City Cost of Living Comparison
Pick two cities. Or six. We'll tell you which one wins — rent, taxes, safety, weather. Data, not feelings.
Undecided? Borrow a dilemma
Cost of Living Comparison by Region
3,229 city-pair comparisons across 132+ cities. Rent, salary, safety, visa difficulty, democracy — the dimensions that actually matter when you're relocating for good.
Spain & Portugal
The Iberian juggernauts people can't stop comparing.
Germany, Austria & Switzerland
Efficiency contest. Winner gets a train that's only two minutes late.
UK & France
Choose your weather: grey and damp, or grey and slightly warmer.
Southeast Asia
Where your rent costs less than your coffee habit back home.
Americas
North, Central, South — same continent, wildly different vibes.
Popular Relocation Pairs
The routes people actually take when they decide to leave.
Budget vs. Premium
Same quality of life, different hit to your wallet.
Most-Compared Cities
The cities that keep showing up in everyone's relocation shortlist.
Escape Routes
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compare cost of living between two cities?▼
Select any two cities using the dropdowns above. The comparison shows rent, food, transport, safety, internet speed, democracy index, and a livability score — all from real data sources including Numbeo, UNODC, and EIU.
How does Townleap compare cities?▼
Every comparison uses the same real data: Numbeo for rent and groceries, UNODC for homicide rates, EIU for democracy scores, World Bank for GDP and inflation, EF EPI for English proficiency, and Ookla for internet speed. We calculate a composite livability score so you can see which city wins overall — and where each one has the edge.
Can I compare more than two cities at once?▼
Yes — up to 6. Use the "add a third city" slot in the picker above, then keep adding on the comparison page until your shortlist thins itself out. The table shows every metric side by side with the winner highlighted. (The URL form /cities/compare?cities=berlin,lisbon,bangkok also works, if you'd rather type.)
Which is better for relocation: Western Europe or Eastern Europe?▼
Western Europe (Germany, Netherlands, France) offers higher salaries, stronger institutions, and easier EU residency — but costs 2–3x more than Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary) offers EU membership at a fraction of the cost. Compare specific city pairs to see the trade-offs.
What data sources does Townleap use for city comparisons?▼
Townleap uses Numbeo for cost of living data, UNODC for crime and homicide rates, EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit) for democracy index, World Bank and IMF for GDP and economic data, EF EPI for English proficiency, and Ookla Speedtest for internet speeds. All data is updated regularly from these authoritative sources.
Is the city comparison tool free?▼
Yes, completely free. Compare any of our 132+ cities on rent, salary, safety, climate, and more — no sign-up required. We also show personalized take-home pay and savings estimates if you enter your salary.
Data: Numbeo · UNODC · EIU · World Bank · EF EPI · Ookla Speedtest