(CNS Business): The Cayman Islands has been ranked third as a place for expats to live to make money in the 2012 Expat Explorer Survey, behind Singapore (the top choice) and Thailand (#2), and ahead of Bermuda (#4), Hong Kong (#5), Mexico (#6) and Switzerland (#7). Commissioned by HSBC Expat and conducted by third party research company, the annual survey, now in its fifth year, is the largest independent global survey of expats. More than 5,000 expats based in 30 countries responded in 2012. In the survey results released by HSBC on Monday the Cayman Islands emerged as the number one choice for “Experience”.

In the overall experience, it achieved top rank for organising finances, finding accommodation, learning the local language, making friends, local work culture, integrating into the community, feeling welcome at work, sports, working environment, and commuting. However, Cayman scored low for local shops and markets (27), healthcare access and quality (21), using the local language (19), and enjoying local food (17). 

While Cayman ranked 5 overall for “Economics”, it scored top status in that category for taking more luxurious holidays and was number 2 for having more than one property and also for having a boat or yacht.

It was in the bottom half of the league tables for the economics of healthcare (16) and only number 11 for income.

Go to the Cayman Islands page of the survey.