How much will it cost to live in different European cities in 2026?

A monthly budget for living in Europe consists of rent, utilities, food, transportation, and communication. To compare expenses, let’s consider the same conditions for a single person in Warsaw, Prague, Berlin, Madrid, Lisbon, Rome, Bucharest, Sofia, Vienna, and Athens. We’ll base our calculation on a long-term lease for a one-bedroom apartment outside the city center. We’ll account for the security deposit, travel tickets, and paperwork separately.

In a previous article, we discussed the world’s best cities to live in, according to Generation Z.

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Warsaw, Poland

Renting a furnished 45 m² studio apartment in a typical neighborhood of Warsaw, including utilities and internet, costs approximately 5,550 zlotys (€1,280) per month. Groceries, transportation, cell phone service, and leisure activities are paid for separately.

To plan your budget, you can use the following prices as a guide:

- Rent for a 45 m² studio – 4,535 zloty (€1,045) per month

- Utilities for one person – 924 zloty (€213) per month

- Home internet – 88 zloty (€20) per month

- Lunch with a drink in the business district – 57 zlotys (€13)

- Groceries: 12 eggs – 18 zlotys (€4.15), 500 g of chicken breast – 18 zlotys (€4.15), 1 kilogram of potatoes – about 4.50 zlotys (€1)

- Gym membership in the business district – 195 zloty (€45) per month

- Two movie tickets – 74 zloty (€17)

The choice of neighborhood significantly affects expenses. A similar studio apartment in an expensive neighborhood costs about 6,662 zlotys (€1,535)—approximately €490 more per month. Another significant budget item is eating out for lunch: over 20 workdays, this will cost 1,140 zlotys (€263), not including breakfast and dinner.

In our previous article, we discussed the safest countries in the event of a global catastrophe.

Prague, Czech Republic

Renting a furnished 45 m² studio apartment in a typical neighborhood in Prague, including utilities and internet, will cost approximately 26,160 crowns (€1,077) per month. This is about €200 less than the equivalent set of expenses in Warsaw. Food, transportation, and personal purchases are not included in this amount.

Approximate prices by major categories:

- Rent for a 45 m² studio apartment – 22,415 korunas (€923) per month

- Utilities for one person – 3,344 korunas (€138) per month

- Home internet – 400 kroner (€16) per month

- Lunch with a drink in the business district – 273 kroner (€11)

- Groceries: 12 eggs – 97 kroner (€4), 500 g of chicken breast – 119 kroner (€4.90), 1 kilogram of potatoes – 31 kroner (€1.30)

- Gym membership in the business district – 1,643 korunas (€68) per month

- Two movie tickets – 491 korunas (€20)

When looking for a place to live in Prague, consider your commute to work or school. An apartment near a metro or tram stop allows you to consider neighborhoods outside the historic center. Before renting, check your travel time and the number of transfers: a lower rent may mean longer daily commutes.

Public transportation helps keep expenses under control. A personalized monthly pass costs 550 crowns (€23), and an annual pass costs 3,650 crowns (€150). Used over the course of a year, this works out to about €12.50 per month. The pass covers the metro, trams, and city buses, but for trips outside Prague, you’ll need to factor in additional fare zones. PID fares.

When budgeting for housing, it’s important to separate rent from utility and maintenance fees. Ask the landlord to itemize the costs of heating, water, electricity, and building maintenance, as well as the procedure for adjusting these charges based on actual consumption. This will help you compare apartments based on the total monthly cost and determine whether any additional payments may be required.

We previously wrote about the best cities to live in, according to Gen Z.

Berlin, Germany

Renting a furnished 45 m² studio in a typical Berlin neighborhood, including utilities and internet, costs approximately €1,386 per month. With a public transit pass, the cost is €1,449. Food, cell phone service, and personal purchases are not included in this amount.

Key price points:

- Rent for a 45 m² studio apartment – €1,155 per month

- Utilities for one person – €198 per month

- Home internet – €33 per month

- Lunch with a drink in a business district – €18

- Groceries: 12 eggs – €4.06, 500 g of chicken breast – €5.28, 1 kg of potatoes – €2.12

- Gym membership in a business district – €41 per month

- Two movie tickets – €25

For daily travel, you can purchase a Deutschlandticket for €63 per month. It’s valid on city and regional public transportation throughout Germany. For example, you can use it to get around Berlin and to take regional trains to Potsdam. The ticket does not cover long-distance ICE, IC, and EC trains. BVG terms and conditions apply.

A studio apartment of similar size in an upscale neighborhood costs about €1,544 without utilities. That’s roughly €390 more per month. When searching, check the apartment’s amenities: our calculation assumes furnished housing. The cost of furnishing an unfurnished apartment must be added separately.

If you eat lunch in the business district 20 workdays a month, that will cost approximately €360 per month. Together with rent, utilities, internet, and a transit pass, the total comes to €1,809. Breakfasts, dinners, and meals on weekends are not included in this amount.

Learn more about the best countries for digital nomads to live in by following the link.

Madrid, Spain

Renting a furnished 45 m² studio apartment in a typical neighborhood in Madrid, including utilities and internet, costs approximately €1,186 per month. This is about €200 less than similar expenses in Berlin. Food, transportation, and leisure activities must be calculated separately.

Key cost estimates:

- Rent for a 45 m² studio apartment – €1,073 per month

- Utilities for one person – €93 per month

- Home internet – €20 per month

- Lunch with a drink in a business district – €21

- Groceries: 12 eggs – €3.65, 500 g of chicken breast – €4.07, 1 kg of potatoes – €1.95

- Gym membership in the business district – €58 per month

- Two movie tickets – €24

Madrid combines business districts with a very lively tourist center. The Sol–Gran Vía area is great for walking and entertainment, while Castellana is one of the main business hubs. Therefore, it’s best to look for an apartment based on your workplace, rather than just the distance to the central square. The metro, buses, and commuter trains make it possible to consider housing outside the tourist districts. A guide to Madrid’s neighborhoods.

The climate is also an important factor for long-term rentals. Summers in Madrid are hot and dry, while winters can be cold. Before moving in, it’s a good idea to check the air conditioning, heating, and window sun protection. This is especially true for those who work from home: keeping the apartment cool will affect both your comfort and your electricity bills.

Earlier, we talked about the European countries where it is easiest to get a work visa and start a career abroad.

Lisbon, Portugal

Renting a 45 m² furnished studio in a typical neighborhood in Lisbon, including utilities and internet, costs approximately €1,172 per month. Food, transportation, and personal expenses are additional. These estimates from Expatistan should be used as a preliminary guide: the data set for the city is currently limited.

Main expenses:

- Rent for a 45 m² studio apartment – €969 per month

- Utilities for one person – €177 per month

- Home internet – €26 per month

- Lunch with a drink in the business district – €13

- Groceries: 12 eggs – €4.04, 500 g of chicken breast – €3.85, 1 kg of potatoes – €1.45

- Gym membership in the business district – €38 per month

- Two movie tickets – €13

In this comparison, the lower rent does not make Lisbon significantly cheaper than Madrid. Utility costs almost cancel out the difference: the total cost of housing and internet differs by only €14 per month. Therefore, when searching for an apartment, it’s important to ask for the total amount of the payments rather than relying on the price listed in the ad.

The public transit system allows you to expand your housing search beyond Lisbon itself. A monthly Navegante Municipal pass costs €30, while the Navegante Metropolitano pass costs €40 and covers the entire metropolitan area. The surcharge for the expanded coverage is minimal. The main considerations for a suburban resident are commute time and the convenience of transfers. Public transportation fares.

Lisbon’s most notable advantage in this sample is dining out and leisure activities. Lunch costs about €8 less than in Madrid, and two movie tickets cost €11 less. At the same time, a studio apartment in an expensive neighborhood costs approximately €1,395, excluding utilities. Therefore, the choice of housing will have a much greater impact on your budget than savings on individual purchases.

In our previous article, we discussed the top 5 EU countries for starting an offline business in 2026.

Rome, Italy

Renting a furnished 45 m² studio in a typical neighborhood in Rome, including utilities and internet, costs approximately €1,113 per month. With a monthly transit pass, the total is €1,148. Groceries, eating out, and personal purchases are not included in this amount.

Estimated prices:

- Rent for a 45 m² studio – €962 per month

- Utilities for one person – €125 per month

- Home internet – €26 per month

- Lunch with a drink in the business district – €16

- Groceries: 12 eggs – €5.35, 500 g of chicken breast – €4.91, 1 kg of potatoes – €1.82

- Gym membership in the business district – €64 per month

- Two movie tickets – €18

In Rome, the choice of neighborhood has a particularly strong impact on your rental budget. Based on this sample, a studio apartment in an expensive neighborhood costs around €1,616—€654 more. Therefore, for a long-term stay, it’s worth considering residential neighborhoods outside the tourist center. However, you should weigh the savings against your commute to work: check for transfers and the last departure time.

A personalized monthly pass for €35 covers buses, trams, the metro, and urban sections of several train routes.

This expands your housing options: you can look for an apartment not only near a metro station but also near a suitable train station. An important detail—the pass is valid for a calendar month, not 30 days from the date of purchase.

Learn more about low-tax countries for profitable business operations in 2026by following the link.

Bucharest, Romania

Renting a 45 m² furnished studio in a typical neighborhood of Bucharest, including utilities and internet, costs approximately 2,442 lei (€464) per month. This is the lowest figure among the cities already discussed. Food, transportation, and personal purchases are not included in this amount.

Preliminary cost estimates:

- Rent for a 45 m² studio apartment – 2,001 lei (€380) per month

- Utilities for one person – 400 lei (€76) per month

- Home internet – 41 lei (€8) per month

- Lunch with a drink in the business district – 54 lei (€10)

- Groceries: 12 eggs – 19 lei (€3.60), 500 g of chicken breast – 22 lei (€4.20), 1 kilogram of potatoes – 3.40 lei (€0.65)

- Gym membership in the business district – 190 lei (€36) per month

- Two movie tickets – 63 lei (€12)

Bucharest’s main advantage in this comparison is the lower cost of private housing. However, in an expensive neighborhood, rent for a similar studio apartment can reach approximately 3,189 lei (€606). The additional cost amounts to over €220 per month. Before choosing an apartment, it’s worth checking the commute to work: proximity to the right subway line may be more beneficial than a central location.

When it comes to groceries, the difference compared to Western European cities is less clear-cut. For example, chicken breast in the sample listed costs about the same as in Madrid. Therefore, low rent shouldn’t be taken as a sign that supermarkets are just as cheap.

For someone with a remote income, savings on housing leave more money for other needs. If the move involves finding a local job, however, you’ll need to compare your budget to your after-tax salary. In the case of Bucharest, the ratio of the specific rent to the expected income will be more important than the city’s ranking among the cheapest capitals.

Learn more about the most affordable countries for expats to live in 2026 by following the link.

Sofia, Bulgaria

According to preliminary estimates, renting a furnished 45-square-meter studio apartment in a typical neighborhood of Sofia, including utilities and internet, costs about €490 per month. Food, transportation, and leisure activities are paid for separately.

Main expenses:

- Rent for a 45 m² studio apartment – about €413 per month

- Utilities for one person – €67 per month

- Home internet – €11 per month

- Lunch with a drink in the business district – €13

- Groceries: 12 eggs – €4.10, 500 g of chicken breast – €5.10, 1 kg of potatoes – €1.30

- Gym membership in the business district – €36 per month

- Two movie tickets – €17

Bulgaria already uses the euro: the country adopted it on January 1, 2026. Therefore, the budget for Sofia can be directly compared to that of Rome or Madrid.

For occasional trips, it’s convenient to pay for transit with a bank card. A 30+ ticket costs €0.80 and allows you to transfer within 30 minutes. The daily limit for using the same card is €2. This is useful for remote workers who don’t need to commute to the office every day.

Sofia’s most notable budget advantage in this comparison is rent. Food prices don’t show the same gap: chicken breast costs about the same as in Berlin. Moreover, a studio apartment in an expensive neighborhood costs around €652, excluding utilities. Therefore, the affordability of living here will depend largely on the specific apartment.

In our previous article, we discussed the cost of living in the best EU countries in 2026.

Vienna, Austria

Renting a furnished 45 m² studio in a typical neighborhood in Vienna, including utilities and internet, costs approximately €1,022 per month. Food, transportation, and personal expenses are paid separately. This is a preliminary estimate based on Expatistan: the data set for the city is small.

Key price benchmarks:

- Rent for a 45 m² studio apartment – €897 per month

- Utilities for one person – €97 per month

- Home internet – €28 per month

- Lunch with a drink in the business district – €19

- Groceries: 12 eggs – €5.42, 500 g of chicken breast – €5.86, 1 kg of potatoes – €1.82

- Gym membership in the business district – €57 per month

- Two movie tickets – €20

A distinctive feature of Vienna is the diversity of its rental market segments. Alongside private apartments, there is municipal and subsidized housing. Therefore, the citywide average rent does not always reflect the options available to a specific newcomer. To plan your budget, you should compare apartments of the same type and check the eligibility requirements. Information from the City of Vienna on renting.

City passes cover the metro, trams, buses, and the S-Bahn within the main fare zone. This allows you to look for housing along a convenient route without being limited to the city center. For your first few days, a seven-day digital pass costs €25.20. The airport is located outside the main zone, so a trip there requires a separate surcharge or a ticket from the respective transit provider.

In the sample provided, housing appears relatively affordable, but daily meals require careful consideration. Chicken breast and eggs are more expensive here than in Madrid or Lisbon. Lunches in the business district over 20 workdays will add up to about €380. So a lower rent doesn’t necessarily mean lower overall expenses.

Athens, Greece

Renting a furnished 45 m² studio in a typical neighborhood in Athens, including utilities and internet, costs approximately €695 per month. With a 30-day city transit pass, the total is €722. Food, cell phone service, and personal purchases are not included in this amount.

Key price benchmarks:

- Rent for a 45 m² studio apartment – €535 per month

- Utilities for one person – €137 per month

- Home internet – €23 per month

- Lunch with a drink in a business district – €18

- Groceries: 12 eggs – €5.03, 500 g of chicken breast – €5.47, 1 kg of potatoes – €1.27

- Gym membership in the business district – €47 per month

- Two movie tickets – €17

Athens stands out for its more affordable rent, but utility bills significantly increase expenses. In this calculation, they amount to about a quarter of the rent. Therefore, before moving in, it’s worth asking for utility bills from both the summer and winter months. This will help you estimate the actual costs of air conditioning and heating for a specific apartment.

A 30-day pass for €27 covers city buses, trolleybuses, trams, and the metro. When looking for a place to live, this allows you to explore different parts of the city along a convenient route. The standard pass does not cover trips to the airport. If you need to make these trips regularly, an extended pass is available for €45.

Savings on rent don’t extend to all daily expenses. Lunch in the business district costs about the same as in Berlin, while chicken breast is slightly more expensive. Based on the prices listed, Athens is more affordable primarily for those living on their own and using public transportation. Regular visits to restaurants and cafes will significantly reduce this cost advantage.

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We remind you! New economic indicators show which countries have been able to increase their GDP and which have lost ground due to inflation and slowing growth. Ranking of the richest countries in the world in 2026 — follow the link.

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