Guide For Living Abroad In Europe
In order to get a visa in Europe, you will have to demonstrate that you can afford the cost of living in the country. Whether you’re a digital nomad, hoping to retire, or any other kind of expat, knowing what to expect when you move abroad is important to a successful relocation.
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Are you looking for your next adventure or an oasis abroad? Keep reading to see how the cost of living in popular European countries compares to the United States!
In this guide, we’ll compare the cost of living in several major categories, provide a heads-up about some differences in living in Europe vs. the US, and offer some visa information. We’ll also make sure you know where to find Health Insurance coverage as an American expat in Europe.
Most Important Information For Living Abroad In Europe
As an American expat, you won’t be eligible for benefits in European countries, so it’s essential to know what your expenses will be and be able to budget. Compare the cost of living that you’re used to and the cost of living in your destination country.
For more specific comparisons, since the cost of living varies from city to city, find your current city and compare it to your new location. If you need great ideas for places to live in Europe, check out our top recommendations in Europe for expats.
To look at these countries in greater detail, you can check out more specific cost of living and visa information.
- Guide to Living in Italy
- Guide to Living in Spain
- Guide to Living in France
- Guide to Living in Portugal
- Guide to Living in Greece
- Guide to Living in Germany
- Guide to Living in Ireland
- Guide to Living in the United Kingdom
- Guide to Living in Sweden
- Guide to Living in Malta
- Guide to Living in Poland
Cost Of Living In Europe Vs. The USA
In general, the cost of living in Europe is less expensive than the cost of living in the United States. This is great news for retirees or digital nomads! You may be able to stretch your salary further by living abroad.
We used crowd-sourced data to compare the average cost of living in eleven popular European countries to the average cost of living in the United States.
The rankings for the least expensive cost of living for an individual:
- Poland is 58.8% cheaper than the USA.
- Greece is 53.9% cheaper than the USA.
- Portugal is 51.5% cheaper than the USA.
- Spain is 43.7% cheaper than the USA.
- Italy is 40.4% cheaper than the USA.
- Malta is 39.4% cheaper than the USA.
- Sweden is 37.4% cheaper than the USA.
- Germany is 34.8% cheaper than the USA.
- France is 34.4% cheaper than the USA.
- The UK is 17.8% cheaper than the USA.
- Ireland is 0.7% cheaper than the USA.
Here are the rankings for the average cost of living for a family of four in the same eleven European countries and a comparison of the cost of living.
- Poland is 59% cheaper than the USA.
- Greece and Portugal are tied at 50.4% cheaper than the USA.
- Spain is 43.1% cheaper than the USA.
- Sweden is 39% cheaper than the USA.
- Malta and Italy are tied at 35.2% cheaper than the USA.
- Germany is 30% cheaper than the USA.
- France is 28.3% cheaper than the USA.
- The UK is 12.3% cheaper than the USA.
- Ireland is 3.6% cheaper than the USA.
Housing Cost Comparison In Europe Vs. The USA
On average, rent in the United Kingdom is much cheaper than in the United States. Property values are often higher in Europe, but the interest rates in 2023 are much lower than in the USA. This means the property may be more expensive, but you’ll spend less on interest on the loan.
To compare country averages, we used crowd-sourced data to compare the cost of rent in European countries expats like to consider. We looked at data for an individual’s rent and at data for a family of four.
For one person’s rent, these are the rankings for the lowest average rent:
- Poland is 61.5% cheaper than the USA.
- Portugal is 55.7% cheaper than the USA.
- Italy is 54% cheaper than the USA.
- Spain is 52.2% cheaper than the USA.
- Sweden is 48.5% cheaper than the USA.
- France is 46.8% cheaper than the USA.
- Malta is 46% cheaper than the USA.
- Germany is 44.5% cheaper than the USA.
- Greece is 39.2% cheaper than the USA.
- The United Kingdom is 22% cheaper than the USA.
- Ireland is 2% more expensive than the USA.
For a family of four’s rent, these are the rankings for the lowest average rent compared to the USA:
- Poland is 61.9% cheaper.
- Portugal is 55.2% cheaper.
- Spain is 54.4% cheaper.
- Italy is 51.7% cheaper.
- Sweden is 49.4% cheaper.
- The UK is 40% cheaper.
- France is 39.6% cheaper.
- Malta and Germany are tied at 37.5% cheaper.
- Ireland is 1.5% more expensive than the USA.
- Greece is 6.5% more expensive than the USA.
Food Cost Comparison In Europe Vs. The USA
Average amounts spent on food per person tends to be much cheaper in Europe than in the United States. This factor keeps European living for a family four more affordable on average than in the USA.
Here are the rankings for the amount spent on food for each person:
- Poland is 56.5% cheaper.
- Portugal is 48.2% cheaper.
- Spain is 36.3% cheaper.
- United Kingdom is 25.2% cheaper.
- Malta is 24.5% cheaper.
- Sweden is 23.4% cheaper.
- Italy is 22.2% cheaper.
- Greece is 14.8% cheaper.
- France is 13.2% cheaper.
- Ireland is 10.6% cheaper.
Transportation Cost Comparison Europe Vs. The USA
Transportation costs vary from country to country in Europe. Poland, Portugal, Malta, Greece, Italy, Spain, and France have lower average transportation costs than the United States. Sweden, Germany, Ireland, and the UK have higher average transportation costs.
Salaries In Europe Vs. The USA
Average after-tax salaries in Europe tend to be lower than in the United States. This would be less of a concern for retirees or digital nomads who have higher income from the USA to live on while abroad. Expats may also prefer the quality of life with a lower salary and lower cost of living.
Here’s the rankings for the highest average salaries in a sampling of eleven European countries. The United States has the highest average after-tax salary.
- Ireland has the highest average salary. It’s 28.7% lower than the USA.
- The UK is 32.5% lower.
- Germany is 34.4% lower.
- Sweden is 36.9% lower.
- France is 40.8% lower.
- Spain is 57.4% lower.
- Italy is 60.3% lower.
- Malta is 67.4% lower.
- Portugal is 74.2% lower.
- Poland is 76.4% lower.
- Greece has the lowest average salary. It’s 79.4% lower than the average US salary.
Is Europe Expensive To Live In?
Even though Europe’s average after-tax salaries are lower than in the United States, their cost of living is also significantly lower. Additionally, their taxes cover a significant portion of their healthcare costs whereas US salaries do not.
As an American expatriate in Europe, you can access their high-quality, private hospitals and clinics with an international health insurance plan. In fact, having an insurance plan will be a requirement for your visa.
Living In Europe As An American
As a whole, Europe has reliable internet and a high standard of living in most areas. This makes Europe a great destination for Expats. The countries are also connected by high speed trains which makes visiting the rest of Europe from one country a breeze.
In the UK and Ireland, you’ll drive on the left side of the road with the driver’s side on the right side of the vehicle. The rest of Europe drives on the right side of the road with the steering wheel on the left like the United States.
You’ll also need to adapt to the metric system to live in Europe. They’ll measure liquids with liters, and distance in kilometers. The temperature will be measured in degrees Celcius.
We ranked the number of English speakers according to crowd-sourced measures in each European country.
- In Ireland, 98.4% of the people speak English.
- In the UK, 98.3% speak English.
- In Sweden, 89% speak English.
- In Malta, 88.3% speak English.
- In France, 57.3% speak English.
- In Germany, 56.3% speak English.
- In Poland, 49.1% speak English.
- In Italy, 28.5% speak English.
- In Portugal, 27.3% speak English.
- In Spain, 22% speak English.
Retiring In Europe From The USA
Many European countries have visas for retirees. The lower cost of living is a great perk. You’ll have to get a visa and pay taxes to both the US and the destination country, but many retirees still find living abroad to be cheaper and/or more enjoyable.
If the country does not have a retirement-specific visa, many countries do have investor visas for individuals who purchase property in the country.
Many countries have Social Security Agreements with the United States.
Moving To Europe From The USA
To move to Europe, you’ll need to make sure you can obtain the correct visa and work permits for your situation. Remember that whether you’re working or retiring abroad, you will need international health insurance coverage.
Visa Requirements For US Citizens In Europe
In general countries will require that you have adequate means to move to their country without needing financial assistance. They will also require proof of health insurance coverage. You’ll also need to demonstrate that you don’t have a criminal record or contagious diseases.
Conclusion
Europe is a great place for expatriates from the United States! The lower cost of living and higher quality of life have attracted many expats in recent years. It is also a fun place to retire with a robust medical system.
If Europe doesn’t feel like the best fit for you, consider moving to Asia for your next adventure.
Contact Pacific Prime if you have any questions or concerns about international health insurance!
Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is.
Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.
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Comments
2 Comments
What are the best strategies for finding affordable housing as an expat in European cities with high demand? Are there any specific neighborhoods or areas that are more expat-friendly but still budget-conscious?
Finding affordable housing as an expat in high-demand European cities requires strategic planning. Begin by exploring expat-friendly neighborhoods located slightly outside city centers, as these often offer better value while maintaining accessibility through public transportation. For instance, areas like Aluche in Madrid, Neukölln in Berlin, or Bercy in Paris strike a balance between affordability and convenience. Additionally, leveraging online platforms like housing forums, local Facebook groups, or apps such as Spotahome or HousingAnywhere can help secure budget-conscious options. For further advice on relocation or health insurance needs, visit our Contact Us page to speak with an expert.
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