Guides · Southern Europe
Moving to Southern Europe: the best places to live
Arcadia scores 638 places across 8 countries in Southern Europe, from Osijek at about $1,150 a month to Cortina d'Ampezzo at about $2,200. 476 are by the sea and 369 in the mountains. Typical ratings across the region: safety 5/5, healthcare 4/5, internet 3/5.
What the lists get wrong about Southern Europe
Lisbon, Barcelona, Athens: the same six names, every time. Barcelona is the most expensive place in the whole region at about $2,200 a month, and on the same coastlines there are towns at $1,150. We score 638 places here. The lists use six of them.
The standouts
Within the 638 places Arcadia scores here, not the whole region.
Every country in Southern Europe
How many places we score in each, and what a month costs there.
What to weigh before moving to Southern Europe
Natural risks recur here: earthquakes, volcanic activity. It does not mean every place has them, it means you should check the specific one you pick.
Questions, answered
How much does it cost to live in Southern Europe?
The median across the 638 places we score is about $1,550 a month for one person, from $1,150 to $2,200. These are estimates for everyday living, rent included.
Where is the cheapest place to live in Southern Europe?
Osijek, at about $1,150 a month. It is the cheapest of the 638 places Arcadia scores here, which is not the same as the cheapest in the region.
Is Southern Europe safe to live in?
The typical safety rating across these 638 places is 5 out of 5, and the highest is Madrid. These are broad country-level estimates for comparing places, not local advice.
Which of these fits you?
A guide can only rank places for an average reader. Answer a few honest questions and we rank these 638, and 3,500+ others, against your life.
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