One of the most requested articles on this blog is cheapest countries to live in europe. A lot of people forget that the continent is made up of more than 40 different nations and end up always wanting to immigrate to the same countries as Ireland, Germany, France...
Some countries on this list have a much lower cost of living than countries with a stronger economy. Even in capital cities, the cost of rent can be lower. Salaries are not as high as in countries with a stronger economy, but the quality of life and security make up for it.
Cheapest countries to live in Europe
This research was based on Numbeo, the same one we used to make the video and article Most expensive countries to live.
We chose countries where Brazilians already live there, some of whom we know. We also take into account the safety, health and purchasing power. It is not worth indicating a country that is much cheaper, but it is not safe. According to Numbeo, the cheapest countries to live in Europe are Kosovo, Macedonia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Bulgaria. In this way, we selected countries with better indicators and made this article.
Os prices are in euros to have a common basis for comparison, as several countries use their own currency. Also, some of them need to be evaluated before your move, mainly because of the post-pandemic recession and few job opportunities. Some prices may be lower.
1 – Russia
The biggest country on this list of cheapest countries to live in Europe. Russia's culture is very rich: great writings like Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, the Bolshoy ballet, jaw-dropping architecture even in metro stations. On a trip through the Russian countryside, it is possible to see countless lakes, rivers, fields and pass through more than 10 different time zones.
The rent for a one-bedroom apartment in St. Petersburg is 460 euros, and the clean salary is approximately 555 euros. In Moscow it is more expensive, the rent costs around 785, and the clean salary is 855 euros.
The quality of life is high and the cost of living is low, however the country has a very rigorous winter, the language is complicated and few people speak English. But it's not impossible to learn Russian, Jean is proof of that! There are several Brazilians who go to study medicine in Russia due to their tuition fees, which can be up to 4 times cheaper than in Brazil.
- Cost of living 39,21
- Supermarket index 31,08
- Index Price of the restaurant 39,61
- Local purchasing power: 38,94
2 – Poland
The first country on this list of Cheapest Countries to Live in Europe is Poland! In addition to being the darling of travelers who want to travel cheaply, the country is always growing and has several job opportunities, especially for those who speak English and German. Economic activities vary greatly, such as finance, tourism, shipbuilding and petrochemicals.
There are several cheap cities to live in Poland like Recognized, Kraków, Gdansk and Warsaw and some are considered Unesco Cultural Heritage. In addition, Poland's location favors Eastern European travel and cheap flights. It is a culturally rich country with a low cost of living and insurance. To the south you can find one of the cheapest ski resorts in Europe like Zakopane!
The disadvantages are the difficulty in learning the language, the extremely rigorous climate in winter and the diet, which is very different. I already know some dishes, like the pirogue, because of the immigrants in my city in Paraná.
Renting an apartment with one bedroom costs an average of 430 to 650 euros depending on the city and the average salary is 793 euros. Some cities can reach 806 like Gdansk. Among the cities I mentioned, the most expensive would be Warsaw with rent at 580 to 650, clean salary at 870 and water, electricity, garbage bills at 150.
- Cost of living 40,04
- Supermarket index 30,55
- Index Price of the restaurant 33,45
- Local purchasing power: 59,61
Reader Update:
In Kraków, a studio apartment costs an average of zł 1,600 (370 Euros), and an apartment (1 bedroom, living room and kitchen) costs an average of zł 2300 (520 euros) with bills included. A room costs 250 euros with bills included. All these options in great areas of the city. The minimum wage in Poland is Zł 2.600,00 (€610,8).
3 – Hungary
For sure one of the countries I want to know more is Hungary, I am in love with the capital Budapest. Considered one of the cheapest cities to live in the European Union and also an important financial center, in addition to being culturally rich. There are opportunities in the areas of tourism, commerce and industry.
Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the capital costs an average of 475 euros and a salary of 730 euros. The fixed bills for light, water, electricity are 145 euros.
The biggest difficulty will definitely be the language, Hungarian is one of the hardest languages to learn in the world! Another thing that can bother you is the harsh winter and the Hungarian way of being. The cost of living is low and so is purchasing power. Despite this, it gains in safety, quality of life and a beautiful city. It is simply wonderful and has one of the most chic coffee shops in the world!
- Cost of living 40,85
- Supermarket index 30,77
- Index Price of the restaurant 34,46
- Local purchasing power: 47,55
4 - Lithuania
There's a country that many of you had never heard of, right! Lithuania is part of the Baltic States along with Estonia and Latvia and is located in northern Europe, just above Poland. The finance, construction and services sectors are very busy.
Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the capital costs 500 euros, fixed costs 150, and the clean salary is 945 euros. Low wages and purchasing power too, but it makes up for it in terms of health and safety. Summer days last a long time, it gets dark at 23 pm and dawn at 3 am.
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has the largest Baroque-style historic center in Europe and has been listed as a World Heritage Site by the UN. The city is all wooded, well maintained and with several old churches and practically all young people speak English. Besides, it has a country within the city called Uzupis! It is a declared independent state with less than 600m² with national anthem, president, flag and even an embassy in Brazil and a Consulate in São Paulo. And of course you can get a stamp in your passport at one of the stores haha.
- Cost of living 44,28
- Supermarket index 33,63
- Index Price of the restaurant 42,70
- Local purchasing power: 57,85
5 – Slovakia
Located just below the Czech Republic and on the border with Austria, Slovakia was one of the biggest surprises of my trip. It is bisected by the Danube River and is only an hour's drive away. Vienna, one of the most expensive cities I've ever been to. Tourism is very strong, as well as industry and commerce. the production of wine in slovakia it's a tradition and was one of the best in the world, sending a cargo to the Titanic!
Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the capital Bratislava it costs around 620 euros with fixed costs of 180. Salary is 1010 euros after taxes.
The country is very small, but charming. I only got to know the capital and the region of Bratislava and I can say that I was enchanted. The food is very good and usually plentiful and cheap. It is customary to serve a soup with the first dish even in summer, followed by a dish with meat and salad and ending with dessert, all at a very affordable price.
Security is very good, in addition to the quality of life and low cost of living. Lots of history for you to know, not to mention that the people are very friendly and curious and speak English. The capital is charming, it has two castles (one super preserved in the city center and one in ruins called Devín) and a super high tower where you can have dinner and have a panoramic view of the city (or even walk outside and be terrified )
Check out 10 things to do in Slovakia.
- Cost of living 44,46
- Supermarket index 37,51
- Index Price of the restaurant 33,82
- Local purchasing power: 56,94
6 – Czech Republic
Ahh one of the darling countries! Beautiful historic cities, fun and good beer (with the right to a beer SPA and everything else). Many gringos choose the capital Prague to live, since there is the possibility of working with tourism. However, Brno is one of the cheapest cities in the European Union. As a university city, Brno offers several options for leisure and the possibility of trips through the interior of the country.
Renting a one-bedroom apartment costs 530 euros and net salary is 980 euros. In Prague, rent costs rise to 800 euros and salary rises to 1130 euros.
Although the salary is relatively good, the purchasing power is moderate. What makes life difficult is the language and the harsh winter.
The Czech Republic is a safe country and has very efficient health policies, as has now been proven with the Coronavirus crisis. It was one of the first countries to completely shut down and implement restrictive measures to stop the spread of the virus. Another advantage is its position in Europe which facilitates multiple trips.
- Cost of living 46,15
- Supermarket index 38,13
- Index Price of the restaurant 34,10
- Local purchasing power: 62,82
7 - Portugal
Portugal is one of the favorite countries for Brazilians to immigrate to, precisely because of the language, climate and good food. There are opportunities in the area of IT, services and tourism. Furthermore, it is one of the Easy countries for Brazilians to live and work.
Renting a one-bedroom apartment in Lisboa in a more remote neighborhood it costs around 850 euros. The minimum wage is 750 euros, but some people who watch my videos and live there said that the average is 950 euros. Some Brazilians choose Cascais (despite being more expensive) or Carcavelos to live in.
Another cheaper city is Porto, the rent can be 690 and the salary 809 euros already without taxes.
In some places the rent can be as little as 400 euros, but they are much smaller and far away cities. The rent is very expensive in relation to the salary, there are many English and other Europeans living there because the climate is great, the food too and the Portuguese are friendly. Even Madonna lives in Portugal people!
- Cost of living 49,52
- Supermarket index 38,14
- Index Price of the restaurant 42,48
- Local purchasing power: 49,93
8 - Croatia
Ahh this is one of the countries I would love to live in! Croatia is a country with a great climate, beautiful beaches and historic cities! Some of them with Roman ruins as is the case of Pula in the north of the country that has a coliseum!
The capital destination it's very cheap and very busy, the south is much more expensive. Several GOT scenes were filmed in Dubrovnik which caused tourism to explode. Finance, textile and timber industry are strong in the country. Zadar It is another beautiful city to visit.
Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the capital Zagreb can range from 470 to 600 euros depending on location. The net salary is 900 euros. In Dubrovnik, rent can cost 710 euros and the salary is lower, only 840 euros.
The cost of living is low and the quality is very high. There are several culturally rich cities with cheap local transport, incredible landscapes and good food. Not to mention the climate and the possibility of always going to the beach, since it has a very long coastline.
When I traveled to Zagreb I stayed in a capsule hostel that was very cheap and different!
- Cost of living 49,70
- Supermarket index 39,90
- Index Price of the restaurant 42,44
- Local purchasing power: 50,42
9 – Estonia
Another Baltic country on this list of cheapest countries to live in Europe! The capital Tallinn has around 426 inhabitants and it is very common for people to take a trip to Helsinki in Finland by boat, where costs are much higher. The country also borders Russia.
51% of the country is covered with forests and it has more than 2000 islands. Tallinn, the capital, is considered to be the best-preserved medieval city in Northern Europe. Estonia was the first country to offer digital identity to all citizens (e-Residency) and the opportunity to run a business online. 99% of the state's service is provided online! It is one of the least religious countries in the world, where only 16% of the population feels religious.
Renting a one-bedroom apartment in Tallin costs around 550 euros and the salary is 1220 clean. Low cost of living, high quality of life, security, health, great wages and even Free Wifi! However it is much colder reaching -8ºC and the language is complicated but you can get by in English. In summer, the maximum temperature is 17ºC and 19 hours of light per day!
- Cost of living 50,93
- Supermarket index 36,57
- Index Price of the restaurant 52,94
- Local purchasing power: 71,30
10 – Slovenia
Ahhh my darling is also on the List! For those who don't know, Slovenia is next to Italy, below Austria and above Croatia. It had influence from all these countries, since it belonged to these territories before the wars and was part of Yugoslavia.
One of my dreams has always been to visit Slovenia because of its nature, it is one of the most sustainable countries in the world with several policies to preserve the environment. The landscapes are very beautiful, especially in the Triglav region where the Julian Alps, the Soca river valley and the city are located. Bled, which looks like a fairy tale.
O coast of slovenia it is very small but charming and reminds me of Italy, the capital is beautiful, vibrant and with a complicated name Ljubljana. Other famous attractions in the country are Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle.
Here on the channel there are a series of special videos and all my script in slovenia!
Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the capital costs around 600 euros. The average salary is 1185 euros net. Slovenians are friendly and speak English.
- Cost of living 53,43
- Supermarket index 43,76
- Index Price of the restaurant 45,43
- Local purchasing power: 66,31
Is it worth moving to one of these cheapest countries to live in Europe?
If you are open to new adventures and a different lifestyle with security and better wages, yes. Remember that becoming an immigrant in any country will never be easy at first and there is always the possibility of trying it out and then choosing another one. I've already lived in 3 different ones in Europe until I found the one that suited me best, in this case England.
