When renting a property, be prepared to pay the first month's rent in advance, along with a deposit (the equivalent of 4-6 weeks' rent). Rental prices will vary depending on which European city you settle in. A luxury 2-bedroom apartment will cost approximately 1,101.38 euros per month in Prague; 1,500 euros per month in Vienna; 1,300 euros per month in Dublin. So if you were renting a two-bedroom apartment in Vienna, you would need to pay a minimum of $4,300USD before even moving in. You will also need to pay for accommodation until you find a place to live; on average, this will cost 20 euros per night.
Europe has an excellent public transportation system. Bring enough money to cover initial transport costs. This includes inner-city trams, local buses, metro tickets, and trains. For example, a one day travel pass in Paris will cost you 8.80 euro, over $12USD. If you stay in a smaller city and can get around on foot, you will be able to operate with a smaller budget for travel costs.
If you shop at grocery stores and cook your own food, you can plan to spend less money per day on eating. If you like to go out for meals, you will be spending much more. Self-catering travelers should expect to spend $15USD per day on food. Dining out three times a day may cost at least $50USD. These prices will vary depending on what types of restaurants or supermarkets you shop at, and whether you are in a larger, more expensive city like London, or a smaller Eastern European city like Cesky Krumlov. Beer prices serve as a good barometer for comparing average costs: in Prague, a beer costs about 1.37 euros; in Vienna, 3.09 euros; in Dublin, 4.76 euros.
There are many start-up costs associated with moving to a new country, and you will need to budget for miscellaneous expenses. These can include mobile phones (average = $50USD), Internet usage (average = $6 per hour), flights, and moving expenses. A one-way flight from New York City to London costs roughly $500 /www.kayak.com). For prices on moving expenses, such as shipping furniture, get a quote from a website such as www.compare-international-movers.com.
The cost of living varies widely within Europe. According to Mercer's 2009 survey, Geneva, Switzerland, ranks as the fourth most expensive city in the world. Cities such as Tallin in Estonia or others in Eastern Europe are traditionally less expensive to live in. Another factor to consider is currency. Although the euro is widespread throughout Europe, there are still countries, such as Norway or Britain, which operate on their own currency. You must factor in exchange rates when planning a move to Europe. At minimum, budget $5,000USD for a move to Europe---this includes 1 week's hostel accommodation, moving into a rental property, 1 week's transport and food, and one-way flights.
