Most McDonald's locations around the world follow a familiar design: red and white branding topped with golden arches. But some stand out for their distinct architecture and unique backstories.
07.11.2024 - 00:51 / euronews.com / Charlotte Elton
People move abroad for many reasons - to escape a government, start a new job, to be closer to family or simply to explore a new country.
But as the cost of living crisis continues, looking for a cheaper way of life is becoming a top reason to move.
With gas prices expected to increase this winter, some Europeans might be considering flying south, cutting heating bills by fleeing to warmer climes. While the US election result may have Americans eyeing free healthcare abroad.
So where are the most affordable places to move - and what do locals think of an influx of comparatively wealthy travellers?
Cost of living index Numbeo collates data for every country in Europe. It accounts for average rent, cost of groceries, and the price of utilities and entertainment.
Cost of living is not the only consideration before a move, obviously. Safety and other quality of life considerations are also paramount.
Here are four locations that strike the balance.
Montenegro boasts medieval cities, ice cold glacial lakes, the world’s second deepest canyon - and extremely low prices.
Numbeo grants the country a rating of 39.4. For comparison, Switzerland - Europe’s most expensive destination - has an index of 101.1.
These indices represent a percentage of the destination’s cost compared to New York city, the search engine’s baseline. So prices in Montenegro are around 39.4 per cent of prices in NYC, whereas prices in Switzerland are 1.1 per cent higher than in the Big Apple.
Digital nomads can apply for a two-year visa for Montenegro, with the possibility of a two year extension.
Prices in Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica:
Cheap meal: €8
Pint of beer: €2.20
One-bed flat in city centre monthly rent: €545
Portugal - with its sunny beaches and buzzing cities - is Europe’s most popular digital nomad destination.
Numbeo gives Portugal a cost of living index score of 45.1.
Under the country’s digital nomad scheme, remote workers can live and work in the country for up to 12 months. To qualify, applicants must earn at least €3,280 per month - four times Portugal’s minimum wage.
Prices in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon:
Cheap meal: €12.75
Pint of beer: €3
One-bed flat in city centre monthly rent: €1,413
Sunny Croatia is slightly more expensive than Portugal, with an index of 45.5. Beachside cities like Split and Dubrovnik - famed for its ‘Game of Thrones’ filming locations - bring the average costs up. But the Balkan country is nonetheless a low-cost option for expats.
Croatia started offering special visas to digital workers from outside the European Union in January 2021, allowing them to stay for up to a year and exempting them from income tax.
Prices in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb:
Cheap meal: €10
Pint of beer: €3
One-bed flat in city centre monthly rent: €68
Most McDonald's locations around the world follow a familiar design: red and white branding topped with golden arches. But some stand out for their distinct architecture and unique backstories.
Whether it's wanderlust, retirement, cost of living, family ties, or other reasons, some Americans long to live abroad.
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