The 11 Cheapest European Countries To Live in: Updated July 2026

The cheapest European countries to live in in 2026 are Moldova, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, and Bulgaria, according to Numbeo’s Cost of Living Index 2026. 

These destinations offer significantly lower everyday living costs than much of Europe, making them attractive options for expats, retirees, digital nomads, and remote workers.

This guide compares the most affordable countries to live in Europe, explaining what daily life is like in each destination, with a breakdown of everyday expenses.

Cheapest European Country to Live in: Key Takeaways

Moldova is the cheapest European country to live in in 2026, according to Numbeo’s Cost of Living Index.

The 11 cheapest European countries combine low living costs with different advantages, including favorable taxes, strong job markets, residency pathways, and high safety levels.

Monthly living costs for a single person range from approximately €510 in North Macedonia to €740 in Slovakia, excluding rent.

Many of Europe’s most affordable countries also offer low housing costs, with one-bedroom apartments available for under €500 per month in several destinations.

The ranking is based on Numbeo’s Cost of Living Index 2026, comparing everyday expenses such as groceries, restaurants, transportation, and utilities across Europe.

Portugal is the most affordable country in Western and Southern Europe in this ranking, combining lower living costs with high-quality healthcare and accessible visa options for expats.

This ranking is based on Numbeo’s Cost of Living Index 2026, one of the world’s largest databases for comparing living costs across countries and cities. The index measures the prices of everyday expenses, using New York City as the benchmark with a score of 100.

The global database calculates this index using factors like:

• Groceries: Food and household item prices
• Restaurants: Dining costs
• Transportation: Public transit and vehicle expenses
• Utilities: Electricity, water, and heating costs

For this guide, we focused on the countries with the lowest overall living costs in Europe. While Numbeo also publishes separate indexes for rent and local purchasing power, this ranking uses the Cost of Living Index (excluding rent) to provide a consistent comparison of everyday expenses across countries.

To keep the guide practical for people planning a move, we excluded countries facing significant geopolitical instability or travel restrictions, including Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Kosovo. Although these destinations rank among Europe’s least expensive, the current political and security situation makes them less suitable options for most expats, retirees, and remote workers.

1. Moldova

Moldova is the cheapest European country to live in in 2026, according to Numbeo’s Cost of Living Index. Located between Romania and Ukraine in Eastern Europe, it has some of the continent’s lowest everyday expenses, making it an attractive option for anyone looking to stretch their budget.

A single person spends around €545 per month, excluding rent, while a family of four spends approximately €1,860. Rent is equally affordable, with a one-bedroom apartment costing around €520 per month in Chișinău’s city center and about €325 outside the center.

Despite its low costs, Moldova has reliable public transport, affordable utilities, and fast internet, making daily life convenient for long-term residents. Its location also makes it easy to travel to neighboring Romania and other parts of Eastern Europe.

Despite bordering Ukraine, Moldova has remained outside the conflict and continues to welcome foreign residents. Beyond affordability, the country is known for its vineyards, green countryside, and slower pace of life, making it an appealing choice for those who value a quieter lifestyle.

2. North Macedonia

For people whose priority is maximizing their budget, North Macedonia is one of Europe’s strongest options. According to Numbeo’s Cost of Living Index 2026, a single person spends an estimated €510 per month excluding rent, while a family of four spends around €1,790, leaving significantly more disposable income than in many other European countries.

Housing is another advantage. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in Skopje costs about €270 per month in the city center and around €210 outside it, making long-term living accessible even on a modest income.

North Macedonia also sits in the center of the Balkans, making it easy for residents to reach neighboring countries such as Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, and Serbia by road. For people planning to live in Southeast Europe, this makes weekend trips and cross-border travel simple and affordable.

3. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Living in a European capital doesn’t have to come with a high price tag. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a single person spends around €572 per month, excluding rent, while a family of four spends about €2,005. Housing is particularly affordable, with a one-bedroom apartment in Sarajevo costing around €287 per month in the city center and approximately €211 outside it.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the Western Balkans, bordering Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. Its central position makes it easy for residents to travel across Southeast Europe by road, while everyday expenses remain among the lowest on the continent.

Sarajevo is the country’s economic, cultural, and administrative center, concentrating the largest share of jobs, healthcare facilities, universities, and international businesses. For people seeking an affordable European city rather than a resort destination, it provides the widest range of services while maintaining a substantially lower cost of living than many capitals in Central and Western Europe.

4. Romania

Romania is one of the cheapest European countries and a highly recommended destination for affordable living. Monthly expenses average €577, and cities like Cluj-Napoca, Brașov, and Timișoara are known for low housing costs, affordable groceries, and cheap dining. Romania is also ideal for digital nomads and remote workers because it offers fast internet for €8 to €13 per month and many affordable cafés and coworking spaces.

Rent in Bucharest, the capital, averages around €427 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center. In contrast, in smaller cities like Cluj-Napoca or Timișoara, rents are even lower, ranging from €300 to €400. As for healthcare, expats can access public healthcare by paying into the national insurance system, though many opt for private health insurance, which typically costs between €50 and €100 per month, for faster and higher-quality care.

5. Bulgaria

Bulgaria is one of the strongest low-cost options in the European Union, especially for remote workers, freelancers, and business owners. Located in Southeastern Europe, it borders Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, and Turkey, giving residents access to the EU while keeping living costs far below those of many Western European countries.

Its biggest advantage is the combination of low expenses and tax efficiency. Bulgaria applies a flat 10 percent personal income tax, and its corporate tax rate is also 10 percent, one of the lowest in the EU. For people earning income remotely or running a business, this can make Bulgaria more financially attractive than other affordable European countries.

The cost of living is also practical for long-term residents. A single person spends around €613 per month, excluding rent, while a family of four spends about €2,222. Rent in Sofia averages €417 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center and €320 outside the center, while smaller cities such as Plovdiv can be cheaper.

Bulgaria also has a strong digital infrastructure for its price point. Broadband internet costs around €12 per month according to Numbeo. That makes Bulgaria a good fit for people who need reliable connectivity without paying Western European living costs.

 6. Serbia

Located in the Western Balkans, Serbia has become increasingly popular with international residents thanks to its favorable tax system, growing technology sector, and strategic position between Central and Southeast Europe. Personal income tax ranges from 10 to 20 percent, allowing many residents to benefit from a lower tax burden alongside comparatively low living costs.

Living in Serbia costs around €619 per month for a single person and €2,159 for a family of four, excluding rent. Housing is also affordable, with a one-bedroom apartment in Belgrade averaging €442 per month in the city center and €325 outside it, while rents in cities such as Novi Sad and Niš are lower.

For foreigners planning a long-term move, Serbia has the Serbia Residency by Investment. It allows foreign investors who purchase residential or commercial property anywhere in the country to get residency in less than one month. After three years, they can acquire permanent residency and Serbian citizenship after six years. There is no minimum investment requirement, making it one of Europe’s most accessible residency by investment programs.

Read our Serbia Residency by Investment Guide

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7. Montenegro

A single person in Montenegro spends an estimated €615 per month, excluding rent, while a family of four spends around €2,224. Housing remains relatively affordable, with a one-bedroom apartment averaging €573 per month in the city center and €421 outside it. Property is another advantage, with homes available across a wide price range, from affordable apartments to luxury developments such as Porto Montenegro and Luštica Bay.

Taxes are another reason many foreigners relocate to Montenegro. Personal income is taxed at around 15 percent, while corporate tax is 9 percent, among the lowest rates in Europe. The country also does not levy wealth, inheritance, or gift taxes, helping entrepreneurs, investors, and retirees reduce their long-term tax burden.

Another of Montenegro’s biggest advantages is that everyday life happens at a slower pace. People choose the country not only because it is affordable, but because they can finish work and be by the sea within minutes, spend weekends in the mountains without travelling far, and enjoy a less crowded lifestyle than in many European destinations.

8. Albania

Albania is one of Europe’s lowest-cost countries, with a single person spending an estimated €613 per month and a family of four around €2,259, excluding rent.

Living costs are approximately 35 to 45% lower than in the United States and 30 to 50% lower than in many Western European countries. A one-bedroom apartment in central Tirana averages €477 per month.

Lower living costs are reflected in everyday expenses. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs around €8.50, a cappuccino averages €1.80, and a monthly public transport pass is about €17. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in central Tirana costs around €477 per month, making it easier to keep day-to-day expenses under control.

Albania also gives residents direct access to the Adriatic and Ionian coasts without the housing costs associated with many Mediterranean destinations. Coastal cities such as Vlorë and Sarandë remain significantly more affordable than comparable seaside locations elsewhere in Southern Europe, while Tirana offers an active café culture and growing expat community at a fraction of the cost of many European capitals.

9. Poland

Poland’s low cost of living is backed by one of Europe’s strongest economies. A single person spends an estimated €709 per month excluding rent, while a family of four spends around €2,380.

Housing in Poland is relatively affordable, with a one-bedroom apartment averaging €646 per month in Warsaw’s city center and €518 outside it. Everyday expenses are also relatively low, with a meal at an inexpensive restaurant costing around €9, a monthly public transport pass costing €27, and broadband internet costing about €16 per month.

The country has become one of Central Europe’s largest technology and business hubs, creating career opportunities across IT, engineering, finance, renewable energy, manufacturing, and logistics. International companies continue to expand their operations in cities such as Warsaw, Kraków, and Wrocław, supported by a highly skilled workforce, more than €130 billion in EU investment for modernization, and one of the fastest-growing economies in the European Union.

Poland is also consistently ranked among Europe’s safest countries, making it a popular choice for families and students. Reliable public transport, widespread digital payment systems, and high-speed internet make daily life straightforward, while the country’s central location allows easy travel across both Western and Eastern Europe.

10. Slovakia

Slovakia offers many of the advantages of Central Europe without the higher living costs found in neighboring countries such as Austria. A single person spends around €740 per month excluding rent, while a family of four spends approximately €2,559.

Housing is also relatively affordable, with one-bedroom apartments in central Bratislava averaging €620 per month, falling to around €490 outside the city center and in other cities such as Košice and Nitra. Everyday expenses also stay reasonable, with local restaurant meals averaging €8, monthly public transport passes around €30, and broadband internet approximately €18 per month.

Located in the heart of Central Europe, Slovakia offers easy access to Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland, making weekend travel simple by train or car. Many people choose Slovakia for its high levels of safety, compact historic cities, and access to nature. The High Tatras, Low Tatras, Slovak Paradise National Park, and hundreds of hiking and cycling trails are all within a few hours of the country’s main cities, while ski resorts remain considerably more affordable than those in the Alps.

Slovakia also has a diversified economy with strong automotive, engineering, manufacturing, and technology sectors. The country is particularly attractive for professionals working in IT, engineering, finance, research and development, and shared service centers.

11. Portugal

Portugal offers one of the lowest costs of living in the European Union while maintaining one of Europe’s highest standards of healthcare and quality of life. 

Overall, the cost of living in Portugal is 30% to 40% cheaper than in the UK and France. A single person spends an estimated €676 per month excluding rent, and a family of four spends around €2,442. 

Housing is the largest expense, with a one-bedroom apartment averaging €917 per month in the city center and €725 outside it.

Affordability extends beyond housing and groceries. Portugal’s tax-funded public healthcare system (SNS), regarded as one of the best healthcare in Europe, is available to legal residents at low costs, while private health insurance typically costs between €15 and €120 per month. 

Portugal also provides access to public and private education. Public schools are free for legal residents, while private schools generally cost €400 to €500 per month. International schools in Portugal average around €800 per month. For higher education, annual tuition at public universities ranges from €1,000 to €1,500 for EU/EEA students and €3,000 to €5,000 for non-EU/EEA students.

Moving to Portugal is straightforward thanks to the country’s visa programs. Remote workers can apply for the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa with a minimum monthly income of €3,600, while retirees with a passive income of €920 can qualify for the Portugal D7 Visa. Investors can obtain residency through the Portugal Golden Visa, one of Europe’s most established residency-by-investment programs.