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Let’s get one thing straight:
I’m not an American – I’m Australian.
But a fair number of you reading this are Americans, either already living abroad or dreaming about making that leap. Many of you find your way to this corner of the internet while digging around for info on Poland.
You might be considering teaching English, studying in Europe, or simply curious about life across the Atlantic.
But let’s broaden the scope.
I reached out to my American mates, their friends, and even strangers who’ve made the jump to get the lowdown on the best European countries for Americans to call home.
So, where should you land if you’re looking to set up a new life in Europe? Let’s find out.
There are a lot of cities and countries mentioned, so jump to a specific one here:
Best place to live in Europe as an American:
Croatia
For 7 of those years, I’ve educated foreigners (predominantly Americans) on how to move to and live in Croatia on my site.
I moved to Split because I wanted to live somewhere in Europe with a low cost of living. At the time of my move, I was launching my own freelancing business. The low cost of living (and great internet) helped me get on my feet, both with my business and in a new country with less risk than if I’d chosen a Western European country.
Split substantially increased my quality of life. Croatians place a very high value on in-person socializing, getting out into nature, and moving your body. Additionally, Croatia has excellent affordable health care, and living here without a car is very easy. These are all things that are hard to achieve as part of daily life in the US.
There are a number of expat communities where Americans can connect with other foreigners and Croatians, which vary by interest. The Croatian community is very welcoming and deeply honoured when Americans move to their country.
Poland
If I asked you which European city has been named ‘Best City Break’ for the third time in a row, would you know the answer?
It’s the Polish city of Krakow, and I believe that a week in this beautiful historic town is enough to cover everything in and around it. A city that was once the capital of Poland has a gorgeous ‘Old Town’ square in its heart, with millions of tourists visiting every year.
What makes it great is the cheap but cheerful restaurants, affordable and stunning hotels, bars, and entertainment complexes; with these located around every corner, you can be fed and entertained for a fair price. Make sure to visit the many museums and cultural attractions, from war museums to the local zoo.
The locals are friendly, and the majority of the population speaks English, so even if you don’t know the local language, you’ll be able to communicate in English. The architecture is stunning, and it’s definitely one reason I moved to Poland; I’d recommend American expats do the same.
Also worth mentioning is the low to non-existent crime rate in Polish capital cities.
Click here to learn more about moving to Poland.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria offers an incredibly affordable place to live and doesn’t fall short of offering outdoor adventures from skiing to hiking to mountain biking.
No matter the season, there are beautiful spots for mountain and beach lovers. It also has a growing number of co-working spaces and digital nomads, so it’s a wonderful place to meet like-minded individuals.
Some of my favourite towns are Bansko for skiing, Plovdiv for a bit of hipster city life, and Sinemorets for a quiet beach town. It’s a great place for Americans as you can easily get by with English and the dollar travels far.
Serbia
I would like to talk about my experience in 2020, where I discovered an equally stunning area of the world to live in, where I could save money and avoid hordes of tourists simultaneously. I chose to spend my time in Eastern Europe, particularly Serbia, which, in my opinion, is currently one of the best places to live overseas if you are looking to save.
What worked for me is that I always kept my income in US dollars, as my website and clients are based in the US. That is the primary advantage of living in Serbia, for example, since the exchange rate is favourable, to begin with. So the first thing to keep in mind is BYOJ, or rather, “bring your own job” when you decide to move there.
The cost of living is extremely low in Serbia. For example, you will be hard-pressed to spend more than 300 bucks on rent for an apartment in downtown Belgrade, Serbia’s capital and largest city. If you cook your food, there are plenty of local markets with fresh produce that is home-grown and costs very little compared to other European countries. As Serbia isn’t part of the EU, the food is more natural and devoid of GMOs, which is an added plus.
If you choose to eat at one of the several grill houses and fast foods, burgers with real meat cost a couple of bucks and are hard to finish in one sitting. Serbia’s culture is big on its food, and you can have a meal for just a few dollars in most places. Of course, you can also go to Starbucks, get sushi, and get your “Western fix,” which will cost you more.
Combined with the internet’s low price, my living costs in Belgrade didn’t exceed $500, including internet, food, and all utilities. As a digital nomad, the internet is important to me, and I was happy to find plenty of co-working spaces, cafes, and places with high-speed internet. Overall, it was a perfect combination for saving money while still enjoying myself, as I could even afford to eat out every day and stay under my budget.
There is plenty to do in Belgrade in terms of entertainment, which historically is one of the most important cities in Europe. Plenty of fortresses, catacombs, monuments, and outdoor patios give you the sense of being in a European capital without having to spend an arm and a leg as you would in Paris. The nightlife is bustling with “clubs” that are actually boats parked on the Danube River. Serbs are friendly people and speak excellent English, which made my life easier as well.
Finally, hot summers are not made to stay in capital cities, and the country has tons of lakes and mountains to explore. If you need beach time, Croatia is a few hours away by bus and home to some of the world’s most incredible beaches. Alternatively, Greece is nearby, and you can get highly cheap all-inclusive travel packages from Belgrade.
Overall, I spent about nine months in Serbia and saved a lot of money, so I would recommend it as a great place for digital nomads, freelancers, expats, and retirees. I also forgot to mention that it is very safe compared to other developing nations worldwide and great for families.
Hungary
Living in Budapest for two years was, without question, the best and most transformative two years of my life. Budapest offers the perfect mix for American expats. It’s off the beaten path in so many ways without entirely overwhelming you with culture shock.
Living there isn’t exactly “easy,” but the small challenges that accompany its inevitable challenges, difficult language, and pervasive cultural disparities make expat experiences much more rewarding to me.
I personally connected with the city, its culture, and its people. Though more popular in recent years than ever, Budapest is an unexpected goldmine of a European capital: stunning unique architecture, beautiful scenery, vibrant culture, and fast-paced energy that always offers something to do.
The English level in the centre is more than comfortable to get by, and almost everyone under the age of 35 is fluent. The city has a top-notch foodie and entertainment scene, which also seems to grow by the day.
Budapest is also home to the best (in my humble opinion) budget airline, Wizzair, and has dirt-cheap flight routes everywhere you can imagine, making it an ideal home base for exploration. While a bit pricier than its central and eastern European counterparts, Budapest is still very affordable compared to the West. For expats making American salaries, the world is your oyster. An American expat willing to put themselves out there will fall in love with the city, its culture, and its people (both Hungarian and international), but they also must be willing to put in the work.
Norway
Moving there from the United States was a culture shock regarding the prices, but I found that to be the toughest challenge.
The language is fairly easy if you dive right into it, but the locals speak incredibly good English so that never presented a problem as large as I had anticipated.
Films and TV are not dubbed, and you will find a lot of knowledge about US culture in Norwegian society. The daylight can present a problem for many people moving there as the winters are dark and the summers are very light!
But, it is nothing you can’t get used to- as long as you learn to ski or pick up a hobby to make the winters pass by a little quicker.
Taxes, banking, healthcare, and many other things are far simpler in Norwegian society, and the government does a good job of protecting residents and expats.
Norway consistently ranks as one of the happiest places on the planet, and after four years of living there, I know why! Nature, a sound system, and people caring for each other all play a role in this Scandinavian society.
Finland
For Americans, Finland is a good place to live in Europe because it is a monochronic culture like America.
Other European countries with polychronic cultures, such as Greece or Italy, are nice vacation destinations; however, the culture shock from moving from an extremely monochronic culture such as America might not be pleasant.
If you’re looking for job opportunities in Finland or any other monochronic European country, it will be based on your education, skills, and attitude. In polychronic European countries, finding a job will be based on who you know and what family ties you have.
Living in another country requires you to work to support your stay. The best advice I could give to my fellow Americans who are considering living in Europe is to move to a country that has a monochronic culture.
This way, you can achieve security with a job, and then you will be free to travel around Europe!
Scotland
Amanda is an American who has lived in Scotland intermittently since 2015. She has also lived in Malta, Northern Spain, and Ireland, but she swears that Scotland takes the cake!
I’m originally from the Boston area of the US but have been living abroad since 2012. After meeting my husband in Honduras and deciding to move together back to the country where he grew up, I now call Scotland home.
He’s not Scottish (he’s Irish-Colombian), but his immediate family and all his friends are here in the Edinburgh area.
Leaving the US for Scotland is one of the easiest transitions an expat can make. That doesn’t mean the two countries are exactly alike, however. I’ve had my fair share of language mix-ups, cultural missteps, and downright confusion since I moved here in 2015! However, adjusting to the accents and learning the local cadence of life is easy enough for most Americans.
Overall, life in Scotland is a much happier balance for me. Work is not all-encompassing like it is in the US; there’s a very healthy balance here. You can absolutely take your vacation time (which is plentiful) without feeling guilty or checking emails during your break.
There’s also a lovely devotion to socializing in Scotland. It may coincide with that better work-life balance, but we often chat with neighbours and see our friends, so we have plenty of quality time to connect.
Finally, there is an extensive network of US expats in Scotland who are welcoming and helpful as newcomers try to navigate everything from visas to office culture to finding elusive US labels folks miss from back home. It’s effortless for Americans to adapt to life in Scotland. I know I’m fortunate to call this country home.
Belgium
It’s centrally located in mainland Europe. London, Amsterdam, and Paris are all within a 1-2 hour train ride. That makes day trips possible and is especially nice if you have to regularly go to 2 or more of these major cities for business meetings.
Trains are much easier to take than planes and will drop you in a central location instead of an airport outside the city.
You can get by in English. Brussels is Europe’s political capital, so all 26 other European Union member states have embassies and diplomatic staff in the city, all of whom speak English.
French is what you will hear in the Brussels streets, but because of the influx of people from all over Europe, most people you will contact will speak English (and some will speak it better than you!) And if you need some help with the local languages (French or Dutch), for example, to decipher a parking ticket, friends are always standing by to help.
Brussels has a really laid-back lifestyle compared to most American cities. There isn’t much hustle and bustle here. Many people work shorter workweeks of only 35 hours, and five weeks of vacation and paid days off are often standard.
Belgium has a lively bar, cafe, and restaurant culture, so you might gain a few pounds. Belgium is famous for beer and chocolate, but the locals are quite the foodies.
Morocco
I’ve lived in France (Tours), Morocco (Rabat), Japan (near Osaka), and Turkey (Istanbul) for 6 years total. I am partial to France and Morocco but speak French, so that helps. Great quality of life in both areas: health care is great in France, adequate in Morocco, food markets are everywhere, and fresh produce brings so much joy. Plus, because public transport is so good, it isn’t necessary to own a car when I can also rent one. I walked more, and quite frankly, the pace of life is different, so I let go of my “American stress level.”
I taught English at the American Language Center in Rabat, Morocco, for a year and lived in a beautiful apartment in the Kasbah des Oudaias, an old whitewashed fortress along the Atlantic. Every day, I walked through the medina to get to work (about 40 minutes).
I passed rug shopkeepers, vegetable markets, and old women selling mint. I speak French (and some Moroccan Arabic) so I could get around and converse. French and Arabic, while not necessary, definitely enhance your living experience. As an American, I crave a slower pace of life without expecting everything to be done “right now.”
Once, I was going to have lunch with some family friends. They showed up the next day at 5 pm. (So, letting go of “right now” is necessary.)
Morocco is so hospitable; it is impossible not to meet people. Once, I was in the south near Tafraoute, walking on my own through various villages. Not once, but three times, women invited me into their homes for tea. That would rarely happen here in the U.S.
As a woman, there are definitely challenges (constant cat calling and men following on occasion), so bring sunglasses and earbuds. Also, it helps to know the word “Shooma,” which means “shame on you.” Generally, though, I felt safe.
Spain
What makes Spain great for Americans?
For young professionals, the Spanish government’s English Language and Culture Assistants program is a wonderful opportunity for college graduates to work part-time as an English teaching assistant and make enough money to experience life in Spain.
Because that’s the real draw: the Spanish lifestyle.
Working to live instead of living to work.
Americans who work at a Spanish company can enjoy perks like daily coffee breaks with colleagues, Friday afternoons off, and a summer schedule that gets you out of the office by 3 p.m. every day.
Employees are also entitled to at least 22 paid vacation days per year, and they happily use every last one with no hesitation.
When you tell people here that around half of Americans do not use all their paid vacation days, they don’t believe you.
Social connections, family life, and having a good time are important priorities in Spanish society.
Living this way is a true joy, and moving back to the States is not a temptation.
Madrid is a vibrant, international city with a magical magnetism. It isn’t showy or touristy, so it’s easy to get into the heart of it and find where you belong.
Art, culture, food, sports—Madrid has them all in spades. Plus, living in another language provides endless possibilities for learning and surprises.
Marco is an American who also has a great deal to say about Spain:
The best country in Europe for Americans is Spain because Spain makes it easy for us to live there legally for the long term. For Americans, the 90-day Schengen rule makes “living” in Europe difficult.
Sure, you can spend 90-days in Schengen, then move to Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, or another EU, but non-Schengen country for 90-days. But to me, being an expat living in a country without the hassles of visa runs.
Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa is ideal for Americans if you have passive income through investments, rental income, pension, or similar. As long as you meet minimum income requirements and pass some health and background checks, you can access a long-term stay visa that eliminates the need for visa runs.
Living in Spain as an American offers a refreshingly high quality of life at a low cost. Outside of Madrid and Barcelona, Spain offers a lower cost of living than cities in the US, but with EU-level infrastructure, access to inexpensive healthcare, and public transportation.
For example, my high-deductible health insurance in the US costs me close to $500 per month, while my private health insurance in Spain, with no deductible and no co-pay, costs me close to $50 per month.
The cost of a 1-bedroom city centre apartment in a medium-cost city in the US is $1,500. In a medium-cost city like Granada, Spain, the apartment would be $650.
Denmark
Mike was working at their Philadelphia headquarters then, and I left my job as a teacher to move to Denmark.
We love living in Copenhagen, and it’s a great city for Americans. It’s easy to live here because Danes are fluent in English, and the government provides Danish lessons for free. We took a few months for them to learn basic phrases, but the best part was meeting other expats
Besides the ease of language, daily life is simple to navigate with superior public transportation and a social safety net that we could never have imagined in America. As soon as our paperwork was filed, we had healthcare cards and a doctor.
I was able to take a course for foreigners finding a job in Denmark, which is a bit unique, and I was hired at a startup – Denmark has a thriving startup scene. Even with the higher taxes, we take home more money than we did in the States because salaries are higher. The required 5 weeks of vacation and strict work-life balance are also perks. Overall, our standard of living is higher in Denmark, and we couldn’t be happier.
Portugal
I found Portimao, Portugal (where I stayed for two years), to be one of the best places to live and work as an American. What did I love about it there?
Affordability: Living 5 minutes from the beach in a fully furnished 2-bedroom condo with lots of amenities (heated pool, tennis courts, etc.) only costs me 800 Euros per month(including utilities).
– English: It’s very easy to get around with English, and even though I speak Portuguese, I felt I was better received by speaking English, so I typically defaulted to doing so.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands was my home for three years. Its charming cities and towns are comfortable for expats for a variety of reasons—English is everywhere, everything is unnervingly well organized, and there are loads of foreigners in cities—but there’s one particular aspect of living in the Netherlands that I found dreamy as an American: transportation.
After growing up in the United States, where cars are mandatory and public transport is but a dream in most parts of the country, transportation accessibility in the Netherlands was magical.
You can easily take a train from virtually any town in the country and travel across the country in less than 3 hours.
Cycle paths are ubiquitous, well-marked, and respected by drivers—unlike in the United States, where cycling is a death wish. Thus, you never have to set foot in a vehicle to run errands.
Buses and trams are clean and timely, and all public transportation is linked to one card you can reload online.
For Americans tired of driving everywhere, the Netherlands is the place to be.
England
I have been living in the UK with my British husband since 2015. I used to work full-time as a clinical psychologist in California, but I now work full-time as a travel blogger and writer.
My husband also works full-time as a travel blogger (he has his site Finding the Universe) and travel photographer. We moved to a village outside of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2015 and lived there for a few years before moving to Bath, England, about 1 year ago.
Since my husband and I were from different countries with different passports, we had to decide between the U.S. and the U.K. if we wanted to work towards sharing the same citizenship.
We decided to start our married lives together in the UK. Since we both work remotely and travel a lot, the UK’s specific location was not that important to us, but we have enjoyed living in different parts of the UK.
It has been easy to live and work here as an American as there are no language barriers (just tricky accents!).. There are a large number of Americans living in the UK, and the cultures are fairly similar.
The two countries also have a tax treaty, allow dual citizenship, and generally have a good political relationship, which makes it easier for Americans to live and work here. The UK is probably the easiest place for Americans to live and work in Europe.
France
Caroline is an American living in Lyon, the food capital of France. She has a fantastic blog about wine tasting in keeping with all things French.
I LOVE living in Lyon. I’ve been here for 3 years and am totally living up to my French fantasy. Lyon just won #2 in Conde Naste Traveller’s list of the world’s best cities, and I couldn’t agree more. It’s awesome for many reasons, not just because it’s the gastronomic capital of France.
I’m a wine teacher, so it’s a natural choice for me, in between Burgundy and the Rhône. It’s stunningly beautiful, an ancient city full of Roman ruins and Medieval secret passageways.
We’re a stone’s throw from the Alps, and on a clear day, you can see Mont Blanc. Unlike Paris, this city isn’t saturated with Americans, and the locals don’t hate us.
Maybe I shouldn’t recommend it! People are nice here, and the size of the city is perfect. We call it “human-sized”; it’s big enough to have everything a big city could want but small enough to be intimate. I’m obsessed. I’ve never been happier.
Germany
Germany’s cost of living will pretty much be a huge stress reliever to any American. The price of living is incredibly fair. I’m talking about rent for 150-400 euros a month in big cities like Berlin. What I also realized about Germany is that there’s a giant American expat community. Join some. It’s an easier way to make friends abroad and a place to reference when you have questions. You can find these groups on Facebook and meetup.
Let’s take note of how AMAZING their public transportation is. I’m talking about one of the most efficient in the world. Germans aren’t late, ever. It is just a thing there. They are not late, and for them to get to places on time, they need their public transportation organized all the time.
In addition to cheap rent, Germany has one of the best economies in Europe. This means it is much easier to find a traditional job there than in Spain or Italy.
People also speak very good English in Germany, so if you haven’t learned German yet, don’t fret; you can take affordable classes when you arrive and get by.
Italy
After living abroad for more than five years in Italy, France, Spain, and China (plus stints in Nicaragua and New Zealand), the place I recommend for American expats may surprise you. Most Americans view Italy solely as a vacation destination, but I think it’s a perfect place to stay and discover a culture we all think we know.
My first move abroad was to Spain, then China, where I began TiltedMap, my travel blog about sustainability, food culture, and life abroad. China was the most exotic place I’d ever lived – and that’s exactly what I expected it to be before moving.
But when I met an Italian man and moved to Milan, I didn’t expect as much culture shock. Back home in the US, I grew up eating lasagna and spaghetti for dinner, had friends who had visited the Colosseum, and knew countless people with Italian last names. What could there be to truly discover Italy?
But after living there for three years, learning the language, going to graduate school, and marrying an Italian, it turned out that most of my assumptions about the country were wrong. Knowing it as a vacation destination had masked just how little I understood Italy and how different it was from what I expected and from US culture. This juxtaposition – this departure from the expected – makes Italy an ideal place for Americans to slow down and discover the diversity of European culture.
Conclusion
Throughout my life, one thing I’ve learned about America is that each and every one of the 50 states is unique and has its own way of life. It’s said that the only thing shared by someone from Seattle and someone from Miami is the president, language, and currency.
The truth is that Europe is a bit like that, too, but the languages are different.
So are the people.
And the currencies. And the leaders.
Even more than the U.S., every part of Europe is different.
That’s what makes it a fantastic place to live for Americans, Australians, and, well, just about anyone.
If you’re interested in learning more about Poland, check out the rest of my blog. If other parts of Europe look like places you want to live, be sure to check out the sites of the bloggers mentioned in this article and reach out to them if you want any more advice!
