Best and Worst European Union Countries
 

Which Countries are the Best :pimp and which Countries are the Worst :Oh crap to live in Under the European Union.

My friend is considering in moving to a EU Union country, any advice on which country he should go to or which to steer clear from would help him out heaps.

Please be honest guys.

your question is to general to answer.
what he needs, how much he has, what he wants, what he doesnt like.
does it have to be EU ?

It's all down to how much he earns and what languages he speaks.

the EU is overpriced and overrated...so is the USA...

Where is 'your friend' from?

He's from Australia, speaks English, British background

As klinton said, toomany factors are in game. For example, some countries are crap if you look for job there, but if you run your own remote bussiness then they could be great.

Hmm i am quite sure how Australia is more developed then any EU country.

Australia can get boring. Huge continent and a few small main cities

if he runs his remote business, then Spain is probably the best choice...
either Barcelona, Valencia or Alicante, he can't go wrong

If he's looking for a job, then DEFINITELY NOT spain :1orglaugh

Cyprus will be the best, especially for Australian.

Best " the Czech republic" the worst? Anywhere East from there.

Yeah though so lol. Same as on NZ, no fun but sheeps there :1orglaugh

boring country with unhealthy (yet delicious ;]) food, no sea access, overpriced capital, terrible customer service.

heh, it ain't boring here...

Argentina has the cheapest steak, does anywhere have cheaper steak - good quality, like a tenderloin

I would say Spain as well - As has been said forget about work if you can't speak Spanish - Even then work is hard to come by...

France is scary expensive - Germany and Holland might be worth a look at.....

Price Levels Compared 2017 data

Price level comparisons are based on a scale of 100 designating the average for all 28 EU countries on a variety of consumer needs such as housing, transportation, goods and services.

Ranked cheapest to most expensive (source: Eurostat)

Bulgaria = 44
Romania = 48.4
Poland = 53.2
Hungary = 58.3
Lithuania = 60.2
Croatia = 63.7
Czech Republic = 64
Slovakia = 65
Latvia = 68
Estonia 74.2
Greece 82.2
Malta 82.3
Portugal 82.8
Slovenia 84.2
Cyprus 90.1
Spain = 93
EU = 100
Italy = 101.8
Germany 104.4
France 106.7
Austria = 112.2
Belgium = 112.3
Netherlands = 114.6
UK = 117.4
Finland = 123.3
Ireland = 127.8
Sweden = 134.7
Luxembourg = 141
Denmark =141.2
Norway = 151.9
Switzerland = 165.6
Iceland* = 171.6

* unless you're buying ice.

France is the best for food but don't forget to wear a "gilet jaune"... :stoned

https://www.letelegramme.fr/images/2...00x526.jpg?v=1

It can't be overstated how bad customer service is in Czech Republic. Sometimes I think it's intentional. You're also right about Prague. It's very pricey for what it is.

Interesting suggestion, as long as English is widely spoken, I did a Google search, there is a Northern Cyprus and just a Cyprus. Which of the two would you suggest ?

Looks like Cyprus was a British colony, which may mean my friend may have a good chance on living there since his family is originally from England.

Have you tried being friendly and say please and thank you? Works wonders sometimes. Since people here don't live from tips and therefore are not fake friendly for money.

I did and they shouted at me. At the gas station. Such a surprise after coming from Spain :1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh
In SPain customer service is also so-so. but at least they never shout at you and are always friendly (even if sometimes clueless)

Yeah... i'm very careful with these types of general lists....

I live in between 2 countries, one being considered cheap, the other one super expensive ... in your list....

yet, i find houses in the "expensive" country for HALF THE PRICE from the "cheap" one, and in much better conditions... HALF THE PRICE no joke...

If he finds Aus boring,then Cyprus is probably not the place.

In the UK he can find employment and a decent base to visit everywhere.

Spain's great, but the main cities Madrid/Barca are not cheap anymore.

It depend on location, so that could be reason for finding half the price house.Standard is just one of things affecting price.

Exactly what I was going to say. Smiling also works great, tipping well at the same place is a must.

I assume he's an Australian with both a British and Australian Passport?

Things get hairy in early 2019

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-f...ving-in-europe

However if he is an Australian Citizen with a British Passport then things aren't so straightforward.

Some EU countries will consider the Australian Citizenship (or other citizenships) of British Passport holders when determining whether residency can be permitted, even if that person was born in the UK.

If he's born in Australia, has claimed a UK issued passport by descent then most EU options are off the table following 29th March 2019. The withdrawal agreement does not cover Australian citizens or those of other Commonwealth countries who hold another citizenship in addition to British citizenship.

If he's born in the UK and is an Australian Citizen then many countries won't cover him under the withdrawal agreement unless he relinquishes Australian Citizenship.

If he's born in the UK and is an Australian Resident with permanent residency then he may jeopardise his permanent residency by becoming a resident of certain EU countries.

Before taking any decision on moving to the EU while Brexit is going on he should get clear written advice from the UK Home Office, DFAT and the Embassy of the country he is thinking of moving to.

This 100%. If you come from another place that has terrible customer service (like Germany or Russia) or you never left Czech Republic it seems normal. However, once you go somewhere with good service you realize how fucked up it actually is. BTW no one gets tips in Nordic countries either, but I've never experienced anything half as bad as I have living in Czech Republic.

yes thank you i know you can only compare similar stuff :winkwink:
i know that you can not compare a 12 millions € mansion in the city with a 30 m2 studio in the middle of nowhere, i get that :)

I'm talking same type of location (10-15km from 100-200k cities) and i'm talking about the same kind of properties (100 m2 houses, 500-600m2 garden). I have spent dozens of hours doing my research :)

I have a NZ and UK passport and until recently lived in Spain and this is all news to me...

If he did go to Europe there is no reason for him to declare his Australian citizenship.....

I tip when I get good service. I'm not gonna tip someone in advance so they'll behave normally. That's not a tip anymore, it's extortion.

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:winkwink: :winkwink:

Unless he applies for residency. In those cases the question will be asked.

I will not say it never happens, i have my fair share of those experiences :1orglaugh

but not only once i saw foreigners just shouting "Pivo!!" at a waitress and then they wonder when the waitress gives them the stink eye.

I live on top of one of the best pivnice in CZ, one waitress specifically hates foreigners that don't speak czech and - even worse - try to pay in Euro or things like that. Not only once i saw people giving up and walk away. but as a regular that at least tries to speak czech and is polite, i get treated very well by her.

PS: being impolite as a waiter in a pivnice is part of the culture and the job description, locals know that and know how to handle it. My favorite bartender slaps me when i try to order something non-alcoholic :helpme:upsidedow
but he also sends me birthday greetings by sms

He's born in Australia, grandparents are from UK, just has a Australian Passport as of now, has not claimed a "UK issued passport by descent" as of now.

As an Australian you can only obtain British citizenship by descent if one of your parents was British. Grandparents won't do it.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-british-parent

In this case, your friend will need to apply directly to the country in which he wants to live for either residency or citizenship to live and work there.

Schengen zone countries have changed the rules on travel by some nationals in the zone, after Brexit the changes are even stricter and migration controls are being tightened by most countries in the EU, not only in the Schengen zone.

Depends on many things, how much is he making?
What passport does he have.

Portugal has options for migration and first 10 years tax cut, 20% flat rate.
Georgia has 10% I think. But all depends on circumstances.

I agree ( other then the boring bit) but have you tried further East? :1orglaugh

I tried everything.

I only tip when I get good service

Moving from a non-EU country into the EU needs to be asked of a lawyer in the country you want to move to.

There are certain cases where you can get a passport by descent from a grandparent - It's more complicated but doable...

I'm glad you know what is going to happen after Brexit - If it happens - No other fucker does!....

On the Home Office website it spells out pretty clearly what happens after Brexit as it affects Home Office policies. They give two scenarios - after 29th March 2019 without a deal and after 29th March 2019 with a deal.

You can get Right of Abode in the UK if you have a British grandparent. Right of Abode allows you to live and work in the UK however does not give you citizenship.

If you have Right of Abode and have lived in the UK for 5 years then you can apply for citizenship.

Despite this there is no clear path for citizenship based on grandparents born in the UK. This was phased out beginning in 2002. It's now direct descent.

Of course there will always be outliers and generalized data is never 100% correct, but this is at least an attempt to analyze various measurable metrics and produce a conclusion

Is it Eddy the Dog?

My friends gonna be spewin :1orglaugh

Nope :)

He can apply for Right of Abode which will let him live and work in the UK - which is a right you do have if you have British grandparents but is not automatic. But that won't extend to the EU.

Right of Abode is basically what Australians get in New Zealand, you can travel there, work there, live there but you have no other citizenship rights.

If you are in the Commonwealth, you automatically have Right of Abode and often British Citizenship (depending on when you were born) if a parent was born in the UK and was a UK citizen at the time of your birth.

For more info see:

https://www.gov.uk/right-of-abode

Cool, thanks, i'll let him know :thumbsup