How to compare two cities before you move (a practical checklist)

Choosing between two cities usually starts with rent and ends in regret, because rent is only one line of a much longer budget. Here's a sequence that catches the things people forget.

1. Start with take-home pay, not gross salary

A higher salary in a high-tax country can leave you with less than a modest salary somewhere lean. Compare the top income-tax rate and social contributions of each country, then think in terms of what actually lands in your account. Our country pages list the headline tax figures side by side.

2. Anchor on real rent, in the neighbourhood you'd pick

City-average rent hides huge variation. Look at a one-bedroom in thecentre versus outsidethe centre, and be honest about where you'd actually live. A 20-minute-further commute can cut rent by a third.

3. Convert your lifestyle, not just your rent

Add the costs that reflect your routine: eating out, transport pass, gym, utilities, internet. Someone who cooks at home and cycles will experience a city completely differently from someone who eats out and drives. Use the salary-equivalence tool on any comparison pageto translate your current income into what you'd need to live the same way elsewhere.

4. Weigh the non-money factors

Safety, healthcare, air quality, climate, internet speed, language and visa access don't show up in a rent figure but shape daily life — and some are dealbreakers. A city that's 30% cheaper but requires a visa you can't get is not actually an option.

5. Sanity-check with locals

Data narrows the field; people confirm it. Once you have a shortlist of two or three, find a forum or a friend on the ground and ask the uncomfortable questions — deposits, hidden fees, how hard it really is to find an apartment.

A good place to begin: Lisbon, Berlin or Bangkok — then line your favourite up against home.