How to choose a country in Europe
Start with the legal route, not the postcard. For most Americans, Canadians, Australians and (since Brexit) Brits, the question isn’t “where would I love to live?” but “where can I get residency with my income and my plans?” Remote workers have the widest choice thanks to digital nomad visas in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Malta, Cyprus, Estonia and Hungary. Retirees and people living on savings tend to look at Portugal’s D7, Spain’s non-lucrative visa, Italy’s elective residency and Greece’s financially independent person visa. Compare them in our visa guide.
Then weigh cost against what you’re getting. Southern and Central Europe — Portugal, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Poland, Hungary — give you more for your money, while Switzerland, Ireland, the Nordics and the Netherlands cost more but score highly on English, safety and salaries. Taxes matter as much as rent: special regimes for new residents in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece can change the math entirely. Our US expat tax guide explains the basics.
Finally, think about daily life: language, climate, flights home and how settled you want to feel. If you’re torn, the “Where should I live?” quiz weighs all of this for you in two minutes.