Cost of living by country in 2026
The first three months in a new country cost one person from $2,800 in Medellín to $21,000 in Zurich. We compare 40 countries on one measure: rent with deposit, living costs and mandatory fees.
In short
- The cheapest first 3 months are in Medellín, Minsk and Bishkek: from $2,800 per person.
- In 15 of the 40 countries one person needs less than $5,000 for the first three months.
- The most expensive are Zurich, about $21,000, and Dubai, about $16,000.
- A one-bedroom flat costs from $400 a month in Asunción to $3,500 in New York.
- Budget a margin of at least 20%: rents in popular capitals grow faster than wages.
In detail
The first three months in a new country cost one person anything from $2,800 in Medellín to $21,000 in Zurich. The sevenfold gap is not only about prices: in some countries the rental deposit is one month's rent, in others three, and elsewhere rent is paid a year in advance. Below is a comparison of 40 countries on a single measure: the budget for one person for the first 3 months, including a one-bedroom flat, deposit, living costs and mandatory fees. Each country links to its own detailed page.
Cheapest: under $5,000 for 3 months
In these 15 countries one person needs less than $5,000 for the first three months, including rent and deposit.
| Country | City | 3-month budget per person |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | Medellín | from $2,800 |
| Belarus | Minsk | from $2,900 |
| Kyrgyzstan | Bishkek | from $3,200 |
| Indonesia | Jakarta | from $3,400 |
| Georgia | Tbilisi | from $3,500 |
| Uzbekistan | Tashkent | from $3,500 |
| Ecuador | Quito | from $3,900 |
| Bulgaria | Sofia | from $4,200 |
| Armenia | Yerevan | from $4,400 |
| Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | from $4,500 |
| Cyprus | Nicosia | from $4,600 |
| Latvia | Riga | from $4,800 |
| Mexico | Mexico City | from $4,800 |
| Montenegro | Podgorica | from $4,800 |
| Serbia | Belgrade | from $4,800 |
The most affordable are Latin America and Central Asia: Medellín, Bishkek, Tashkent, Quito. In Europe this group includes Bulgaria, Latvia, Serbia, Montenegro and Cyprus, if you live in Nicosia rather than resort Limassol. An important caveat on Tbilisi and Yerevan: since 2022 rents there have risen noticeably because of newcomers, and cheap living starts outside the central districts.
Mid-range: $5,000 to $9,000 for 3 months
| Country | City | 3-month budget per person |
|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | Montevideo | from $5,300 |
| Thailand | Bangkok | from $5,400 |
| Greece | Athens | from $5,500 |
| Poland | Warsaw | from $5,500 |
| Hungary | Budapest | from $5,700 |
| Czech Republic | Prague | from $5,900 |
| Canada | Toronto | from $7,200 |
| Turkey | Istanbul | from $7,200 |
| Panama | Panama City | from $7,300 |
| Finland | Helsinki | from $7,800 excluding fees |
| Spain | Madrid | from $8,100 |
| Italy | Rome | from $8,700 |
This group covers Eastern Europe with its capitals, Uruguay, Thailand and Turkey. In Istanbul prices in lira rise every month, so leases are indexed once a year and groceries get more expensive faster than in Europe. In Canada the main item is rent in Toronto, one of the highest in North America, while Montreal and Ottawa are noticeably cheaper.
Expensive countries: from $9,000 for 3 months
| Country | City | 3-month budget per person |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Tokyo | from $9,500 |
| Austria | Vienna | from $9,800 |
| Costa Rica | San José | from $9,900 |
| USA | Austin | from $9,900 |
| Germany | Berlin | from $10,000 |
| France | Paris | from $10,800 |
| Portugal | Lisbon | from $11,100 |
| South Korea | Seoul | from $12,200, of which $7,450 is refunded on leaving |
| United Kingdom | London | from $13,000 |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam | from $13,800 |
| Israel | Tel Aviv | from $13,900 |
| UAE | Dubai | from $16,000 |
| Switzerland | Zurich | from $21,000 |
The most expensive starts are Zurich, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam and London. In Dubai rent is usually paid a year in advance in one or several cheques, so the starting sum is higher than the monthly rate suggests. In Seoul most of the sum is a deposit returned when you leave. In the USA it all depends on the city: in New York and San Francisco a flat costs several times more than in Austin or Tampa.
One-bedroom rent: how much per month
Rent is the main expense in almost every country. Here is the monthly cost of a one-bedroom flat in cities popular with people relocating.
| Country | City and district | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Armenia | Yerevan | $500-900 |
| Georgia | Tbilisi, Vake district | $600-1,000 |
| Kyrgyzstan | Bishkek, centre | $510-610 |
| Bulgaria | Sofia | $620-1,010 |
| Montenegro | Podgorica | $450-680 |
| Turkey | Istanbul | $700-1,500 |
| Thailand | Bangkok | $450-1,000 |
| Vietnam | Hanoi, expat areas | $700-1,200 |
| Cyprus | Nicosia, centre | $713-806 |
| Greece | Athens, centre | $680-1,010 |
| Hungary | Budapest | ~$824 |
| Lithuania | Vilnius, centre | $770-820 |
| Spain | Madrid, centre | ~$1,570 |
| Portugal | Lisbon | ~$1,520 |
| France | Paris, furnished | $1,350-1,910 |
| UAE | Dubai, Dubai Marina | $2,160-3,640 |
| Panama | Panama City, centre | $900-1,500 |
| Paraguay | Asunción, centre | $397-511 |
| Japan | Tokyo, centre | $1,130-1,285 |
| USA | New York, centre | $3,500-4,500 |
Prices in the centre and in districts popular with foreigners are always above the city average. In a residential district you can almost always rent for a third to a half less, if you are ready to commute to work and school.
Groceries, transport and services
- In Asia and Latin America local food, taxis and services are cheap, but imported groceries, wine and international schools cost as much as in Europe.
- In Eastern Europe groceries and transport are noticeably cheaper than in Germany or France, and winter heating bills become a separate item.
- In Western Europe services and rent are expensive, but state schools are free or cheap and public transport is good.
- In the Gulf states and Israel almost everything is expensive, except petrol in the Emirates.
Healthcare is counted separately: in some countries a foreigner without a job needs private insurance for the whole residence term, which means hundreds of dollars a year per person.
How to save at the start
- Rent short-term for the first weeks and look for a yearly lease on the spot, not from photos.
- Choose a district near transport rather than the very centre.
- Negotiate a one-month deposit where the law allows it.
- Look for a flat directly from the owner, without an agent's fee, where that is the norm.
- Do not ship everything: moving belongings often costs more than buying locally.
The most expensive mistake at the start is a one-year lease signed remotely in the wrong district. The first two weeks are better spent living in different parts of the city.
What makes up the relocation budget
- Rent of a one-bedroom flat for 3 months is the main item almost everywhere.
- The deposit ranges from one to three months' rent; in Seoul it is a separate large sum, and in Dubai rent is paid a year ahead.
- Living costs excluding rent: groceries, transport, phone, utilities and insurance.
- Mandatory fees: the residence permit fee, visas, document translations.
Amounts are per person, at 2026 market prices, in dollars at central bank rates for early October 2026. Flights and belongings are not included: they are calculated separately for your route.
A relocation budget is a city, a district and grounds for residence
The starting budget is most often broken by three things: a deposit and rent paid a year ahead that nobody mentioned in advance, insurance for the whole residence term, and income below the visa threshold. Another expensive mistake is a one-year lease signed remotely in the wrong district. We calculate the budget for your city and family, choose a country with legal grounds to stay and support the status paperwork and your first weeks on the ground.
The cost of support depends on the country and your family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Where life is getting more expensive fastest
- In capitals that saw a mass influx of new residents after 2022: Tbilisi, Yerevan, Belgrade, Almaty.
- In countries with high inflation: Turkey indexes rents once a year, and dollar prices follow lira prices.
- In Lisbon and Madrid: rents in the centre have risen faster than wages over several years.
- In resorts during the season: in summer flats on the coasts of Montenegro and Turkey are let to tourists by the day, so a yearly lease is easier to find from autumn.
So a relocation budget needs a margin of at least 20%. This year's figures are a lower bound, not a promise for next year.
How much you need to earn to live in these countries
Dividing the three-month budget by three gives an upper estimate of one person's monthly costs, since the starting sum already includes the deposit and fees:
- first-group countries: up to $1,700 a month;
- second-group countries: roughly $1,700-3,000 a month;
- third-group countries: from $3,000 a month, and noticeably more in Zurich and Dubai.
These are costs, not income: taxes still have to be paid from income. For remote workers this matters twice, because after 183 days a year in many countries you become a tax resident there, and foreign income starts to be taxed under local rules.
Income thresholds for remote worker visas are often close to these figures: Brazil asks from $1,500 a month, Mexico from $4,630, Greece from $4,000 (€3,500). If your income is below a country's threshold, you cannot live there on a remote worker visa even if the money is enough to live on. All such visas are collected in the section remote work visas.
How much a family move costs
For a family the budget does not grow in proportion to the number of people. A flat with two or three bedrooms costs more, plus insurance for each person, a nursery or school, and in some countries residence fees are paid for each family member. An international school in a big city can easily cost more than all of the family's other living costs.
So we calculate the family total individually: family size, city, school and the grounds for residence change the sum several times over. More on moving with children in the article moving abroad with children, and on insurance in the article health insurance when moving.
How to choose a country by budget
- Calculate your monthly income after taxes, not just your savings for the start.
- Compare the 3-month budget with your savings: the money should last at least half a year without income.
- Check the grounds for residence: a cheap country is useless if you cannot stay there legally.
- Look at taxes: foreign income is untaxed in some countries, while in others you become a tax resident after 183 days.
- Consider a second city: outside the capital, rent is noticeably lower almost everywhere.
The most common mistake is to choose a country by the average price of groceries, forgetting that half the budget goes on rent in a specific district. Where it is easiest to get status is covered in easiest countries to get residency.
How we help
Murblz specialists calculate the relocation budget for your family and city, choose a country where your income is enough and there are legal grounds to stay, and handle the status paperwork.
Turnkey relocation
Documents, housing, an account and status for the whole family.
Learn more →Residence abroad
Grounds, fees and timelines by country.
Learn more →Personal account abroad
An account in your new country for salary and spending.
Learn more →Cost of living by country in detail
Rent, groceries, phone and transport prices by city, budgets for a single, a couple and a family, and taxes are in separate reviews:
- Cost of living in Serbia in 2026
- Cost of living in Georgia in 2026
- Cost of living in Armenia in 2026
- Cost of living in Turkey in 2026
- Cost of living in Thailand in 2026
- Cost of living in the UAE in 2026
- Cost of living in Montenegro in 2026
- Cost of living in Spain in 2026
- Cost of living in Portugal in 2026
- Cost of living in Uruguay in 2026
- Cost of living in Mexico in 2026
- Cost of living in Italy in 2026
- Cost of living in France in 2026
- Cost of living in Germany in 2026
- Cost of living in Kazakhstan in 2026
- Cost of living in Cyprus in 2026
- Cost of living in Bulgaria in 2026
- Cost of living in Kyrgyzstan in 2026
- Cost of living in Uzbekistan in 2026
- Cost of living in Indonesia in 2026
- Cost of living in Vietnam in 2026
- Cost of living in Argentina in 2026
- Cost of living in Brazil in 2026
- Cost of living in Paraguay in 2026
- Cost of living in Greece in 2026
- Cost of living in Poland in 2026
- Cost of living in the Czech Republic in 2026
- Cost of living in Israel in 2026
- Cost of living in the USA in 2026
- Cost of living in Canada in 2026
- Cost of living in the United Kingdom in 2026
- Cost of living in Belarus in 2026
- Cost of living in Costa Rica in 2026
- Cost of living in Panama in 2026
- Cost of living in Hungary in 2026
- Cost of living in Latvia in 2026
- Cost of living in Lithuania in 2026
- Cost of living in Estonia in 2026
- Cost of living in Malaysia in 2026
- Cost of living in the Philippines in 2026
This topic in other countries
- Where to move from Russia in 2026
- Best countries to relocate to
- Easiest countries to get residency
- Receiving a Russian pension abroad
- Moving to Vietnam
FAQ
Which country has the cheapest cost of living?
How much does living in Europe cost in 2026?
How much money do you need to move abroad?
Where is renting a flat most expensive?
How much do you need to earn to live abroad?
How much does it cost for a family to live abroad?
Is it cheaper to live in Georgia or Armenia?
How can you save when relocating?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
Free consultation