Cost of Living

Cost of living and visa fees are the two numbers every move depends on, and both change every year. These guides break them down country by country: what a visa or residence permit actually costs in government fees, what rent and daily life cost once you arrive, and how much money you must prove before a permit is granted.

• Start with the fees: our Ireland visa cost breakdown lists each charge from application to registration, and the UK Skilled Worker guide covers the salary you need to qualify.
• Studying? The amount you must show is set by law, not by your budget — see proof of funds for a European student visa, with each country's 2026 figure and its official source.
• Comparing destinations? UK vs Ireland puts two popular English-speaking options side by side, and our Costa Rica guides cover a non-European move.