Rankings of the “best cities for immigrants” rarely agree, because the right city depends on your job, family, budget and where your community already lives. Here’s a way to compare that works for most people.
Five questions to ask
- Is there strong demand for my job or field?
- Is there an existing community from my country or region?
- Can I afford rent on my expected salary?
- Can I live without a car, or do I need one?
- Can I live with the climate?
City examples by strength
| Strength | Examples |
|---|---|
| Very international communities | New York, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, Bay Area |
| Lower cost with big job markets | Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia |
| Car-free living | New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia |
| Tech jobs | Bay Area, Seattle, Austin, Raleigh-Durham |
| No state income tax | Texas, Florida, Washington |
Don’t forget
Visit if you can, or talk to people from your community who already live there. Local groups on social media are a good place to ask honest questions.
