The average professional expatriate earns 67,000 pounds (S$185,328), compared to a UK average of 47,000 pounds - 42.6 per cent less, according to NatWest International.

Its 'wealth ranking survey', undertaken with the Centre of Future Studies think-tank, shows that the United Arab Emirates tops the charts, with professionals netting an average annual salary of 79,000 pounds.

Even Portugal, at the lower end, comes in with a respectable average annual wage of 58,000 pounds.

However, when the cost of living is taken into account Spain (with an average expat salary of 65,000 pounds) and Italy (76,000 pounds) jumped up the table.

Mr David Isley, head of personal banking at NatWest International, said: 'The wage packets of expats are very encouraging for people who are looking to move abroad.

'People who are willing to move abroad not only benefit from bigger earnings in countries such as Spain and Italy, but also have the advantage of a lower cost of living.' Overall, 68 per cent of those surveyed found that the cost of living abroad to be lower than in the UK, which lead to 90 per cent considering themselves financially better off.

Almost 70 per cent also said they felt healthier living abroad.

Mr Isley said: 'Expats who have moved abroad appear to be wealthier, healthier and happier and all these factors have contributed to a better quality of life.

'It seems as if expats have not only found their pot of gold abroad, but are able to enjoy themselves and feel healthier for having made the move.'

The global survey also revealed the countries with the highest proportion of Britons working in certain occupations.

Canada had the most engineers, medical personnel, academics and teachers. IT professionals seemed to flock to Sweden; economists and accountants to Singapore; scientists to New Zealand; financial services workers to the UAE; and marketing and sales professionals to Portugal.

The research looked at expats in the following ten countries: Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and the UAE.

A total of 1,399 expats were surveyed. The report was also based on a range of data including figures from the Office for National Statistics, International Passenger Survey, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the World Values Survey. -- REUTERS