October 16, 2025 
6 mins to read We get that you want to work abroad on a budget. Maybe you are a student, with the budget that fits that lifestyle. Or you don’t want to spend every penny in your savings on the adventure of living abroad. That’s why we offer you 5 affordable European destinations for young expats.
That these destinations are affordable, doesn’t mean you miss out on a lot of fun. Money isn’t leading when it comes to enjoying life abroad. We tell you a bit more about living abroad in these destinations. This blog is just a sneak peak. Read more about the destinations on the pages we already wrote about them.
What makes a destination affordable?
There are multiple factors that influence if a destination is affordable or not. The most important criteria are things like rent, utilities and groceries. But we also think that restaurant prices and public transport matter a lot. If you really want to enjoy your experience of working abroad on a budget, you want to have a lot of fun with the least amount of money.
If a meal in a restaurant is really expensive, you wouldn’t go out for dinner a lot when you are on a budget. But in these destinations, it’s possible to get a great meal for a much lower price. This makes going out for dinner easier, so you will do it a lot more with your friends and colleagues.
Bucharest, Romania
We start this list with Bucharest. The capital of Romania is a very interesting place to start living and working abroad. Life is cheap, which makes it easy for you to go to restaurants, bars and clubs and enjoy life without financial worries. Nightlife in Bucharest is buzzing. There are the coolest underground clubs, but also rooftop bars with amazing views.
The city has a continental climate, which means warm summers and cold winters. This means you can enjoy the outside life in summer, with festivals, while you can get indoors during the winter and get together in cosy cafés with your friends. Read more about Bucharest on our personal page about this city that combines history and modern culture.
Sofia, Bulgaria
Another place you can work abroad on a budget. Sofia is very popular among expats, and we get why. Life is cheap in this city and at the same time there’s so much to do. Sofia is a contender for being the best nightlife city in Europe. The city has numerous bars, pubs, clubs, and live music venues. No matter what preference you have, there’s always an option in Sofia.
Next to the nightlife and partying, you can also discover the cultural side of Sofia. There are multiple breathtaking churches. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the St. Sofia Church are two of the city’s highlights. Sofia is located close to some amazing nature, like Vitosha Mountain for example. There you can go hiking, skiing or mountain biking. Discover all of these things yourself when you start living and working in Sofia.
Brno, Czech Republic
We stay in the eastern parts of Europe. Brno might not be the first city on your go-to list for working abroad. But we suggest that you look into it a bit more. The city is smaller than Prague. Brno offers an urban lifestyle with small-town charm. There are numerous sightseeing possibilities within the city. Villa Tugendhat, the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul and Špilberk Castle are just a few of the highlights that Brno has to offer. Be a tourist in your new hometown and start discovering your favorite spots.
The highlight of the year is Ignis Brunensis in June. During this festival international teams compete with fireworks shows over the Brno Reservoir. Combine all of this with the lower costs of living and Brno really becomes an option for work abroad on a budget. Next to a cosy life, you can also find valuable job opportunities in Brno.
Lisbon, Portugal
In this list, Lisbon is the city with the best weather year round. You can develop your surfing skills in this coastal city. Other expats will tell you that the locals are really friendly as well. Next to the great weather and the friendly people, Lisbon is also a very pretty location. Enjoy the architecture, with the iconic ceramic tiles. The city is built on seven hills, which makes living in Lisbon a daily exercise for your calves.
At Job Squad we offer a lot of jobs in Portugal, with a lot of them based in Lisbon. There are options to start working in customer support, in IT or as a Content Moderator. We offer jobs in Portugal and Lisbon in a lot of different languages. Find them here. Enjoy the beach days with coworkers after a day of working while living in Lisbon.
Riga, Latvia
Riga is the capital of Latvia. The city is a visual delight. The Old Town is one of the biggest highlights. It’s an UNESCO World Heritage site, with cobblestone streets, medieval architecture. Within the Old Town you can also find landmarks such as the Riga Cathedral and House of the Blackheads.
Start working in Riga if you are looking for a new hometown that has snow every year. The first snowy days often arrive around late November or early December. Experiencing Christmas in Riga is something else. Visit the Riga Christmas Market in Town Hall Square and enjoy the different Christmas concerts throughout the city.
Work abroad on a budget; how to do it
All of these destinations have in common that they give you the opportunity to work abroad on a budget. But a city being affordable doesn’t mean you can just splash out all of your money. You need to control your budget, and know what comes in and what goes out. We wrote a blog about this subject. Read more about how to manage your finances while working abroad here.
We wrote about life in these five different destinations. If you want to know more about the exact costs of different European destinations, read this blog about it. We tell you the exact costs of things like rent, utilities and more.
