My wife and I have been considering a move abroad. We’ve always wanted to expand our international travel and living in a European country would make that quite easy, especially with the access to high-speed rail and cheap flights. It would also provide a very different living experience than the United States, which is exciting.

But I’ll still be working for some time, even after my wife retires, so I need fast, reliable internet connectivity.

But rather than explain the back story, I’ll just share my experience with Claude and where it recommends we consider living.

If you want to replicate these results, you’ll probably need Claude Pro (3.5 Sonnet) or better, but let me know if the free version works for you.

Acquire the Data

First, I downloaded ranked data from World Population Review regarding our top three criteria by country:

1. Internet Speeds
2. Healthcare Quality
3. Happiness of Residents

Create the Project

I created a Project in Claude aptly named Moving Overseas, uploaded the three CSV files into the Project, then Claude and I got to work.

I set the Project instructions. I’ve formatted them here for easier reading since only plain text is supported in the instruction field.

I’ve also omitted each revision of the table. You can find the final result at the end.

Start Chatting

Here is the conversation.

Provide Claude with relevant instructions and information for chats within Moving Overseas. This will work alongside user preferences and the selected style in a chat.

You represent a middle-aged couple who are looking to move from the United States to another country for a better quality of life.

There are three key attributes they are seeking when looking for a country in which to live:

1. Fast internet speeds
2. Quality of healthcare
3. Happiness of residents

Using the files in this project, rank the countries using an average score of the three attributes listed above.

Create a table with the following fields:

• Country Name
• Average Score
• Internet Speed
• Healthcare Rating
• Happiness Score

Rank them by Average Score.

Present the table as an artifact.

Prompt: Please process the project files as per the instructions.

I’ll help analyze the data to find the best countries based on your criteria. Let me process the files and create a comprehensive ranking.

Let me first analyze the data using the analysis tool to ensure we have accurate calculations:

(Javascript process function completes)

Now I’ll create a React component to display this data in a clear, organized table:

(First version of the table)

Based on the analysis, I can offer some insights about the top countries:

1. Iceland ranks #1 overall, with exceptional internet speeds (279.55 Mbps) and a very high happiness score (7.53/10). While its healthcare score is moderate, the overall quality of life metrics are impressive.
2. The Netherlands comes in second, offering a more balanced profile with strong scores across all three categories. It has excellent internet (188.49 Mbps), good healthcare (65.38/100), and high happiness levels (7.32/10).
3. Sweden ranks third, with particularly strong healthcare (70.73/100) and happiness scores (7.34/10), plus reliable internet speeds (156.42 Mbps).

As a couple moving from the United States (which ranks 11th overall), you would find improved metrics in any of these top 10 countries. Would you like me to provide more specific information about any of these countries, such as cost of living or expatriate communities?

Prompt: Yes. Please provide average cost of living for each of these countries in US dollars. Include it in the table in the last column labeled, “Avg Cost of Living.”

I’ll modify the table to include cost of living data. Let me first analyze typical monthly costs for a couple in these countries.

(Second version of the table)

Some notable observations about the cost of living:

1. Asian countries like Taiwan and South Korea offer the best value, with relatively lower costs of living ($2,400-$2,800 per month) while maintaining high quality of life scores.
2. Nordic countries (Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden) tend to have higher costs of living ($3,400-$3,900) but also consistently high happiness scores and quality of life metrics.
3. Switzerland has the highest cost of living among the top 10 ($4,200) but offers excellent quality of life metrics across the board.

These costs represent average monthly expenses for a couple, excluding rent, and include:

• Food and groceries
• Transportation
• Utilities (including high-speed internet)
• Healthcare insurance
• Entertainment and dining out
• Miscellaneous expenses

Would you like more specific information about housing costs in any of these countries? Or would you like to know more about specific cities within these countries that might be particularly suitable for expatriate retirees?

Prompt: Which cities in each of these countries are particularly suitable for expatriate retirees? Please list them in an additional column labeled “Cities.” If there are multiple favorable cities in each country, order them alphabetically, then concatenate them separated by a comma and enter them into the field.

I’ll update the table to include recommended cities for expatriate retirees in each country.

(Third version of the table)

These cities were selected based on several factors particularly relevant to retirees:

1. Lower cost of living compared to capital cities
2. Strong healthcare infrastructure
3. Active expatriate communities
4. Good public transportation
5. Cultural amenities
6. Mild climate (where possible)
7. Safety and security
8. Access to nature and recreational activities

Some notable highlights:

• In the Netherlands, cities like Delft and Leiden offer the charm of Amsterdam but with lower costs and a more relaxed pace of life.
• Taiwan’s Tainan and Hualien provide an excellent balance of traditional culture, modern amenities, and lower living costs.
• Canadian cities like Victoria and Halifax are known for their mild climates (by > Canadian standards) and strong retiree communities.
• Swiss cities like Lugano and Montreux offer a high quality of life with beautiful lakeside settings.

Would you like more detailed information about any specific cities or aspects of expatriate life in these locations?

Prompt: Please include average rental expenses in the cost of living estimates.

I’ll update the cost of living estimates to include average rental costs for a comfortable 2-bedroom apartment in these cities.

(Fourth version of the table)

With rental costs included, here are some key observations:

1. Asian countries remain the most affordable options:

• Taiwan ($3,600/month) and South Korea ($3,900/month) offer excellent value with high quality of life scores
• Rental costs in smaller cities can be 30-40% lower than in capital cities

2. Nordic countries show similar total costs:

• Iceland and Denmark (both $5,800/month)
• Sweden ($5,200/month)
• Norway ($5,600/month)
• These costs typically include excellent public services and healthcare

3. Switzerland remains the most expensive ($6,500/month), but offers:

• Very high quality of housing
• Excellent public infrastructure
• Central European location
• Strong banking and financial services

4. Mid-range options include:

• Canada ($4,800/month)
• Israel ($4,900/month)
• These countries often offer a good balance of costs and amenities

Would you like specific information about rental costs in any particular cities, or details about the types of housing available in these locations?

Prompt: Please present the table in markdown in a separate artifact.

Based on the data, along with some suggestions from Claude, here are the top places that we’re considering.

I’ve always want to go to Iceland.

Top 10 Countries for Quality of Life

Monthly cost of living estimates for a couple, including rent for a 2-bedroom apartment

Notes:

• Average Score combines internet speed, healthcare quality, and happiness metrics
• Internet Speed represents mean download speed
• Healthcare Score is based on the CEOWorld Health Care Index
• Happiness Score comes from the World Happiness Report 2024
• Total Monthly Costs include rent, utilities, food, transportation, and general expenses for a couple
• Recommended Cities are selected based on expatriate-friendly features, cost of living, and quality of life