Vienna Revealed As The Most Family-Friendly European City

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Vienna Revealed As The Most Family-Friendly European City

A new survey, commissioned by life insurance broker, Reassured, has revealed the top cities in Europe for families, with Vienna as the most family-friendly European city, and Austria ranking as the best country overall. The survey looked at a range of metrics, such as average cost of a 3 bed, average monthly costs, number of green spaces and child activities to decipher the ranking.

Searches for ‘best cities for expats in Europe’ have surged by 22% in the last year, reflecting a growing desire to start a family overseas amidst rising living costs.
A report by Reassured, reveals Vienna as the top family-friendly city to live in Europe, with affordable rents, ample parks, plenty of children’s activities and a low crime rate.
Austria is the most family-friendly country overall, with cities like Salzburg and Innsbruck also ranking highly due to low rental prices and crime rates.
London ranks higher than Manchester, with more green spaces and kid’s activities.

With the ever-increasing living costs, the thought of starting a family overseas has become extremely desirable, as searches for ‘best cities for expats in Europe’ have increased 22% in the last 12 months¹ – but knowing exactly where to settle down can be overwhelming.

A new report by life insurance brokers, Reassured, analysed a range of living factors, from average monthly rents to the number of kids activities available and crime rates to reveal the best family-friendly cities in Europe. The report found Vienna to be the best city for new families, whilst no UK city makes the top 10.

Reassured found the top 10 cities for new families:

Rank	City	Three bed + home rental	Monthly costs of a family	Crime rate	Number of parks	Pollution levels	Cost of childcare	Number of kids activities	Index Sum
1	Vienna	£1,357	£2,794	28.3	44	16.5	£223	148	4.58
2	Prague	£1,652	£2,682	24.6	106	33.4	£787	277	4.52
3	Rome	£1,784	£2,678	52.1	148	60.9	£407	687	4.48
4	Helsinki	£1,552	£2,895	24.6	36	13.3	£273	98	4.48
5	Salzburg	£1,364	£3,183	11.94	23	18.75	£391	57	4.45
6	Nuremberg	£1,128	£2,754	36	21	25	£361	44	4.11
7	Innsbruck	£1,568	£2,992	20.51	24	27.27	£489	34	4.10
8	Bergen	£1,506	£3,584	25.2	25	19.29	£246	39	4.06
9	Galway	£1,903	£2,620	31.5	5	8	£729	54	4.06
10	Trieste	£772	£2,704	26.8	22	47.6	£493	52	4.05

Vienna ranks as the best destination overall for relocating families.

The report found that the average monthly rent for a 3 bed was a respectable £1,356.69 in Vienna, £2,444.75 cheaper than Geneva, making it one of the more affordable cities to reside in. The Austrian city also boasts 44 parks, 148 kids activities, and a low crime rate of 28.3 out of 100, making it both a fun and safe option.

Whilst Vienna came out on top, Austria was found to be the most family-friendly country overall too, with the likes of Salzburg and Innsbruck almost making the top 10, thanks to their low rental prices and low crime rates.

However, no UK city made the top 10, with Edinburgh as the best city for families in the country at 21^st place, followed by Glasgow at 39^th place. London ranks low for families at 69^th place due to its high monthly costs, but shockingly, the report reveals that the UK’s capital is better than Manchester overall, thanks to its numerous parks and kid-friendly activities.

Swiss cities are the safest to raise a family.

If safety is a priority for your family, Salzburg in Austria has the lowest crime rate of 11.94 out of 100. Yet, Switzerland was ranked the safest country overall, with half of the top safest cities being Swiss, including Zug (12.92), Lugano (13.94), Lucerne (14.35), Bern (19), Zurich (21.2).

Capital cities are the most adventurous for kids.

For families who are always looking for something fun to do, capital cities may be the best option, as Rome, London, Paris, Prague and Amsterdam were found to have the most kid’s activities, with Rome having 687 different options to choose from.

Paris is the best city for families who love greenery.

Going hand in hand with these findings, Paris, London and Rome also have the most green spaces and parks for families to enjoy, making all three capital cities a great option for adventure or nature loving families.

Phil Jeynes, Director of Corporate Strategy, adds, “As with any big life change, we urge potential expats to be adequately covered. Some insurance policies may still protect you if you move abroad, however, life insurance policies do not, so it’s important to check your documents before making the move. Policy changes can differ from country to country, so whilst some policies may cover you in one country, they may not in another, which is why it is encouraged to speak to a life insurance professional before emigrating to ensure your loved ones are covered.”

The full report and data can be viewed at: https://www.reassured.co.uk/the-family-friendly-index-study/

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.