Tax and family life · updated October 2026
Low-tax countries for families
13 jurisdictions pass both tests: a top income tax rate of 25% or less (or no tax on foreign income), and a good fit for families in the Tax Atlas livability data. They are ranked on the families weighting, where safety leads, then healthcare, tax and English. 13 of them have no inheritance tax.
The table
Low-tax countries ranked for family life
| Country | Family score | Top income tax | Inheritance tax | Safety /100 | Healthcare /100 | English /100 | Budget / month | Overall rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SingaporeSingapore | 77.8 | 24% | No | 92 | 93 | 98 | $5,500 | #4 |
| QatarDoha | 74.4 | 0% | No | 88 | 82 | 80 | $4,000 | #5 |
| BahrainManama | 72.5 | 0% | No | 72 | 75 | 80 | $3,000 | #6 |
| Isle of ManDouglas | 72.5 | 21% | No | 88 | 75 | 100 | $3,300 | #25 |
| OmanMuscat | 72.2 | 0 (5% from 2028) | No | 85 | 72 | 72 | $2,800 | #9 |
| BruneiBandar Seri Begawan | 71.8 | 0% | No | 85 | 72 | 75 | $2,200 | #12 |
| KuwaitKuwait City | 71.7 | 0% | No | 80 | 76 | 72 | $3,000 | #10 |
| AndorraAndorra la Vella | 70.1 | 10% | No | 88 | 82 | 45 | $3,200 | #31 |
| UruguayMontevideo | 69.5 | 36% | No | 62 | 74 | 45 | $2,500 | #17 |
| MauritiusGrand Baie | 69.1 | 20% | No | 70 | 65 | 70 | $2,000 | #20 |
| JerseySt Helier | 67.9 | 20% | No | 88 | 78 | 100 | $5,000 | #42 |
| GuernseySt Peter Port | 67.7 | 20% | No | 88 | 78 | 100 | $4,800 | #43 |
| Costa RicaSan José (Central Valley) | 65.5 | 25% | No | 52 | 75 | 55 | $2,300 | #34 |
Tax figures come from each country profile in the Tax Atlas dataset. The family score is the Live Score on the families ranking weights. Safety, healthcare and English are editorial composite ratings, and budgets are editorial estimates for one person in the main expat city, in US dollars; none are official index values. Inheritance tax shows whether the country levies one at all; exemptions for spouses and children are on each country page. Not tax or immigration advice: verify with a qualified adviser.
Before you choose
What the table does not show
- School fees are not scored. International school fees vary more by city than by country and can outweigh the tax saving. Budgets here are for one person.
- Dependants need their own permits. Most residence routes let a spouse and children join, often with a higher income or deposit threshold. Compare routes on the easiest tax residency list.
- Two earners, two tax positions. Some countries tax couples jointly and some separately, and a working partner may not qualify for a newcomer regime. The high-tax countries with tax breaks page covers those regimes.
- Want only the safest? See the safest low-tax countries and the low-tax countries with good healthcare.
Questions
Frequently asked
What are the best low-tax countries for families?+
On the Tax Atlas families weighting (safety first, then healthcare, tax and English), the top low-tax picks are Singapore (77.8/100), Qatar (74.4/100) and Bahrain (72.5/100). The full table covers 13 jurisdictions with a top income tax rate of 25% or less, or no tax on foreign income, that the dataset rates as a good fit for families. Scores are editorial composites, not official index values.
Is there a country with no income tax that is good for families?+
Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Brunei and Kuwait charge no personal income tax and are rated a good fit for families. Zero-tax places tend to cost more to live in, and international school fees are not included in the Tax Atlas budget, so check both before moving.
Which low-tax family countries have no inheritance tax?+
Singapore, Qatar, Bahrain, Isle of Man, Oman, Brunei, Kuwait, Andorra, Uruguay, Mauritius, Jersey, Guernsey and Costa Rica have no inheritance tax in the Tax Atlas dataset. Some still tax gifts, transfers to non-relatives or local property, so read the inheritance note on each country page and verify with a qualified adviser.
Which low-tax countries are easiest for an English-speaking family?+
On the Tax Atlas English rating, the highest here are Isle of Man (100/100), Jersey (100/100) and Guernsey (100/100). A high rating means daily life, admin and many schools work in English. The rating is an editorial composite informed by the EF English Proficiency Index.
Which low-tax family countries are safest?+
On the Tax Atlas safety rating, the highest here are Singapore (92/100), Qatar (88/100) and Isle of Man (88/100). The rating is informed by the Global Peace Index and crime surveys and is not an official index value.
What is the cheapest low-tax country for a family?+
By the Tax Atlas monthly budget, the lowest here are Mauritius (about $2,000 in Grand Baie), Brunei (about $2,200 in Bandar Seri Begawan) and Costa Rica (about $2,300 in San José (Central Valley)). Budgets are editorial estimates for one person in the main expat city, so a family should expect a larger home, schooling and health insurance on top.
More rankings
Best places to live for…
- Overall
- Remote workers
- Retirees
- Families
- Founders
- Investors
- On a budget
- High tax, with breaks
- Safest, low tax
- Good healthcare, low tax
- English-speaking, low tax
- Warm, low tax
- Cheap, low tax
- Tax-free retirement
- Low tax, for entrepreneurs
- Europe
- Asia-Pacific
- The Americas
- Middle East & Africa
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