The Best Country for Work: Earn €7,675 While Enjoying Low Living Costs

Considering Moving Abroad for Better Job Opportunities

Job seekers who find that salaries in Italy are insufficient for a dignified lifestyle may want to think about relocating abroad.
However, the choice of destination should be based on careful evaluation.
It’s not enough to just look at potential earnings; a wealthy country may also have a high cost of living.
Paradoxically, earning more than in Italy could mean a lower purchasing power—how much you can actually buy with your salary.

The Advantages of Norway

Interestingly, Norway is a European country that, despite not being an EU member, offers high earnings and a low cost of living, leading to one of the highest purchasing powers globally.
The average monthly salary there reaches €7,676, allowing citizens to afford approximately 40% more than they can in the United States.

Best Places for Earnings and Living Costs

We’ve previously explored countries ideal for job relocation.
A report from Worldata.info provides insights into those countries where the average salary combined with the cost of living results in superior purchasing power.
Using the U.S.
as a benchmark set at 100, countries below this index have a decreased purchasing power compared to the U.S.

Italy, with a cost index of 71.8 and an average income of $3,183, finds itself with a purchasing power index of 66.3—roughly 34% lower than that of the U.S.

Norway: The Best Option

Leading the ranks is Norway, where living costs are lower than in the U.S.
(index of 90.8), while the average income is higher at $8,538.
This results in a purchasing power exceeding 40% compared to the U.S.
and approximately 53% compared to Italy.
Luxembourg is the only other European nation exceeding the 100 mark in purchasing power.

Moving to Norway for Work

Although Norway is not part of the EU, relocating there is relatively straightforward.
As a Schengen member, it allows free movement with just an identity card, without extensive paperwork.
After three months, job seekers must register their presence and formalize this at the local police station, having six months to find work without further documents.

In-Demand Professions in Norway

Norway consistently ranks high in the Human Development Index due to gender equality and good work-life balance.

In particular, there is a strong demand for skilled workers in technology, especially in emerging fields like Artificial Intelligence.
Key industries like energy, including oil and gas, as well as maritime and fisheries are crucial.
The most sought-after professions include:

• Construction workers
• Engineers across various fields
• Chefs
• Drivers
• IT specialists

These are just a few of the many opportunities available, with nearly 15,000 job listings on EURES alone across a variety of sectors.