best european cities for americans to live
What are the best european cities to live in as an american
any input is appreciated
Trending Content - Job Search Advice Forum
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
August 31, 2026
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
High Finance Applications
Guaranteed
Get at least one offer GUARANTEED
- 1:1 support
- 92% success rate
- 2,000+ mentor network
- Unlimited Live bootcamps
- AI for resume + LinkedIn
- Networking automation tools
- HireVue simulation tool
- Full course library
- Private Slack community
- 20hrs of mocks
- + much more...
London - no questions asked.
Any others that come to mind with relatively LCOL yet still good markets?
I also value natural beauty - any cities that are just ridiculously beautiful?
Paris has lower cost of life, is an important financial place in Europe, and has much more charm than London. However, it is very difficult for non French-speaking people to get really integrated there. So as the question is about the best city for an american, my choice would still go for London
Saw your other comment about fluent in Spanish - if it's a dealbreaker not being in London then go to Madrid. Else, London.
Madrid is much more homogenous with women. Much less diversity and most are/brown hair spanish-types.
That being said - I think London's women are the best in the world.
I assumed I would mostly get London as the answer and I should have clarified. I am familiar with London and don’t have much interest in living there. Although I do not speak French, I am fluent in Spanish. Any thoughts on Madrid/Barcelona/Valencia regarding COL and their banking scene?
I lived in Valencia for 6 months. I would recommend it. I don't know about their banking scene.
Were there any specific reasons why you liked it?
Hands down London, there's no language barrier and it's definitely the most international city in the continent.
Other honorable mentions would be Amsterdam, Luxembourg and Frankfurt - pretty open to foreigners and everyone speaks English.
As a Spaniard living in Paris I'd love to include Madrid or Paris but it could be hard being in these two cities without speaking the local language, at least from an IB point of view (Spain is 100% more open towards foreigners though)
How is Madrid's IB scene? I am completely unfamiliar but can imagine it's decent
Consequatur voluptates deserunt in ab. Esse et placeat voluptas eveniet. Voluptatem quas eum ut ut veritatis.
Veniam in qui qui. Quia veritatis nobis voluptatem iure et. Sit excepturi molestiae sit expedita. Culpa neque ex explicabo voluptatem et quas sed. Beatae fuga qui dolor magnam aut. Sint quia omnis blanditiis recusandae molestiae. Quae et veniam odio libero. Reiciendis et quaerat eaque non minus deserunt ducimus.
Numquam tempore temporibus suscipit et inventore officia. Et quidem atque accusantium voluptas iusto nulla dolorem voluptatum. Eligendi dolores asperiores necessitatibus est eligendi et.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...