areas linked to everyday quality of life while falling behind on social integration.

The survey paints a picture of a country where daily life works well, but where many international residents find it harder to build a sense of belonging.

Czechia placed 13th overall in the Quality of Life Index, helped by a sixth-place ranking for Travel & Transit. Almost all respondents (97 percent) said they were satisfied with the opportunity to travel, while public transport scored highly for both affordability and availability.

Safety was another strong point. Czechia ranked fifth for personal safety, with 63 percent of respondents giving the country the highest possible rating, compared with 46 percent globally.

The country also performed well as a place to work. Czechia ranked 13th in the Working Abroad Index, with three quarters of expats saying they were satisfied with their work-life balance. The average full-time working week was 40.6 hours, below the global average of 42.2 hours.

However, salaries remain a major frustration. Czechia ranked 30th for fair pay, with only 48 percent of expats saying they feel fairly compensated for their work.

Czechia ranked 27th in the Ease of Settling In Index, with particularly low scores for local friendliness and making friends.

Only 31 percent of respondents said they consider local residents friendly towards foreign residents, compared with 61 percent globally. Around three in five expats (59%) said they find it difficult to make local friends, while 53 percent said most of their social circle consists of other expats.

Feeling welcome is also a challenge: only 43 percent of respondents said they feel welcome in Czechia, compared with 64 percent worldwide.

Language remains the country’s biggest barrier. Czechia ranked last among all destinations surveyed for how easy expats find the local language to learn, with 77 percent saying they struggle with Czech.

For many, the language issue begins before arrival. Around 62 percent of respondents said the language barrier was one of their main concerns before moving.

Czechia also ranked second-to-last overall in the Expat Essentials Index, which measures practical aspects of life abroad including administration and language.

The typical foreign resident surveyed in Czechia is an established professional rather than a short-term newcomer.

The average expat age is 48.1 years, with men making up 57% of respondents and women 43 percent.

The most common sectors among expats are information technology (19%), education (18 percent), and finance (12 percent).

Work is the most common reason for moving to Czechia, with 15 percent saying they came after finding or applying for a job. A similar share (14 percent) moved for love.

Long-term plans remain uncertain. While 17 percent say they want to stay in Czechia forever, 17 percent expect to leave within the next five years, and 45 percent are still unsure about their future.

Despite the challenges, overall satisfaction remains relatively high: 72 percent of expats say they are happy with life in Czechia, close to the global average of 70 percent.