Last updated on August 1st, 2018 at 08:27 pm
All of the information in this post is current as of Aug 2017. We will continue to add to and update our list of cheapest places to live in Europe yearly.
Southeast Asia is a popular area of the world for digital nomads. The cost of living is cheap (in some areas extremely cheap), the weather is hot, and Wi-Fi is generally inexpensive and widespread. But what if you prefer a less tropical more European place to work your business remotely? We like nice weather and cheap living costs but Southeast Asia just isn't our thing.
Here's what we think are the best cheap cities in Europe for digital nomads. The sources we used to create our list are,
- Nomad List https://nomadlist.com/
- Numbeo http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/ and their cost of living estimator tool http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/estimator_main
- Expatistan Cost of Living Index https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living
- The cost of living information and opinions we've gathered from other digital nomads.
- Our own first-hand experiences.
Some of the countries listed here are in the Schengen zone (an area that includes 26 European countries that have eliminated passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. It functions as a single country, for the most part, with an all-encompassing visa policy for international travelers). As Canadians, we are only permitted to enjoy 90 days out of 180 days Visa-free in the Schengen Zone.
The other half of the countries listed here are great places for digital nomads to reside outside the Schengen Zone to help manage Visa restrictions.
We've narrowed down our findings based on certain criteria that best fit our lifestyle. Here's how they're broken out; affordability (cost of living between than $1300 and $2500 a month), friendliness to tourists, a minimum of 10 MPS, and easy accessibility. A couple of the destinations have warmer weather and access to beaches. Bear in mind, the average cost of living figures are for a family of three. Also, all costs are in USD unless specified otherwise. To get the closest estimate of what you would need to live in these places use Numbeo's Cost of Living Estimator tool.
Romania
Our personal favorite (based on first-hand knowledge) for cheap cities in Europe is Bucharest. We spent three months living and working online in Romania's capital and know how easy, enjoyable, and affordable it is to live there.
Internet speeds are fast throughout Romania, some of the fastest speeds in the world, actually. The culture, the cost of entertainment, and public transportation are all great as well. Here are the cities that look best to us based on our criteria. All three of them have international airports.
Romania is outside the Schengen Zone.
Grocery prices in Romania are 57% cheaper than in Canada and 59% cheaper than grocery prices in the U.S.A.
And, amazingly, Romania has nine of the world's top 15 cities with the fastest broadband internet.
Cluj
We read this article, "The greatest city you've never heard of" and knew immediately this was a city we needed to learn more about. Located in the beautiful region of Transylvania in Romania, Cluj has so many great things going for it, we were stunned we hadn't heard more about it sooner!
Internet- Excellent at 30 MBPS (according to nomads on Nomad List).
Safety- Very low crime
Rent (short-term and furnished apartments)- Short-term rentals can be as low as between $400 -$600 USD a month for a furnished three bedroom apartment. Furnished Airbnb Sublets offer monthly entire place rentals at an average of $1200 a month. However, prices for "entire place" rentals with good ratings can be much lower than that depending on what time of year you're looking to book.
Average monthly living costs- Low: $1550 (our result using the cost of living estimator tool)- $2000 USD a month (combining Airbnb costs and information from Expatistan).
Bucharest
We lived in Bucharest for three months and were so impressed with its excellent urban parks, terrific selection of great restaurants, and incredibly fast internet speeds. We felt really welcome as visitors and found, Bucharest was a city where "kids could be kids". Mak could run, play, and be loud in public places and his childlike behavior was met with smiles and kindness always.
Internet- Incredible at 70 MBPS (according to nomads on Nomad List).
Safety- Low crime. Violent crime is almost unheard of in Bucharest. We felt very safe in the city, even walking around at night.
Rent (short-term and furnished apartments)- Rentals can be as low as $470-$750 USD a month for a furnished apartment. Airbnb Sublets offer monthly rentals at an average of $1200 a month. There are over 15000 entire place rentals in Bucharest so there are still a lot of choices well below the average. When we stayed in the city we rented three different apartments through Airbnb. Our average cost was $550 a month USD.
Average monthly living costs- Low $1400 (our result based on personal experience)- $2200 a month (combining Airbnb costs and information from Expatistan).
Timisoara
Timisoara is best known for its perfect combination of traditional and modern culture. It's long and exciting history have created Timisoara's best attribute, the complex cultural mosaic that exists there today. It is one of Romania's larger cities but not so big that's it's hard to get around. It's a very walkable city but there is a decent public transit system, and cabs are cheap to get around town as well. Timisoara's offers digital nomads a diverse culture, notably beautiful architecture, and all of the amenities you'd expect in any modern metropolitan area.
Internet- Very good at 25 MBPS (according to nomads on Nomad List).
Safety- Very low crime
Rent (short-term and furnished apartments)- Rentals can be as low as $350- $560 a month in Timisoara. Airbnb Sublets offer monthly rentals at an average of $1000 a month USD. Again, time of year can influence costs and availability with Airbnb greatly. Booking longer term stays during the shoulder seasons or off-season will save you a lot of money when booking.
Average monthly living costs- Low $1200 (our result using the cost of living estimator tool)- $2000 a month USD (combining Airbnb costs and information from Expatistan).
Serbia
Serbia popped up on our radar early last year. We were intrigued by the information we'd learned from another location independent family, Talon and Tigger Windwalker from 1Dad 1Kid.com.
Lonely Planet says "everything you never heard about Serbia is true". They had us hooked describing Serbia's emphatic hospitality, coupled with our friend's first-hand experience it quickly became a priority for us to visit.
Both Belgarde and Niš have international airports but Novi Sad does not. Belgrade's Nikola Tesla International Airport is the closest to Novi Sad. There is the bus (cheap $5-$10) and taxi service $75- $90 to the airport which makes it a little bit more challenging to access but not too much so.
Serbia is a non-Schengen country.
Grocery prices in Serbia are 61% cheaper than in Canada and 63% cheaper than grocery prices in the U.S.A.
Novi Sad
The reasons we want to spend time in Novi Sad are the cheap living costs and vibrant culture we've read so much about. Some say the city and surrounding area have more to offer than anywhere else in Serbia. Novi Sad is positioned at one of the continent's true crossroads in history. This has left it with historical and cultural sights that even larger cities in the country have difficulty matching.
Internet- Very good at 20 MBPS (according to nomads on Nomad List).
Safety- Moderate crime. Novi Sad has seen crime increase over the past three years which has raised its overall safety rating to moderate. The things that influence whether or not a city is safe enough for us to visit are the probability of being robbed or mugged, and problems with violent crimes. Both of these are rated low chance in Novi Sad according to Numbeo's Crime Index.
Rent (short-term and furnished apartments)- Rentals can be as low as $250-400 USD a month for a spacious furnished apartment. Airbnb Sublets offer monthly rentals at an average of $853 a month in Novi Sad. That being said, there are still lots of great entire place rentals below $650 a month.
Average monthly living costs- Low $1300 (our result using the cost of living estimator tool)- $1800 a month (combining Airbnb costs and information from Expatistan).
Belgrade
What has us curious about Belgrade isn't something you can see, but more the feeling that's said to exist there. It isn't a "pretty" capital city but, what it lacks in looks, it makes up for in personality! With way more grit than glitz, Belgrade's spirit is a testament to Serbia's steadfast resilience. You'll still find formidable castles, green spaces, and citadels, but we're betting Belgrade's grand coffee houses, and the wide variety of cheap delicious restaurants are where we'll see the city shine. There is no unground subway in Belgrade but the city's bus system is cheap and relatively efficient.
Internet- Decent at 10 MBPS (according to nomads on Nomad List).
Safety- Low crime
Rent(short-term and furnished apartments)- $400-$800 USD a month for an apartment in the city center. Airbnb Sublets average $1000 a month. But Belgrade is a big city so there is still a high number of choices under $750 USD per month as well.
Average monthly living costs- Low $1600 (our result using the cost of living estimator tool)- $2000 a month (combining Airbnb costs and information from Expatistan).
Niš
Nis offers an interesting contrast of vibes being spirited and somewhat genteel at the same time. How Belgrade is audacious and gritty, Nis is subtly refined. In a nutshell, Nis is the pretty city, it's delightfully small, cheap, and architecturally attractive.
Internet- 10 MPS (according to nomads on Nomad List)
Safety- Low crime
Rent(short-term and furnished apartments)- Rentals can be as low as $300-$425 USD a month for a spacious furnished apartment. Nis is a smaller city so pricing and availability for Airbnb's changes notably depending on the time of year. Airbnb Sublets offer monthly rentals at an average of $800 a month in Nis. September to April pricing and availability is much better, though. Entire place rentals average about $700 a month over this time period.
Average monthly living costs- Low, $1200 (our result using the cost of living estimator tool)- $1700 a month (combining Airbnb costs and information from Expatistan).
The best part about being digital nomads is the freedom it gives us. We'll consider anywhere there are good internet speeds and cheap living costs. Serbia has the all of the things that tip the scales in favor of travel destinations for us. Being a country off the beaten tourist trail with a vibrant fun culture and a warm welcoming people puts Serbia high on our list to visit soon.
Poland
We have just started to look closer at Poland. It's impossible to sum up the long list of reasons why one should spend time in this historic country in a few sentences. The stunning architecture, humbling monuments, and delicious food are some of the obvious ones. But, Poland's deep roots twist and turn back through a thousand years. Suffice it to say there is enough to explore to keep a person busy for an entire lifetime. Poland is a cultural treasure and lucky for digital nomads, it has some of Europes cheapest cities as well.
Poland is in the Schengen Zone.
Grocery prices in Poland are 53% cheaper than in Canada and 55% cheaper than grocery prices in the U.S.A.
Gdansk
Gdansk is part of a large metropolitan area called the Tri-City. Along with Gdynia and Sopot, Gdansk sits on the edge of the Baltic Sea. It's one of Poland's most beautiful oldest cities. A perfect combination by our standards; cobbled streets, exquisite architecture, a deep-seated history that shines through everywhere, and beautiful beaches! Gdansk has access to thirty kilometers of well maintained beachfront. Add affordability, great public transport, and friendliness to foreigners, Gdansk is a great place for digital nomads to set up shop for a while.
Internet- Very good at 20 MBPS (according to nomads on Nomad List).
Safety- Low crime
Rent(short-term and furnished apartments)- $600-800 USD a month. Airbnb Sublets can average as high as $1800 a month during peak season but if you plan your stay during the shoulder and off-seasons prices get a lot cheaper.
Average monthly living costs- Low $1800 (our result using the cost of living estimator tool)- $2500 a month (combining Airbnb costs and information from Expatistan).
Spain
Spain is our favorite country of all the places we've visited so far! We know the cost of living, the culture, and the weather are all perfect for our priorities. After house sitting near Vera Playa in Southern Spain in 2015, we knew we had to see more of the country. A few cities piqued our curiosity right away but we had only considered places on the mainland. Doing a more in-depth search we learned some cities on Spain's Canary Islands also offered great amenities for digital nomads. The accessibility and cost of living could be very good as well.
Spain is inside the Schengen Zone.
Grocery prices in Spain are 31% cheaper than in Canada and 34% cheaper than grocery prices in the U.S.A.
Las Palmas, Gran Canarias capital city
We heard Las Palmas has the same kind of feel as mainland Spain. Except the culture is a bit spicier because of the Chinese, African, and Indian influences that exist there. The one word that sums it up best is intriguing. There are so many variations of things to see, taste and experience including stunning beaches. Suffice it to say, digital nomads will have no problem keeping busy when work is done for the day!
The airport is 21 kilometers from the center of Las Palmas.
Internet- Very good at 25 MBPS (according to nomads on Nomad List).
Safety- Very low crime
Rent (short term, furnished apartment)- $760- $1000 USD a month. Airbnb sublets average $1800 a month for an entire place rental. There are a lot more choices available for sublets around $1000 a month USD during the shoulder and off-season months.
Average monthly living costs- Low $1900 (our result using the cost of living estimator tool)- $2500 a month (combining Airbnb costs and information from Expatistan).
Hungary
Considered by some to be among Europes most exotic countries, Hungary has definitely got our attention! Compelling reasons to visit for us are the food, Hungarians love paprika; the wine, delicious and affordable; and the passionate culture, Hungarians are intelligent and spirited. We have a feeling it could be a place we'll pursue a long-term Visa.
Hungary is inside the Schengen zone.
Grocery prices in Hungary are 50% cheaper than in Canada and 51% cheaper than grocery prices in the U.S.A.
Budapest
Budapest has been on our list to visit for a while now. This is another city our friend Talon, really loves. His first-hand experience checked all of our boxes so we plan to spend some time in Budapest this year.
The attributes that make Budapest interesting to us include its stunning architecture (a bonus is, most of its greatest tourist sites are absolutely free), the luxurious hot spring spas, and it's unique dichotomy.
There are two distinct parts of the city divided by the Danube River, the Buda side, and the Pest side. Each is different topographically, architecturally, and culturally. We think we'll be hard-pressed to find a more inspiring city to work in after spending a month or two exploring Budapest!
Internet- Excellent at 30 MBPS (according to nomads on Nomad List).
Safety- Low crime
Rent (short term, furnished apartment)- $600- $900 USD a month. Airbnb Sublets average $2000 a month during peak season. In the off-season and shoulder seasons, monthly prices can be half that.
Average monthly living costs- Low $1950 (our result using the cost of living estimator tool)- $2500 a month (combining Airbnb costs in the offseason and information from Expatistan).
Portugal
An ample slice of heaven sandwiched between the North Atlantic and Spain, Portugal is is a vibrant mix of cobbled villages, sparkling cities, and golden beaches. Like our initial impression of Spain, we'd always believed the cost to visit Portugal was well beyond our budget. We were delighted to learn it's not. With of its cinematic history, incredible food, and stunning scenery we were surprised to learn how affordable Portugal actually is! In fact, living costs are very low throughout Portugal compared to other Western European countries just like Spain.
Portugal is inside the Schengen zone.
Grocery prices in Portugal are 38% cheaper than in Canada and 41% cheaper than prices in the U.S.
Porto
Lisbon gets a lot of attention in Portugal and for good reason; it's a buzzing city with scads of affordable living spaces, cheap delicious food, convenient ways to get around, and so much to see and do. But, if you're like us and like cities that are a bit slower, more authentic, and even cheaper than more popular destinations Porto could be a great choice for you.
Considered a burgeoning digital nomad hotspot now, Porto has a lot to offer budget-conscious nomadic travelers. It boasts great weather, lots of places with free Wi-Fi, and it's a delightfully walkable city as well.
Internet- Decent at 15 MBPS (according to nomads on Nomad List).
Safety- Moderate crime. Porto's crime rates for break-ins and property damage has increased over the past three years which has raised its overall safety rating to moderate. As mentioned before, the things that influence whether or not a city is safe enough for us to visit are the problems with violent crimes. These are rated low chance in Porto according to Numbeo's Crime Index. Overall safety is rated good according to digital nomads via Nomad List.
Rent (short term, furnished apartment)- $700- $1000 USD a month. Airbnb Sublets average $2400 a month but there are hundreds of great options $1500 and less.
Average monthly living costs- Low $2000 (our result using the cost of living estimator tool).
Slovenia
The thing that intrigues us the most about the central Eastern European Country of Slovenia is it’s still off the radar for a lot of travelers. This is delightfully surprising given its stunning natural beauty! Covering an area less than a 10th of the size of the UK, you’ll find elegant cities, and a whole host of stunning natural beauty like towering mountains, picture-perfect lakes, and incredible natural wonders that look like something straight from Lord of the Rings!
Oh, and it’s really cheap to stay a while too! It’s compact size really gives digital nomads a chance to see a lot of the country affordably.
Slovenia is inside the Schengen Zone.
Grocery prices in Slovenia are 32% cheaper than in Canada and 35% cheaper than grocery prices in the U.S.A.
Ljubljana
We haven’t been there yet, but there are a lot of things we’ve heard that make us think we’ll love Ljubljana! These things include its compact size, that make it blissfully walkable; its bewitching beauty, complete with an imposing castle, multiple ornate bridges that straddle the serene river that runs through the city, and the great variety of delicious cheap food. All of that and living costs that are very low in comparison to major cities in Canada, the U.S., and other Western European countries. Ljubljana could be among the best cheapest places to live in Europe for digital nomads. We can’t wait to visit and see for ourselves!
Internet- Decent at 16 MBPS (according to nomads on Nomad List).
Safety- Very low crime.
Rent (short-term and furnished apartments)- Apartment rentals range from $600- $1400 USD a month depending on location in the city and there is a good selection of top-rated Airbnb Sublets between $500- $1500 USD a month as well.
Average monthly living costs- Low $2200 (our result using the cost of living estimator tool).
Estonia
Estonia has been a hot topic among digital nomads for a few years now. All the buzz is about the small Northern European country’s decision to offer digital residency. In a nutshell, this means anyone can base their business and finances in Estonia regardless of where they are from.
Estonian e-residency is a huge benefit for digital nomads who have a location independent business but want the credibility and perks that go along with having a limited company established in the E.U. Of course, there is a lot to consider and understand before pursuing e-residency in Estonia. This Wiki article explains the process in more detail.
In addition to being welcoming to entrepreneurs from around the globe, Estonia has a lot to offer in the way of affordability and aesthetic beauty. Simply put, it's is a great place for digital nomads to hang out for a while.
Grocery prices in Estonia are 42% cheaper than in Canada and 45% cheaper than grocery prices in the U.S.A.
Tallinn
Tallinn may be the absolute best city in Europe for digital nomads. It is incredibly affordable, architecturally stunning, and blanketed with excellent free Wi-Fi, a great place for long-term travelers to hang their hats for a while.
Located on the on the Southern shores of the Gulf of Finland, Tallinn is a captivating mix of modern and medieval. A treasure trove of baroque architecture and sparkling skyscrapers- Tallinn has a dynamic vibe all its own.
Internet- Excellent at 23 MBPS (according to nomads on Nomad List).
Safety- Very low crime.
Rent (short term, and furnished apartments)- Apartment rentals range from $600- $1200 USD a month depending on location in the city and there are a good selection of top rated Airbnb Sublets between $800- $1500 USD a month as well.
Average monthly living costs- Low $2000 (our result using the cost of living estimator tool).
Conclusion
We love the freedom working from our laptops gives us. Doing so enables us to travel full time and see incredible places. There are are many challenges and trade-offs to this kind of lifestyle. But we've found living in affordable, culturally rich cities helps us make the most of our unconventional family life. We know there are great places around the world where we can live comfortably for a lot less than we did back home in Canada.
The cities mentioned in this article all have scores for livability according to digital nomads opinions on Nomad List. Here's the list again in descending order of Nomad Scores, from the highest to the lowest. Scores are tabulated based on a number of criteria important to digital nomads. Cost of living, quality of life, safety, happiness, friendliness to foreigners, and walkability are the criteria we care about most.
- Budapest- 95%
- Timisoara- 88%
- Porto- 87%
- Cluj- 86%
- Gdansk- 86%
- Bucharest- 85%
- Tallinn- 84%
- Ljubljana- 83%
- Belgrade- 82%
- Novi Sad- 78%
- Nis- 73%
- Las Palmas- 64%
Are you a digital nomad? Where are your favorite places to live and work affordably around the globe?
Featured image by Dennis Jarvis via Flickr
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Great article. I can certainly vouch for Porto being a perfect location. We recently wrote an article on the best zones to live in Porto, maybe helpful for anyone considering moving to the area.
I live around the world (so far just North, South America, Europe and Africa, but Asia coming up!) in a “Learn, Paint, Live Anywhere” Lifestyle and have loved living in this order in Europe:
1. Vienna
2. Budapest
3. Florence
4. Edinburgh
5. Barcelona
6. Porto
7. Valencia
8. Amsterdam
9. Cardiff
10. Palermo
In South America, I loved Buenos Aires and Montevideo, though they are expensive, as well as Santiago, which was cheap. Central America I had internet issues in both Nicaragua and Panama. Have many of these destinations, esp. Poland and Ljubljana.
Fantastic article. thanks for sharing! We frequently use NomadList when comparing potential travel/work destinations, but hadn’t heard of the others- very useful indeed.
We’re from Canada as well, and have been living the ‘digital nomad’ life in SE Asia for the past 4+ months. As much as we’re enjoying our time here, we’re excited to head to explore Europe eventually as well!
Hello! My name is Stan and I have been traveling in Mexico with my wife, son and 2 dogs since August of 2017. I’m a photographer and animal care specialist and my wife is a freelance writer and educator. Our son is now a world schooler. We have started a travel blog and are very interested in the opportunities that you speak of here so that we may continue with our dream of traveling while we educate our son in a more worldly fashion than mainstream systems offer. Any information you may have would be great. I have signed up for the 7 day e-course mentioned above as well. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you! Happy travels!
I’ve been traveling full-time for over a year now and came to Croatia not too long ago and was suprised to see how fast the internet here is and cheap the cost of living is.
I’m currently staying at this place called Dragan’s Den in Croatia and there is a big community of digital nomads here who work together. If anybody reading this is in the area, this is a great place to meet like-minded people.
http://www.plitvicehostel.com/digital-nomad-co-working-spaces-croatia/
Interesting! Next time you will be visiting Poland, be sure to go to Krakow. I may be even better than Gdansk 😉
All gorgeous places! Bucharest looks stunning! Portugal is another one to add to this list…its really fabulous.
What a great list – and how timely! I’m currently spending 2 months in Barcelona, renting an Airbnb loft and then heading to Bucharest for 1 month. Having sold my home in the US, I’m starting an online food & travel-oriented business so I can work from anywhere. Since 1990, I’ve been to 40+ countries as a global development consultant so I guess I was a digital nomad before the term even existed! I enjoy seeing new places and meeting people, so if I can continue to live on a sensible budget, there’s no reason to settle down in one place. I’d love to see more articles written by single, older women like myself (sans spouse and/or children) though I think there must not be too many of us around…
This is actually a very good list! You mentioned places I never thought would be a good place for nomads. These places are cheap enough and so beautiful it will inspire you. I would not mind working in a place with a view!
Great resource! It’s definitely not as cheap in Europe as it is in SE Asia, but you can still make it work. I’d like to plan a trip to Romania, maybe I’ll stay a little longer there 😛
Great post! I love the fact that you included my home country, Romania :). Oh, and the pictures are beautiful. I really want to go to Serbia now :).
Happy travels,
Cristina
I am heading to Romania next year, so thank you! But in general what a wonderful list and great pics.
Wow. Super in depth article! Thanks for doing all of that research! We are heading out on the road for the 2 months, and are spending a lot of time in Serbia, so that was so helpful information. Glad to see Romania in there as well, as I think it is one of the most underrated countries in Europe, which offers so much for visitors for a fraction of the cost of many more popular destinations.
What about Portugal?
Lisboa, Porto, somewhere in the Algarve?
Portugal looks great too Charles! Lisbon and Porto check all of our boxes for places to visit according to Nomad List. Thanks for the suggestions.
Err the rent in Berlin starts at 300 euros. Also Prague! I think you are missing incredible cheap cities in your list!
I could have gone on and on Informer, I know:) Our list is long but I highlighted our top priorities in this post. We had heard about Prague and plan to visit next year. But your input on Berlin is appreciated! We want to visit there this year and didn’t realize rent could be that cheap. Thanks for sharing!
Good tips on Eastern Europe! Also, congrats for the photos. They are amazing!
Oh I would absolutely move to any one of these. I got a taste of the expensive end living in Sydney for 2 years ?
I’m surprised Spain made the list, but notice that a good chunk of these are Eastern European cities, and many “unknown” or “unheard” of spots, which makes traveling there even better since it’s not bombarded with tourists!
We spent two months in southern Spain in 2015 and we were so surprised how cheap livings costs were LeAnna. We managed to live below $50 a day ($1500 a month)USD very easily.
Great ideas for cheap get aways here. Especially Romania, thats got to be a go go area for travelers. I love that country so much and its so beautiful