How to pick a city (not just a country)
Two cities in the same country can feel like different planets. Lisbon and the Algarve share a visa system and a tax office, but one is a hilly capital with a tech scene and a housing crunch, and the other is a sunny, slower coast that empties out in winter. Madrid and Valencia, Milan and Bologna, Berlin and Munich — the same pattern repeats everywhere.
Look at three things first: the monthly budget for your household (rent is most of the difference), the winter you’re willing to live with, and how much you need English. Then read the downsides on each city page. Our compare tool puts two or three cities side by side, and the cost of living calculator adjusts budgets for your household and lifestyle.
Want a shortlist instead? See the best places to live in Europe, the cheapest places or the warmest places in winter.