Cost of living · Eurostat HICP 2023 · EU-27 = 100
What does it really cost to live in Europe?
Compare the cost of living across 31 countries on one purchasing-power-comparable scale, rent, groceries, transport, healthcare, utilities and dining, then weigh prices against local income to see where you get the most for your money.
- Cheapest country
- 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
- Most expensive
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- Countries compared
- 31
- Cost categories
- 6
The cost-vs-income map of Europe
Every country plotted by its overall price level (horizontal) against median net income (vertical). The top-left quadrant, lower prices, higher incomes, is where a typical income stretches furthest.
Source: Eurostat comparative price levels and median equivalised net income, 2023. Points to the left are cheaper than the EU norm; points higher up have larger typical incomes.
Best value for money
Full ranking →Where median net income goes furthest against local prices, income divided by the cost-of-living index.
Cheapest countries overall
Full ranking →Lowest overall cost of living (top 10)
Browse the rankings
Popular comparisons
Compare any two →All countries
View all →Guides
Plain-language explainers on reading cost-of-living data correctly.
Research & analysis
All analysis →Original, data-driven looks at how the cost of living varies across Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cost-of-living price index?
A comparative price-level index measures what a standardised basket of goods and services costs in each country, with the EU-27 average set to 100. An index of 120 means prices are about 20% above the EU norm; 80 means roughly 20% below. Because the basket is the same everywhere, the figures are directly comparable across borders, unlike raw local prices, which are distorted by exchange rates.
Which European country is cheapest to live in?
By overall price level, Bulgaria is the cheapest of the 31 countries tracked, with a Eurostat comparative price index of 55 (EU-27 = 100). The most expensive is Switzerland at 175. See the full cheapest-countries ranking for the complete list.
Does a low cost of living mean a high standard of living?
Not on its own. The cheapest countries often also have lower incomes, so affordability depends on both prices and pay. Our best-value ranking divides median net income by the local price level to show where a typical income actually stretches furthest, a more honest measure than either cost or income alone.
Where does this data come from?
Price-level indices are derived from Eurostat's Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price-level data (2023), with the EU-27 average normalised to 100. Income figures are Eurostat median equivalised net income. Every figure on a country page links back to the source.
About this data
How PlainCostOfLiving works, and why you can trust these numbers
What this site is
PlainCostOfLiving compares the cost of living across 31 European countries using Eurostat's comparative price-level indices (EU-27 = 100), covering rent, groceries, transport, healthcare, utilities and dining, alongside Eurostat median equivalised net income to show where a typical income actually stretches furthest.
Editorial process
- Source. Pull comparative price-level indices directly from Eurostat's Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price-level dataset, plus median equivalised net income.
- Verify. Every country figure keeps its Eurostat index value and vintage attached, so any comparison traces back to the official EU statistical release.
- Publish. Compile per-country pages, cheapest/best-value rankings, and research comparing price levels and income across Europe, all derived from the same Eurostat dataset.
Editorial independence & corrections
The PlainCostOfLiving editorial team is independent and accepts no payment, sponsorship, or promoted placement. Found an error or an outdated figure? File a correction via the contact page; we review corrections and publish updates with a visible revision note. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
Frequently asked
What is a cost-of-living price index?
A comparative price-level index measures what a standardised basket of goods and services costs in each country, with the EU-27 average set to 100. An index of 120 means prices are about 20% above the EU norm; 80 means roughly 20% below. Because the basket is the same everywhere, the figures are directly comparable across borders, unlike raw local prices, which are distorted by exchange rates.
Which European country is cheapest to live in?
By overall price level, Bulgaria is the cheapest of the 31 countries tracked, with a Eurostat comparative price index of 55 (EU-27 = 100). The most expensive is Switzerland at 175. See the full cheapest-countries ranking for the complete list.
Does a low cost of living mean a high standard of living?
Not on its own. The cheapest countries often also have lower incomes, so affordability depends on both prices and pay. Our best-value ranking divides median net income by the local price level to show where a typical income actually stretches furthest, a more honest measure than either cost or income alone.
Where does this data come from?
Price-level indices are derived from Eurostat's Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and comparative price-level data (2023), with the EU-27 average normalised to 100. Income figures are Eurostat median equivalised net income. Every figure on a country page links back to the source.