Read for a US passport leaving New York on $1M a year, the Patrician.ch engine puts San Juan first, then Hvar and Anguilla. It weighs tax with the US floor applied, the route in, safety, schools, sun, cost and the flight home.
In short, current to September 2026
Source: the Patrician.ch board, an original ranking of 100 residence addresses across 48 countries and territories. Tax rates, thresholds and routes are sourced. Cost, safety, schools, sun and beauty are Patrician.ch editorial indices. Figures current to September 2026. Updated . Cite as: Patrician.ch, Best country for Americans to move to in 2026: 100 places ranked, patrician.ch/answers/best-country-for-americans-to-move-to/, September 2026.
A single US citizen leaving New York on $1M a year, on the engine's default weights. The figure is the effective income tax on $1M with US federal tax included. The note is the route in for a US passport and the flight from New York.
Within 5 hours of New York: San Juan (4h, 4%), Anguilla (4h, 33%), Providenciales (4h, 33%), Christophe Harbour (5h, 33%) and Tucker's Town (3h, 33%).
Income tax only, single filer, indicative 2026 headline rates. The foreign earned income exclusion covers a capped slice of salary and none of the investment income, so it is left out at $1M. Published comparison research, not tax, legal or immigration advice.
The tax line alone: where a US citizen pays the least tax. Leaving New York: where New Yorkers are moving. The rules on leaving: the US exit rules.
San Juan, on the Patrician.ch engine's reading for a US citizen leaving New York on $1M a year, then Hvar and Anguilla.
The order changes with income, household and weights. The engine takes each as an input.
San Juan: a US citizen needs no visa to live there, as it is a US territory.
25 places on the board are a walk in or a straightforward permit for a US passport.
Yes. The US taxes citizens on worldwide income wherever they live, so the floor abroad is the federal 33% on $1M.
The difference from New York is its state and city tax, $103K a year on $1M.
Valletta, the first EU address on the engine's reading for a US passport.
EU nationals register on arrival. Others use the Malta Permanent Residence Program, a property plus contribution route, or the Global Residence Program with a 15% flat rate on remitted income.
San Juan, for a bona fide resident, on Puerto Rico source income.
Act 60 sets 4% on export services income. Gains that accrued before the move stay federally taxable.
The engine takes what you earn and what you hold, then orders every address on the board against it.
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The general case, ranked: Where should high earners live in 2026 · Best country to live in if you are rich · Best countries for high earners after tax · Europe · United States · Americans moving abroad · Tax calculator
Tax figures use a simplified marginal model with indicative 2026 brackets for a non-US single filer, ignore social contributions, most deductions, wealth taxes, and treaties, and are not advice. Residence rules change often. Verify before acting.