Venezuela is the cheapest country to relocate to, with an estimated first-year cost of €3,693, followed by North Korea (€4,200) and Syria (€4,220). The most expensive destinations are Bermuda (€60,176), Cayman Islands (€51,252), and Singapore (€46,484).
Top 20 Cheapest Countries to Relocate To
Total estimated first-year cost includes 12 months of living expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities), average visa application fees, flight costs, and a 2-month rent deposit. Tiers: Budget <€15k, Moderate €15–25k, Expensive €25–40k, Premium >€40k.
| # | Country | First-Year Cost | Tier | Monthly CoL | Visa Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Venezuela |
€3,693 |
Budget | €197/mo | €159 |
| 2 |  North Korea |
€4,200 |
Budget | €205/mo | €500 |
| 3 |  Syria |
€4,220 |
Budget | €238/mo | €64 |
| 4 |  Yemen |
€4,378 |
Budget | €250/mo | €138 |
| 5 |  Sudan |
€4,441 |
Budget | €245/mo | €201 |
| 6 |  India |
€4,555 |
Budget | €255/mo | €175 |
| 7 |  South Sudan |
€4,670 |
Budget | €265/mo | €130 |
| 8 |  Burundi |
€4,757 |
Budget | €268/mo | €181 |
| 9 |  Benin |
€4,884 |
Budget | €280/mo | €154 |
| 10 |  Democratic Republic of the Congo |
€4,945 |
Budget | €288/mo | €129 |
| 11 |  Somalia |
€5,151 |
Budget | €305/mo | €131 |
| 12 |  Pakistan |
€5,197 |
Budget | €310/mo | €117 |
| 13 |  Tajikistan |
€5,215 |
Budget | €308/mo | €159 |
| 14 |  Chad |
€5,280 |
Budget | €315/mo | €140 |
| 15 |  Ivory Coast |
€5,282 |
Budget | €315/mo | €142 |
| 16 |  Niger |
€5,316 |
Budget | €322/mo | €92 |
| 17 |  Sierra Leone |
€5,436 |
Budget | €325/mo | €176 |
| 18 |  Burkina Faso |
€5,475 |
Budget | €328/mo | €179 |
| 19 |  Guinea |
€5,496 |
Budget | €335/mo | €116 |
| 20 |  Lesotho |
€5,574 |
Budget | €347/mo | €146 |
Showing top 20 of 200 countries ranked.
Download full 184-country dataset (CSV)Top 10 Most Expensive Countries to Relocate To
These destinations carry the highest first-year relocation costs, driven by expensive housing, high visa fees, or both.
| # | Country | First-Year Cost | Tier | Monthly CoL | Visa Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 184 |  Bermuda |
€60,176 |
Premium | €4,291/mo | €800 |
| 183 |  Cayman Islands |
€51,252 |
Premium | €3,723/mo | €100 |
| 182 |  Singapore |
€46,484 |
Premium | €3,343/mo | €68 |
| 181 |  Switzerland |
€42,730 |
Premium | €3,110/mo | €110 |
| 180 |  New Zealand |
€42,707 |
Premium | €2,770/mo | €4,167 |
| 179 |  Qatar |
€40,919 |
Premium | €2,950/mo | €319 |
| 178 |  United Arab Emirates |
€37,594 |
Expensive | €2,705/mo | €434 |
| 177 |  Bahamas |
€37,266 |
Expensive | €2,700/mo | €166 |
| 176 |  United States |
€35,942 |
Expensive | €2,560/mo | €522 |
| 175 |  Norway |
€35,283 |
Expensive | €2,558/mo | €387 |
Methodology
The Cost-to-Exit Index estimates the total financial outlay for the first year of living in a new country, combining five cost components.
Rent (1BR)
Monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre, annualised. Source: Numbeo Rent Index 2026.
Groceries
Monthly grocery basket for one person. Source: Numbeo Cost of Living Index 2026.
Transport
Monthly public transport pass. Source: Numbeo Cost of Living Index 2026.
Utilities
Monthly utility costs (electricity, water, gas, internet). Source: Numbeo Cost of Living Index 2026.
Visa Fees
Average visa application fee across available programmes. Source: WhereToEmigrate programme database. Default €500 where data is unavailable.
The total first-year cost is calculated as: total = (monthly_cost × 12) + visa_fee + flight + setup, where monthly cost = rent + groceries + transport + utilities, flight is €500 for same-continent or €1,000 for intercontinental (from a European origin), and setup = 2 × monthly rent (first month + deposit).
All monetary values are in euros (€). Cost of living data is sourced from Numbeo and reflects city-centre prices. Visa fees are averaged across all active programmes for each country from the WhereToEmigrate database.
Limitations: Actual costs vary significantly by city within a country. Major cities like London, Sydney, or Tokyo can cost 2–3× more than secondary cities. This index uses national averages. Health insurance, furniture, and visa agent fees are not included. Investment-based visas (which may require €100k+) are averaged in with skilled worker visas, which can distort the visa fee component for some countries. Micro-states are excluded.
How to Use This Data
The Cost-to-Exit Index provides a realistic estimate of what you will spend in your first year abroad — but cost is only one factor in the relocation decision.
A budget-friendly destination might have limited career opportunities, safety concerns, or visa requirements you cannot meet. Equally, an expensive destination might offer salaries that fully offset the higher cost of living. Use this index to set financial expectations, then take the free assessment to find countries where you are actually eligible to move.
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Primary Data Sources
The index draws on the following publicly available datasets.
- Numbeo — Cost of Living Index 2026 & Rent Index 2026. Crowdsourced consumer price data covering rent, groceries, transport, and utilities. Updated quarterly. numbeo.com
- WhereToEmigrate — Internal Programme Database 2026. 1,941 visa and residency pathways with verified application fees. wheretoemigrate.io
- IATA — Average Airfare Data 2025. Used to calibrate intercontinental vs same-continent flight cost estimates. iata.org
- World Bank — World Development Indicators 2025. PPP adjustments and economic context. data.worldbank.org