Just Move to Europe

    Whether you're a first-time founder, an engineer joining an early-stage startup, or an international builder eyeing EU grants — Europe's got you.

    Pick a city, get the playbook.

    Selecting a city takes you to the full playbook.

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    Filter by what matters most. Top matches are highlighted.

    If you can only read one thing, read this

    Cost, English-friendliness, visa difficulty, ecosystem density, and vibe — relative to the other hubs.

    CityCostEnglishVisa*EcosystemVibe
    London€€€€FullMediumVery largeFinance, AI, global
    Berlin€€HighMediumLargeCreative, experimental, long runway
    Paris€€€MediumMediumLarge (fast-growing)Deep tech, culture, design
    Amsterdam€€€FullEasyMedium (very international)Compact, bike-first, operator-friendly
    Stockholm€€€HighMediumMedium (high-quality)Product, design, scale-up DNA
    Munich€€€MediumMediumMedium (enterprise, deep tech)Robotics, industrial, Alps
    Zurich€€€€HighHardMedium (high-signal)ETH, crypto, robotics

    * Relative to the other hubs listed. UK and Switzerland have separate systems.

    Prices are approximate and vary by neighborhood and season. Rent assumes a room in a shared flat or coliving and may exclude utilities. Snapshot as of 6 March 2026.

    Or pick from the list

    London, United Kingdom

    Europe's biggest tech hub — finance, AI, and deep tech.

    London guide

    London is Europe's largest startup hub with the deepest talent pool and global connectivity. Fintech, AI, and healthtech lead the way.

    • Home to many unicorns including Revolut, Monzo, and where DeepMind was built
    • Europe's deepest VC funding pool — most mega-rounds close here
    • EIS/SEIS tax relief makes angel investing very attractive
    • Thriving AI scene centered around King's Cross, Shoreditch, and increasingly South Bank

    UK rules are separate from the EU.

    €€€€ · £1,500–£2,200/mo (~€1,800–€2,600) · Visa: Medium

    Berlin, Germany

    Large founder community, affordable runway, strong in B2B and climate tech.

    Berlin guide

    Berlin is one of Europe's most founder-friendly cities — affordable, international, and home to a massive founder community. Strong in B2B SaaS, mobility, and climate tech.

    • Home to N26, SoundCloud, Delivery Hero, and many more
    • English is the default in tech — one of Europe's most international cities
    • Founders cluster around Kreuzberg and Mitte, with coworking at betahaus and St. Oberholz
    €€ · €900–€1,500/mo · Visa: Medium

    Paris, France

    Fast-growing hub with Station F, deep tech momentum, and government backing.

    Paris guide

    Paris has rapidly become a top-3 European tech hub. Station F, La French Tech, and massive government support have created a thriving ecosystem.

    • Station F — world's largest startup campus with hundreds of startups
    • Strong in AI, deeptech, and climate — Mistral AI and Hugging Face are based here
    • French Tech Visa offers a fast-track for founders and tech talent
    • Growing VC network
    €€€ · €1,200–€1,800/mo · Visa: Medium

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Everyone speaks English, bikes everywhere, great quality of life.

    Amsterdam guide

    Amsterdam punches above its weight — Booking.com, Adyen, and Mollie all started here. The city is incredibly international and English-first.

    • Home to Booking.com, Adyen, Mollie, and more
    • 30% tax ruling makes hiring international talent very attractive (check current terms)
    • Compact city — the entire ecosystem is walkable or bikeable
    • Strong startup support through StartupAmsterdam, Techleap, and B. Amsterdam
    €€€ · €900–€1,500/mo (room in shared flat) · Visa: Easy

    Stockholm, Sweden

    Unicorn factory — Spotify, Klarna, King all started here.

    Stockholm guide

    Stockholm has one of the highest unicorn-per-capita rates globally. The ecosystem is tight-knit, well-funded, and design-obsessed.

    • Unicorn factory: Spotify, Klarna, King, Trustly
    • Norrsken House is the main founder hub
    • Strong Nordic VC network
    • Strong design culture — Scandinavian design meets product thinking
    €€€ · SEK 12,000–17,000/mo (~€1,100–€1,600) · Visa: Medium

    Munich, Germany

    Germany's enterprise tech capital — deep tech, automotive, and robotics.

    Munich guide

    Munich is Germany's enterprise and robotics tech capital. With BMW, Siemens, and Allianz headquarters, it's ideal for B2B, mobility, robotics, and industrial tech startups.

    • Strong ties to automotive (BMW, Audi) and industrial companies
    • TU Munich is a top-tier technical university and talent pipeline
    • UnternehmerTUM is Europe's largest entrepreneurship center
    • Growing AI, quantum, and robotics hub — Celonis, Isar Aerospace, NVIDIA, and dozens of TUM spin-offs
    €€€ · €1,200–€1,800/mo · Visa: Medium

    Zurich, Switzerland

    Crypto, fintech, robotics, and biotech — expensive but world-class.

    Zurich guide

    Zurich's ecosystem revolves around ETH Zurich, crypto (Crypto Valley in Zug is nearby), and deep fintech. High salaries and proximity to capital make it attractive despite costs.

    • ETH Zurich is one of the world's top technical universities and major talent pipeline
    • Crypto Valley (Zug) is 30 min away — home to Ethereum Foundation
    • Strong fintech scene with SIX, Sygnum, and 21Shares
    • Leading robotics hub — ETH Zurich labs, ANYbotics, Sevensense (ABB), and dozens of spin-offs
    • Low corporate tax rates and strong IP protection attract deep tech founders

    Swiss rules differ from the EU.

    €€€€ · CHF 1,200–1,900/mo (~€1,200–€1,800) · Visa: Hard

    Universal tips before you land. Pick a city above for the full playbook.

    • Visa:Rules are country-specific. UK and Switzerland are separate from the EU. Pick a city, then follow that city's visa section.
    • Banking:Cards work almost everywhere. Have Wise or Revolut anyway — multi-currency, low fees, fast setup.
    • Plug:EU Type C (two round pins). UK uses Type G. Bring adapters.
    • Culture:Europeans respond well to directness. Networking happens IRL — show up to one meetup.

    The coffee script

    "Hey [name], I just moved to [city] and I'm building [one sentence]. I'd love to hear how you got started here — coffee this week?"

    Keep it short.

    Build in cities where quality of life, talent density, and government support stack in your favor.

    • MunichEnterprise, robotics, and automotive. Alps in an hour. Ski weekends, hiking, lake culture.
    • ParisWorld-class culture, food, design. Museums, cafés, La French Tech momentum.
    • BerlinAffordable, creative, deeply international. Best cost-to-runway in Europe.
    • LondonEurope's biggest tech hub. Finance, AI, deep tech, EIS/SEIS for angels.
    • StockholmUnicorn factory. Design culture, Nordic quality of life.
    • AmsterdamEnglish-first, bike-first. Compact, livable, 30% tax ruling.
    • ZurichETH, crypto, robotics. Alps, lake, world-class salaries.
    Just Move to Europe - The Complete Guide for Founders (2026)