Denmark consistently ranks among the happiest countries in the world and was recently named the No. 1 country for quality of life. If you've ever thought about moving to Copenhagen in search of nice weather, work-life balance and competitive pay, now is the time.
This month, the Greater Copenhagen Region launched a marketing campaign for its new “Quality of Life Insurance”. The aim of the initiative is to attract people to the region and make them happy once they arrive.
The Greater Copenhagen region consists of Zealand, the capital region in Denmark, and Skåne and Halland in Sweden.
Interested participants must register online, enter into a full-time, permanent employment contract in the GCR and relocate to the region between October 2024 and April 2025.
If new residents find that they are dissatisfied after some time in the area, their trip home could be covered by “insurance.”
“We are so confident that people will fall in love with life in GCR that we are willing to go down this path,” Asbjørn Overgaard, a spokesperson, tells Time Out. “If you move here and, against all odds, it’s not right for you, we’ll help you get back home.”
Copenhagen, Denmark
Alongkot Sumritjearapol | moment | Getty Images
Expats traveling to the region can benefit from the partial refunds offered, which include up to 5,000 DKK or US$716 in return travel costs and up to 2,000 DKK or US$286 in return travel costs for accompanying immediate family members.
The total budget for this travel reimbursement campaign is 50,000 DKK or $7,158. Any claims beyond this will not be met if the effort limit is reached.
Applications for reimbursement can be made after at least 12 months of permanent residence and full-time employment, but no earlier than October 2025.
Halland, Sweden
Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images
Although people in Denmark pay some of the highest taxes in the world – up to half of their income – this is offset by free or low-cost healthcare, subsidized childcare, no tuition fees for university students and subsidies to cover expenses. Older people receive pensions and are provided with nursing staff.
Denmark is also the No. 1 country where expats are most satisfied with their jobs, career opportunities and work-life balance, according to an Expat Insider survey by InterNations, the global online community for people who have moved to the country.
According to the country's official website, Denmark was also ranked the second happiest country in this year's World Happiness Report due to its level of equality and sense of responsibility for social well-being.
According to the World Happiness Report, these are two things that are closely linked to happiness.
Similar to Denmark, Sweden offers its residents free healthcare and higher education and is the No. 2 country for quality of life according to US News and World Report.
According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Sweden is on average 9.4% lower than in the United States, while rents are 47.5% lower.
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