Townleap

Find where you'll actually live.

Not where you'll vacation. Where you'll sign a lease, open a bank account, and learn to swear in the local language.

Take the 2-minute quiz

or pick your path

EU Passport?Skip the visa chapter
Nest BuilderRaising kids abroad
Leaving the USThe exit strategy
Leaving the UKBrexit means Brexit
Tech SettlerJobs, visas & fast WiFi
Queer SettlersSafe & legal
Retired AbroadPension goes further
Beach SettlerSand, sea & a real lease
🇬🇧London$4,987/moGoogle, Meta, Amazon HQ🇵🇹Lisbon$2,731/mo238 Mbps · ocean — remote-work paradise🇩🇪Berlin$3,055/moZalando, N26, SoundCloud HQ🇬🇪Tbilisi$1,488/mo84°F summers · mountains out the window🇪🇸Valencia$2,574/mo#1 expat city worldwide · beach included🇵🇱Krakow$2,065/moHomicide rate 0.4 / 100k · mountains nearby
All 132 cities →

Data from World Bank, IMF, UNODC, Numbeo, EIU, EF EPI & Ookla

Browse by what matters to you

Curated lists ranked by real data — not vibes.

Leaving AmericaLeaving the UKRetiring AbroadQueer SettlersBudget MaxSafety FirstStrong DemocracyRemote WorkersBeach LifeEuro DreamMediterraneanPassport GuidesFamily FriendlyTech SettlerStartup CitiesMountain TownsEnglish Friendly
All collectionsResidency guide
Compare any two citiesZurich vs Lisbon. Rent, take-home pay, a winner.
Got a job offer abroad?Visa bar, partner work rights, exit timeline. Then the money.

Pick your door

Vibes
No clue where to go16 swipes about weather, nightlife, and affordability — we'll find your shortlist.Take the quiz →
Swipe
Tinder, but it's citiesSee a photo, swipe your gut. We learn what you actually want and rank every city for you.Start swiping →
Concrete
My passport is the bottleneckEnter your passport → real visa paths with deadlines, costs, and gov links.Check visa paths →
Sunset
My pension deserves better weatherWarm, safe, affordable cities where your fixed income actually feels generous.See retirement picks →
I trust data, not quizzes— 132 cities. Filter, sort, obsess.Just tell me where to go— Best countries, best cities, climate havens. Pre-ranked.

Explore

City QuizSwipeBrowseBrowse CitiesGuidesComparePathfinderBudget CalculatorHeat MapShortlistAll tools →

By the numbers

132+

cities in the database

7

datasets behind each comparison

78

cities with healthcare index 75+

87

cities under 2 homicides per 100k

10

cities in improving democracies

18

cities with PR in 3 years or less

Popular comparisons

Berlin vs BarcelonaLisbon vs BarcelonaPrague vs BudapestBangkok vs BaliLondon vs BerlinVienna vs PragueIstanbul vs AthensSingapore vs BangkokTbilisi vs BelgradeTokyo vs SeoulAmsterdam vs BerlinMedellin vs LisbonNew York vs LisbonLos Angeles vs BarcelonaChicago vs Berlin

City of the Day

A city you probably weren't thinking about. Maybe you should be.

🇩🇪

Stuttgart

→

One of the world's genuinely safest cities

$2,638/mo75°F summersVery safe224 Mbps

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best country to move to from the US or Europe in 2026?▼

It depends on your priorities. For affordable relocation within Europe, Lisbon and Barcelona offer Mediterranean climate at relatively affordable rents. Prague and Warsaw are cheaper. For stability and quality of life, Vienna and Stockholm rank high. Outside Europe, Tbilisi and Buenos Aires offer low cost and easy residency. Use our City Tinder quiz to find the best match for your situation.

Which European cities have the lowest cost of living?▼

Tbilisi (Georgia), Belgrade (Serbia), and Batumi (Georgia) have the lowest rents. In the EU, Budapest (Hungary) and Krakow (Poland) are significantly cheaper than Western Europe. Check our Browse Cities page for real data.

Where should I move from Russia, Ukraine, or Belarus?▼

Cities with easy entry for Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian passports: Tbilisi, Batumi (Georgia — visa-free 1 year), Belgrade (Serbia), Budapest (Hungary), Buenos Aires (Argentina — PR in 2 years), Medellín (Colombia), Bali (Indonesia), Istanbul (Turkey), Yerevan (Armenia — PR in 1 year). See the Open Door Cities collection for all options ranked by affordability and livability.

How does Townleap compare cities?▼

Using real data: Numbeo (cost of living), EIU (democracy), UNODC (crime), Ookla (internet), EF EPI (English proficiency), and World Bank (economics). Every score is derived from real data — nothing invented. Try the comparison tool to see two cities side by side.

Which cities are easiest to get residency in?▼

Georgia allows visa-free stays up to 1 year for most nationalities. Portugal, Greece, and Spain have golden visa and digital nomad visa programs. Each city page includes residency info for that country. See the full Residency & Visa Guide for a ranked breakdown, or explore Remote Work Visa cities.

What are the best affordable European cities with good weather?▼

For warm summers and affordable rent, look at Athens (Greece), Budapest, Belgrade, and Istanbul. These cities combine summer temps of 75–91°F with rents under $1,000/month. See our Warm & Affordable Europe collection for a ranked list.

What are the best cities in Asia for expats?▼

Singapore tops Asia on safety and infrastructure but has high rents. Kuala Lumpur offers a strong balance of affordability and English proficiency. Bangkok and Chiang Mai are popular for low costs and warm weather. See our Asia & Pacific collection for a full ranked list.

Is it cheaper to live in Europe than in the US?▼

For most European cities, yes — significantly cheaper. New York rent averages $4,100/month for a 1-bedroom city centre apartment; Los Angeles $2,430; Chicago $2,410. Compare that to Lisbon ($1,547), Barcelona ($1,400), Prague ($900), or Budapest ($662). Quality of life metrics — safety, healthcare access, democracy — are comparable or better across Western Europe. Compare any two cities for exact numbers.