Methodology

How we source our data

A relocation decision is too big to base on Reddit threads. Every number on ResideWise links back to a named source with a "last verified" date. Here's exactly where we get it — and where we don't.

Visa & immigration

Confidence: High

Every visa pathway links directly to the official government immigration page (e.g. Portugal SEF, Japan Immigration Services Agency, Estonia Police and Border Guard). We tag each entry with a 1–5 source-quality score: 5 = primary government source, 3 = secondary, 1 = unverified.

Primary sources
  • Portugal — vistos.mne.gov.pt
  • Spain — Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores
  • Japan — moj.go.jp/isa
  • Estonia — politsei.ee
  • Greece — mfa.gr
  • Mexico — gob.mx/inm
  • + 18 more, one per pathway
Refresh: Manual quarterly review today. Automated change-detection (Firecrawl + AI diffs) on the roadmap.

Cost of living & rent

Confidence: Medium (today) → High (with paid API)

Current figures are seeded estimates derived from public Numbeo, Expatistan, and local-statistics-office snapshots. We'll upgrade to Numbeo's licensed API for continuously updated, city-level numbers once revenue supports it.

Primary sources
  • Numbeo (crowdsourced)
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • Eurostat
  • Local statistics offices
Refresh: Seeded estimates with a visible 'as of' date. Live API integration planned post-launch.

Taxes

Confidence: Medium

Effective tax rates for a remote worker are estimates based on PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries and OECD tax databases. Every figure assumes a single filer with W-2-style income; your actual rate depends on residency status, treaties, and deductions a tax advisor should evaluate.

Primary sources
  • PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries
  • OECD Tax Database
Refresh: Reviewed annually; not a substitute for professional tax advice.

Healthcare & safety

Confidence: Medium

Healthcare and safety indices combine WHO Global Health Observatory country data with city-level Numbeo indices. For US travel safety, we cross-reference US State Department OSAC advisories.

Primary sources
  • WHO Global Health Observatory
  • Numbeo Safety & Healthcare Indices
  • US State Department OSAC
Refresh: Quarterly refresh.

Internet

Confidence: High

Median fixed-broadband download speeds from Ookla's Speedtest Global Index — the dataset most ISPs and journalists cite.

Primary sources
  • Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Refresh: Monthly.

Climate

Confidence: High

Climate classifications use the standard Köppen-Geiger system; temperature and precipitation norms come from NOAA and Open-Meteo's historical archives.

Primary sources
  • NOAA Climate Data Online
  • Open-Meteo historical archive
  • Köppen-Geiger classification
Refresh: Stable; updated when climate normals are revised (~decade).
What we don't claim

Our honest limits

  • • We are not lawyers, tax advisors, or licensed immigration consultants. Treat every number as a starting point for a conversation with a professional.
  • • Visa rules can change between our quarterly reviews. The official source link on each visa page is always more current than us — click it before you act.
  • • Cost-of-living indices are directional. A $1,800 1BR estimate may be $1,400 or $2,400 depending on neighborhood, season, and how much you negotiate.
  • • When we don't have a high-confidence source, we show "—" instead of inventing a number.

See a number that looks wrong, or know a better source?

Tell us →