Alternative
WhereNext vs International Living: Free Open Data vs Paid Editorial
International Living has been publishing expat-relocation content for 40+ years — long-form magazine articles, paid memberships, in-person events. WhereNext takes a different angle: free, data-first, with downloadable open datasets. Both have value, and the choice depends on what you need.
Quick answer
What International Living does well
- 40+ years of expat-relocation editorial archives
- Long-form, narrative articles from on-the-ground correspondents
- Established paid-membership tier with conferences and tours
- Strong brand recognition in retiree-relocation segment
Visit International Living for the use case where they're the right tool. We link to them in our deeper guides.
Where WhereNext is different
Three structural differences that change which tool fits which question.
1. Free, no signup, no membership
WhereNext's content and data are entirely free. No paywall, no email-required gates on the core comparisons and rankings. International Living's deeper content sits behind a paid membership.
2. Reproducible, sourced data
Every WhereNext data point cites its institutional source (World Bank ICP, OECD, Eurostat, IRS, etc.). International Living's content is editorial — written by experienced expats — but doesn't always cite sources line-by-line.
3. Structured comparison tools
WhereNext lets you compare 95 countries side-by-side, weight dimensions to your priorities, and download the underlying data. International Living's strength is narrative, not interactive comparison.
Side-by-side comparison
Feature-by-feature breakdown, last reviewed 2026-05-08.
| Feature | International Living | WhereNext |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Membership tiers $30-$300/yr | Free |
| Content type | Editorial / narrative | Data + structured comparison |
| Country coverage | Editorial focus on ~30 | 95 countries data-tier |
| Sourcing model | Correspondent reports | Institutional public-domain data |
| Comparison tools | Limited | Multi-country, multi-dimension |
| Open data | Proprietary | CC BY 4.0 |
| Updates cadence | Editorial publishing | Quarterly data refresh |
When to use which
Use International Living
If you value long-form expat narratives, conferences, in-country tours, and 40 years of editorial archives, International Living's depth is unmatched. Especially valuable if you're early-stage in retirement-abroad research and want the storytelling layer.
Use WhereNext
If you want free, sourced, comparable data — and the ability to weight your own priorities and download the underlying numbers — WhereNext is the right tool.
At a glance
- International Living = expat magazine Specialised for that single use case.
- WhereNext = open-data platform 95 countries, 380 cities, plus visa, tax, schools, healthcare.
- Both free at entry tier International Living has paid memberships above the free tier; WhereNext is fully free for all data + tools.
- CC BY 4.0 licence on WhereNext Every dataset is downloadable + redistributable with attribution.
- Use International Living for... If you value long-form expat narratives.
Frequently asked questions
Is WhereNext competitive with International Living's editorial depth?+
Different products. International Living publishes long-form narrative; WhereNext publishes structured data + rankings + tools. Many readers use International Living for inspiration and stories, then come to WhereNext to compare numbers.
Does WhereNext do retirement-abroad like International Living?+
Yes — see /best-countries-for/retirement (persona-weighted ranking) and our retirement-budget calculator at /tools/retirement-budget-calculator. Plus the open dataset at /data/cost-of-living-2026 for retiree-budget research.
Where to go next on WhereNext
This comparison was last reviewed 2026-05-08. We aim to be honest and source-cited about both tools — including pointing you at International Living for the use cases where they're the right fit. WhereNext's full methodology is at /methodology. Spot a factual error? Tell us.