Bristol and Brighton have become more expensive to live in than Paris and Stockholm, according to the 2026 Working Abroad Index compiled by app-based bank Bunq. The index compared the cost of rent, groceries, utilities, mobile and broadband, and public transportation across 75 global cities.
Bristol ranked as the seventh most expensive European city, with average monthly living costs of £1,908. Brighton followed in ninth place with costs of £1,890. Both cities now exceed the monthly expenses of Stockholm, at £1,769, and Paris, at £1,719. Frankfurt, Germany's commercial center, was also surpassed, costing £1,618 per month.
London remained the most expensive European city in the index, with average monthly costs of £2,819. Worldwide, only New York City, San Francisco, and Boston reported higher living costs.
Bunq noted that rent was the primary factor influencing city rankings. The index based its rent calculations on the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment, considering both city-center and outside-center locations. In London, rent alone accounts for £1,967 of the monthly living expenses, with public transport adding an additional £247.
Joe Wilson of Bunq commented on the findings, stating, "It's that Brighton and Bristol, the cities remote workers flock to for a cheaper, laid-back alternative, now cost more than other capitals and banking hubs." He added, "If UK remote or hybrid workers want genuine savings, these usual southern favorites aren't it anymore; the real value lies further afield."
For a Bristol resident considering a move to Paris, the savings could amount to approximately £2,265 annually. Similarly, a relocation from Brighton to Berlin could result in savings of about £2,564 per year. The index's data for utility costs was based on an 85-square-meter apartment, and public transport costs were sourced from official websites without applying discounts or special fares.