Transport shapes expat happiness more than people expect when choosing where to live, because a bad commute poisons everything else. Many expat destinations have public transport far better than newcomers from car centric countries are used to, and living near a metro or reliable bus line often beats a bigger flat further out.
The realistic options depend on the city. Dense cities reward public transport and cycling, with monthly passes usually far cheaper than per ride tickets. Smaller towns may make a car unavoidable, which raises the licensing question: some countries convert a foreign licence easily while others require full local testing, so check early because the process can take months. Ride hailing fills gaps but gets expensive as a daily habit.
My standard advice to new arrivals: spend the first month on public transport before buying a car, do a trial commute at rush hour before signing any lease, and treat rent plus transport as one combined number.