Are you planning a career move? Have you been thinking about working in Europe? If you answered yes, you’re in luck as there are so many exciting opportunities out there.
Undoubtedly, Berlin, Brussels and Amsterdam are fast becoming some of the best cities in Europe to work in 2022 thanks to their brimming career opportunities.
The only question that remains now is which city should you move to and why? Our handy guide below showcases a few of the best cities in Europe to work in 2022.
Find a job in Berlin, Germany
Arguably one of the trendiest destinations in Europe, Berlin has become a cultural mecca for artists, musicians, and creative types alike. It’s one of the best cities in Europe to work in 2022 and is renowned for its high standards of living.
The cosmopolitan city blends creativity with technology and culture making it a popular destination for those looking to embark on a new career path.
It could be argued that the German capital is a thriving hotspot for tech enthusiasts as a new start-up is created in Berlin every 20 minutes. This has contributed to around 11.3 million euros ($10.8 billion) in venture capital alone.
If you’re contemplating making a move to Berlin you can look forward to efficient public transport, excellent health care and a great quality of life overall. That’s in addition to the crisp lager beer and avant-garde art that make the city come alive at night.
Renowned for its striking range of iconic landmarks and thriving cultural scene, it also provides a welcome backdrop for art lovers to the area. You have a choice between over 170 diverse museums that house artefacts from all around the world.
Berlin is also considered to be Germany’s greenest city as it offers local residents the joy of visiting sprawling parks, rooftop gardens, wooded areas and lakes in its many suburbs.
Lush lawns and invaluable artwork aside, it’s perhaps most famous for its incredible nightlife and features renowned music festivals and events each year. Berlin is at the forefront of trends when it comes to music and has become synonymous with having a vibrant nightlife inclusive for all.
The public transportation links such as Metro and the train line even run 24 hours over the weekend to assist partygoers with travelling across the city. For those looking to commute to work, you also have the option to buy a BahnCard offering reduced rates which includes the use of buses.
Most expats rent in Germany and you may find it interesting to note that their local terminology in housing advertisements may differ slightly to that of other parts of Europe. For example, when an apartment is advertised as having four rooms, it makes reference to a living room, a dining room and two bedrooms. The kitchens, hallway and any bathrooms are never classified as rooms.
Are you looking to work and live in Berlin with your children? Germany boasts excellent childcare opportunities and offers day-care subsidies and a few public day-care centres free of charge.
- Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre: £815 GBP / 908 EUR
- Monthly public transport pass: £60 – £90 (GBP) / 66.84 – 100.25 EUR
- Weather: Berlin is known to have a continental climate featuring cold winters, hot summers with fairly mild autumn and spring seasons in between.
Find your ideal job in Berlin with Salt
Find a job in Amsterdam, Netherlands
It’s hard not to fall in love with the city of Amsterdam whilst walking along the cobblestone lanes set against a picturesque backdrop of local canals. Unsurprisingly it has been featured as one of the best cities in Europe to work in 2022 thanks to all it has to offer.
Fondly referred to as the Big Village to residents, this charming city offers great transport links, a vibey student population and affordable accommodation. Interestingly enough, the centre is almost completely car-free and you’re encouraged to make use of the various cycle lanes throughout the city.
The Dutch capital is incredibly welcoming to foreign nationals and features over 180 different nationalities alone making it a multicultural hub brimming with promise.
There are an overwhelming number of things to do in Amsterdam in your free time from visiting the world-famous Anne Frank House to taking in the glorious sights of a genuine Rembrandt at the Rijksmuseum.
For those electronic music lovers out there hoping to enjoy an open-air festival, the warm weather and sprawling green landscapes provide the perfect setting.
For those budding foodies there is much to be enjoyed from sampling traditional stroopwafels to indulging in local poffertjes.
If you’re thinking about enrolling your child into day-care or nursery, the fees will average around €8 an hour for children up to the age of four. There is also an option for working parents to enlist the help of a “host parent” locally referred to as a gastouder. This is typically someone with young children of their own who will help to look after your children during work hours. The service costs around €6 per hour plus any additional costs for outings or food allowances.
Once your child begins school at age five you can choose from various forms of child care from school minders and au pairs to general after-school care to assist while you are at work.
If you’re hoping to find a large apartment we recommend living outside the city centre as living costs are slightly more affordable. The cost of living in Amsterdam overall however is thankfully a lot cheaper than other major cities across Europe such as London or Paris.
Additionally, Amsterdam came sixth in The Economist’s 2021 Safest Cities Index so you can enjoy peace of mind knowing you reside in a high ranking destination.
While Amsterdam’s cost of living might not be the cheapest, it is possible to have a good quality of life without breaking the bank.
- Monthly rent for one-bedroom apartment in the city centre: £1,600 / 1782 EUR
- Monthly public transport pass: £86 / 96 EUR
- The Netherlands features a mainly temperate climate, with cool to mild summers and fairly cold winters
Find your ideal job in Amsterdam with Salt
Find a job in Brussels, Belgium
Once considered a hidden gem, the unofficial capital of Europe has grown in popularity over the last few years. Many expats are relocating to Belgium from the UK and USA largely due to it being acknowledged as one of the best countries in Europe to work in 2022. Here you can enjoy superb healthcare, low crime rates and high-quality education. Belgium is also considered to be an important country both politically and economically thanks to its position within the European Union.
While it may not be one of the most affordable destinations to live and work in, you can enjoy a higher standard of living overall in Brussels. It’s been reported that Belgium ranks among the top 15 countries in the world in terms of their standard of living, according to the OECD.
With one of the highest taxes in the European Union, Belgium is a great place to live when looking to receive excellent health care. Families are also incredibly well taken care of regarding childcare benefits and it costs just a fraction of the price compared to other cities in Europe. And what would the cities of Belgium be without its thriving beer and chocolate culture as you are presented with an opportunity to indulge in an authentic frituur, waffle or moules frites?
When considering Brussels also consider Antwerp as your destination of choice. It’s interesting to note that the walkable city encourages its residents to use a bike to get around the city. You can experience the incredible history first-hand as you explore the various alleyways laden with notable architecture landmarks.
For those working parents looking to make a career move to Belgium, crèches commonly referred to as kinderopvang, are a great choice. You also have the option of choosing between state-run facilities and private Belgian childcare options with tax deductions available on both.
- Monthly rent for one-bedroom apartment in the city centre: £1,150 / 1,281 EUR
- Monthly public transport pass: £35 – £50 / 39 – 56 EUR
- Belgium has a mainly temperate oceanic climate with four distinct seasons. You can look forward to enjoying cool to mild summers with relatively cold winters
Find your ideal job in Belgium with Salt
There are millions of people taking a career step and moving to the EU each year with Europe becoming a thriving epicentre for global expats.
Working abroad is an experience of a lifetime but it’s more attainable than you may think! We have lots of job opportunities that could see you relocate to one of the best cities in Europe to work in 2022 .
To shape your future with Salt, a leading global recruitment agency for the digital industry, send your CV to enquiry@welovesalt.com or use our search to find jobs to start your new career in Europe.
Hiring? Get in touch with our team today to find out how we can help you find the best in-house and remote talent, wherever you are based.
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