If you’re tired of the long UK winters and want a change of scenery, there’s one European country that has been named the best place for families to relocate to.
If the dreary UK winters are getting you down and you’re itching for a change of scenery, there’s one breathtaking European destination that has been crowned the best place for families to move to.
William Russell’s international health insurance specialists have researched various countries, assessing childcare, accommodation, and flights from the UK to determine the most family-friendly relocation spot.
Portugal emerged as the top choice in their rankings, with the experts highlighting its all-around strong performance, particularly noting it “excelled” in financial aspects.
The experts said: “Families in Portugal benefit from affordable childcare, costing 5% of household income on average, and the average monthly cost of essential utilities is very low at £94.
“Additionally, property prices in Portugal are very affordable, with an average apartment price per square metre of £209, while the average cost of a flight from London is just £24, making it easy to stay connected with your extended family back home.”
The Portuguese climate also offers a gentler winter experience. While night time temperatures can dip to around 2C, daytime temperatures often linger around a comfortable 20C, reports the Express.
Should Portugal not quite tickle your fancy, the experts have identified a runner-up location worth considering.
Sweden secured the second spot due to its cost-effective childcare, which averages at 4% of household income, and its ten top-tier universities, offering a wealth of opportunities for your children as they grow up.
With one of the lowest average annual working hours globally at 1,440.5, Sweden also offers a superior work-life balance, allowing more quality time with your family compared to other countries.
Best countries to relocate to:
|
Rank |
Country |
Net Childcare Costs (% of household income) |
Top Universities |
Paid maternity, parental and home care leave |
Average Hours Worked 2022 |
Child-Friendly Attractions |
Population |
£ on way flight from London |
Rent price |
£ average apartment price |
£ utility bills |
Family Relocation Score |
|
1 |
Portugal |
5% |
4 |
30.1 |
1635.1 |
2693 |
10,223,150 |
£24 |
£1,212 |
£209 |
£94 |
6.33 |
|
2 |
Sweden |
4% |
10 |
55.7 |
1440.5 |
789 |
10,536,338 |
£59 |
£1,060 |
£329 |
£78 |
6.26 |
|
3 |
Italy |
0% |
19 |
47.7 |
1694.5 |
16060 |
61,021,855 |
£24 |
£1,039 |
£276 |
£170 |
6.22 |
|
4 |
Spain |
6% |
15 |
16.0 |
1643.5 |
8345 |
47,222,613 |
£24 |
£1,107 |
£213 |
£108 |
6.19 |
|
5 |
Finland |
12% |
4 |
161.0 |
1498.1 |
518 |
5,614,571 |
£74 |
£987 |
£347 |
£101 |
6.04 |
|
6 |
Latvia |
0% |
0 |
94.0 |
1553.2 |
148 |
1,821,750 |
£59 |
£579 |
£157 |
£263 |
5.74 |
|
6 |
Hungary |
5% |
1 |
160.0 |
1699.6 |
483 |
9,670,009 |
£46 |
£549 |
£191 |
£118 |
5.74 |
|
7 |
Japan |
8% |
11 |
58.0 |
1607 |
3951 |
123,719,238 |
£525 |
£760 |
£312 |
£129 |
5.63 |
|
7 |
France |
9% |
12 |
42.0 |
1511.4 |
11785 |
68,521,974 |
£24 |
£1,134 |
£451 |
£147 |
5.63 |
|
8 |
Estonia |
3% |
1 |
82.1 |
1770.4 |
193 |
1,202,762 |
£107 |
£722 |
£234 |
£217 |
5.56 |
|
9 |
Greece |
7% |
3 |
51.7 |
1886.3 |
3723 |
10,497,595 |
£27 |
£658 |
£196 |
£186 |
5.33 |
William Cooper, Marketing Director at William Russell, said: “Moving abroad with your family can be a stressful process, with many unknown factors at play. What we’ve seen from this study is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of which country is best for this move, but some countries do perform significantly better than others overall.
What’s important is to consider how your own personal and familial circumstances match up to the benefits that each country has to offer. This could be the availability of affordable childcare, the quality of schools and education, or the work-life balance offered in your preferred destination.”
