Best European cities for remote workers
Europe is the default region for remote workers on US or UK salaries — timezone overlap, dense transit, and a wide cost spread between the north-west and the south-east. Here is how the whole continent ranks on one set of weights.
The ranking
| # | City | Match | Monthly cost | Left over | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockholm Sweden | 80% | $2,723 | $2,232 | 2,232 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 96/100Safety scores 84/100No remote-work visa route |
| 2 | Copenhagen Denmark | 79% | $3,274 | $1,363 | 1,363 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 94/100Safety scores 88/100Getting around scores 92/100No remote-work visa route |
| 3 | Barcelona Spain | 77% | $2,519 | $2,614 | 2,614 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 75/100Climate fit scores 79/100Getting around scores 91/100 |
| 4 | Valencia Spain | 77% | $1,912 | $3,221 | 3,221 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 80/100Climate fit scores 81/100Safety scores 80/100 |
| 5 | Lisbon Portugal | 76% | $2,416 | $2,001 | 2,001 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 82/100Climate fit scores 83/100Safety scores 78/100 |
| 6 | Amsterdam Netherlands | 75% | $3,440 | $1,914 | 1,914 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 96/100Getting around scores 90/100Safety scores 76/100No remote-work visa route |
| 7 | Tallinn Estonia | 74% | $1,840 | $4,433 | 4,433 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 83/100English usability scores 80/100Safety scores 84/100 |
| 8 | Porto Portugal | 74% | $1,925 | $2,492 | 2,492 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 77/100Safety scores 80/100Climate fit scores 77/100 |
| 9 | Madrid Spain | 73% | $2,369 | $2,764 | 2,764 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 76/100Getting around scores 91/100Climate fit scores 77/100 |
| 10 | Paris France | 72% | $2,694 | $1,764 | 1,764 USD/month left after costsConnectivity scores 76/100Getting around scores 93/100Healthcare scores 90/100 |
| 11 | Zurich Switzerland | 70% | $4,722 | $1,953 | 1,953 USD/month left after costsSafety scores 92/100English usability scores 80/100Healthcare scores 94/100No remote-work visa route |
| 12 | Split Croatia | 69% | $1,754 | $2,918 | 2,918 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 80/100Safety scores 86/100Climate fit scores 77/100Connectivity is weak here (16/100) |
| 13 | Bucharest Romania | 68% | $1,331 | $3,069 | 3,069 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 83/100Connectivity scores 84/100 |
| 14 | Dublin Ireland | 68% | $3,561 | $1,699 | 1,699 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 100/100Healthcare scores 76/100Connectivity is weak here (28/100) |
| 15 | London United Kingdom | 67% | $4,050 | $1,702 | 1,702 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 100/100Getting around scores 91/100Healthcare scores 84/100Connectivity is weak here (16/100) |
The top five, in detail
Capped childcare fees and universal healthcare make family costs unusually low relative to the headline tax rate.
High taxes buy near-free childcare, healthcare and one of the best cycling cities on earth.
Beach, bike lanes and Barcelona weather at roughly two-thirds the cost — the current value pick of coastal Spain.
The default European nomad base: sun, coastline, a dedicated remote-work visa — and rents now priced for foreign income.
Other guides
Frequently asked
How was this best european cities for remote workers list produced?
It is a calculation, not an opinion. Each of the 70 cities in the dataset is scored 0–100 on ten dimensions, weighted by the criteria for this guide (European cities only; Money left over on $96,000; Broadband speed; English proficiency; Climate and safety), and ranked on the weighted average. Costs are measured against a $96,000 gross salary taxed under each country's own rules.
What household does this price?
1 adult, in a 1-bed, city centre, at a moderate lifestyle, without a car. You can change all of that in the live tool.
What is the number one european cities for remote workers?
Stockholm, Sweden, with a 80% match and a modelled monthly cost of $2,723 for this household. Capped childcare fees and universal healthcare make family costs unusually low relative to the headline tax rate.