What are the most expensive countries in Europe in 2025? To help expats plan ahead, we’ve analysed average living costs across the continent — from food and utilities to rent and transport. Here’s what you need to know before setting your budget.
How to calculate expenses in the EU
Budget planning is rarely straightforward, especially when you’re living abroad. From navigating new tax systems to getting used to cross-border payments and unfamiliar currencies, expat finances can feel overwhelming. And, of course, every expat budget looks different: a Pakistani student settling into London life will spend differently from a Brazilian professional building a career at a Portuguese start-up.
That’s why broad budgeting advice often falls short. To give you a clearer picture, we’ve gathered comparable cost-of-living indicators from Numbeo — bearing in mind that some countries have more contributors than others, and therefore may show more consistent averages.
Tips: Creating an emergency fund — strategies for expats in Europe.
Which European countries are the most expensive?
If you’re considering a move — or simply curious — you might be wondering which country currently tops the ranking. Using a combined “basket” of typical monthly expenses (groceries, utilities, transport and rent), here’s how Europe’s countries compare in 2025.
Average monthly expenses for expats in Europe (2025)
| # | Country | Capital | Food basket (14 items) | Utilities (Basic+mobile+Internet) | Transport (Monthly pass) | Rent (3BR outside centre) | TOTAL (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ireland | Dublin | 69.50 | 269.20 | 94.00 | 2,901.79 | 3,334.49 |
| 2 | France | Paris | 75.33 | 276.80 | 84.00 | 2,016.00 | 2,452.13 |
| 3 | Netherlands | Amsterdam | 67.14 | 333.77 | 100.00 | 2,836.67 | 3,337.58 |
| 4 | Luxembourg | Luxembourg City | 80.99 | 315.05 | 0.00 | 2,520.45 | 2,916.49 |
| 5 | Iceland | Reykjavík | 109.49 | 163.10 | 76.27 | 2,367.86 | 2,716.72 |
| 6 | Liechtenstein | Vaduz | 130.83 | 308.76 | 107.40 | 2,147.95 | 2,694.94 |
| 7 | Norway | Oslo | 79.12 | 325.62 | 66.31 | 1,821.28 | 2,292.33 |
| 8 | Denmark | Copenhagen | 66.04 | 205.15 | 103.77 | 2,075.49 | 2,450.45 |
| 9 | Belgium | Brussels | 63.25 | 280.33 | 55.00 | 1,591.86 | 1,990.44 |
| 10 | Spain | Madrid | 58.15 | 235.00 | 54.00 | 1,606.58 | 1,953.73 |
| 11 | Portugal | Lisbon | 56.98 | 232.00 | 42.00 | 1,697.08 | 2,028.06 |
| 12 | Sweden | Stockholm | 61.82 | 263.45 | 96.06 | 1,528.79 | 1,950.12 |
| 13 | Italy | Rome | 62.30 | 223.00 | 35.00 | 1,480.00 | 1,800.30 |
| 14 | Austria | Vienna | 63.12 | 208.00 | 51.00 | 1,368.18 | 1,690.30 |
| 15 | Finland | Helsinki | 51.00 | 164.67 | 72.00 | 1,374.58 | 1,662.25 |
| 16 | Germany | Berlin | 62.00 | 270.00 | 49.00 | 1,693.82 | 2,074.82 |
| 17 | Greece | Athens | 54.75 | 238.83 | 30.00 | 912.14 | 1,235.72 |
| 18 | Slovenia | Ljubljana | 54.10 | 185.00 | 37.00 | 1,146.00 | 1,422.10 |
| 19 | Estonia | Tallinn | 57.00 | 330.30 | 30.00 | 912.80 | 1,330.10 |
| 20 | Poland | Warsaw | 55.00 | 330.51 | 25.81 | 1,314.90 | 1,726.22 |
| 21 | Czechia | Prague | 57.20 | 185.30 | 30.00 | 1,180.00 | 1,452.50 |
| 22 | Slovakia | Bratislava | 59.86 | 259.58 | 36.00 | 1,008.64 | 1,364.08 |
| 23 | Hungary | Budapest | 54.89 | 174.04 | 22.96 | 886.76 | 1,138.65 |
| 24 | Croatia | Zagreb | 56.00 | 235.41 | 48.00 | 930.30 | 1,269.71 |
| 25 | Latvia | Riga | 53.18 | 326.51 | 30.00 | 645.45 | 1,055.14 |
| 26 | Lithuania | Vilnius | 51.43 | 240.42 | 36.50 | 858.90 | 1,187.25 |
| 27 | Romania | Bucharest | 46.85 | 176.22 | 19.65 | 716.02 | 958.74 |
| 28 | Bulgaria | Sofia | 45.12 | 145.30 | 25.00 | 650.00 | 865.42 |
| 29 | Cyprus | Nicosia | 57.18 | 247.26 | 50.00 | 1,095.00 | 1,449.44 |
| 30 | Malta | Valletta | 54.52 | 173.08 | 0.00 | 1,600.00 | 1,827.60 |
| 31 | Albania | Tirana | 54.13 | 129.82 | 16.53 | 810.97 | 1,011.45 |
What this means for expats
A few clear trends stand out:
- Rent dominates total expenses in almost every country, making housing a decisive factor when choosing where to live.
- Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg remain among Europe’s most expensive destinations, driven by high rents and utility costs.
- Southern and Eastern Europe — from Romania to Greece — generally offer more affordable living, though capital-city rents still add up.
- Nordic countries remain pricey in daily expenses (especially groceries), even when rents are comparatively moderate.
If you’re planning a move or budgeting for life abroad, keeping track of cross-border costs is just as important as understanding local prices. Whether you’re supporting family back home or managing everyday spending from afar, choosing secure and fast international transfers can help you stay in control.
