Travel2 minute read
Working Abroad Index 2026
See how far your money goes in 75 cities.
* Updated 31 July 2026, based on July 2026 pricing.
Working Abroad Index 2026
See how far your money goes in 75 cities.
* Updated 31 July 2026, based on July 2026 pricing.
Working Abroad Index 2026
See how far your money goes in 75 cities.
* Updated 31 July 2026, based on July 2026 pricing.
The 2026 Working Abroad Index
Compare monthly living costs across 75 cities, from rent to coworking.
Leave empty to show every city. Filters by monthly total excluding coworking.
Global ranking
Cities by monthly cost
New York City
€4,068
San Francisco
€3,759
Boston
€3,512
London
€3,288
Los Angeles
€3,003
Miami
€2,983
Washington DC
€2,966
Seattle
€2,893
Singapore
€2,824
Dublin
€2,805
Amsterdam
€2,775
Luxembourg
€2,632
Chicago
€2,551
Copenhagen
€2,325
Atlanta
€2,313
Dubai
€2,303
Nashville
€2,245
Utrecht
€2,234
Bristol
€2,233
Rotterdam
€2,216
Brighton
€2,211
Munich
€2,127
Vancouver
€2,114
Austin
€2,112
Stockholm
€2,070
Edinburgh
€2,016
Manchester
€2,013
Paris
€2,012
Milan
€1,970
Berlin
€1,959
Toronto
€1,951
Frankfurt
€1,893
Madrid
€1,835
Barcelona
€1,828
Brussels
€1,789
Hamburg
€1,759
Lisbon
€1,759
Vienna
€1,754
Florence
€1,708
Cologne
€1,691
Cardiff
€1,675
Valletta
€1,674
Belfast
€1,581
Prague
€1,578
Valencia
€1,548
Warsaw
€1,547
Rome
€1,527
Helsinki
€1,516
Ljubljana
€1,513
Malaga
€1,506
Tokyo
€1,500
Lyon
€1,499
Bratislava
€1,461
Marseille
€1,424
Tallinn
€1,288
Zagreb
€1,257
Las Palmas, Canary Islands
€1,251
Nicosia
€1,249
Seoul
€1,224
Mexico City
€1,214
San Miguel de Allende
€1,194
Budapest
€1,182
Vilnius
€1,159
Athens
€1,153
Riga
€1,092
Sofia
€1,078
Taipei
€1,065
Medellin
€1,041
Mérida
€953
Bucharest
€927
Oaxaca
€867
Bangkok
€813
Kuala Lumpur
€792
Ho Chi Minh City
€659
Chiang Mai
€607
How we built this index
* For this study, the monthly cost of living in 75 top destinations for expats, spread across 41 different countries, was compared. The average monthly costs for rent, groceries, and utilities (gas, water, electricity, cell phone, and internet) are based on figures from the Numbeo database.Monthly housing costs are based on the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, both in and outside the city center. The calculation of costs for gas, water, and electricity is based on an 85 m² apartment.The monthly cost of a workspace was determined by comparing the offerings of coworking spaces and private offices on CoWorker and calculating an average for each city. For two cities, no offerings could be identified.Public transportation costs are sourced from the official websites of the respective transit agencies; discounts and special fares are not included. In Germany, a Deutschlandticket was chosen instead of a BVG monthly pass. All fare zones are located in the immediate vicinity of the city.The cost of mobile internet includes calling and 10 GB of data. For home internet, only plans with a speed of at least 60 megabits per second and unlimited data usage were considered.
The 2026 Working Abroad Index
Compare monthly living costs across 75 cities, from rent to coworking.
Leave empty to show every city. Filters by monthly total excluding coworking.
Global ranking
Cities by monthly cost
New York City
€4,068
San Francisco
€3,759
Boston
€3,512
London
€3,288
Los Angeles
€3,003
Miami
€2,983
Washington DC
€2,966
Seattle
€2,893
Singapore
€2,824
Dublin
€2,805
Amsterdam
€2,775
Luxembourg
€2,632
Chicago
€2,551
Copenhagen
€2,325
Atlanta
€2,313
Dubai
€2,303
Nashville
€2,245
Utrecht
€2,234
Bristol
€2,233
Rotterdam
€2,216
Brighton
€2,211
Munich
€2,127
Vancouver
€2,114
Austin
€2,112
Stockholm
€2,070
Edinburgh
€2,016
Manchester
€2,013
Paris
€2,012
Milan
€1,970
Berlin
€1,959
Toronto
€1,951
Frankfurt
€1,893
Madrid
€1,835
Barcelona
€1,828
Brussels
€1,789
Hamburg
€1,759
Lisbon
€1,759
Vienna
€1,754
Florence
€1,708
Cologne
€1,691
Cardiff
€1,675
Valletta
€1,674
Belfast
€1,581
Prague
€1,578
Valencia
€1,548
Warsaw
€1,547
Rome
€1,527
Helsinki
€1,516
Ljubljana
€1,513
Malaga
€1,506
Tokyo
€1,500
Lyon
€1,499
Bratislava
€1,461
Marseille
€1,424
Tallinn
€1,288
Zagreb
€1,257
Las Palmas, Canary Islands
€1,251
Nicosia
€1,249
Seoul
€1,224
Mexico City
€1,214
San Miguel de Allende
€1,194
Budapest
€1,182
Vilnius
€1,159
Athens
€1,153
Riga
€1,092
Sofia
€1,078
Taipei
€1,065
Medellin
€1,041
Mérida
€953
Bucharest
€927
Oaxaca
€867
Bangkok
€813
Kuala Lumpur
€792
Ho Chi Minh City
€659
Chiang Mai
€607
How we built this index
* For this study, the monthly cost of living in 75 top destinations for expats, spread across 41 different countries, was compared. The average monthly costs for rent, groceries, and utilities (gas, water, electricity, cell phone, and internet) are based on figures from the Numbeo database.Monthly housing costs are based on the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, both in and outside the city center. The calculation of costs for gas, water, and electricity is based on an 85 m² apartment.The monthly cost of a workspace was determined by comparing the offerings of coworking spaces and private offices on CoWorker and calculating an average for each city. For two cities, no offerings could be identified.Public transportation costs are sourced from the official websites of the respective transit agencies; discounts and special fares are not included. In Germany, a Deutschlandticket was chosen instead of a BVG monthly pass. All fare zones are located in the immediate vicinity of the city.The cost of mobile internet includes calling and 10 GB of data. For home internet, only plans with a speed of at least 60 megabits per second and unlimited data usage were considered.
The 2026 Working Abroad Index
Compare monthly living costs across 75 cities, from rent to coworking.
Leave empty to show every city. Filters by monthly total excluding coworking.
Global ranking
Cities by monthly cost
New York City
€4,068
San Francisco
€3,759
Boston
€3,512
London
€3,288
Los Angeles
€3,003
Miami
€2,983
Washington DC
€2,966
Seattle
€2,893
Singapore
€2,824
Dublin
€2,805
Amsterdam
€2,775
Luxembourg
€2,632
Chicago
€2,551
Copenhagen
€2,325
Atlanta
€2,313
Dubai
€2,303
Nashville
€2,245
Utrecht
€2,234
Bristol
€2,233
Rotterdam
€2,216
Brighton
€2,211
Munich
€2,127
Vancouver
€2,114
Austin
€2,112
Stockholm
€2,070
Edinburgh
€2,016
Manchester
€2,013
Paris
€2,012
Milan
€1,970
Berlin
€1,959
Toronto
€1,951
Frankfurt
€1,893
Madrid
€1,835
Barcelona
€1,828
Brussels
€1,789
Hamburg
€1,759
Lisbon
€1,759
Vienna
€1,754
Florence
€1,708
Cologne
€1,691
Cardiff
€1,675
Valletta
€1,674
Belfast
€1,581
Prague
€1,578
Valencia
€1,548
Warsaw
€1,547
Rome
€1,527
Helsinki
€1,516
Ljubljana
€1,513
Malaga
€1,506
Tokyo
€1,500
Lyon
€1,499
Bratislava
€1,461
Marseille
€1,424
Tallinn
€1,288
Zagreb
€1,257
Las Palmas, Canary Islands
€1,251
Nicosia
€1,249
Seoul
€1,224
Mexico City
€1,214
San Miguel de Allende
€1,194
Budapest
€1,182
Vilnius
€1,159
Athens
€1,153
Riga
€1,092
Sofia
€1,078
Taipei
€1,065
Medellin
€1,041
Mérida
€953
Bucharest
€927
Oaxaca
€867
Bangkok
€813
Kuala Lumpur
€792
Ho Chi Minh City
€659
Chiang Mai
€607
How we built this index
* For this study, the monthly cost of living in 75 top destinations for expats, spread across 41 different countries, was compared. The average monthly costs for rent, groceries, and utilities (gas, water, electricity, cell phone, and internet) are based on figures from the Numbeo database.Monthly housing costs are based on the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, both in and outside the city center. The calculation of costs for gas, water, and electricity is based on an 85 m² apartment.The monthly cost of a workspace was determined by comparing the offerings of coworking spaces and private offices on CoWorker and calculating an average for each city. For two cities, no offerings could be identified.Public transportation costs are sourced from the official websites of the respective transit agencies; discounts and special fares are not included. In Germany, a Deutschlandticket was chosen instead of a BVG monthly pass. All fare zones are located in the immediate vicinity of the city.The cost of mobile internet includes calling and 10 GB of data. For home internet, only plans with a speed of at least 60 megabits per second and unlimited data usage were considered.
Disclaimer
Important information, methodology, and eligibility can change. Check the latest source details and terms before relying on this report.
Disclaimer
Important information, methodology, and eligibility can change. Check the latest source details and terms before relying on this report.
Disclaimer
Important information, methodology, and eligibility can change. Check the latest source details and terms before relying on this report.
Open an account before life gets busy
Get set up from your phone so everyday payments are ready when you arrive.
Open an account before life gets busy
Get set up from your phone so everyday payments are ready when you arrive.
Open an account before life gets busy
Get set up from your phone so everyday payments are ready when you arrive.
Keep spending clear in a new country
Track card payments, subscriptions, and daily costs from one app.
Keep spending clear in a new country
Track card payments, subscriptions, and daily costs from one app.
Keep spending clear in a new country
Track card payments, subscriptions, and daily costs from one app.
Separate money for every goal
Use dedicated accounts to organize rent, savings, travel, and emergencies.
Separate money for every goal
Use dedicated accounts to organize rent, savings, travel, and emergencies.
Separate money for every goal
Use dedicated accounts to organize rent, savings, travel, and emergencies.
Pay and get paid with less admin
Manage transfers, cards, and account details in the same place.
Pay and get paid with less admin
Manage transfers, cards, and account details in the same place.
Pay and get paid with less admin
Manage transfers, cards, and account details in the same place.
Stay secure wherever you are
Use instant notifications and card controls to keep an eye on your money.
Stay secure wherever you are
Use instant notifications and card controls to keep an eye on your money.
Stay secure wherever you are
Use instant notifications and card controls to keep an eye on your money.
Find the right bunq plan
Compare personal and business options for the way you live and work abroad.
Find the right bunq plan
Compare personal and business options for the way you live and work abroad.
Find the right bunq plan
Compare personal and business options for the way you live and work abroad.
Join 22 million people banking with bunq
Sign up from your phone
1.
Download the bunq app
Get the app for iOS or Android.
2.
Fill in your details
Fill in your name, address, email, and phone number.
3.
Verify your ID
Verify your ID with a quick video selfie and start banking right away.
Join 22 million people banking with bunq
Sign up from your phone
1.
Download the bunq app
Get the app for iOS or Android.
2.
Fill in your details
Fill in your name, address, email, and phone number.
3.
Verify your ID
Verify your ID with a quick video selfie and start banking right away.
Join 22 million people banking with bunq
Sign up from your phone
1.
Download the bunq app
Get the app for iOS or Android.
2.
Fill in your details
Fill in your name, address, email, and phone number.
3.
Verify your ID
Verify your ID with a quick video selfie and start banking right away.
Keep exploring
Check out some of these related articles, packed with useful insights and tips to help you bank smarter while working abroad.
Keep exploring
Check out some of these related articles, packed with useful insights and tips to help you bank smarter while working abroad.
Keep exploring
Check out some of these related articles, packed with useful insights and tips to help you bank smarter while working abroad.