Best Countries to be Rich in 2026

Malta and Singapore are the two best countries to live in if you're a millionaire, according to our July 2026 study. As more wealthy people move abroad in search of tax benefits and a higher quality of life, new research from casino.com reveals the top countries offering a lavish life with lighter bills.

The research examined 28 popular destinations to determine which countries offer high-income families the best living conditions. The study measured factors including safety ratings, passport strength, average tax rate, and available luxury real estate, alongside the density of five-star hotels, yacht marinas, spas, nightlife venues, and casinos. Each metric was standardised per 100 km² of land area so that small, dense countries could be fairly compared against much larger ones, then combined into a single score out of 100.

Why Small Countries Dominate the Rankings

One of the biggest surprises in the study is that size works against countries rather than for them. Every lifestyle measure was standardised per 100 km², meaning destinations were judged on how concentrated their luxury amenities are rather than how many they have overall.

That helps explain why Malta, Singapore, Monaco, Hong Kong and Cyprus occupy the top five places despite being among the smallest jurisdictions analysed. Their luxury homes, five-star hotels, yacht marinas, nightlife and casinos are all packed into relatively compact areas, allowing wealthy residents to access premium amenities within minutes rather than hours.

By contrast, countries such as the United States and Canada have some of the world's largest numbers of luxury hotels, casinos and entertainment venues, but those amenities are spread across enormous land areas, dramatically reducing their density score.

1. Malta

Malta is the best country for rich families to live in. The island has dozens of yacht marinas and 5-star hotels for short stays, and finding a luxury estate isn't difficult either, with hundreds of listings across the country. Getting a Maltese passport opens the door to 132 visa-free destinations, and residents benefit from a tax rate of 17.5%, below the EU average.

• Safety Index: 63.76
• Passport power: 132 visa-free destinations
• Tax rate: 17.5%

2. Singapore

Singapore stands out with a Safety Index near 78, making it one of the most secure places in the world for wealthy residents and their families. The country is famous for its spa and wellness infrastructure, with a density of 103.2 facilities per 100 km², the single highest concentration of any metric recorded in the study. The Singaporean passport allows visa-free travel to 137 countries, though residents here pay a higher tax rate than in Malta, at 11%.

3. Monaco

Monaco offers zero personal income tax, meaning residents keep their full income, a benefit very few countries can match. Monaco's real estate market is active despite its size, with hundreds of luxury properties available at any given time. Its Monte Carlo Casino remains one of the world's most recognised gambling venues, though Monaco isn't actually the country with the highest concentration of casinos, as the next section explains.

4. Hong Kong

Hong Kong offers one of the lowest crime rates in the study (Safety Index 78.24), making it a safe choice for rich families with children. A Hong Kong passport allows visa-free access to 126 destinations, and residents pay a comparatively low tax rate of 7.5%. The territory also offers a dense nightlife scene, with over 130 bars and clubs.

5. Cyprus

Cyprus rounds out the top five, helped by an active property market with thousands of listings across the island. It has no shortage of five-star hotels, and its nightlife scene is one of the most developed of any top-10 country, with 265 venues.

No Country Wins Every Category

Although Malta finishes first overall, the research shows there is no single country that dominates every measure wealthy families care about.

Singapore is unmatched for spa and wellness facilities, recording more than 103 spas per 100 km², the highest concentration of any metric in the entire study. Andorra records the strongest Safety Index, while Monaco and the United Arab Emirates remain among the few destinations with zero personal income tax.

Instead, Malta wins because it performs consistently well across almost every lifestyle category without relying on one standout advantage. Rather than excelling in just one area, it offers one of the strongest all-round combinations of luxury property, entertainment, marinas, nightlife and favourable taxation.

Wealthy Residents Face Lifestyle Trade-Offs

The rankings also highlight that relocating isn't simply about finding the lowest tax bill.

Monaco and the United Arab Emirates both offer zero personal income tax, yet neither tops the rankings. Likewise, Andorra is the safest country in the study but finishes outside the top five because it offers comparatively limited nightlife and entertainment.

For many wealthy families, the decision appears to involve balancing financial advantages with everyday lifestyle. Access to restaurants, wellness facilities, marinas, entertainment and luxury housing all contribute to the overall experience, rather than one factor alone determining the best destination.

Malta Quietly Overtakes Monaco as the Gambling Leader

Monaco may be home to the world-famous Monte Carlo Casino, but the research reveals that Malta actually has the highest concentration of casinos and gambling venues.

With 2.53 gambling venues per 100 km², Malta comfortably outperforms Monaco (0.99) and Singapore (0.85), making it the densest gambling destination in the study.

Given Malta's long-established reputation as one of Europe's leading online gambling jurisdictions, the findings suggest its gambling industry extends well beyond licensing and into its land-based entertainment offering.

What's Really Driving the Rankings?

Perhaps the biggest surprise isn't which country finishes first, but why.

Safety, passport strength and tax rates together contribute just 15% of the final score. The remaining 85% comes from lifestyle factors including luxury real estate, five-star hotels, yacht marinas, spas, nightlife and casinos.

That weighting helps explain several unexpected results. Andorra records the highest Safety Index in the entire study, yet finishes seventh overall. Likewise, the United Arab Emirates combines zero income tax with one of the world's highest safety scores but places outside the top ten because its entertainment infrastructure is less concentrated than countries such as Malta or Singapore.

The findings suggest that once basic financial considerations have been met, wealthy movers place increasing value on convenience, leisure and everyday quality of life.

Bigger Doesn't Always Mean Better

Looking only at raw numbers would produce a completely different ranking.

Portugal offers more than 76,000 luxury property listings, while the United States has over 1,200 five-star hotels and more than 2,000 casinos and gambling venues. Yet both countries finish well behind much smaller destinations.

That's because the study measures how accessible luxury amenities are within each country rather than simply counting how many exist. For affluent residents, having premium experiences close together may be more valuable than having thousands spread across a vast country.

The World's Richest Lifestyle Isn't Defined by Tax Alone

The study also challenges one of the biggest assumptions about wealthy relocation.

Although tax planning often dominates discussions around moving abroad, countries with the most generous tax systems do not automatically deliver the best overall lifestyle.

Instead, the highest-ranked destinations combine competitive taxation with strong safety, international mobility and dense networks of luxury amenities.

The results suggest wealthy individuals are increasingly choosing countries where everyday convenience matches financial efficiency, creating places that are enjoyable to live in rather than simply inexpensive places to hold wealth.

Tax rate gets a lot of attention, but it's rarely the only reason someone picks where to live. That's why we decided to include additional factors to find the best spots for those planning to relocate. These options can be especially helpful for wealthy Americans, since we also found that the US is the worst country to live in as a rich person right now. Tax rates there now exceed 30%.

Jack Garry, Casino.com's Lead Analyst

The Complete Field: All 28 Countries Ranked

The published article highlights the top ten countries, but the full study assessed 28 destinations worldwide.

Worth noting: Perhaps the biggest surprise in the rankings is the United States finishing last overall. Despite recording the highest raw totals for luxury real estate, five-star hotels, nightlife venues and casinos, its vast land area means those amenities are far less concentrated than in smaller countries, dramatically reducing its final score.

You can access the complete research findings here.