10 Best Cities for Expats in Eastern Europe

Expats moving to a new location can get an idea of the place through current and expat reviews. One such source of information is the InterNations Expat Insider 2021 survey, which helps people compare cities based on their quality of life and ease of settling in. We take a sneak peek at the best cities to live in Eastern Europe, which made it to the top of the list.

The survey looks at a number of factors: Quality of Life, Ease of Settling in, and Family Life. Additionally, expat Insider also provides an overview of what needs improving and whether people would recommend their city as a good place for others to settle in. Here are the ten best cities in Eastern Europe for expats.

1.    Zagreb, Croatia

The capital city of Croatia, with a population of over 800,000 people, is as welcoming as it is cosmopolitan and has thus made it to the list. In 2021, more than 76 percent of expats said that they enjoyed living in Zagreb.

The city has a lot going for it as far as quality of life goes. But it also lags behind other cities on the list when it comes to ease of settling down and making friends. It ranks considerably higher for family life as well. However, Zagreb’s low crime rate and decent healthcare system make it more attractive to expats.

2.    Budapest, Hungary

Hungary’s vibrant capital is at number two on the list. Over 79 percent of expats rated their quality of life as good in 2021, which was one percent higher than the previous year. Additionally, 70 percent felt that settling in was easy. As for making friends, Budapest ranked pretty high on the list, but over 81 percent termed it as a recommended place to live.

The Ease of Settling in Index assigns Budapest a higher score than Zagreb’s, which had lesser points despite ranking higher on the list. Meanwhile, Budapest’s place on the Quality of Life Index may be due to its low score for amenities.

3.    Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic (with a population of over 1 million people), ranked third on our list. Despite being one of the cheapest places in Europe to live in, expats are still satisfied with their quality of life, which increased by two percentage points.

Prague also ranked higher than other cities on the list when it came to the ease of settling down and making friends. This can be attributed to its high ratings for Fashion & Shopping, Leisure Options as well as Safety & Security—the city ranked number one on the list for this factor.

4.    Bratislava, Slovakia

The capital of Slovakia (with a population of over 583,600 people) is number 2 on the list. Expats are highly satisfied with their quality of life here—79 percent, which is three percentage points higher compared to 2019.

Additionally, 67 percent felt that settling in was easy, while Bratislava ranked good on the list of cities people would recommend. When it comes to family life, however, expats are not quite satisfied with what they offer—the city ranks low. This is despite scoring highly enough for both Costs of Living and Ease of Settling In.

5.    Ljubljana, Slovenia

The capital city of Slovenia, with a population of 275,000 people, was voted as the best place to live in Eastern Europe by expats. It outranked other cities on the list regarding the quality of life and ease of settling down (it ranked number 5 on our list).

Ljubljana is also a recommended place for settling in by 82 percent of expats. Settling down seems easier here as it ranked number 17 while making friends didn’t do so well with its 56th rank on the list. This can be attributed to its low scores for Leisure Options and Nightlife.

6.    Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with over 275,569 people, made it to the list at number six. About 78 percent of expats said that they enjoyed living in Sarajevo—a three percentage point increase from 2019.

It also ranked high on the list regarding ease of settling down. However, expats are not too satisfied with their quality of life. This is because; it ranked 51 out of 65 for this factor.

7.    Belgrade, Serbia

Serbia’s capital city with over 1 million people is number 7 on the list. Over 76 percent of expats said they are satisfied with living in Belgrade. On the other hand, an eight percentage point increases from the previous year. It also ranked highly (at number 16) when it came to ease of settling down.

As for making friends, Belgrade ranked 50th place on the list—the city didn’t do too well as it scored poorly for Leisure options and Nightlife.

8.    Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest, the capital of Romania with a population of slightly over 2 million people, is at number 8 on the list. Just over 76 percent said that they are satisfied living here. Meanwhile, a seven percentage point increase from 2019.

It ranked well on ease of settling down (at 22 out of 65) but not so much in terms of quality of life (ranked at 45). This can be attributed to its poorly scored factors for Cost of Living and Safety & Security.

9.    Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria with a population of 1.24 million people, is number 9 on today’s list. Over 75 percent said they are satisfied living here—a six percent increase from 2019.

It ranked low (at 30 out of 65) when it comes to ease of settling down but did better when making friends (at number 31). This is because of its low scores for Leisure Options and Nightlife.

10. Riga, Latvia

Riga, the capital of Latvia with over 614,618 populations, was voted as the 10th best city for expats in Eastern Europe. Fewer than 75 percent are happy living here, making it an 11 percentage point increase from 2019. It ranked low (at 42 out of 65) when it came to settling down and ease of doing so.

Its poorly scored factors can explain this for Leisure Options and the Cost of Living. Also, nearly two-thirds of expats don’t feel safe walking alone at night. Therefore, Riga ranked at 49th place on the list regarding safety and security.

Top 5 Tourists Attractions in Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe is a part of the continent that has been more isolated from Western European countries, and it can also be described as a place where modern architecture has not gone through its greatest changes.

People who travel to Eastern Europe prefer visiting historical sights and landmarks to contemporary art galleries and museums. This means; these people want to experience what they see in pictures rather than admire modern architecture. So, read what you will find as the top 5 tourists attractions in Eastern Europe.

Chernobyl – The Ghost Town

Visiting Chernobyl, a ghost town abandoned after the nuclear disaster in 1986, is not for everyone. Even though it’s mostly safe to travel there now, many people don’t want to live downwind from a potential fallout zone. The surrounding area of Pripyat used to be home to over 50,000 people, and tourists can visit this area and see how the nuclear power plant affected the lives of residents.

Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Croatia, and it consists of 16 lakes surrounded by different types of forests. The lakes are connected with small waterfalls and cascades, while their colors change from emerald green through turquoise to azure blue.

Romania: Bran Castle

Several places claim to be Dracula’s medieval castle. However, Bran Castle – which is visited by around 200,000 tourists every year – has a strong case for actually being the home of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Dracula.

Terezin Concentration Camp Memorial

Located in the small town of Terezin, not far from Prague in the north of the Czech Republic, Terezin Concentration Camp was used to house Jews and other prisoners before they were transported to their deaths at Treblinka.

Krakow, Poland

Poland’s second-largest city was almost destroyed during World War II, and it has been restored to its former glory with cobble-stoned streets, Gothic churches, and Renaissance buildings. With so much history painted on each brick of its buildings, Krakow is one of the most visited cities in Eastern Europe.

Conclusion

If you are planning on traveling abroad, it is likely that you will be visiting an eastern European country. These countries have become incredibly popular in recent years due to their affordability and proximity to Western Europe. However, before heading off to these exciting destinations, check our ultimate guide to know what it offers.

Best Cities For Expats In Central Europe part 2 – Part one is here.

Best Cities for Expats in Central Europe

Europe is a prime destination for expatriates who want to experience different cultures and ways of living. But which European cities provide the best quality of life, high salaries, and a safe environment?

While it’s true that most people would rather live in London or Paris, those places are notoriously expensive and stressful. If you want to become part of the European community while still enjoying a comfortable life, you might be better off somewhere else – but where?

To answer that question, we’ll be looking at ten Central European cities. And when it comes to whether or not they’re safe to live in, one only needs to take a look at the Global Peace Index and Europe’s crime rate. According to the GPI, here are the best cities for expats in Central Europe

Prague

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, which was voted the second safest country in Europe in 2013 by the U.K.’s Telegraph. That makes sense considering that it has one of the lowest murder rates in Europe, with only 10 murders per 100,000 people (compare that to New York City).

The Czech Republic also has plenty of other attractions, including historical buildings and gothic churches. And it’s much cheaper than living in wealthier Western European countries – rent, for example, is extremely affordable.

Czech citizens are also highly educated, with over half the population attending college. This means that if you’re looking for a highly skilled workforce, you might want to check out Prague.

Warsaw

Warsaw is the capital of Poland and is also centrally located in Europe, making it a very easy place for expatriates to travel around on business or vacation. It’s one of the safest cities in Europe – only ten murders per 100,000 people – and rent is extremely affordable.

Although Poland isn’t one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, most people are able to find jobs with ease. Between January and September of 2019, only around 47,000 Poles were unemployed. And if you’re looking for a highly skilled workforce, Warsaw has its fair share of college graduates too.

Vienna

The Austrian capital, Vienna, is another rather pristine place that’s not too expensive to live in. It has a high employment rate with only around 7 percent of the population out of work. And it’s one of Europe’s safest cities, with only 10 cases of murder per 100,000 people each year.

However, don’t let these statistics fool you – Austria is one of the wealthier countries in Europe. That being said, it still isn’t as expensive to live there since rent is inexpensive compared to other Western European cities.

Budapest

Hungary’s capital city, Budapest, was ranked by Mercer’s 2017 Cost of Living Survey as one of the “most expensive cities in the world.” However, most Hungary is relatively affordable to Western Europeans looking to settle down.

Though it’s not as safe as other countries on this list (with around 17 murders per 100,000 people), but Budapest still has extremely low unemployment, and most Hungarians are literate and well-educated.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is also one of Europe’s safest cities, with only 16 cases of murder per 100,000 people annually. It was ranked as the European Union’s “most livable city” in 2010 by Monocle magazine due to its high standard of living.

Denmark has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, partly due to its healthy and nutritious diet. It also has a very educated population, with around 85 percent of people attending college. And as far as rent goes, it’s cheaper than living in other Western European cities.

Helsinki

Finnish cities tend to be relatively safe with low crime rates, and Helsinki is no exception. It has a particularly low murder rate at only 12 per 100,000 people. Finland is also ranked as one of the best countries in the world for quality of life, partly due its excellent education system.

Around 73 percent of Finns have attended college, and its literacy rate is about 100 percent. And since Finland has a relatively large land area, there’s plenty of wilderness to explore if you’re bored with city life.

Berlin

Germany’s capital city, Berlin, has perhaps one of the most interesting histories of all European cities – from being divided during the Cold War to being the center of the notorious Nazi regime. But these days, it’s a very safe place – Berlin has the lowest homicide rate in Germany.

Berlin has also become rather trendy lately thanks to its various cultural events and thriving startup scene. It ranks relatively high on several livability indexes, including Mercer’s 2017 Quality of Living Survey, which ranked it as the ninth-best city in the world to live in. Most importantly, however, it’s a very affordable place to live, with rent much cheaper than other Western European capitals.

Brussels

Brussels is home to one of the most important political centers in the world, as well as NATO and the European Union. It also has one of the highest employment rates in Europe, with only 7 percent of its population unemployed.

Belgium is perhaps one of the best countries you can live in as far as education goes. The literacy rate there is a whopping 99 percent, and it’s ranked as having the second-best school system on the planet. It also has a pretty healthy diet, though it does have a high rate of obesity. But the main reason this city is so great? It has affordable rent.

Ljubljana

Slovenia’s capital city, Ljubljana, was named one of the greenest cities in Europe by Greenpeace because of how environmentally sustainable it is. It also has a low murder rate at only 11 per 100,000 people.

Slovenia’s health care system is ranked as the best in the world – it spends more money on its citizens’ health than any other country. Slovenia even has free access to abortion and emergency contraception for all women over 18 years old. And because it’s such a small country, its cost of living is also relatively low.

Bratislava

Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, is perhaps the most affordable place to live on this list – it ranks as having one of the most affordable rental markets and property taxes in Europe. Plus, Slovakian food is healthier than the Western European diet.

Slovakia has a much lower homicide rate at only 10 per 100,000 people, and it also has a decent health care system. The literacy rate there is surprisingly high – 99 percent of Slovaks can read and write. And if you’re looking for a country with a rich historical background, Slovakia is an excellent choice – it has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions about Living in Central Europe

What is the weather like in Central Europe?

Well, most of it sits on the border between temperate and continental climate zones. This means that temperatures do vary across countries, but they are usually cool enough for you to need a coat most of the time, even in summer. If your fun idea includes having sunshine at least some of the time, this is not really the place for you.

What is the food like in Central Europe?

Pretty good! Germany, in particular, is known for its beer and sausages. You can get both pretty much anywhere in the region. As for the rest of it, there are some countries where you might be disappointed. But take heart – even if your national cuisine didn’t make it to the region, you can still probably find it in one of the neighboring countries.

How expensive is Central Europe?

For most people who live outside the region, Central Europe is quite reasonably priced. There are some more expensive places to visit. Still, on average, your travel expenses will be lower than they would be for other European destinations – some of them even rival Asian countries in that respect.

Conclusion

Living in Central Europe can be an enriching experience. The varied history, culture, and gastronomy have all made the countries of Central Europe into fabulous destinations for those wishing to live abroad. However, it’s essential to know the best cities suitable for you to live in. You can refer to this guide for more.