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Best EU country to study
The EU-27 ranked for students who need the lowest possible cost of living and reasonable local value, computed from real Eurostat earnings and cost-of-living data. Malta ranks first.
What is the best EU country to study in the EU?
As of 2024, Malta ranks first for study on Gera's analysis of real Eurostat earnings and cost-of-living data, ahead of Luxembourg. Malta pairs €23,958 net annual earnings with a Gera EU Cost Index of 79.5 and a Gera EU Value Index of 122.1. The ranking weights value, real pay and affordability for students who need the lowest possible cost of living and reasonable local value.
Full EU ranking — best eu country to study
| Rank | Country | Score | Net annual pay | Cost of living (EU=100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malta | 60.9 | €23,958 | 79.5 |
| 2 | Luxembourg | 60.5 | €52,029 | 119 |
| 3 | Hungary | 58.4 | €12,002 | 59.7 |
| 4 | Croatia | 57.8 | €15,831 | 70.1 |
| 5 | Bulgaria | 57.5 | €11,881 | 58.7 |
| 6 | Lithuania | 55.2 | €17,425 | 78.3 |
| 7 | Slovenia | 54.1 | €21,320 | 87.8 |
| 8 | Spain | 53.8 | €24,541 | 94.8 |
| 9 | Slovakia | 52.6 | €14,981 | 78 |
| 10 | Poland | 52.1 | €15,044 | 80.7 |
| 11 | Romania | 52 | €12,318 | 75 |
| 12 | Cyprus | 50.9 | €22,844 | 97.5 |
| 13 | Austria | 50.8 | €35,824 | 117.8 |
| 14 | Finland | 50.2 | €32,957 | 113.2 |
| 15 | Latvia | 49.9 | €15,450 | 85.4 |
| 16 | Estonia | 49.4 | €19,703 | 93.8 |
| 17 | Belgium | 49 | €33,481 | 117.5 |
| 18 | France | 48.8 | €30,124 | 113.1 |
| 19 | Netherlands | 48.4 | €34,223 | 120.1 |
| 20 | Portugal | 47.9 | €18,835 | 96.9 |
| 21 | Greece | 46.7 | €13,746 | 88.5 |
| 22 | Czechia | 46.4 | €18,140 | 98.8 |
| 23 | Italy | 46.3 | €23,959 | 109.5 |
| 24 | Germany | 45.4 | €30,145 | 121.2 |
| 25 | Sweden | 44.8 | €33,213 | 126.6 |
| 26 | Denmark | 43.6 | €40,184 | 136.9 |
| 27 | Ireland | 43 | €42,366 | 141.7 |
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| Metric | Malta | Austria |
|---|---|---|
| Your salary, locally | €35,000 | €35,000 |
| Salary value vs EU norm | 178.3 | 120.4 |
| Local cost of living (EU=100) | 79.5 | 117.8 |
| Typical local net pay | €23,958 | €35,824 |
| Gera EU Value Index | 122.1 (#3) | 123.2 (#2) |
On €35,000 a year, your salary stretches further in Malta — a value index of 178.3 against the EU norm of 100, because its cost of living is 79.5 (EU=100). The same salary indexes 178.3 in Malta and 120.4 in Austria. The Gera EU Value Index median is 94.9.
Best EU country to study — FAQ
- Best EU country to study in the EU?
- Malta ranks first for students who need the lowest possible cost of living and reasonable local value, on Gera's weighting of real Eurostat earnings and cost-of-living data (2024). It is followed by Luxembourg and Hungary. Malta has net annual pay of €23,958 and a cost-of-living index of 79.5 (EU=100).
- How is this ranking decided?
- The ranking weights three sub-scores derived from real Eurostat figures — salary-to-cost value, purchasing-power-adjusted pay, and affordability — at 0.3/0.1/0.6 for students who need the lowest possible cost of living and reasonable local value. The full method and weights are published on the methodology page.
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Other EU rankings
Contains public sector information published by Eurostat (European Commission) and licensed under the Eurostat reuse policy (© European Union — free reuse with attribution). Source: Eurostat — Net annual earnings (earn_nt_net), single person at 100% of average wage (2024 (earnings) · 2024 price levels / 2025-S2 energy (cost of living), published 2025 (Eurostat earnings release)).