Cost of Living in Europe

cost of living in EuropeDo you dream about inventing a new life for yourself in Europe? You’re not alone.

Over 3 million EU residents alone move to a different member state each year, with Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Sweden being the most popular destinations on the continent.

But if you’re thinking about making the move it’s a good idea to know the type of costs you’re up for like accommodation, utilities, travel, food and entertainment.

Living costs will of course depend on where you choose to live. If you move to Paris you’ll find costs are relatively high, at about £97 a day.

Cost of living in France

Living in the City of Light will set you back about £1100 in rent per month (one bedroom apartment, city centre location), and about £115 for utilities (water, gas, electricity). Groceries in Paris are relatively cheap in comparison to other European countries with a loaf of bread costing about £1.70 and £2.00 for a can of Coke, however alcohol and imported foods are costly. A monthly metro pass is £113 and a trip to the cinema will cost £11.50.

Cost of living in Prague

A move to Prague will be easier on your wallet with the cost of living lower than other EU countries. Per month, rent is about £354 and utilities £108. Food and drink prices in the Czech Republic are fairly low with a loaf of bread about £0.60, a can of Coke £0.85, and a pint of beer £1.15. Travel around Prague is cheap and quick with a monthly Metro pass costing £16, while you can entertain yourself with a trip to Prague Zoo for £5.80.

Cost of living in Spain

If Spain is more your type, in general you’ll find the cost of living is acceptable. Groceries are cheap with a loaf of bread £0.68, milk (one litre) between £0.50 and £0.93 and a kilo of apples about £1.30. A cinema ticket costs about £5.75 while a one way ticket on bus/metro transport is from £1.07. A ten-trip metro and bus ticket costs £8.77 in Madrid.

Cost of living in Italy

If you’re thinking about a move to Italy, Italian citizens spend an average of £28 per day, which is slightly above the EU average. However the costs of lunches, rent, public transport, cinema and calls on the mobile network are below the European average, unlike household utilities (electricity, water, gas and waste), private transport, catering and food expenditure.

Eurostat data has shown that Italy is ranked around the European average in relation to the cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks; but it is slightly more expensive to buy food products in Italy than in other countries such as the UK or Holland. The price of clothing in Italy is similar to average prices in the EU while the cost of consumer electronics, from mobile phones to iPads, do not differ greatly in different EU countries.

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