There is a new service enterily free, http://citycita.orgthat help expat to connect each other in major woldwide cities for each expat communities:
There is not a lot of people but it is up to us to make it
Ex :
Like this one :
New in town
http://newintown.citycita.org
American expat
http://american-expat.citycita.org/
Brit expat
http://expat-brit.citycita.org/
Aussie expat
http://expat-aussie.citycita.org/
French language exchange
http://french-language.citycita.org/

Seems to be a real alternative to meetup.com and free.
Let's meet
j