Are you dreaming of exploring Europe without breaking the bank? You’re in luck! Europe on a budget is entirely possible, especially for remote workers. I’ve scoured the continent to find the most affordable cities where you can live comfortably, work remotely, and soak in rich cultures. From charming cobblestone streets to vibrant local markets, these cities offer everything you need for an enriching experience without straining your wallet. Get ready to discover your next affordable European adventure!
Table of Contents
Introduction
The dream of living and working from anywhere in the world is increasingly becoming a reality for many remote workers and digital nomads. Europe, with its rich cultural heritage, charming cities, and improved digital infrastructure, offers an appealing choice for those looking to work abroad. But which European cities provide the optimal mix of affordability, lifestyle, and professional opportunities?
This article explores the most budget-friendly cities in Europe for remote workers and digital nomads in 2022. We analyze critical factors like cost of living, internet connectivity, co-working spaces, and ease of travel. Our goal is to showcase destinations that allow you to stretch your money further so you can focus on work and enjoying new experiences, not just getting by. Read on for our recommendations on the European cities where you can live well on a modest budget as a remote worker or nomad.
Cost of Living
The cost of living is one of the most important factors for digital nomads and remote workers when choosing where to live and work abroad. There can be major differences in daily costs between European cities.
When looking at the overall cost of living, Eastern and Southern European cities tend to be more affordable than their Western counterparts. For example, a recent study by Nestpick showed that Eastern European cities like Bucharest, Romania and Belgrade, Serbia have cost of living indexes around 50% lower than Paris. Southern European cities like Lisbon, Portugal and Athens, Greece are around 30% cheaper for day-to-day expenses than London.
Some of the most budget-friendly cities in Europe include:
- Bucharest, Romania
- Belgrade, Serbia
- Sofia, Bulgaria
- Budapest, Hungary
- Athens, Greece
- Lisbon, Portugal
These cities offer great value on things like grocery shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and other living expenses. Their lower cost of living means your money goes further as a digital nomad. You can enjoy a good standard of living in these cities without breaking the bank.
When evaluating the cost of living between destinations, be sure to look at costs for housing, food, transportation, recreation, and utilities. Using a tool like Numbeo to compare the price indexes between cities can give you a helpful high-level view. Drilling into the costs of your expected living expenses will ensure you pick a city aligned with your budget.
Housing Costs
When looking for an affordable city to live in as a remote worker, housing costs are often one of the biggest expenses. The average rental prices in some of the most affordable European cities for digital nomads are quite low compared to other major metropolitan areas around the world.
For example, in Lisbon, Portugal, the average price for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center is around €800-900 per month. Centrally located apartments are pricier, but even just a 10-15 minute metro ride outside the city center drops prices to €600-700 on average. Shared apartments with multiple bedrooms can also be found for €400-500 per month.
Other cities like Budapest, Hungary have average monthly rents of around €500-600 for a decent one-bedroom apartment in a good neighborhood. Farther east, cities like Bucharest, Romania or Sofia, Bulgaria have average prices that can dip below €400 per month for comparable rentals.
When stacked against the steep rents in London, Paris, Amsterdam, or other Western European hubs, the housing costs in these more affordable cities can be less than half as much for digital nomads and remote workers. Having such a relatively low housing overhead leaves more room in the budget for other living expenses or the ability to save.
The lower rents let remote workers stretch their money farther while still enjoying a comfortable European lifestyle in a new destination abroad. Affordable housing is key for balancing cost of living while traveling or working remotely.
Food Prices
Grocery stores and supermarkets in many European cities offer affordable prices on staple food items like bread, eggs, milk, fresh produce, meats, and more. While prices may vary between specific stores and neighborhoods, overall food costs in Europe remain low compared to other major global cities.
For example, a loaf of bread can be purchased for 1-2 EUR in cities like Lisbon, Portugal or Bucharest, Romania. A dozen eggs ranges from 2-3 EUR. Milk, cheese, pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables are all very reasonably priced as well. Even organic and specialty food items are accessible.
Eating out at restaurants and cafes is also budget-friendly, with average meal costs between 5-15 EUR per person. Coffee shops provide espresso drinks and light fare starting at around 2 EUR. Fast casual dining and takeaway options like gyros, kebabs, pizza, sandwiches, and tacos can be found for 5-8 EUR per meal. Sit-down restaurants offer multi-course dinners, sometimes with wine pairings, for around 15-25 EUR per person. Upscale and fine dining is more expensive but still affordable compared to other major cities around the world.
Overall, digital nomads and remote workers can enjoy flavorful, high-quality meals in Europe without breaking the bank. Affordable food costs contribute to many cities’ appeal as top destinations for long-term stays.
Transportation
Getting around European cities efficiently and affordably is important for remote workers and digital nomads. Public transportation systems in Europe tend to be excellent, making it easy to navigate without needing a car.
Many European cities offer discounted public transport passes for longer periods of time. For example, in Berlin, you can get a monthly transit pass for around €80 that allows unlimited rides on all metros, buses, trams, and trains within city limits. Major cities like London, Madrid, and Paris have similar monthly passes costing €70-100.
Even without a monthly pass, single ride and daily tickets are reasonably priced. The average metro ride in Bucharest costs less than €1 and in Budapest, a single ticket is just under €2. Several cities including Vienna, Prague, and Copenhagen have zones for public transport, so trips within the city center tend to be cheaper than trips to outer zones.
For remote workers who only ride public transport occasionally, per-ride costs are affordable across most large European cities. Those staying longer term can save money with month-long or annual passes. With extensive public transport options, European cities make it easy for digital nomads to get around on a budget.
Entertainment & Leisure
Many digital nomads and remote workers choose European cities for their affordability and walkability, which makes local sightseeing and entertainment very accessible. You can enjoy museums, shows, dining out, and nightlife in these cities for a fraction of what you’d pay in major metropolises.
Transportation costs are low, with extensive public transit systems, rideshares, bicycles, and pedestrian-friendly streets. Typical costs:
- Museum entry: €5-15
- Theater/concert tickets: €10-50
- Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: €10-20
- Craft beer at a pub: €3-6
- Cocktail at a bar: €6-12
- Day trip bus tour: €15-30
- Bicycle or scooter rental: €10-20 per day
Nightlife like bars, clubs, and live music is plentiful. Many cities have free festivals, markets, and events year-round. Outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and beach trips are readily available. Overall, you can immerse yourself in the local culture, cuisine, and entertainment at reasonable prices.
Coworking Spaces
When working remotely in Europe, having access to coworking spaces can be invaluable for meeting other location-independent professionals and enjoying a collaborative office environment. Many European cities now offer a range of coworking spaces at affordable rates.
Popular coworking spaces like WeWork and Spaces offer memberships starting around €150-250 per month in cities like Lisbon, Berlin, Prague and Budapest. More budget-friendly local coworking spaces can also be found, sometimes for as little as €100 per month. With the rise of remote work, most major European hubs now have at least a few solid coworking options to choose from.
Coworking spaces allow remote workers to enjoy office amenities like meeting rooms, event spaces, coffee bars and more. They can help foster a sense of community and prevent the isolation that can sometimes come with full-time remote work. For digital nomads staying in a city for an extended period, a coworking space membership is worth looking into. Just be sure to compare the pricing and amenities across different spaces to find the right fit.
Internet Connectivity
Reliable, fast internet access is crucial for digital nomads and remote workers. When choosing a city, it’s important to research both the availability and speed of wifi connections.
Many European cities now offer free public wifi in town squares, parks, transportation hubs, and other public spaces. However, free networks can get congested and may not provide the speeds necessary for data-heavy remote work.
Lisbon, Portugal stands out for its wide availability of public wifi networks as well as fiber optic broadband connections up to 1 Gbps through major providers like NOS, Vodafone, and MEO. Average download speeds in Lisbon reach around 80 Mbps. The city has made a major investment in free municipal wifi that covers 95% of the city.
Other budget-friendly cities with excellent connectivity include Budapest, Hungary and Valencia, Spain. Budapest offers download speeds averaging 117 Mbps and recently launched a network of thousands of wifi hotspots. Valencia provides 160 free wifi access points and average speeds of 75 Mbps.
When comparing options, be sure to research not just wifi availability but also typical broadband speeds. Reliable high-speed connections are essential for video calls, transferring large files, and any data-intensive remote work. Affordable cities with poor connectivity can quickly become a headache.
Taxes
One of the biggest factors digital nomads and remote workers need to consider is taxes. Many remote workers can qualify as tax residents in countries with lower tax rates than their home country.
For example, Estonia only taxes distributed company profits at a rate of 14% rather than total revenue. Germany has a top tax rate of 45% while Portugal’s is only 37%. Plus countries like Malta and Cyprus have favorable schemes to attract foreign high-net-worth individuals with flat rates as low as 5% and 15% respectively.
So remote workers should research and take advantage of lower tax rates in countries with special remote worker or digital nomad visas. Just be sure to follow all tax laws and residency requirements. The key benefits are lower income and capital gains taxes. But one trade-off is losing social service benefits from your home country. Overall taxes are a major factor in reducing the cost of living for remote workers in Europe.
Conclusion
The European cities of Lisbon, Budapest, Prague, and Zagreb offer some of the most affordable costs of living for remote workers and digital nomads. Each of these cities combines relatively low housing costs, food prices, and taxes with modern amenities like coworking spaces and fast internet.
Lisbon stands out as a vibrant coastal capital with beautiful architecture, a sunny climate, and lots of culture. The average monthly cost to live in Lisbon is under €1,500. Housing is relatively cheap, and Portugal offers several tax incentives for foreign residents. There are also great co-working spaces with fast internet connections.
Budapest is an up-and-coming city with a hip cafe culture and lively nightlife. Monthly living costs are around €900-1,200. Apartments in the center are affordable, and Budapest has an excellent public transportation system. Taxes are low, and Hungary offers a freelance visa program. There are many coworking spaces with high-speed internet.
Prague is a historic European city that is popular with tourists and expats alike. It offers a high quality of life for only €1,200-1,500 per month. Rent is inexpensive, and the public transportation system makes getting around easy. There are no special tax requirements for digital nomads. Fast internet and coworking spaces are readily available.
Zagreb combines urban amenities with lower costs than many other European capitals. Monthly expenses are approximately €800-1,200. Rent is very affordable, and Croatia has no taxes on foreign income. Zagreb has a small but growing coworking scene and decent internet speeds. The city is safe and walkable.
For remote workers and digital nomads looking to live comfortably while maximizing savings, Lisbon, Budapest, Prague, and Zagreb stand out as four of the most affordable options in Europe. Each provides modern amenities, cultural attractions, and a higher quality of life at a lower cost compared to other major European cities.
Plan your trip with ease by visiting our Accommodation and Transportation pages. Discover unbeatable deals for a seamless and unforgettable Europe adventure!