Guide For Living Abroad In Europe

In order to get a visa in Europe, you will have to demonstrate that you can afford the cost of living in the country. Whether you’re an expat, a digital nomad, or a retiree, knowing what to expect when you move abroad is important to a smooth and successful relocation.

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In this Pacific Prime guide, we’ll compare the cost of living in popular European countries, provide a heads-up about the differences of living in Europe compared to the United States, and offer visa information. We also include where to find international health insurance as expats in Europe.

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Most Important Information For Living Abroad In Europe

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As an American expat, you won’t be eligible for benefits EU citizens get, such as healthcare or education at the same cost as locals, so it’s essential to know what your expenses will be to budget effectively.

Since the cost of living also varies by city, find your current city and compare it to your new location. If you need great ideas for places to live in Europe, check out our top recommendations in Europe for expats.

To look at these countries in greater detail, you can check out more specific cost of living and visa information.

Cost Of Living In Europe Vs. The USA

In general, the cost of living in Europe is less expensive than the cost of living in the United States. This is great news for retirees or digital nomads! You may be able to stretch your salary further by living abroad.

We used crowd-sourced data to compare the average cost of living in eleven popular European countries to the average cost of living in the United States.

The rankings for the least expensive cost of living for an individual compared to the U.S.:

Greece is 56% cheaper than the USA.
Poland is 52% cheaper than the USA.
Portugal is 48% cheaper than the USA.
Spain is 44% cheaper than the USA.
Italy is 43% cheaper than the USA.
Malta is 41% cheaper than the USA.
Sweden is 38% cheaper than the USA.
France is 38% cheaper than the USA.
Germany is 36% cheaper than the USA.
The UK is 12% cheaper than the USA.
Ireland is 4% cheaper than the USA.

Housing Cost Comparison In Europe vs. the USA

On average, rent in the United Kingdom is much cheaper than in the United States. Property values are often higher in Europe, but the interest rates are much lower than in the USA. This means the property may be more expensive, but you’ll spend less on interest on the loan.

To compare country averages, we used crowd-sourced data to compare the cost of rent in European countries expats like to consider. We looked at data for an individual’s rent and at data for a family of four.

For one person’s rent, these are the rankings for the lowest average rent:

Greece is 67% cheaper than the USA.
Poland is 56% cheaper than the USA.
Italy is 55% cheaper than the USA.
Portugal is 51% cheaper than the USA.
Spain is 50% cheaper than the USA.
Sweden is 50% cheaper than the USA.
France is 50% cheaper than the USA.
Malta is 47% cheaper than the USA.
Germany is 47% cheaper than the USA.
The UK is 14% cheaper than the USA.
Ireland is 1.5% cheaper than the USA.

For a family of four’s rent, these are the rankings for the lowest average rent compared to the USA:

Greece is 66% cheaper.
Poland is 58% cheaper.
Spain is 55% cheaper.
Italy is 55% cheaper.
Portugal is 52% cheaper.
Sweden is 52% cheaper.
France is 46% cheaper.
Malta is 45% cheaper.
Germany is 43% cheaper.
The UK is 14% cheaper.
Ireland is 3.5% cheaper.

Food Cost Comparison In Europe vs. the USA

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Average amounts spent on food per person tend to be much cheaper in Europe than in the United States. This factor keeps European living for a family of four more affordable on average than in the USA.

Here are the rankings for the amount spent on food for each person:

Poland is 47% cheaper.
Portugal is 45% cheaper.
Spain is 38% cheaper.
Greece is 36% cheaper.
Malta is 28% cheaper.
Italy is 25% cheaper.
Germany is 21% cheaper.
Sweden is 20% cheaper.
The UK is 19% cheaper.
France is 18% cheaper.
Ireland is 14% cheaper.

Transportation Cost Comparison Europe vs. the USA

Transportation costs vary from country to country in Europe. Poland, Portugal, Malta, Greece, Italy, Spain, and France have lower average transportation costs than the United States. Sweden, Germany, Ireland, and the UK have higher average transportation costs.

Salaries In Europe vs. the USA

Average after-tax salaries in Europe tend to be lower than in the United States. This would be less of a concern for retirees or digital nomads who have higher income from the USA to live on while abroad. Expats may also prefer the quality of life with a lower salary and lower cost of living.

Here’s the ranking for the highest average salaries in a sampling of eleven European countries. The United States has the highest average after-tax salary.

Ireland has the highest average salary at 25% lower than the USA.
The UK is 28.5% lower.
Germany is 35% lower.
Sweden is 35% lower.
France is 44% lower.
Spain is 59% lower.
Italy is 62% lower.
Poland is 67% lower.
Malta is 67% lower.
Portugal is 74% lower.
Greece is 77% lower.

Is Europe Expensive To Live In?

Even though Europe’s average after-tax salaries are lower than in the United States, their cost of living is also significantly lower. Additionally, their taxes cover a significant portion of their healthcare benefits, whereas US salaries do not.

As an American expatriate in Europe, you can access their high-quality, private hospitals and clinics with an international health insurance plan in Europe. In fact, having an insurance plan will be a requirement for your visa.

Living In Europe As An American

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As a whole, Europe has reliable internet and a high standard of living in most areas. This makes Europe a great destination for Expats. The countries are also connected by high speed trains which makes visiting the rest of Europe from one country a breeze.

In the UK and Ireland, you’ll drive on the left side of the road with the driver’s side on the right side of the vehicle. The rest of Europe drives on the right side of the road with the steering wheel on the left like the United States.

You’ll also need to adapt to the metric system to live in Europe. They’ll measure liquids with liters, and distance in kilometers. The temperature will be measured in degrees Celcius.

We ranked the number of English speakers according to crowd-sourced measures in each European country.

In Ireland, 98.4% of the people speak English.
In the UK, 98.3% speak English.
In Sweden, 89% speak English.
In Malta, 88.3% speak English.
In France, 57.3% speak English.
In Germany, 56.3% speak English.
In Poland, 49.1% speak English.
In Italy, 13.6% speak English.
In Portugal, 27.3% speak English.
In Spain, 22% speak English.
In Greece, 51% speak English.

Retiring In Europe From The USA

Many European countries have visas for retirees. The lower cost of living is a great perk. You’ll have to get a visa and pay taxes to both the US and the destination country, but many retirees still find living abroad to be cheaper and/or more enjoyable.

If the country does not have a retirement-specific visa, many countries do have investor visas for individuals who purchase property in the country.

Many countries have Social Security Agreements with the United States—bilateral agreements that coordinate the U.S. social security program with the comparable programs of other countries.

These agreements help foreign workers from the U.S. from having to pay Social Security taxes to both countries on the same earnings and help fill gaps in benefit protection for workers abroad.

Moving To Europe From The USA

To move to Europe, you’ll need to make sure you can obtain the correct visa and work permits for your situation. Remember that whether you’re working or retiring abroad, you will need international health insurance coverage.

Visa Requirements For US Citizens In Europe

In general, countries will require that you have adequate means to move to their country without needing financial assistance. They will also require proof of health insurance coverage. You’ll also need to demonstrate that you don’t have a criminal record or contagious diseases.

New Policy for Americans Traveling to Europe in 2025 and 2026

Expecting to start in October 2025, there will be a new digital border management system for non-EU visa-free nationals entering Europe called the Entry/Exit System (EES).

The Entry/Exit System (EES) aims to register non-EU nationals traveling for a short stay, meaning up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The system will apply to American nationals since they do not need a visa to travel for a short stay in European countries.

The EES aims to identify overstayers and provide data on entries, exits, and refusals of entry. It directly combats identity fraud by collecting biometric data and further strengthens security within the EU.

After the implementation of EES, another system called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is expected to follow in the last quarter of 2026.

Once the ETIAS is in place, American nationals traveling to 30 European countries* will need to apply for the ETIAS before their arrival in Europe. ETIAS is a travel authorization, not a visa. It is designed to enhance border security and screen travelers before they cross borders.

The ETIAS travel authorization is linked to a traveler’s passport and is valid for up to three years—or until the passport expires.

The ETIAS travel authorization is not equivalent to a residence permit. It only allows you to enter and remain on the territory of the European countries requiring ETIAS for a short-term stay.

It also does not give you the right to study long-term or to work in these countries. If you plan to stay in a European country for a longer period, you will need to apply for a long-term visa.

Travelers with a valid visa do not need an ETIAS travel authorization.

*30 European countries that will require ETIAS include:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a Schengen visa as an American citizen?

If you are American, you do not need to apply for a Schengen visa. Just make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months at the time of your entry. For 2025 and 2026, please check on updates about the new EES and ETIAS systems.

Why do I need to register in the EES?

The purpose of the EES system is to modernize border management across European countries, making border checks more efficient, and increasing security against terrorism and international crimes at the same time.

What is the difference between the EES and ETIAS?

The EES focuses on recording the entries and exits of non-EU citizens in and out of the Schengen area, while the ETIAS is a pre-travel authorization system for visa-exempt travelers from countries outside the EU who wish to visit the Schengen area.

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Conclusion

Europe is a wonderful place for US expats! The lower cost of living and high quality of life have attracted many expats to move to the other side of the pond. Europe is also a great place to retire with its robust medical system.

If Europe doesn’t feel like the best fit for you, consider moving to Asia for your next adventure.

Contact Pacific Prime today if you have any questions or concerns about international health insurance!

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Jantra Jacobs

Senior Copywriter at Pacific Prime

Jantra Jacobs is a Senior Copywriter at Pacific Prime with over 10 years of writing and editing experience. She writes and edits a diverse variety of online and offline copy, including sales and marketing materials ranging from articles and advertising copy to reports, guides, RFPs, and more.

Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content – no matter how complex the subject is.

Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.