5 great cities to live and work

Australia’s biggest city is packed with iconic sights and an energising mix of people from across the globe. Take a job in Sydney and make the most of the perennially warm weather with a stroll across Sydney Harbour Bridge with views of Sydney Opera House (a World Heritage site), or join the surfers thronging Bondi Beach. It’s easy to be healthy in Sydney. Life beyond work can revolve around sport and outdoorsy activities, and it helps that beer and cigarettes are on the pricey side. Strict ‘lockout’ laws recently imposed on Sydney venues have stifled nightlife, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had after dark.

• Hours from London Heathrow Airport: 22 hours 5 mins, via Singapore
• Time difference: Sydney is 11 hours ahead of GMT
• Currency: Australian Dollar (sign: $, code: AUD
• Official language: English
• Do I need a tourist visa? Yes. More info: www.australia.com
• Do I need a work visa? Yes. More info: www.homeaffairs.gov.au
• What tax will I pay? Check your unique circumstances with HMRC to see if you’ll pay tax on your income. As a rule, if you’re not classed as a UK resident you won’t have to pay UK tax on foreign income. More info: www.gov.uk
• Cost of living: Generally, it’s about 10-13% cheaper to live in Sydney than it is in London. You’ll pay more for food but less for other living costs such as housing, transport, clothes and entertainment

If Sydney is typically Australian, then Melbourne is its European-influenced cousin. Historical buildings and cobbled lanes blend with cutting-edge architecture and a dizzying skyline punctuated by one of the southern hemisphere’s tallest buildings. The weather in Australia’s second-largest city isn’t much to write home about, but there’s a thriving cultural scene with vibrant street art and a world-leading coffee culture. The shopping’s good too. Melbourne was only recently knocked off the top spot of the world’s most livable city list, which it held for the past seven years (Vienna took the crown, with Sydney coming in at number five). This is a young-at-heart, multicultural city with characterful neighbourhoods built up by the Italian, Greek and Vietnamese communities. The cost of living is rising steeply though.

• Hours from London Heathrow Airport: 21 hours 15 mins, via Singapore
• Time difference: Melbourne is 11 hours ahead of GMT
• Currency: Australian Dollar (sign: $, code: AUD)
• Official language: English
• Do I need a tourist visa? Yes. More info: www.australia.com
• Do I need a work visa? Yes. More info: www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/work
• What tax will I pay? Check your unique circumstances with HMRC to see if you’ll pay tax on your income. As a rule, if you’re not classed as a UK resident you won’t have to pay UK tax on foreign income. More info: www.gov.uk
• Cost of living: Generally, it’s about 20-25% cheaper to live in Melbourne than it is in London. You’ll pay more for food and clothes, but less for housing, transport and entertainment

This tiny country punches well above its weight for expat livability. Thanks to its stable economy, multicultural population, tropical climate and safety standards, Singapore is ranked as the world’s best expat destination in HSBC’s Expat Explorer report. The strong expat community is easy to infiltrate and the street food is legendary. It’s easy to get around, too – English is widely spoken and the street signs are in English. The diverse population is kept safe by a raft of laws and penalties – and there are a lot to remember… Everyone’s heard of Singapore’s chewing gum ban, but did you know you can be fined for forgetting to flush a toilet in a public place, singing an obscene song in public, or if someone sees you naked in your own home?

You could spend your early mornings spilling out of a nightclub or joining an exercise class in the Botanic Gardens. The hot, humid weather means the best time to get out and about is early morning or later in the day, and with plenty of nature trails, it’s easy to escape the city. Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines become easy short-break destinations once you move to Singapore.

• Hours from London Heathrow Airport: 12 hours 50 mins
• Time difference: Singapore is 8 hours ahead of London
• Currency: Singapore Dollar (sign: $, code: SGD)
• Official language: English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
• Do I need a tourist visa? No. British passport holders do not need a visa for a stay of less than 30 days. More info: www.ica.gov.sg
• Do I need a work visa? Yes. More info: www.mom.gov.sg
• What tax will I pay? Check your unique circumstances with HMRC to see if you’ll pay tax on your income. As a rule, if you’re not classed as a UK resident you won’t have to pay UK tax on foreign income. More info: www.gov.uk
• Cost of living: Generally, it’s about 15-20% cheaper to live in Singapore than it is in London. You’ll see the biggest differences in transport and housing

Dubai is a fast-paced international city with a bigger-is-better attitude, but this city’s soul runs deeper than its bling reputation suggests. Yes, there are shimmering skyscrapers – including the world’s tallest – flashy hotels and the Dubai Mall. But you can also find history, tradition and culture. Explore the souks and historic districts, cross Dubai Creek in an abra (traditional wooden boat), and listen to the dusk call to prayer radiating from minarets.

The Friday-Saturday weekend can take some getting used to, but you’ll soon fall into step with the Friday brunches! Non-Muslim residents can get a liquor licence to drink alcohol at home and in licensed venues (tourist and visitors can buy and drink alcohol in licensed venues such as hotels, restaurants and clubs) – but be aware that it’s illegal to drink or be under the influence of alcohol in public. You’ll want to stay on the right side of the law so make sure you’re familiar with what’s allowed and what’s not. High start-up costs can take the shine off a ‘tax-free salary’. But the low levels of crime and violence, sandy beaches, hot sunny weather – and almost ubiquitous air-con – make Dubai the city of choice for many expats.

• Hours from London Heathrow Airport: 6 hours 55 mins
• Time difference: Dubai is 4 hours ahead of GMT
• Currency: Emirati Dirham (unofficial/non-Arabic sign: Dhs or DH, code: AED)
• Official language: Arabic
• Do I need a tourist visa? British passport holders are issued with a free 30-day visa on arrival. More info: www.mofa.gov.ae
• Do I need a work visa? Yes. More info: www.visitdubai.com
• What tax will I pay? The UAE is a tax-free jurisdiction and if you’re not classed as a UK resident you won’t have to pay UK tax on foreign income either. More info: www.gov.uk
• Cost of living: Generally, it’s about 20% cheaper to live in Dubai than it is in London. You’ll pay significantly less for transport and housing, but may have to spend more on food, clothes and personal care

New York is a city that needs no introduction. Life here has been immortalised in books, songs and films for decades. There’s no doubt that this larger-than-life city is a great destination for tourists, but what’s it like for expats? For many, NYC comes with plenty of career opportunities and big-name brands, but living and working here is also a chance to be a part of the much-storied hustle and bustle of the place. There is always something going on. New York really is the city that never sleeps, but it’s also got characterful neighbourhoods and even beaches! It’s also well-connected – locally, nationally and internationally – so it’s easy to make the most of your time off. On the downside, the traffic is challenging (although the subway is cheap and efficient), the weather goes to the extremes, and life here can be expensive, even to Londoners. Despite all that, time spent being a part of New York City will stay with you for the rest of your life – if you can ever bring yourself to leave.

• Hours from Heathrow: 8 hours 15 mins
• Time difference: New York City is 5 hours behind GMT
• Currency: United States Dollar (sign: $, code: USD)
• Official language: English
• Do I need a tourist visa? UK citizens can travel to the United States for business or tourism for stays of up to 90 days without a visa, but must obtain approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before travelling to the United States
• Do I need a work visa? Yes. More info: travel.state.gov
• What tax will I pay? Check your unique circumstances with HMRC to see if you’ll pay tax on your income. As a rule, if you’re not classed as a UK resident you won’t have to pay UK tax on foreign income. More info: www.gov.uk
• Cost of living: Generally, the cost of living in NYC is similar to London. You’ll notice that transportation is cheaper, but personal care and food cost more