Cheapest European Countries to Move to in 2026

Every "cheapest countries in Europe" listicle gives you the same ranking: Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, maybe Hungary. They quote rent prices and grocery costs, and then stop — as if showing up with a suitcase and finding a cheap apartment is the same as legally living there.

It's not. A country is only "cheap to move to" if you can actually get a visa. This guide looks at where low cost of living and accessible residency routes actually overlap.

The Countries Where Cheap + Accessible Align

Portugal

Portugal isn't the cheapest in Europe anymore — Lisbon and Porto rents have climbed significantly since 2020. But outside those cities, it's still remarkably affordable. Braga, Coimbra, and the Algarve interior offer one-bedroom apartments for €400–600/month, and a full monthly budget of €1,000–1,400 is realistic for a single person.

More importantly, Portugal has some of the most accessible visa routes in Europe. The D7 visa requires proof of passive income of roughly €760/month. The D8 digital nomad visa requires €3,500/month for remote workers. Processing is 4–8 months, and after five years you can apply for citizenship. Portugal is the rare combination of EU membership, affordable living (outside the capital), and genuine visa accessibility for non-EU citizens.

Romania

Romania is genuinely cheap. Rent for a one-bedroom in Cluj-Napoca or Timișoara runs €300–450. Bucharest is slightly more. A full monthly budget of €800–1,100 is comfortable. Good internet infrastructure (Romania consistently ranks in Europe's top 5 for broadband speed), improving healthcare, and EU membership.

Visa access is reasonable: Romania offers a digital nomad visa requiring €3,700/month in income and a freelancer visa with lower thresholds. Romanian permanent residency after five years of legal residence leads to citizenship after eight years total. The catch: Romanian bureaucracy is notoriously slow, and some processes require in-person visits that test your patience.

Bulgaria

The cheapest EU country by most measures. Rent in Sofia starts at €250 for a one-bedroom. In smaller cities like Plovdiv or Varna, €200 is feasible. Monthly living costs of €600–900 are realistic. Bulgaria has a flat 10% income tax rate and growing tech and freelancer communities, especially in Sofia.

For non-EU citizens, Bulgaria offers a freelancer/self-employment permit and a digital nomad visa. The D-type visa for employment or self-employment requires moderate income proof. Bulgaria isn't yet in the Schengen zone, but it joined the EU in 2007 and permanent residency after five years is straightforward. Citizenship after ten years of residency.

Hungary

Budapest is one of Europe's best value capitals. A one-bedroom in the city centre runs €500–700, and outside the centre drops to €350–500. Monthly budgets of €900–1,200 cover a comfortable life including regular dining out, cultural events, and excellent public transport.

Hungary's White Card (digital nomad visa) requires EUR 2,000/month in income for remote workers. Standard residency permits for employment or self-employment are also available. Hungary isn't the easiest country for English-only speakers (Hungarian is one of Europe's most challenging languages), but Budapest's international community is large and well-established.

Albania

The surprise entry. Albania isn't in the EU, but it's a candidate country, and it's strikingly affordable. Rent in Tirana starts at €200–350. Monthly costs of €600–800 are very comfortable. Albanian cuisine is excellent, the Adriatic coast is beautiful, and the country is investing heavily in infrastructure.

Albania offers a digital nomad visa and has historically been welcoming to foreign entrepreneurs. Residency permits are relatively easy to obtain, and citizenship is possible after five years of continuous residence. The trade-offs: limited public healthcare quality, developing infrastructure outside Tirana, and the EU accession timeline is uncertain.

Countries That Are Cheap But Hard to Access

Poland is affordable (Kraków, Wrocław) but has limited visa options for non-EU freelancers. Work permits require employer sponsorship. The cost is right, but the legal pathway is narrow unless you have Polish ancestry or an EU passport.

Czech Republic was once easy via the Živnostenský list (trade licence), but requirements have tightened significantly. Prague is no longer cheap by any measure, and Brno — while more affordable — has fewer visa-friendly routes for non-EU citizens.

Greece has affordable islands and smaller cities, but the standard residency routes require either a job offer from a Greek employer (rare for foreigners) or a financial independence visa with €24,000/year proof. Bureaucracy is famously slow.

What "Cheap" Actually Means

Low rent is only part of the equation. You also need to factor in visa application costs (€100–500), residence permit renewals, mandatory health insurance (€100–300/month in most countries), and the cost of any mandatory translations and apostilles. A country with €250/month rent but a €5,000 visa investment requirement isn't actually cheap to move to.

The question isn't "where is rent cheapest?" It's "where can I legally live, affordably, with a pathway to stay long-term?"