Best European countries to live and work in 2025: ranks, costs and stability

Which European countries have the best work/life balance?

Are you thinking of trying your luck abroad? If your answer is a clear yes, you are probably wondering which countries offer the best work-life balance in Europe. Since you are thinking about work-life balance, you probably already know that salary is not the main factor to take into account when looking for a job. You are not the only one, a large part of the population agrees with this principle. A survey of 10,000 workers published in February 2025 by Gallup Consulting showed that work-life balance and personal well-being were the most important factors when considering a job offer, leaving salary in second place and job security and stability in third.

But how is it possible to find out which countries offer the best balance? The first option is to evaluate each country or city according to multiple criteria that influence the quality of life in a country. Some of the criteria that should be taken into account are the following:

Employment rate and job opportunities

countries with robust economies and low unemployment rates offer better prospects for finding employment.

Wages and purchasing power

it is crucial to evaluate the average wage level and how it compares to the cost of living in the country. A high salary does not guarantee the quality of life if the costs of living comfortably are excessive.

Health care system

the quality, accessibility, and costs of the health care system are a crucial element to consider.

Diversity and cultural acceptance

it is important to consider how a country welcomes foreigners, its mentality towards diversity and opportunities for integration.

Languages spoken

the official language can be a determining criterion, especially if someone is looking for a country where they can work without having to learn a new language.

Lifestyle and leisure

countries with good cultural infrastructure, social events and recreational activities tend to be more attractive for a balanced life.

Public transportation and connectivity

having access to an efficient transportation system improves quality of life. A good salary and a pleasant work environment can go down the drain if you have to spend two hours each way on chaotic public transportation. 

Sustainability and respect for the environment

places with clean air, ecological policies and green spaces generate a sense of connection with nature and well-being and allow you to enjoy a healthier life. 

Climatic conditions

factors such as average temperatures and number of hours of sunshine have a strong influence on people's emotional conditions.

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However, conducting an exhaustive analysis and evaluating how a whole list of places ranks on each of these criteria can be exhausting and challenging. To make things easier, multiple institutions around the world continuously perform rankings using multiple criteria. One such ranking is conducted by the human resources platform Remote.  

The Remote index takes into account multiple aspects such as mandatory annual leave, sick pay, number of paid maternity weeks and percentage of salary paid, minimum wage, healthcare system, happiness index, average weekly hours worked, LGBTQ inclusiveness and ranking in the World Peace Index.

As a result, Dublin in Ireland was the place with the best work-life balance in the EU, followed by Dublin (Ireland), Reykjavik (Iceland), Copenhagen (Denmark), Brussels (Belgium), Helsinki (Finland), Oslo (Norway), Berlin (Germany), Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Madrid (Spain) completing the top 10.

Source: Remote

Below we will review some of these countries and what they have to offer based on multiple criteria.  Some will be better positioned in some aspects than others but all have great things to highlight.

Dublin (Ireland)

Source: Steven Hylands, Pexels

According to the Remote ranking Ireland is the best country in Europe to live and work in, but not in just any city, according to this ranking, it is Dublin where one must go.  This city offers a unique combination of job opportunities, quality of life and cultural charm. With a growing economy and entrepreneurial environment, the city attracts professionals from all over the world in search of new prospects and successful careers.

Dublin is Ireland's leading economic and business centre. It is home to numerous multinational corporations, start-ups and world-renowned technology companies. Major companies such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter have their European headquarters in Dublin, offering a wide range of job opportunities in sectors such as technology, finance, engineering and digital marketing. The city is also a financial services hub, with many international banks and financial institutions. Dublin has a thriving start-up scene, with numerous co-working spaces and accelerators. 

Its minimum wage of 2,282 euros per month, equivalent to 27,384 euros per year, makes it the second highest in Europe. The average salary is 4,387 euros per month and a good salary in Dublin should start at 45,000 euros or 50,000 euros.

Reykjavik (Iceland)

Source: Pavel Danilyuk, Pexels

Iceland is positioned as the second-best country in Europe in terms of work-life balance, with the city of Reykjavik winning the award. 

Iceland stands out for having one of the best healthcare systems in the world, ranking eighth according to the Legatum Prosperity Index 2023 in the healthcare category. It has a model very similar to the model prevalent in other northern European countries but due to a small population and huge GDP per capita, the system is extremely well funded.

It also has one of the highest happiness indexes, ranking third in this respect only after Denmark and Finland. Its inhabitants are considered the third happiest in Europe, they tend to be very family-centred and prioritize time spent with loved ones which helps them achieve a healthy work-life balance. The country is also considered the safest on the continent and the most LGBTQ+ friendly.

Copenhagen (Denmark)

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Copenhagen appears on almost every list as one of the cities with the best work-life balance thanks to its strong emphasis on sustainability and high quality of life, making it one of the best cities to work in Europe. Denmark is also regularly ranked as one of the happiest nations in the world and the inhabitants of the Danish capital are known for their “hygge” lifestyle, focused on taking time for oneself and others, relaxing and enjoying life's quieter pleasures. 

Many companies in the Danish capital uphold these values in the workplace, offering flexible working hours, a minimum annual leave of 35 days and maternity leave of up to 52 weeks with financial support from the government. In addition, unemployment rates are lower than in many other parts of Europe (2.4%).

Denmark has one of the shortest working weeks in Europe with an average of just 33.91 hours and provides generous mandatory annual leave. And to top it all off, the country scores very highly on public safety.

Brussels (Belgium)

Source: Petar Starčević, Pexels

If you are looking for European countries with good job opportunities, attractive remuneration and a good quality of life, Belgium is one of the best options. Within Belgium, Brussels, which is not only the Belgian capital but also the administrative capital of the entire European Union, stands out for achieving the fourth position in the Remote index with good scores in multiple parameters. Some of these are the statutory sick pay and the minimum wage which amounts to 2,070 euros per month and places the country in fifth place in Europe in terms of minimum wages.

Helsinki (Finland)

Source: Tapio Haaja, Pexels

If you are not afraid of the cold Finland is a great option for those looking for high salaries as this country offers an average monthly salary of 4759.6 euros. But not everything in Finland is about money, according to the World Happiness Report 2024 Finland is the happiest nation in the world.  Its so-called “happiness infrastructure” combines factors such as a strong commitment to human rights, universal access to healthcare, a resilient economy and a stable education system.  

The country also has a relatively high safety score, along with a generous annual leave entitlement of 36 days and a relatively short average working week of 34.43 hours.

Oslo (Norway)

Source: Barnabas Davoti, Pexels

In sixth place on the list is Oslo, Norway, a Scandinavian country known as the land of fjords and with one of the highest standards of living in the world, as well as job satisfaction. Above all, it stands out for having the best healthcare in Europe according to the Legatum Prosperity Index 2023 in the health category. The country allocates a large part of its annual budget to its healthcare system, which has led it to this position.

Norway also boasts a high percentage of educated citizens, with a large majority of them pursuing university studies lasting a minimum of three to five years, which enables them to earn higher salaries. University education in Norway is almost completely free, which makes it accessible to everyone regardless of their economic position.

Wage inequality is also quite low, with a well-thought-out progressive tax system that keeps income inequalities to a minimum. Norway's more egalitarian work culture also makes it easier for workers to negotiate wages and benefits and the country has one of the shortest work weeks in Europe with a modest average of 33.68 hours. In addition, workers in Norway have 35 days of mandatory annual leave and generous maternity pay.

Finally, like many of its neighbouring countries, Norway is also considered one of the happiest nations in Europe, ranking sixth in theWorld Happiness Report 2024 happiness index.

Berlin (Germany)

Source: Johannes Plenio, Pexels

If you are looking for a country to establish your life in Europe Berlin is one of the best options. This city is the capital and the largest city in Germany, a place immersed in culture, art, music, and literature that attracts many people in its contemporary streets. Germany is also the fourth-largest economy in the world and the largest in Europe. 

This country generally called as the locomotive of Europe has industries of all kinds and opportunities in all sectors, this contributes to be the second largest recipient of international immigration within the European continent and the third in terms of immigration for labor reasons after Poland and Spain. 

The German capital has recently become a technology hub. The consulting agency Gruenden estimates that, on average, 500 new companies are born every year. Most of the hype in the startup scene takes place in Silicon Allee, a coworking campus full of smart companies. But it's not all startups - the capital is also home to major companies such as SoundCloud, Siemens, Deutsche Bank, and Mercedes-Benz. 

Germany also boasts the fourth highest minimum wage in Europe reaching 2,161 euros per month in 2025 and enjoyed a considerable average monthly wage of 4322 euros in 2021, according to the latestILO data. But it's not all high wages, the average 34.24-hour working week in Germany is one of the lowest in Europe.

Luxembourg (Luxembourg)

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Luxembourg is one of the best countries to settle in when looking for a work-life balance. It is one of the European countries with the best job opportunities and has an impressive minimum wage of 2,637.79 euros per month for unskilled jobs and an even higher minimum wage of 3,165.35 euros per month for skilled jobs. This positions Luxembourg as the country with the highest minimum wage in Europe.

The financial and banking sectors constitute the main weight behind Luxembourg's attractive salaries, with most banks employing highly educated, experienced and in-demand workers. Many of them are expatriates as Luxembourg is also a highly cosmopolitan country, with the country's capital having around 70% foreign inhabitants. 

But it is not all about salaries and work, the country also stands out for its good position in theWorld Happiness Report 2024 reaching the eighth position and in the field of health it is not far behind occupying the 12th position worldwide in the Legatum Prosperity Index 2023 in the health category.

If you are attracted to Luxembourg and would like to discover more about this small but interesting country we suggest some of our related articles:

We have seen some of the European countries with the best work-life balance based on indices and some relevant criteria. However, when choosing where to live, you should not look at the criteria or indices in an absolute way. You should take into account how your personal preferences affect each of the criteria and select carefully.