Living in Luxembourg: what do expats think?
At a time when some people are considering moving to Luxembourg, Expat Insider conducts an annual survey to rank expats' favorite destinations.
So what do expats think of Luxembourg? In the latest study, Luxembourg ranks as the 20th favorite destination for expats.
Once again this year, more than 12,500 expats from 175 different countries around the world responded toInterNations' annual survey. Here are some insights into expat life in Luxembourg.
Why do expats settle in Luxembourg?
It should be noted that the main reasons for moving abroad, regardless of the country, are generally work and career prospects for nearly a third of respondents. The second reason is the desire for a new lifestyle. Family and children's education are less frequently cited reasons.
Luxembourg is no exception to this rule. It must be said that the Luxembourg economy attracts many expatriates. And career prospects are clearly the number one criterion for moving to Luxembourg. But isn't the second reason for moving to Luxembourg something else?
A good quality of life in Luxembourg
Overall, Luxembourg ranks 14th out of 53 countries in terms of quality of life.
Safety is a major asset for Luxembourg. The expatriates surveyed ranked it third in this area, ahead of Copenhagen and Zurich.
Luxembourg also ranks 16th for transportation and travel, and 13th for healthcare. In addition, the Grand Duchy ranks a respectable 15th for the environment.
On the other hand, leisure activities remain a weak point. Although Luxembourg has improved its score in all categories this year, it is once again at the bottom of the table in the leisure category, ranking 51st, just ahead of Oslo and Basel.
A complicated social life despite multilingualism
Difficulty integrating
Luxembourg does not appear to be a country where it is easy to integrate. The expatriates surveyed ranked it 39th out of 53 for ease of settling in and integrating in Luxembourg. Foreign residents in Luxembourg point to the difficulty of socializing locally.
As a result, Luxembourg ranks 33rd in terms of local friendliness and 41st in terms of culture and feeling welcome. Social life and friends also appear to be a complicated issue, with a ranking of 41st.
Even though Luxembourg has moved up the rankings in terms of social life, it remains difficult to make friends there. While 16% of respondents overall find the local population unfriendly, this figure rises to 24% in Luxembourg. Even though the figures have improved this year, there is still a sense of complexity in feeling at home in Luxembourg.
Multilingualism and multiculturalism
Luxembourg nevertheless appears to be well placed in terms of language. It is true that you can always find someone who speaks your language in Luxembourg, given its strong multiculturalism. This is a positive point for communication, but ultimately it can be very confusing.
Indeed, the multiplicity of nationalities present in Luxembourg can be complicated to manage. While this may seem like an advantage, it is difficult to connect with other communities. Upon arrival, everyone tends to turn to their own community, which shares the same culture and references. However, the many events organized regularly help people become aware of this cultural diversity. Participating in these events allows people to acquire new points of reference and facilitates their integration.
In addition, to help them settle in more quickly, newcomers to Luxembourg are encouraged to learn a few words of Luxembourgish. This will make it easier to make initial contact with the local population.
Want to move to Luxembourg? Find all the information you need here.
Employment, an asset for attracting expatriates to Luxembourg
Overall, Luxembourg ranks 15th in the professional life index. Nevertheless, expatriates praise the salaries and job security, as Luxembourg ranks first in this area.
Career prospects place Luxembourg in 12th place.
On the other hand, work-life balance appears less attractive, with a ranking of 38th out of 53. Workplace culture appears slightly more satisfactory, with a ranking of 27th.
See our special report on employment in Luxembourg.
Finances, a major sticking point for expatriates in Luxembourg
Luxembourg ranks 38th in terms of personal finances.
Inflation and cost of living
It must be said that, as everywhere else in the world, the cost of living has risen significantly since 2020. Inflation continues to climb, fueled in part by index increases. The principle of indexation compensates for purchasing power. However, it also increases costs for businesses, which pass on their costs to prices.
Housing costs
Housing in Luxembourg has reached unprecedented levels in recent months. It is becoming "unaffordable" for the vast majority of newcomers. The sharp rise in housing prices from 2020 to 2024 is one of the key factors behind this very poor ranking.
It is now increasingly difficult to find housing due to insufficient supply, both for purchase and for rent. Learn more about housing in Luxembourg.
Other positive aspects of key expatriate indices
Luxembourg ranks a very respectable 4th in terms of administrative aspects, while digital integration puts it in 7th place.
Although family aspects are not included in this new study, it should be noted that family well-being placed Luxembourg in 9th place in 2019. Luxembourg remains a highly popular destination for raising children.
Children can grow up in a safe environment. Their health and well-being are a particular focus for public institutions. They benefit from a multilingual education, which opens doors for them internationally.
At a time when some people are considering moving to Luxembourg, Expat Insider conducts an annual survey of expats' favorite destinations.
So what do expats think of Luxembourg? In the latest study, Luxembourg ranks as the 20th favorite destination for expats.
Once again this year, more than 12,500 expats from 175 different nationalities and living in 174 countries responded tothe annual InterNations survey. Here are some insights into expat life in Luxembourg.
Why do expats settle in Luxembourg?
It should be noted that the main reasons for moving abroad, regardless of the country, are generally work and career prospects for nearly a third of respondents. The second reason is the desire for a new lifestyle. Family and children's education are less frequently cited reasons.
Luxembourg is no exception to this rule. It must be said that the Luxembourg economy attracts many expatriates. And career prospects are clearly the number one criterion for moving to Luxembourg. But isn't the second reason for moving to Luxembourg something else?
A good quality of life in Luxembourg
Overall, Luxembourg ranks 14th out of 53 countries in terms of quality of life.
Safety is a major asset for Luxembourg. The expatriates surveyed ranked it third in this area, ahead of Copenhagen and Zurich.
Luxembourg also ranks 16th for transportation and travel, and 13th for healthcare. In addition, the Grand Duchy ranks a respectable 15th for the environment.
On the other hand, leisure activities remain a weak point. Although Luxembourg has improved its score in all categories this year, it is once again at the bottom of the table in the leisure category, ranking 51st, just ahead of Oslo and Basel.
A complicated social life despite multilingualism
Difficulty integrating
Luxembourg does not appear to be a country where it is easy to integrate. The expatriates surveyed ranked it 39th out of 53 for ease of settling in and integrating in Luxembourg. Foreign residents in Luxembourg point to the difficulty of socializing locally.
As a result, Luxembourg ranks 33rd in terms of local friendliness and 41st in terms of culture and feeling welcome. Social life and friends also appear to be a complicated issue, with a ranking of 41st.
Even though Luxembourg has moved up the rankings in terms of social life, it remains difficult to make friends there. While 16% of respondents overall find the local population unfriendly, this figure rises to 24% in Luxembourg. Even though the figures have improved this year, there is still a sense of complexity in feeling at home in Luxembourg.
Multilingualism and multiculturalism
Luxembourg nevertheless appears to be well placed in terms of language. It is true that you can always find someone who speaks your language in Luxembourg, given its strong multiculturalism. This is a positive point for communication, but ultimately it can be very confusing.
Indeed, the multiplicity of nationalities present in Luxembourg can be complicated to manage. While this may seem like an advantage, it is difficult to connect with other communities. Upon arrival, everyone tends to turn to their own community, which shares the same culture and references. However, the many events organized regularly help people become aware of this cultural diversity. Participating in these events allows people to acquire new points of reference and facilitates their integration.
In addition, to help them settle in more quickly, newcomers to Luxembourg are encouraged to learn a few words of Luxembourgish. This will make it easier to make initial contact with the local population.
Want to move to Luxembourg? Find all the information you need here.
Employment, an asset for attracting expatriates to Luxembourg
Overall, Luxembourg ranks 15th in the professional life index. Nevertheless, expatriates praise the salaries and job security, as Luxembourg ranks first in this area.
Career prospects place Luxembourg in 12th place.
On the other hand, work-life balance appears less attractive, with a ranking of 38th out of 53. Workplace culture appears slightly more satisfactory, with a ranking of 27th.
See our special report on employment in Luxembourg.
Finances, a major sticking point for expatriates in Luxembourg
Luxembourg ranks 38th in terms of personal finances.
Inflation and cost of living
It must be said that, as everywhere else in the world, the cost of living has risen significantly since 2020. Inflation continues to climb, fueled in part by index increases. The principle of indexation compensates for purchasing power. However, it also increases costs for businesses, which pass on their costs to prices.
Housing costs
Housing in Luxembourg has reached unprecedented levels in recent months. It is becoming "unaffordable" for the vast majority of newcomers. The sharp rise in housing prices from 2020 to 2024 is one of the key factors behind this very poor ranking.
It is now increasingly difficult to find housing due to insufficient supply, both for purchase and for rent. Learn more about housing in Luxembourg.
Other positive aspects of key expatriate indices
Luxembourg ranks a very respectable 4th in terms of administrative aspects, while digital integration puts it in 7th place.
Although family aspects are not included in this new study, it should be noted that family well-being placed Luxembourg in 9th place in 2019. Luxembourg remains a highly popular destination for raising children.
Children can grow up in a safe environment. Their health and well-being are a particular focus for public institutions. They benefit from a multilingual education, which opens doors for them internationally.
Are you moving to Luxembourg? Find out more about import allowances here.