Townleap

Best European Cities for Expats

English-friendly, well-connected, not bankrupt. The spreadsheet for people who just moved and can't read the electricity bill.

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Cheapest Places to Live in EuropeBest Places to Live in EuropeSafest Places to Live in EuropeCost of Living Index by CityQuality of Life Index by CitySafest Countries in the WorldCheapest Countries to Live InBest Countries for English SpeakersBest Cities for FamiliesSafest Countries for FamiliesCheapest Places to Live in AsiaSafest Places to Live in AsiaCheapest Places to Live in South AmericaCheapest Places to Live in North AmericaBest Countries to Live In 2026Best Countries to Move to From the USEasiest Countries to Immigrate to in 2026Full City Rankings
1.
🇫🇮

Helsinki

Finland

English: Very High, 227 Mbps, $1210/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1210/mo rent$2888/mo totalEnglish: Very High22°C summers227 MbpsCoastal
87score
2.
🇳🇴

Oslo

Norway

English: Very High, 258 Mbps, $2004/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$2004/mo rent$4736/mo totalEnglish: Very High21°C summers258 MbpsCoastal
87score
3.
🇵🇹

Porto

Portugal

English: Very High, 226 Mbps, $1297/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1297/mo rent$2862/mo totalEnglish: Very High23°C summers226 MbpsCoastal
85score
4.
🇩🇰

Copenhagen

Denmark

English: Very High, 245 Mbps, $1970/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1970/mo rent$4234/mo totalEnglish: Very High20°C summers245 MbpsCoastal
84score
5.
🇸🇪

Gothenburg

Sweden

English: Very High, 163 Mbps, $1080/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1080/mo rent$2802/mo totalEnglish: Very High19°C summers163 MbpsCoastal
84score
6.
🇵🇹

Lisbon

Portugal

English: Very High, 238 Mbps, $1616/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1616/mo rent$3363/mo totalEnglish: Very High27°C summers238 MbpsCoastal
83score
7.
🇸🇪

Stockholm

Sweden

English: Very High, 190 Mbps, $1816/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1816/mo rent$4131/mo totalEnglish: Very High20°C summers190 MbpsCoastal
83score
8.
🇷🇴

Bucharest

Romania

English: High, 255 Mbps, $668/mo rent. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$668/mo rent$2059/mo totalEnglish: High30°C summers255 Mbps
81score
9.
🇳🇱

Rotterdam

Netherlands

English: Very High, 141 Mbps, $1805/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1805/mo rent$4105/mo totalEnglish: Very High21°C summers141 MbpsCoastal
80score
10.
🇸🇮

Ljubljana

Slovenia

English: Very High, 130 Mbps, $1118/mo rent. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1118/mo rent$2916/mo totalEnglish: Very High27°C summers130 Mbps
79score
11.
🇩🇪

Berlin

Germany

English: Very High, 128 Mbps, $1550/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1550/mo rent$3669/mo totalEnglish: Very High25°C summers128 Mbps
78score
12.
🇳🇱

The Hague

Netherlands

English: Very High, $1548/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1548/mo rent$3506/mo totalEnglish: Very High20°C summers99 MbpsCoastal
77score
13.
🇦🇹

Vienna

Austria

English: Very High, 101 Mbps, $1303/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1303/mo rent$3410/mo totalEnglish: Very High24°C summers101 Mbps
76score
14.
🇨🇿

Prague

Czech Republic

English: High, 137 Mbps, $1228/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1228/mo rent$2981/mo totalEnglish: High23°C summers137 Mbps
76score
15.
🇩🇪

Hamburg

Germany

English: Very High, $1359/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1359/mo rent$3416/mo totalEnglish: Very High21°C summers96 Mbps
76score
16.
🇸🇪

Malmo

Sweden

English: Very High, $1092/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1092/mo rent$2884/mo totalEnglish: Very High20°C summers84 MbpsCoastal
76score
17.
🇦🇹

Graz

Austria

English: Very High, $772/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$772/mo rent$2706/mo totalEnglish: Very High25°C summers
75score
18.
🇫🇷

Marseille

France

English: Moderate, 169 Mbps, $902/mo rent. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$902/mo rent$2711/mo totalEnglish: Moderate27°C summers169 MbpsCoastal
75score
19.
🇬🇧

Edinburgh

United Kingdom

English: Very High, $1620/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1620/mo rent$3915/mo totalEnglish: Very High17°C summers89 MbpsCoastal
75score
20.
🇬🇧

Manchester

United Kingdom

English: Very High, 102 Mbps, $1703/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1703/mo rent$3822/mo totalEnglish: Very High20°C summers102 Mbps
75score
21.
🇨🇭

Zurich

Switzerland

English: High, 213 Mbps, $3006/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$3006/mo rent$6265/mo totalEnglish: High23°C summers213 Mbps
74score
22.
🇩🇪

Munich

Germany

English: Very High, $1678/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1678/mo rent$3977/mo totalEnglish: Very High22°C summers92 Mbps
74score
23.
🇪🇪

Tallinn

Estonia

English: High, 112 Mbps, $816/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$816/mo rent$2649/mo totalEnglish: High20°C summers112 MbpsCoastal
74score
24.
🇬🇷

Athens

Greece

English: High, $737/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$737/mo rent$2323/mo totalEnglish: High32°C summers98 MbpsCoastal
74score
25.
🇵🇹

Lagos

Portugal

English: Very High, $1233/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1233/mo rent$2851/mo totalEnglish: Very High28°C summers84 MbpsCoastal
74score
26.
🇳🇱

Amsterdam

Netherlands

English: Very High, 122 Mbps, $2602/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$2602/mo rent$5185/mo totalEnglish: Very High20°C summers122 MbpsCoastal
73score
27.
🇵🇱

Krakow

Poland

English: Very High, $976/mo rent. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$976/mo rent$2519/mo totalEnglish: Very High23°C summers88 Mbps
73score
28.
🇵🇱

Warsaw

Poland

English: Very High, 109 Mbps, $1224/mo rent. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1224/mo rent$2909/mo totalEnglish: Very High23°C summers109 Mbps
73score
29.
🇫🇷

Lyon

France

English: Moderate, 146 Mbps, $972/mo rent. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$972/mo rent$2854/mo totalEnglish: Moderate26°C summers146 Mbps
72score
30.
🇫🇷

Paris

France

English: Moderate, 173 Mbps, $1604/mo rent. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1604/mo rent$3668/mo totalEnglish: Moderate24°C summers173 Mbps
72score
31.
🇮🇪

Dublin

Ireland

English: Very High, $2522/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$2522/mo rent$5033/mo totalEnglish: Very High18°C summers91 MbpsCoastal
72score
32.
🇩🇪

Frankfurt

Germany

English: Very High, $1358/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1358/mo rent$3547/mo totalEnglish: Very High26°C summers
71score
33.
🇵🇹

Faro

Portugal

English: Very High, $1077/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1077/mo rent$2568/mo totalEnglish: Very High28°C summers49 MbpsCoastal
71score
34.
🇸🇰

Bratislava

Slovakia

English: High, $1118/mo rent. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1118/mo rent$2707/mo totalEnglish: High27°C summers99 Mbps
71score
35.
🇦🇹

Salzburg

Austria

English: Very High, $1537/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1537/mo rent$3773/mo totalEnglish: Very High24°C summers
70score
36.
🇸🇰

Kosice

Slovakia

English: High, $965/mo rent. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$965/mo rent$2523/mo totalEnglish: High26°C summers85 Mbps
70score
37.
🇭🇺

Budapest

Hungary

English: High, $918/mo rent. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$918/mo rent$2402/mo totalEnglish: High26°C summers80 Mbps
69score
38.
🇵🇹

Funchal

Portugal

English: Very High, $1568/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1568/mo rent$3229/mo totalEnglish: Very High24°C summersCoastalMountains
69score
39.
🇭🇷

Split

Croatia

English: Very High, $1077/mo rent. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1077/mo rent$2875/mo totalEnglish: Very High30°C summersCoastalMountains
68score
40.
🇨🇭

Geneva

Switzerland

English: High, 122 Mbps, $2887/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$2887/mo rent$6149/mo totalEnglish: High26°C summers122 Mbps
67score
41.
🇪🇸

Madrid

Spain

English: Moderate, $1498/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1498/mo rent$3339/mo totalEnglish: Moderate31°C summers94 Mbps
67score
42.
🇪🇸

Valencia

Spain

English: Moderate, $1429/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1429/mo rent$3154/mo totalEnglish: Moderate29°C summers99 MbpsCoastal
67score
43.
🇪🇸

Seville

Spain

English: Moderate, $980/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$980/mo rent$2459/mo totalEnglish: Moderate34°C summers
66score
44.
🇬🇧

London

United Kingdom

English: Very High, $3000/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$3000/mo rent$6004/mo totalEnglish: Very High22°C summers87 Mbps
66score
45.
🇷🇸

Belgrade

Serbia

English: High, $904/mo rent. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$904/mo rent$2405/mo totalEnglish: High27°C summers68 Mbps
66score
46.
🇨🇭

Basel

Switzerland

English: High, $2060/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$2060/mo rent$4961/mo totalEnglish: High26°C summers
65score
47.
🇨🇭

Bern

Switzerland

English: High, $1960/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1960/mo rent$4662/mo totalEnglish: High24°C summers
65score
48.
🇪🇸

Barcelona

Spain

English: Moderate, $1712/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1712/mo rent$3576/mo totalEnglish: Moderate27°C summers84 MbpsCoastal
64score
49.
🇪🇸

Bilbao

Spain

English: Moderate, $1259/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1259/mo rent$3036/mo totalEnglish: Moderate25°C summersCoastal
64score
50.
🇪🇸

Tenerife

Spain

English: Moderate, $1217/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1217/mo rent$2964/mo totalEnglish: Moderate27°C summersCoastalMountains
64score
51.
🇫🇷

Montpellier

France

English: Moderate, $930/mo rent. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$930/mo rent$2601/mo totalEnglish: Moderate30°C summersCoastal
64score
52.
🇪🇸

Malaga

Spain

English: Moderate, $1392/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1392/mo rent$3101/mo totalEnglish: Moderate29°C summersCoastal
63score
53.
🇫🇷

Nice

France

English: Moderate, $1142/mo rent. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1142/mo rent$3050/mo totalEnglish: Moderate28°C summersCoastal
63score
54.
🇮🇹

Bologna

Italy

English: Moderate, $1130/mo rent. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1130/mo rent$3115/mo totalEnglish: Moderate31°C summers
61score
55.
🇮🇹

Rome

Italy

English: Moderate, $1355/mo rent. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1355/mo rent$3185/mo totalEnglish: Moderate30°C summers75 MbpsCoastal
61score
56.
🇮🇹

Milan

Italy

English: Moderate, $1737/mo rent. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1737/mo rent$3976/mo totalEnglish: Moderate28°C summers90 MbpsMountains
60score
57.
🇮🇹

Florence

Italy

English: Moderate, $1316/mo rent. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1316/mo rent$3360/mo totalEnglish: Moderate30°C summers46 MbpsMountains
58score
58.
🇮🇪

Cork

Ireland

$2005/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$2005/mo rent$4277/mo total19°C summersCoastal
54score
59.
🇬🇧

Brighton

United Kingdom

$1894/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1894/mo rent$4174/mo total20°C summersCoastal
51score
60.
🇹🇷

Istanbul

Turkey

English: Low, $1070/mo rent. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1070/mo rent$2444/mo totalEnglish: Low28°C summers51 MbpsCoastal
49score
61.
🇷🇺

Saint Petersburg

Russia

English: Moderate, $908/mo rent. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$908/mo rent$2229/mo totalEnglish: Moderate21°C summersCoastal
39score
62.
🇷🇺

Moscow

Russia

English: Moderate, $1499/mo rent. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1499/mo rent$3173/mo totalEnglish: Moderate22°C summers
35score
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Data: Numbeo · UNODC · EIU · World Bank · EF EPI · Ookla Speedtest

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best city in Europe for expats in 2026?▾

Helsinki (Finland) leads our Expat Rankings with a score of 87/100. That covers English proficiency, internet speed, safety, democracy, and affordability — the five things that determine whether you'll survive your first week.

Top 5 cities for expats in Europe?▾

#1 Helsinki (87/100), #2 Oslo (87/100), #3 Porto (85/100), #4 Copenhagen (84/100), #5 Gothenburg (84/100). Weighted toward English and connectivity, because dealing with bureaucracy in a foreign language over dial-up is nobody's idea of a fresh start.

Where in Europe can expats get by in English?▾

Helsinki (Finland) — English proficiency: Very High. You'll still embarrass yourself ordering coffee, but at least the doctor will understand "it hurts here."

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