Europe's Most Affordable Hidden Cities for Expats in 2025

Major European metropolises such as Paris, Zurich, Amsterdam, Dublin and Berlin have become extremely expensive for newcomers. Rents have jumped, local labour markets are crowded and public support rarely compensates.

More and more expats are therefore looking for smaller, human-scale cities that still offer serious infrastructure. In practice, they want:

• rent they can actually pay on a long-term basis (often around €700–€900 for a one- or small two-bedroom, sometimes less outside the centre);
• reliable healthcare with clear rules for foreigners;
• international or bilingual schools that do not absorb the entire family budget;
• access to nature or at least pleasant public spaces and culture;
• high-quality internet and coworking options for remote work;
• tax rules they can understand and plan around.

This article focuses on five cities that, in 2025, offer a tangible balance between budget and quality of life. For a broader view of the current shocks around housing and healthcare, you can also read Expat housing shock in Europe 2025–2026 and Europe's health gap for expats.

Lisbon has turned into one of the most expensive cities on the continent. Porto, smaller and still more affordable, is increasingly the go-to choice for newcomers.

Why Porto:

• usually around 30 to 45 per cent cheaper than Lisbon on rent;
• mild Atlantic climate with short winters;
• fibre broadband widely available, including in many older neighbourhoods;
• Portugal's D7 and digital-nomad schemes remain attractive for eligible profiles;
• a fast-growing but still accessible international community.

Typical monthly budget:

• one-bedroom or small two-bedroom in the centre: roughly €900–€1,100;
• similar flat outside the centre: about €700–€850;
• lunch menu: around €10–€13;
• public transport pass: roughly €30–€40 per month.

Best suited for:

• remote workers and freelancers who can pick their European base;
• active retirees who want a mild climate and manageable healthcare costs;
• creatives who prefer a lively but less saturated city than Lisbon.

If you are considering a nomad or multi-country lifestyle with Porto as a base, combine this with Digital nomads 2025: new tax and visa rules.

Valencia has become one of Spain's most attractive cities for expats. It is cheaper than Barcelona, more manageable day-to-day than Madrid and still very international.

Key strengths:

• wide network of international and bilingual schools;
• fast access to the beach and large urban parks;
• very solid safety perception;
• cost of living still moderate compared with many Western European cities.

Indicative costs:

• rent for a one- or small two-bedroom flat: about €750–€950 depending on area;
• fibre internet subscription: around €30 per month;
• strong public healthcare for residents, plus a dense private sector for those who want extra flexibility.

Valencia is particularly attractive for:

• families with school-age children;
• international students;
• entrepreneurs and remote workers seeking sun, culture and airport connections.

For a country-level view of housing, healthcare and taxes in Spain, read Expats in Spain 2025: housing, healthcare, taxes.

Wrocław is still less famous than Warsaw or Kraków, but it has quietly become one of Central Europe's most dynamic tech centres. It combines a beautiful historical core with a strong job market and a cost of living far below that of Western Europe.

What drives its growth:

• a dense ecosystem of multinational companies and service centres;
• a large community of developers, engineers and IT profiles;
• rents still much lower than in Germany or the Netherlands for a comparable level of infrastructure;
• a generally high feeling of safety for both families and young professionals.

Typical costs:

• monthly rent for a one- or two-bedroom flat: roughly €600–€750 depending on location;
• going out, food and services significantly cheaper than in Western capitals.

Wrocław is a strong option for:

• engineers, developers and data professionals;
• young professionals who want a lively city without capital-city prices;
• remote workers employed by companies in other EU countries.

If you work across borders or for a foreign employer, you may also find Working remotely across borders in the EU useful.

Vienna regularly tops global quality-of-life rankings, but prices and housing pressure are rising. Graz, Austria's second city, offers a softer alternative while keeping most of the advantages: infrastructure, culture and safety.

Highlights:

• one of Europe's strongest healthcare systems, accessible through Austrian health insurance;
• a clean, very green city with plenty of parks and nearby nature;
• reliable public transport and a walkable centre;
• a strong presence of universities and international schools, which supports a stable expat and student community.

Indicative costs:

• typical rent for a two-bedroom flat: around €850–€1,050 depending on area;
• top-up health insurance for some profiles: often about €60–€80 per month.

Graz works particularly well for:

• families looking for stability, schools and a safe environment;
• active retirees who want a calm but urban lifestyle;
• researchers and higher-education professionals.

To understand how health coverage and residence rules interact across the EU, you can pair this with European healthcare 2025 and EU residency changes 2025.

Cluj-Napoca has moved from a mostly local university city to a serious regional tech and startup hub. It offers a young, energetic atmosphere and very competitive prices.

Main advantages:

• very fast fixed and mobile internet, including in residential areas;
• low overall cost of living, especially for food and everyday services;
• a booming startup and coworking scene;
• a large student population and a generally warm welcome for foreigners.

Typical budget:

• rent for a one- or two-bedroom flat: about €500–€650;
• a restaurant meal: roughly €7–€10 for a simple menu.

Cluj is an excellent fit for:

• developers and digital nomads on a tighter budget;
• entrepreneurs who want to test projects with lower fixed costs;
• young professionals who want a lively, youthful city.

For everyday working-life inspiration (even if focused on France), you can also look at Coworking for expats 2025.

As a snapshot, the table below summarises some of the key elements mentioned above. Figures are indicative only and will vary by neighbourhood and season.

Use this as a starting point, then refine with your own criteria and on-the-ground research.

Instead of chasing whichever city is trending on social media, take time to map your real constraints and priorities:

• Do you need international or bilingual schools immediately, or only later?
• Is your job fully remote, hybrid, or anchored to a local employer?
• What is your realistic monthly budget once you include housing, healthcare, transport and a buffer?
• How important are the sea, mountains, airports, rail connections or a quieter medium-sized town?
• Do you feel more at home in Latin, German-speaking or Central/Eastern European environments?

In short:

• a flexible remote worker will often prioritise Porto or Valencia;
• a tech engineer or developer may naturally gravitate towards Wrocław or Cluj;
• a family with school-age children may find Graz or Valencia more straightforward.

For a broader first-year roadmap that covers budget, paperwork and belonging, see First year abroad: budget, paperwork, belonging.

All available signals suggest that these opportunities will not stay unchanged for long:

• Porto is likely to feel close to saturated by 2026 if demand keeps rising;
• Valencia is already seeing rising rents and stronger competition for good flats;
• Wrocław and Cluj are moving up fast on the radar of companies and remote workers;
• Graz should remain stable but increasingly perceived as a premium, family-friendly city.

The best moment to secure a place in these ecosystems is often before the big wave, not after it. If you have a concrete project for the next 12 to 24 months, now is the time to refine your criteria, build a realistic budget, check your residency options and prepare housing and healthcare paperwork, using guides such as EU residency changes 2025 as a reference.