People move abroad for many reasons – to start a new job, to be closer to family or simply to explore a new country.

But as the cost of living crisis continues, looking for a cheaper way of life is becoming the number one reason for a move.

With gas prices expected to increase this winter, some Europeans might be considering flying south, cutting heating bills by fleeing to warmer climes. While the US election result may have Americans eyeing free healthcare abroad.

So where are the most affordable places to move – and what do locals think of an influx of comparatively wealthy travellers?

Most affordable places in Europe for cost of living

Cost of living index Numbeo collates data for every country in Europe. It accounts for average rent, cost of groceries, and the price of utilities and entertainment.

Cost of living is not the only consideration before a move, obviously. Safety and other quality of life considerations are also paramount.

Here are four locations that strike the balance.

Montenegro is perfect for rugged mountains and medieval villages

Montenegro boasts medieval cities, ice cold glacial lakes, the world’s second deepest canyon – and extremely low prices.

Numbeo grants the country a rating of 39.4. For comparison, Switzerland – Europe’s most expensive destination – has an index of 101.1.

These indices represent a percentage of the destination’s cost compared to New York city, the search engine’s baseline. So prices in Montenegro are around 39.4 per cent of prices in NYC, whereas prices in Switzerland are 1.1 per cent higher than in the Big Apple.

Digital nomads can apply for a two-year visa for Montenegro, with the possibility of a two year extension.

Prices in Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica:

Cheap meal: €8

Pint of beer: €2.20

One-bed flat in city centre monthly rent: €545

Portugal’s bars and beaches are a big draw

Portugal – with its sunny beaches and buzzing cities – is Europe’s most popular digital nomad destination.

Numbeo gives Portugal a cost of living index score of 45.1.

Under the country’s digital nomad scheme, remote workers can live and work in the country for up to 12 months. To qualify, applicants must earn at least €3,280 per month – four times Portugal’s minimum wage.

Prices in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon:

Cheap meal: €12.75

Pint of beer: €3

One-bed flat in city centre monthly rent: €1,413

Croatia’s national parks and ancient palaces

Sunny Croatia is slightly more expensive than Portugal, with an index of 45.5. Beachside cities like Split and Dubrovnik – famed for its ‘Game of Thrones’ filming locations – bring the average costs up. But the Balkan country is nonetheless a low-cost option for expats.

Croatia started offering special visas to digital workers from outside the European Union in January 2021, allowing them to stay for up to a year and exempting them from income tax.

Prices in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb:

Cheap meal: €10

Pint of beer: €3

One-bed flat in city centre monthly rent: €682

Lithuania, for up and coming cities

Lithuania is also popular with digital nomads – particularly youthful capital Vilnius, which boasts an abundance of coworking spaces. Numbeo gives it a rating of 47.1.

Would-be expats can apply for a ‘National D’ visa which is valid for up to one year.

Prices in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius:

Cheap meal: €12

Pint of beer: €4.5

One-bed flat in city centre monthly rent: €743.

What do locals think of digital nomads?

Low prices are great for digital nomads – but can have a negative impact on local communities, who suffer from subsequent price inflation and housing crises.

It’s worth noting that the average monthly salary in Podgorica is €836 – around a quarter of London’s average monthly salary.

Before moving abroad, do your research into how locals feel about expats, and how you can ethically support the communities that you join.

Learning the local language is a very good first step, especially as you can start before you arrive in the country. Also acquaint yourself with local customs. Not only will this mean that you feel more integrated, but it will also help to ensure you don’t accidentally offend anyone.

People move abroad for many reasons – to escape a government, start a new job, to be closer to family or simply to explore a new country.

But as the cost of living crisis continues, looking for a cheaper way of life is becoming a top reason to move.

With gas prices expected to increase this winter, some Europeans might be considering flying south, cutting heating bills by fleeing to warmer climes. While the US election result may have Americans eyeing free healthcare abroad.

So where are the most affordable places to move – and what do locals think of an influx of comparatively wealthy travellers?

Most affordable places in Europe for cost of living

Cost of living index Numbeo collates data for every country in Europe. It accounts for average rent, cost of groceries, and the price of utilities and entertainment.

Cost of living is not the only consideration before a move, obviously. Safety and other quality of life considerations are also paramount.

Here are four locations that strike the balance.

Montenegro is perfect for rugged mountains and medieval villages

Montenegro boasts medieval cities, ice cold glacial lakes, the world’s second deepest canyon – and extremely low prices.

Numbeo grants the country a rating of 39.4. For comparison, Switzerland – Europe’s most expensive destination – has an index of 101.1.

These indices represent a percentage of the destination’s cost compared to New York city, the search engine’s baseline. So prices in Montenegro are around 39.4 per cent of prices in NYC, whereas prices in Switzerland are 1.1 per cent higher than in the Big Apple.

Digital nomads can apply for a two-year visa for Montenegro, with the possibility of a two year extension.

Prices in Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica:

Cheap meal: €8

Pint of beer: €2.20

One-bed flat in city centre monthly rent: €545

Portugal’s bars and beaches are a big draw

Portugal – with its sunny beaches and buzzing cities – is Europe’s most popular digital nomad destination.

Numbeo gives Portugal a cost of living index score of 45.1.

Under the country’s digital nomad scheme, remote workers can live and work in the country for up to 12 months. To qualify, applicants must earn at least €3,280 per month – four times Portugal’s minimum wage.

Prices in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon:

Cheap meal: €12.75

Pint of beer: €3

One-bed flat in city centre monthly rent: €1,413

Croatia’s national parks and ancient palaces

Sunny Croatia is slightly more expensive than Portugal, with an index of 45.5. Beachside cities like Split and Dubrovnik – famed for its ‘Game of Thrones’ filming locations – bring the average costs up. But the Balkan country is nonetheless a low-cost option for expats.

Croatia started offering special visas to digital workers from outside the European Union in January 2021, allowing them to stay for up to a year and exempting them from income tax.

Prices in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb:

Cheap meal: €10

Pint of beer: €3

One-bed flat in city centre monthly rent: €682

Lithuania, for up and coming cities

Lithuania is also popular with digital nomads – particularly youthful capital Vilnius, which boasts an abundance of coworking spaces. Numbeo gives it a rating of 47.1.

Would-be expats can apply for a ‘National D’ visa which is valid for up to one year.

Prices in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius:

Cheap meal: €12

Pint of beer: €4.5

One-bed flat in city centre monthly rent: €743.

What do locals think of digital nomads?

Low prices are great for digital nomads – but can have a negative impact on local communities, who suffer from subsequent price inflation and housing crises.

It’s worth noting that the average monthly salary in Podgorica is €836 – around a quarter of London’s average monthly salary.

Before moving abroad, do your research into how locals feel about expats, and how you can ethically support the communities that you join.

Learning the local language is a very good first step, especially as you can start before you arrive in the country. Also acquaint yourself with local customs. Not only will this mean that you feel more integrated, but it will also help to ensure you don’t accidentally offend anyone.

One of the world’s most influential travel and tourism markets has kicked off in London today.

The World Travel Market sees hundreds of industry leaders, tourism boards, hoteliers, transport companies and members of the public gather from across the globe.

This year’s event will be the largest to date, with an expected seven per cent growth and over 80 new exhibitors at ExCeL London, reflecting the thriving international tourism sector.

Here are the key themes and topics of this year’s summit as the travel industry continues to grow post-pandemic and becomes increasingly conscious of its impact on the environment.

Regenerative tourism and travel as a force for good

New to WTM this year is a spotlight on regenerative tourism. The topic will be the focus of discussions at the Sustainability Summit on 6 November.

Overseen by the show’s sustainability advisor Tina O’Dwyer, a leading expert in sustainable tourism and driving impactful campaigns, the three-hour summit will focus on using travel as a force for good.

Discussions will delve into how travel can be harnessed to support resilient communities, flourishing economies and thriving ecosystems.

“The whole programme invites both exhibitors and the media to boldly rethink how we approach sustainability, re-imagine its purpose and foster prosperity for all,” says WTM’s Exhibition Director Juliette Losardo.

Diversity, equity and accessibility

WTM is expanding its coverage on diversity, equity, accessibility, inclusion and intersectionality (DEAI) this year.

A dedicated DEAI Summit is taking place from 1:15pm to 5:00pm, with dedicated networking drinks from 5:00-6:00pm, on 5 November in the Purple Theatre.

The theme is ‘from commitment to action’, and the sessions will concentrate on steps that travel and tourism stakeholders can take to deliver on promises to create a fully inclusive industry for travel businesses, their teams and their customers.

Attendees will hear from a range of important speakers on topics including implementing mentorship and allyship programmes, intercultural sensitivity in marketing and communications, making nature-based and cultural visitor experiences accessible to all and connecting travellers with Indigenous communities respectfully and equitably.

Throughout the event, there will be gender-neutral toilets, the option to add pronouns to official event badges and multi-faith rooms for prayer.

How Greece is investing in sustainable tourism

Destinations from around the world have stands at the conference to promote their countries or regions.

Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO), a premier partner of the show, will demonstrate how it is balancing the benefits of tourism with the needs of local economies and communities while safeguarding the natural and cultural environment.

The country has introduced policies to diversify offerings, mitigate seasonality, upgrade education and foster cooperation with local communities.

Tools have been developed for comprehensive and systematic data collection and information flow in tourism.

‘Frictionless’ travel and AI technology

This year’s Technology Track sessions will focus on how sellers and suppliers of travel can address the ongoing headaches travellers face when they search, shop, book and pay for their trip.

This will include discussions about the importance of the customer’s digital experience and the future intersection between AI and loyalty schemes.

“We’ve decided to tackle head-on one of my industry bug-bears: despite all this tech, why do sellers and suppliers make it so difficult for the traveller to find what they want, to buy our products and to experience what we offer,” says WTM’s technology advisor Timothy O’Neil-Dunne.

“I will be addressing the ‘apocalyptic inefficiency’, as I see it, across the industry and explore the tech we need to tackle this.”