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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1.
🇩🇪

Leipzig

Germany

English: Very High, 214 Mbps, $800/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$800/mo rent$2164/mo totalEnglish: Very High77°F summers214 Mbps
89score
2.
🇩🇪

Stuttgart

Germany

English: Very High, 224 Mbps, $1157/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1157/mo rent$2638/mo totalEnglish: Very High75°F summers224 Mbps
88score
3.
🇫🇮

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$2368/mo totalEnglish: Very High72°F summers227 MbpsCoastal
87score
4.
🇩🇪

Cologne

Germany

English: Very High, 189 Mbps, $1171/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1171/mo rent$2657/mo totalEnglish: Very High75°F summers189 Mbps
86score
5.
🇳🇴

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$3996/mo totalEnglish: Very High70°F summers258 MbpsCoastal
85score
6.
🇵🇹

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$2319/mo totalEnglish: Very High73°F summers226 MbpsCoastal
85score
7.
🇩🇰

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$3504/mo totalEnglish: Very High68°F summers245 MbpsCoastal
84score
8.
🇸🇪

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$2319/mo totalEnglish: Very High66°F summers163 MbpsCoastal
84score
9.
🇵🇹

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$2731/mo totalEnglish: Very High81°F summers238 MbpsCoastal
83score
10.
🇸🇪

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$3443/mo totalEnglish: Very High68°F summers190 MbpsCoastal
83score
11.
🇨🇭

Lugano

Switzerland

English: High, 306 Mbps, $1813/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$1813/mo rent$4101/mo totalEnglish: High81°F summers306 Mbps
81score
12.
🇷🇴

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$1690/mo totalEnglish: High86°F summers255 Mbps
81score
13.
🇳🇱

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$3421/mo totalEnglish: Very High70°F summers141 MbpsCoastal
80score
14.
🇨🇭

Lausanne

Switzerland

English: High, 465 Mbps, $2058/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$2058/mo rent$4091/mo totalEnglish: High77°F summers465 Mbps
79score
15.
🇨🇭

Lucerne

Switzerland

English: High, 412 Mbps, $2173/mo rent, full democracy. The bureaucracy might still be hell, but at least it's in English.

$2173/mo rent$4445/mo totalEnglish: High75°F summers412 Mbps
79score
16.
🇸🇮

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$2422/mo totalEnglish: Very High81°F summers130 Mbps
79score
17.
🇩🇪

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$3055/mo totalEnglish: Very High77°F summers128 Mbps
78score
18.
🇳🇱

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$2892/mo totalEnglish: Very High68°F summers99 MbpsCoastal
77score
19.
🇦🇹

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$2865/mo totalEnglish: Very High75°F summers101 Mbps
76score
20.
🇨🇿

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$2457/mo totalEnglish: High73°F summers137 Mbps
76score
21.
🇩🇪

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$2855/mo totalEnglish: Very High70°F summers96 Mbps
76score
22.
🇸🇪

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$2397/mo totalEnglish: Very High68°F summers84 MbpsCoastal
76score
23.
🇫🇷

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$2277/mo totalEnglish: Moderate81°F summers169 MbpsCoastal
75score
24.
🇦🇹

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$2309/mo totalEnglish: Very High77°F summers
74score
25.
🇨🇭

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$5247/mo totalEnglish: High73°F summers213 Mbps
74score
26.
🇩🇪

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$3328/mo totalEnglish: Very High72°F summers92 Mbps
74score
27.
🇪🇪

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$2239/mo totalEnglish: High68°F summers112 MbpsCoastal
74score
28.
🇬🇷

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$1935/mo totalEnglish: High90°F summers98 MbpsCoastal
74score
29.
🇳🇱

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$4279/mo totalEnglish: Very High68°F summers122 MbpsCoastal
73score
30.
🇵🇱

Krakow

Poland

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

$976/mo rent$2065/mo totalEnglish: Very High73°F summers88 Mbps
73score
31.
🇵🇱

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$2385/mo totalEnglish: Very High73°F summers109 Mbps
73score
32.
🇵🇹

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$2326/mo totalEnglish: Very High82°F summers84 MbpsCoastal
73score
33.
🇫🇷

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$2400/mo totalEnglish: Moderate79°F summers146 Mbps
72score
34.
🇫🇷

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$3039/mo totalEnglish: Moderate75°F summers173 Mbps
72score
35.
🇵🇹

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$2085/mo totalEnglish: Very High82°F summers49 MbpsCoastal
71score
36.
🇸🇰

Bratislava

Slovakia

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

$1118/mo rent$2213/mo totalEnglish: High81°F summers99 Mbps
71score
37.
🇦🇹

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$3163/mo totalEnglish: Very High75°F summers
70score
38.
🇩🇪

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$2986/mo totalEnglish: Very High79°F summers
70score
39.
🇸🇰

Kosice

Slovakia

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

$965/mo rent$2072/mo totalEnglish: High79°F summers85 Mbps
70score
40.
🇭🇺

Budapest

Hungary

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

$918/mo rent$1964/mo totalEnglish: High79°F summers80 Mbps
69score
41.
🇵🇹

Funchal

Portugal

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

$1568/mo rent$2610/mo totalEnglish: Very High75°F summersCoastalMountains
69score
42.
🇭🇷

Split

Croatia

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

$1077/mo rent$2392/mo totalEnglish: Very High86°F summersCoastalMountains
68score
43.
🇦🇹

Innsbruck

Austria

English: Very High, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

English: Very High77°F summers
67score
44.
🇪🇸

Madrid

Spain

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

$1498/mo rent$2740/mo totalEnglish: Moderate88°F summers94 Mbps
67score
45.
🇪🇸

Valencia

Spain

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

$1429/mo rent$2574/mo totalEnglish: Moderate84°F summers99 MbpsCoastal
67score
46.
🇨🇭

Geneva

Switzerland

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

$2887/mo rent$5164/mo totalEnglish: High79°F summers122 Mbps
66score
47.
🇷🇸

Belgrade

Serbia

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

$904/mo rent$1971/mo totalEnglish: High81°F summers68 Mbps
66score
48.
🇨🇭

Bern

Switzerland

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

$1960/mo rent$3935/mo totalEnglish: High75°F summers
65score
49.
🇪🇸

Seville

Spain

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

$980/mo rent$2003/mo totalEnglish: Moderate93°F summers
65score
50.
🇨🇭

Basel

Switzerland

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

$2060/mo rent$4205/mo totalEnglish: High79°F summers
64score
51.
🇪🇸

Barcelona

Spain

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

$1712/mo rent$2918/mo totalEnglish: Moderate81°F summers84 MbpsCoastal
64score
52.
🇪🇸

Tenerife

Spain

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

$1217/mo rent$2443/mo totalEnglish: Moderate81°F summersCoastalMountains
64score
53.
🇪🇸

Bilbao

Spain

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

$1259/mo rent$2503/mo totalEnglish: Moderate77°F summersCoastal
63score
54.
🇪🇸

Malaga

Spain

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

$1392/mo rent$2531/mo totalEnglish: Moderate84°F summersCoastal
63score
55.
🇫🇷

Montpellier

France

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

$930/mo rent$2160/mo totalEnglish: Moderate86°F summersCoastal
63score
56.
🇫🇷

Nice

France

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

$1142/mo rent$2549/mo totalEnglish: Moderate82°F summersCoastal
62score
57.
🇮🇹

Rome

Italy

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

$1355/mo rent$2626/mo totalEnglish: Moderate86°F summers75 MbpsCoastal
61score
58.
🇮🇹

Milan

Italy

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

$1737/mo rent$3311/mo totalEnglish: Moderate82°F summers90 MbpsMountains
60score
59.
🇮🇹

Bologna

Italy

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

$1130/mo rent$2618/mo totalEnglish: Moderate88°F summers
59score
60.
🇮🇹

Florence

Italy

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

$1316/mo rent$2811/mo totalEnglish: Moderate86°F summers46 MbpsMountains
58score
61.
🇬🇧

Edinburgh

United Kingdom

$1620/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1620/mo rent$3282/mo total63°F summers89 MbpsCoastal
57score
62.
🇬🇧

Manchester

United Kingdom

102 Mbps, $1703/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$1703/mo rent$3165/mo total68°F summers102 Mbps
57score
63.
🇮🇪

Cork

Ireland

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

$2005/mo rent$3537/mo total66°F summersCoastal
53score
64.
🇮🇪

Dublin

Ireland

$2522/mo rent, full democracy. You'll figure it out. Probably.

$2522/mo rent$4149/mo total64°F summers91 MbpsCoastal
53score
65.
🇬🇧

Brighton

United Kingdom

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

$1894/mo rent$3465/mo total68°F summersCoastal
50score
66.
🇹🇷

Istanbul

Turkey

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

$1070/mo rent$1964/mo totalEnglish: Low82°F summers51 MbpsCoastal
49score
67.
🇬🇧

London

United Kingdom

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

$3000/mo rent$4987/mo total72°F summers87 Mbps
48score
68.
🇷🇺

Saint Petersburg

Russia

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

$908/mo rent$1793/mo totalEnglish: Moderate70°F summersCoastal
39score
69.
🇷🇺

Moscow

Russia

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

$1499/mo rent$2574/mo totalEnglish: Moderate72°F 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?▾

Leipzig (Germany) leads our Expat Rankings with a score of 89/100. 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 Leipzig (89/100), #2 Stuttgart (88/100), #3 Helsinki (87/100), #4 Cologne (86/100), #5 Oslo (85/100). 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?▾

Leipzig (Germany) — 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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