Cost of living
Cost of Living in Europe: Compare 36 Countries
Cost of living in Europe: compare 2025 price levels in 36 countries against the EU average of 100, then add your rent and income to test a move.
Choose the question you need to answer
The two calculators solve different parts of the move. Use both before you treat a salary or rent listing as affordable.
How will my full monthly budget change?
Compare two locations using your rent and income, then estimate groceries, transport, bills and other regular costs.
Compare two locationsCan I afford this rent?
Check housing as a share of take-home income, the money left after essentials and the cash needed before moving in.
Check if rent fitsWhat does a cost-of-living index mean?
The EU average is 100. A lower number means the same broad basket of household spending costs less in that country; a higher number means it costs more.
73
About 27% below the EU average
A broad household basket is roughly cheaper than the EU baseline.
100
The EU average
The reference point every country is compared with.
113
About 13% above the EU average
A broad household basket is roughly more expensive than the EU baseline.
Country price levels and take-home pay
Use the table to shortlist countries. The salary column shows the net pay of one comparable worker profile.
Data checked: 2026-07-26
| Country | Price level | Compared with EU average | Monthly take-home example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 72.6 | 27.4% below | Not available |
| Austria | 113.0 | 13.0% above | €3,529(2025) |
| Belgium | 116.2 | 16.2% above | €3,035(2025) |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | 59.2 | 40.8% below | Not available |
| Bulgaria | 62.5 | 37.5% below | €1,204(2025) |
| Croatia | 78.4 | 21.6% below | €1,408(2025) |
| Cyprus | 89.2 | 10.8% below | €2,362(2025) |
| Czechia | 89.4 | 10.6% below | €1,742(2025) |
| Denmark | 139.7 | 39.7% above | €3,786(2025) |
| Estonia | 101.2 | 1.2% above | €1,878(2025) |
| Finland | 120.8 | 20.8% above | €3,141(2025) |
| France | 110.3 | 10.3% above | €2,696(2025) |
| Germany | 108.3 | 8.3% above | €3,045(2025) |
| Greece | 87.4 | 12.6% below | €1,792(2025) |
| Hungary | 77.5 | 22.5% below | €1,286(2025) |
| Iceland | 173.5 | 73.5% above | €4,545(2023) |
| Ireland | 136.2 | 36.2% above | €3,919(2025) |
| Italy | 97.1 | 2.9% below | €2,316(2025) |
| Latvia | 83.2 | 16.8% below | €1,586(2025) |
| Lithuania | 82.8 | 17.2% below | €1,591(2025) |
| Luxembourg | 131.5 | 31.5% above | €4,656(2025) |
| Malta | 91.9 | 8.1% below | €2,106(2025) |
| Montenegro | 66.1 | 33.9% below | Not available |
| Netherlands | 115.6 | 15.6% above | €3,399(2025) |
| North Macedonia | 54.8 | 45.2% below | Not available |
| Norway | 128.6 | 28.6% above | €3,816(2023) |
| Poland | 73.3 | 26.7% below | €1,591(2025) |
| Portugal | 86.6 | 13.4% below | €1,787(2025) |
| Romania | 65.1 | 34.9% below | €1,156(2025) |
| Serbia | 68.0 | 32.0% below | Not available |
| Slovakia | 85.2 | 14.8% below | €1,508(2025) |
| Slovenia | 89.3 | 10.7% below | €2,023(2025) |
| Spain | 91.6 | 8.4% below | €2,253(2025) |
| Sweden | 121.0 | 21.0% above | €3,246(2025) |
| Switzerland | 171.3 | 71.3% above | €6,838(2023) |
| Türkiye | 59.6 | 40.4% below | €731(2023) |
Salary profile: one worker without children earning 100% of average earnings. Annual net income is divided by 12 and shown in EUR. Rent is not included as a city average.
A practical way to use this page
- 1
Shortlist countries
Use the table to understand the broad price level and the comparable take-home reference.
- 2
Add real local numbers
Open the comparison calculator and replace rent, income and spending with your actual scenario.
- 3
Stress-test the lease
Check the rent separately, including utilities, deposit, fees and the money left each month.
Understand the numbers before you move
These guides turn a price index, rent listing and salary offer into a budget you can actually review.
Build a travel budget before you move
Estimate the trip, setup costs and recurring spending before committing to a new base.
Check digital nomad visa requirements
Income, savings, insurance and the proof of funds an application needs, by country.
Paying rent abroad safely
Check deposits, contracts, payment evidence and common cross-border rent risks.
Where the numbers come from
Price levels are official country-wide comparisons of household consumption. The salary is the net pay of one average-paid worker without children.
Cost of living questions
Is this city-level cost-of-living data?
No. The comparable price levels and salary reference are country-wide. Use a recent rent listing and your own monthly spending for the city you are considering.
Does an index of 73 mean everything is 27% cheaper?
No. It describes a broad household basket. Individual categories such as groceries, transport, utilities and restaurants can differ by a larger or smaller amount.
Is the take-home pay for two people?
No. It is an annual net-income reference for one worker without children earning 100% of average earnings, divided by 12 for a monthly view.
Which calculator should I use first?
Use the cost-of-living comparison to review the full monthly budget. Use the rent affordability calculator when you have a specific rent listing or want to understand move-in cash.