In short
Measured the same way — everyday costs for a single person without rent, plus a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre (Numbeo, 2026) — most European capitals cost between a quarter and two thirds of New York. Bucharest (about €1,280), Riga (€1,390), Sofia, Budapest, Athens and Vilnius are the cheapest; Zurich (€4,310), Geneva, London, Amsterdam and Dublin are the most expensive. Outside the capitals, costs drop further. Budget separately for health insurance where your visa requires it.
Cost of living: key facts
Last verified 2 October 2026| Living costs, single person (Bucharest) | about €667 a month without rent — about €1,280 with a central 1-bedroom estimate# Source: Cost of Living in Bucharest - Numbeo |
|---|---|
| Living costs, single person | about €870/month without rent estimate# Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Riga (Sep 2026) |
| Living costs, single person (Athens) | about €835/month without rent estimate# Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Athens (Sep 2026) |
| Lisbon living costs | A single person spends about €760 a month without rent — about €2,185 with a central 1-bedroom (Numbeo, September 2026)# Source: Numbeo: Cost of living in Lisbon |
| Living costs, single person (Madrid) | about €820 a month without rent — about €2,150 with a central 1-bedroom estimate# Source: Numbeo – Cost of Living in Madrid |
| Amsterdam living costs | A single person spends about €1,135 a month without rent — about €3,460 with a central 1-bedroom (Numbeo, September 2026)# Source: Numbeo: Cost of Living in Amsterdam |
| Living costs, single person (Zurich) | about €1,665/month without rent estimate# Source: Numbeo – Cost of living in Zurich |
| Living costs, single person (London) | about €1,270 (£1,080)/month without rent estimate# Source: Numbeo – Cost of living in London |
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Rent + Everyday Costs in European Capitals
Single person, central 1-bedroom plus everyday costs without rent (Numbeo, 2026). New York = 100.
Sofia, Zagreb and Nicosia are listed in the table below. Figures are Numbeo estimates collected June–October 2026 for each country guide.
By City
Rent and Everyday Costs, City by City
| City | 1-bedroom apartment | Everyday costs (single, no rent) |
|---|---|---|
| Bucharest | about €611 a month in the centre, €407 outside (Numbeo, September 2026) | about €667 a month without rent — about €1,280 with a central 1-bedroom |
| Sofia | about €690/month in the centre, €520 outside | about €760/month without rent |
| Riga | about €520/month (range €400–600) | about €870/month without rent |
| Athens | about €665/month in the centre, €575 outside | about €835/month without rent |
| Budapest | about €730/month in the centre, €565 outside | about €745/month without rent |
| Vilnius | about €730/month in the centre, €555 outside (Numbeo, Sep 2026) | about €780/month without rent |
| Zagreb | about €775/month in the centre, €590 outside | about €825/month without rent |
| Nicosia | about €720/month in the centre, €620 outside | about €850/month without rent |
| Tallinn | about €725/month in the centre, €515 outside | about €955/month without rent |
| Bratislava | about €957 a month in the centre, €716 outside (Numbeo, September 2026) | about €852 a month without rent — about €1,810 with a central 1-bedroom |
| Prague | about €1,015/month in the centre, €865 outside | about €805/month without rent |
| Ljubljana | about €982 a month in the centre, €796 outside (Numbeo, October 2026) | about €869 a month without rent — about €1,850 with a central 1-bedroom |
| Warsaw | 1-bedroom about €1,064 (≈PLN 4,650) a month in the centre and €857 outside (Numbeo, October 2026) | A single person spends about €800 a month without rent — about €1,865 with a central 1-bedroom (Numbeo, October 2026) |
| Helsinki | about €1,095/month in the centre, €805 outside | about €1,015/month without rent |
| Valletta | 1-bedroom in Valletta about €1,263 a month in the centre (€993 outside); Sliema about €1,564; Gozo about €813 (Numbeo, 2026) | A single person spends about €880 a month without rent in Valletta (Numbeo, June 2026) — about €2,140 with a central 1-bedroom |
| Madrid | about €1,332 a month in the centre, €1,066 outside (Numbeo, October 2026) | about €820 a month without rent — about €2,150 with a central 1-bedroom |
| Lisbon | 1-bedroom about €1,425 a month in the centre and €1,063 outside (Numbeo, September 2026) | A single person spends about €760 a month without rent — about €2,185 with a central 1-bedroom (Numbeo, September 2026) |
| Vienna | about €1,170/month (range €850–1,800) | about €1,170/month without rent |
| Rome | about €1,085/month in the centre, €780 outside (Numbeo, Sep 2026) | about €845/month without rent |
| Brussels | about €1,210/month in the centre, €1,040 outside | about €1,050/month without rent |
| Berlin | about €1,320/month in the centre, €995 outside | about €1,050/month without rent |
| Paris | about €1,385/month in the centre, €1,035 outside | about €1,045/month without rent |
| Stockholm | about €1,480/month in the centre, €955 outside | about €1,120/month without rent |
| Copenhagen | about €1,750/month in the centre, €1,280 outside | about €1,225/month without rent |
| Luxembourg City | about €1,985/month in the centre, €1,775 outside (Numbeo, Sep 2026) | about €1,110/month without rent |
| Dublin | about €2,190/month in the centre, €1,970 outside (Numbeo, Sep 2026); RTB average for new tenancies, all homes, Dublin City €2,301 (Q1 2026) | about €1,090/month without rent |
| Amsterdam | 1-bedroom about €2,329 a month in the centre and €1,743 outside (Numbeo, September 2026) | A single person spends about €1,135 a month without rent — about €3,460 with a central 1-bedroom (Numbeo, September 2026) |
| London | about €2,530/month in the centre, €2,035 outside | about €1,270 (£1,080)/month without rent |
| Bern / Zurich | about €1,665/month in the centre, €1,260 outside; Zurich: about €2,645/month in the centre, €2,085 outside | about €1,450/month without rent; Zurich: about €1,665/month without rent |
Numbeo estimates (June–October 2026) from each country's key-facts register. Follow the city link for the full budget and sources.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest capital in Europe for Americans?
Among the 29 countries we cover, Bucharest is cheapest — about €1,280 a month for a single person including a central 1-bedroom — followed by Riga (€1,390), Budapest and Athens (about €1,480–1,490).
How does Europe compare with New York?
Measured the same way, New York costs about €5,340 a month. Most European capitals are between 25% and 65% of that; Zurich is about 80%.
Is Western Europe much more expensive than Eastern Europe?
Usually. Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Luxembourg and Copenhagen cost about €3,000–3,800 a month, while most Central and Eastern European capitals are €1,300–1,900.
Across Europe
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