In short
The calculator compares your own US spending with a single person's month in a European city: a 1-bedroom apartment plus everyday costs such as food, transport, utilities and going out. The European figures are the same Numbeo estimates (collected June–October 2026) used in our city guides and the cost-of-living ranking, converted at the European Central Bank reference rate. Health insurance, visas and moving costs are not included.
The Calculator
Compare Your Month in the US With Europe
LisbonSingle person · 1-bedroom
- Your US month
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- Same month there
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- Difference
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- Per year
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| City | Total / month | In US dollars | vs your spending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | €3,464 | $3,875 | — |
| Athens | €1,500 | $1,678 | — |
| Barcelona | €2,320 | $2,595 | — |
| Berlin | €2,370 | $2,651 | — |
| Bern | €3,115 | $3,484 | — |
| Bratislava | €1,809 | $2,024 | — |
| Brussels | €2,260 | $2,528 | — |
| Bucharest | €1,278 | $1,430 | — |
| Budapest | €1,475 | $1,650 | — |
| Copenhagen | €2,975 | $3,328 | — |
| Dublin | €3,280 | $3,669 | — |
| Helsinki | €2,110 | $2,360 | — |
| Lisbon | €2,185 | $2,444 | — |
| Ljubljana | €1,851 | $2,071 | — |
| London | €3,800 | $4,251 | — |
| Luxembourg City | €3,095 | $3,462 | — |
| Madrid | €2,152 | $2,407 | — |
| Nicosia | €1,570 | $1,756 | — |
| Paris | €2,430 | $2,718 | — |
| Prague | €1,820 | $2,036 | — |
| Riga | €1,390 | $1,555 | — |
| Rome | €1,930 | $2,159 | — |
| Sofia | €1,450 | $1,622 | — |
| Stockholm | €2,600 | $2,908 | — |
| Tallinn | €1,680 | $1,879 | — |
| Valletta | €2,143 | $2,397 | — |
| Vienna | €2,340 | $2,618 | — |
| Vilnius | €1,510 | $1,689 | — |
| Warsaw | €1,864 | $2,085 | — |
| Zagreb | €1,600 | $1,790 | — |
Single person: a 1-bedroom apartment plus everyday costs without rent. Numbeo estimates collected June–October 2026 for each city guide; exchange rate €1 = $1.1186 (ECB reference rate, 8 October 2026) (European Central Bank: euro reference exchange rate, US dollar). Non-euro countries are converted to euros in the source data.
How It Works
Where the Numbers Come From
One method for every city
Rent is a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre (or outside it, where the data exists); everyday costs are what a single person spends without rent. Both are Numbeo estimates collected for each city guide between June and October 2026, so every city is measured the same way.
Your side
You enter your own US rent and other monthly spending — the calculator does not guess US prices. Leave out health insurance and car payments if you will not have them in Europe.
Dollars and euros
European costs are converted at €1 = $1.1186 (ECB reference rate, 8 October 2026). You can change the rate in the calculator.
What is not included
Health insurance (often required for a visa), visa and permit fees, deposits and moving costs, and taxes. A couple or a family pays the same kind of rent for a larger home and more everyday costs — book a consultation for a budget for your household.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest European capital to live in?
Bucharest, at about €1,280 a month for a single person including a central 1-bedroom, followed by Riga, Sofia, Budapest, Athens and Vilnius. The table in the calculator sorts every city from cheapest to most expensive.
Is Europe cheaper than the US?
For most Americans, yes — measured the same way, New York costs about €5,340 a month, and most European capitals cost between a quarter and two thirds of that. London, Zurich, Amsterdam, Dublin and Luxembourg are the exceptions.
Does the calculator include health insurance?
No. Many visas require private health insurance, at least at first — budget for it separately. Our country guides explain what each visa asks for.
How often are the figures updated?
They are collected for each city guide and checked when the guide is updated; the date of the data is shown with each city. The exchange rate is the ECB reference rate shown under the table.
Turn the Numbers Into a Plan
Book a free consultation. We check your budget against the visa you need, health insurance and your US taxes.