How to choose the right city for your move abroad

Capital and financial cities usually have more jobs and higher salaries, but also higher rents. A second city can offer a better balance.

Salary versus rent

Compare net salary after tax with rent for the home you actually need. A useful rule is that rent should not exceed around 30 to 35 percent of net income. Some quick comparisons that surprise people:

• Munich pays more than Berlin on average, but rents are higher too
• Brisbane and Adelaide often leave more disposable income than Sydney
• Osaka salaries are a little lower than Tokyo, but rents can be 20 to 30 percent cheaper
• Manchester offers a large job market at a fraction of London rents

Use the city cost pages on ForeignLifeGuide to compare rent, transport and groceries side by side.

Visa and regional incentives

Some countries reward living outside the biggest city. Australia has regional visas and extra points for regional study and work. Canada's provinces run nominee programmes with their own priorities. Always check whether your preferred city affects your visa options.

Everyday life

Think about a normal Tuesday, not a holiday weekend:

• Commute: how long, and by what? Cities with good public transport save you the cost of a car.
• Climate: dark winters in northern Europe or humid summers in Asia affect mood more than you expect
• Language: can you manage daily tasks in English while you learn?
• Community: is there a community from your country, places of worship, familiar food?
• Safety for you and your family, including at night and for women and LGBTQ people

Visit if you can

A short trip tells you more than weeks of research. Try to:

• Stay in the neighbourhood you would live in, not the tourist centre
• Ride public transport at rush hour
• Visit a supermarket and check prices
• Meet people who live there through online communities

A simple scoring method

List your candidate cities in a spreadsheet. Score each from 1 to 5 on your non-negotiables, multiply by how important each factor is, and add them up. It will not make the decision for you, but it often makes the right answer obvious, or shows you that two cities are genuinely close. In that case, choose the one where you have a job offer or a friend.

Stay flexible

Your first city does not have to be your last. Many people move to a big city for the first job and visa, then relocate within the country after a couple of years once they understand it better.

This guide is general information for planning. Rules and prices change, so always confirm with the official source before you apply or sign anything.