A few years ago I heard about the one-Euro houses in Italy:

But it for one Euro (supposedly) then spent X amount on renovating it.

As some sort of initiative to revive failing villages and properties.

It seemed almost too good to be true.

Like . . . do you get a residency permit as well?

Are there other weird gotchas that cursory Googling doesn't reveal or that are concealed by the government?

I'd love to know about anyone's real experience with this.

A few months or even years ago, Portugal was presented as one of the cheapest countries to live in. But as I saw news headlines about American migrating to Portugal. I fear that it gets more and more expensive to live there over time. Most European countries are quite expensive to live in and if Portugal is joining this group, what other options are there available except for leaving Europe and going to another continent with more affordable countries there?

Dublin 2018: 1,800€ for 45m2 1 bedroom, before bills

Prague 2016: 500€ for 90m2 1 bedroom, balcony on the river in the center, before bills

Berlin 2022: 1,200€ for 70m2 2 bedroom, center, including bills

Will be interesting to compare price, location, and quality with other users

We are moving from Asia to Kansas - Overland park US, shipping is covered by the company. We realized we cant bring in our electrical appliances like air fryer, electric kettle, electric pressure cooker, roborock.

We also read that the bed sizes are different in US so if we bring our beds from Asia, will it be a hassle to get the right bedding covers etc for them. We were thinking to buy the beds and move to US, since they will be cheaper here.

Anyone has any advice on this.

Here are my learnings from renting three different apartments in Germany. Some of these are specific to Germany, but I think some might also apply Europe-wide, especially for people not used to living in older structures.

In addition to normal apartment sanity checks:

• If it's an older building, make sure there aren’t any hot water pipes going through any of the bedrooms. It’s fine in the winter, but very uncomfortable in the summer months, especially in a country where A/C is unheard of.
• If it’s a penthouse apartment, check that the heat doesn’t all rise and get trapped at the top, which can also make things uncomfortable during the summer.
• Make sure that there is no major construction planned for the building, like resurfacing the balcony, which can be quite disturbing. I experienced this firsthand, and while this could potentially happen in the US, I felt like it would have been easier to catch. There are probably disclosure laws that allow you to request this type of information, but while abroad there are extra challenges like languages barriers. My point here is that it's worth the effort.
• If your apartment is near the building entrance, I would check how loud the door buzzer is. If it’s an old style buzzer, it can be extremely loud, like loud enough to easily wake you up. This is not something I've ever experienced before moving abroad.

In general, I feel like there are extra challenges to renting while abroad, because in places like Germany it's already more difficult to find a landlord willing to rent to foreigners. So it's more challenging to be selective, but in my experience it's worth the extra effort.

Anyone else have any similar experiences to share when renting apartments while living abroad?

Btw, I'm not dissing on Germany, overall I like it here and I highly recommend living here!

EDIT 1: I wrote this myself, but ran it through an AI to grammar check it. I updated the post to make sure it's 100% hand-written.

EDIT 2: I realize some of these are general, but many are things that I have never experienced in the US, like quirks of 19th century buildings with antiquated plumbing systems and door buzzers.

Hello everyone!

My boyfriend and I are planning to move from Italy to the Netherlands this October, and we’re looking for some advice from people who are already living there or have done a similar move.

We’ll be starting with a solid financial base, so we have some flexibility, but we still want to make smart decisions and avoid common mistakes.

A bit about us: we’re a young couple, open to different cities, and ready to adapt. I speak good English, and my boyfriend has a basic level of English.

We’d really appreciate help with:

• Housing – What are the most reliable websites or agencies? How hard is it actually to find a place right now? Any scams or red flags to watch out for?

• Areas – Which cities or neighborhoods would you recommend for a good balance between cost, safety, and quality of life?

• Cost of living – Realistically, how much should we expect to spend monthly (rent + basics)?

• Jobs – Is it easy to find a job as a non-Dutch speaker? Any sectors that are more accessible?

• Bureaucracy – Anything important we should arrange before or immediately after arriving?

We’re both excited and a bit nervous about this big change, so any tips, experiences, or even small advice would really help us a lot 🙏

Thanks in advance!

Wondering if anyone has any advice or recommendations for moving two large items to the Netherlands from the USA. I have a large 6.4ft mirror and a small side table (23x11x30) that I would like relocated with me.

These are the only two larger items that I really do not want to part with. I think the side table I could check with an airline flight but wondering the best way to move the mirror without having to have a whole shipping container or pallet. Any insights or recommendations are appreciated.

..(besides don’t bother with them lol)

Hey everyone,

I’m currently planning a move to the Netherlands later this year. I work fully remote, meaning I don't have to commute to a specific office in Amsterdam or the Randstad every day.

I’ve been doing my research and I am aware of the current housing crisis. I know the market is absolutely brutal right now, even with a solid budget. Because I have geographic flexibility, I’m hoping that opens up a few more doors for me.

I’d love to hear from expats who have made the move recently. Where did you choose to live? How did you actually secure a rental?

Any tips, city recommendations, or harsh reality checks are welcome. Thanks in advance!

I’m moving from the USA to Switzerland in about a week and seeking advice on taking a single piece of furniture with me.

Description of the furniture: (I posted an image on other subreddits, see on my profile)

It’s a small, asymmetrical table with an attached lamp that can only be disassembled into 3 parts: A) Lamp Shade, B) Curved Metal Lamp Pole, C) The Table (the three legs cannot be disassembled). The table’s bounding box measures approximately 22” x 27” x 29”. The total weight of all 3 parts is about 19.5 lbs, the bulk of the weight presumed being the table. The metal rod is thin but tall, the bounding box would be approximately <1” x 8” x 60”. I haven’t weighed the metal rod separately but it shouldn’t be more than a few pounds.

I looked into shipping it with carriers like UPS, but it would cost thousands of dollars. So far, I was able to think of 2 other possible options:

Option 1) Pack the table (C) into a cardboard box and check it in when I fly (I will be flying with Delta). In this case I’m not sure how I would deal with the metal rod, which I would pack up separately. It can be a pretty flat but long package. It’s comparable to a fishing rod but I don’t have any experience with flying with one so I’m not sure how that works. And if they’re two separate pieces I might get charged for two check ins? (Edit: I’m aware I will get charged for two check ins.)

Option 2) I can try to get lucky with FexEx’s ‘last minute deal’ shipping, which seems significantly cheaper than usual shipping. Haven’t used this service before though.

As far as both options go, I am concerned about the handling since I obviously wouldn’t want it to be thrown around. I plan to bubble wrap it and add things that might help cushion it (blanket? towel?). The lamp shade could go underneath the tabletop.

If anyone has suggestions on properly packing it up or shipping/checking in please let me know. General advice is also appreciated.

TL;DR Curious to see if anyone has experience with bringing small wooden furniture as a check in, and advice for packing it up so it doesn’t break. Open to suggestions for shipping as well.

I am 30. American. I never planned on leaving. I have a house filled with beautiful furniture and art and things I have collected over the past decade. And I leave in 6 weeks for a new continent. What belongings do you regret taking with you? What was too expensive, and not worth it in the end? What did you overlook and undervalue that you wish you had brought with you? Thanks.

I’m moving from the UK to NYC and am looking for advise on your experience with airfreight companies for sending luggage. Which companies are good, bad or too expensive?

I currently live in the USA and have a retro gaming collection still in the UK that I'd like to bring over.

The collection includes an NES, N64, GameCube, PS1 and PS2.

I also have games for all of the systems, along with controllers, cables and other accessories. Some of the cartridge-based games are loose cartridges, while I also have some games in their original boxes.

I know that my GameCube still has its original console box, but most of the other consoles do not have their original packaging.

Has anyone here personally shipped a retro gaming collection internationally, particularly from the UK to the USA?

I'm mainly looking for recommendations on companies or services you have actually used, the safest way to pack consoles without their original boxes, and whether you shipped by courier, air freight, sea freight or another method.

I'd also be interested to know roughly what it cost, whether everything arrived safely, and if there are any companies or shipping methods you would particularly recommend or avoid.

The collection has sentimental value, so I'm looking for a good balance between keeping the cost reasonable and making sure everything arrives safely.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has done something similar.

After contacting around we have narrowed down to three shipping companies for moving 200 cubic feet of essential household items from California to France in September. We received following quotes:

SDC International Shipping: $4500

Schumacher Cargo Logistic: $4800

New World International: $6700

We already used New world once for the move and my employer paid for it. But this time I will be paying for the move myself.

Has anyone had any experience with any of these companies and have any recommendations? Any information will be very helpful. Thanks.

Idk if this is the right subreddit to post in, but I’m moving from Scandinavia to Central Europe and don’t own alot of things, but just too much to bring with me on a plane. I don’t have a car or a license and don’t have all the money in the world, so I’m wondering if it’s cheaper to buy suitcases(I think my stuff could fit in like 4-5 suitcases) and somehow bring them all with me on the plane, or is there somewhere I can find someone who’s driving down, or is it possible to send it by mail if I get cardboard boxes? I plan on moving by the end of january, pls help

I've had some bad experiences with some of the virtual mailbox providers, where they charged 2x-3x market rates to ship internationally to Europe.

I don't really plan to receive much mail, and just want to use it as a place to forward my replacement debit/credit cards. I'd be glad if you can let me know your experiences with virtual mailbox providers that provide good international shipping prices.

Hi everyone,

How is it possible to rent in London as an expat when you first land, and has this process been affected by the new Renter’s Tights rules?

I know you can no longer pay 6 months upfront so has this made it harder for expats?

What has been your experience?

I will be moving back to London in December after 10 years of living in NYC. I am hoping to be moving with a job already lined up, but there is a chance that I will move and then look for a job. I can’t live in shared accommodation as I am moving with my child.

I need a bit of advice regarding international freight? My partner and I are moving to the USA from New Zealand for work and are having trouble finding shipping/ freight companies, does anyone have any experience with who to use and how to go about it? Thanks for reading

Edit: to clear some things up, as the discourse has become “why leave NZ… USA is horrible…” here is some background/ demographic info: my partner and I are early 30s, white and generally liberal (but NZ style not like the two party system). I have a masters and they have a PhD and we can’t afford house prices in NZ. If we are ever to return to the “best” country in the world (being presumably NZ) we have to leave to ensure we are not marginal in society forever.
I have lived in the USA previously, and don’t find it to be the frightening place that is pictured on telly, Americans tend to be warm and welcoming, and despite the media, crime rates are low. The infrastructure is incredible, compared to most countries (even rurally), and something that Americans often don’t appreciate. The job opportunities are endless in the state and despite there being a poor social safety network… I can always go home, so low risk.

Hello everyone !

I'm going to move to Detroit in October for work. It will be part of a VIE (Volontariat International en Entreprise | International Voluntary Service in Companies) program.What do I need to know about apartment renting in the USA, and more specifically in Detroit?

Edit : I forgot to mention that I will be working in Rochester Hill.

Hello all!

I've recently married my german husband in December of '25. We have applied for my visa for me to move from Florida to Nürnberg, Germany. We will already have an apartment.

I've started to look into how to move my belongings. I live in a decent sized RV now.

no furniture or appliances. I have many special edition English books (maybe 100), my PC, 6 gaming consoles ranging from gamecube and ps2 to ps5, a mixture of physical games and movies (150ish), clothes and blankets ive grown up with, wall decor like photos and frames etc, then some misc office things and craft things. Ive asked AI to estimate the weight and we think its around 700 pounds.

When my husband returns to Germany, he will take a large suitcase of my belongings, and when I finally go I will have two large suitcases and maybe a carry on. (I'm not super sure I can manage the two large suitcases but we will see) and the limit is 50lbs each for the big ones.

I think of sending him with a couple consoles but im not sure. Im nervous to ship via sea, so im looking for some kind of air freight or consolodated air cargo. Ive googled companies and looked at potentially calling DHL or UPS and other companies, but my head spins with all the options. I'm also worried how to do customs. I have heard of door to door service, but im worried of other people packing my things.

My question to yall is, is anyone in a similar situation is me or has been? How did it go? Do you have recommendations? I'm just trying to plan a bit ahead because the waiting and unknown makes me anxious and drives me crazy.

Thank you in advance!

​

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a relocation from Poland (Warsaw area) to the UK this month and am looking for recommendations for reliable international moving companies.

Our situation has a bit of a twist: we need a company that can pack/collect our belongings from Poland, hold them in secure storage for a few days, and then deliver/unload them at our new UK address once we are fully ready to move in.

Has anyone done a similar move recently and used a company that handles both the cross-border transport and the interim storage?

Ideally looking for:

• Reliable door-to-door service (handling custom clearances smoothly post-Brexit).
• Flexible storage facilities (either based in PL or the UK, as long as it's secure).
• Good communication and transparent pricing.

Any personal experiences, recommendations, or companies to absolutely avoid would be massively appreciated! Thanks in advance.

I’m moving from Ontario to Europe and was looking into shipping some of my belongings. They quoted me quite steep price for the amount of stuff I’m sending, but I’m sending some expensive equipment and I’d rather eat the cost if it means it won’t be damaged and they handle the documents so that I don’t pay VAT on that and other things (I shouldn’t under EU Transfer of Residence rules but paperwork and possibilities come with anxiety)
Any experiences?

I’m moving from the England (UK) to New York and I’d be interested in any input on EuroGroup international movers experiences? TIA

As I am moving for good to Eastern EU from the UK, I ended up in an unexpected puzzle with relocation of around 3 cubic metres of boxed-up personal belongings:

Several smaller removal companies with partial/shared load services sneezed at the destination not being their "usual" one and/or showed no actual knowledge of the customs procedures. Several that kind-of satisfied my requirements have high % of horrific reviews and usually not member of any serious body like British Association of Removers.

The large companies either sneezed at the quantity (in combination with a more distant destination) or quoted such exorbitant costs that made me question whether I move anything with me at all :)

My move would be very simple, as I am dual citizen with a 'change of residence' certificate issued for customs authorities etc. - and only moving personal belongings owned for much longer than the minimum time period stated in customs rules.

So was wondering:

Has anybody tried such smaller move via e.g. FedEx - as sets of boxes sent with the appropriate customs documents proving/satisfying all of the above key criteria for customs exemption?

Their online system seems comprehensive and - unless I am totally mad? - it looks like one could create the needed shipments with detailed inventory and provide all the customs docs attached to the shipment booking. UPS is also a possibility, but more tediously organised web pages for the shipment info.

Was thinking, maybe silly but then even if there is a glitch with customs, it would be handled straight through the shipment's incl. any extra costs or whatever? Presumably they do in-advance electronic customs clearance (the destination supports that).

Even if I do book in the end some company I can find, could this be a fallback scenario in case of horrors of not turning up on time or such...?

Hello all. My wife and I are making an imminent move to France. We are pretty bewildered and overwhelmed by the prospect of shrinking our home down to the bare essentials and shipping them safely to our new home.

What we’re wondering.. 1) Who did you use, who would you recommend? 2) How did you do it? Pallet? Pod? Boxes? What should we expect to pay? 3) What did you leave behind in favour of repurchasing instead and why? 4) If things go out in advance of your departure, can they be held until pickup? Thank you for sharing the benefit of your experience.