Cost of Living in Europe
How much does it really cost to live in a European city? Compare rent, groceries, transport, and dining across our 35 + city database — then run a side-by-side comparison to find the best fit for your budget.
The four biggest expenses
Accounts for 30–50 % of a typical expat budget. Amsterdam and Munich lead; Budapest and Lisbon are 2–3× cheaper.
Prices vary ~40 % across the EU. Southern and Eastern Europe are consistently cheaper than Northern Europe.
Monthly transit passes range from ~€24 (Vienna) to ~€102 (Amsterdam). Good networks reduce the need for a car.
A restaurant dinner for two ranges from ~€25 in Budapest to ~€70 in Paris. Lunch menus are often 30–50 % cheaper.
Compare two cities
Pick any two cities to see how their cost of living stacks up across rent, groceries, transport, dining, and take-home pay.
Select two cities above to see their cost comparison
Indices are Numbeo-style scores (0–100) where a higher index means higher cost. Salary figures are gross/net annual in EUR. Data is updated periodically — see Methodology for sources and update frequency.