Paris, Amsterdam, or CPN?

Posted by Same_Requirement_760@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 46 comments

Hi! I am halfway through a year long visa in Dublin, and I’ve decided to move for a variety of reasons. Dublin is *so* expensive and though it’s fun, it’s not a place I can see myself for the next five years.

So my question is - would you want to live in Paris, Amsterdam or Copenhagen for the next 3-4 years? My dream is Copenhagen, but just for fun I’d love to get others opinions. Although I am curious financially and career wise (I work with children), I am more just interested in which of the three you’d prefer!

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Unique_West_1308@reddit

Dublin, Paris or Amsterdam, they are all freaking expensive. I think if you need sth. cheap, try to reach out for spain and smaller cities.

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Silent_Watch_9453@reddit

Most cities in Germany are really good and cheaper in rent than all of those places. Central location, job opportunities, travel, good wages, and lower rents.

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BillyO6@reddit

For what it's worth, I've lived in all three and much prefer Copenhagen. I find the city peaceful and beautiful, especially around the lakes. Yes, the taxes in Denmark are higher, but so are the wages. But if you are non-EU, be advised that it's very difficult to get a residence permit.

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Professional_Elk_489@reddit

I moved from Dublin to Amsterdam and enjoy my life much more now. Even though I had an ideal set up by Dublin standards.

You probably can't go wrong with either of these three cities vs Dublin.

You could only go wrong picking random British cities that make Dublin look comparatively better.

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Same_Requirement_760@reddit (OP)

Yeah tbh all the comments comparing housing to Dublin have no idea how bad it is here

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Professional_Elk_489@reddit

They know the price and availability is bad. What they don't know is the quality is also terrible. That's where it shines strongest

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theproconsul@reddit

To be fair the quality of housing in most of actual Amsterdam is also bad.

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Professional_Elk_489@reddit

I think unless you're talking to someone who has lived in both cities it's not a well informed view. People in Amsterdam complain about stuff that would be 8/10 in Dublin and say it's bad. They do the same for public transport too without reference to what it's like in Ireland & UK - their notion of bad is really good elsewhere

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theproconsul@reddit

I lived in Amsterdam for a dozen years. I know less about the variety of housing types in Dublin but I am Irish and have visited homes of family and friends in Dublin.

Cheap buildings built in the 70s/80s/90s in Amsterdam (a very large proportion of the actual city where most people live, not the tourist areas) are aging worse than the buildings from before WW2, the 19th century, and earlier. Many of them have been demolished in the last decade because they're in such poor shape.

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Uncle_Richard98@reddit

Dublin is so expensive yet you wanna move to Copenhagen or Amsterdam? Do you know they’re both almost equally expensive?

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Same_Requirement_760@reddit (OP)

My friend in cpn pays 1/3 of the rent I do in Dublin with half the amount of roommates 😅 rent is what’s killing everyone’s finances here in dub

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Uncle_Richard98@reddit

Yes but what about the rest? You know you pay way more taxes there than in Ireland right? And groceries and eating out is way more expensive too. One time I paid 7 euros for a single coffee in Copenhagen and it wasn’t even a touristic location. Dublin is expensive asf but you still can get a coffe / latte for 4 euros.

The advantage is that Copenhagen has way better infrastructure and public transport than Dublin will ever have and the country is way more organised than Ireland that’s for sure. But I wouldn’t go there expecting to save much more money.

Also in Dublin / Ireland you can apply to the cost rental scheme paying a more affordable rent for a modern apartment: https://affordablehomes.ie/ (check the rent part). I got one in 2024, a whole 1 bedroom apartment for myself laying 1200 per month, with underground parking and fully modern. You just need to apply to all that appear in Dublin and wait a few months (I got one after 7 months applying). With the cost rental scheme you can also stay long term (the contract is permanent you don’t need to renew it, you can basically live there the rest of your life if you keep paying).

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Same_Requirement_760@reddit (OP)

Totally hear you! But in Denmark with the higher taxes there’s also free healthcare along with infrastructure and social services you mentioned, and that’s huge

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CoffeeInTheTropics@reddit

As a non-EU (which posters are saying you are?) you won’t be entitled to “free” healthcare and social/welfare benefits, so bear that in mind.

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RoundAd4247@reddit

You don’t get “free healthcare” let alone social services as an au pair! Your current visa is temporary, so is a student visa unless you manage to find employment after graduation. You shouldn’t count on that especially if you’re not studying a degree in childcare in Danish, Dutch or French.

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Same_Requirement_760@reddit (OP)

Hi! Like I mentioned in my post, I’m working towards a B2 in Danish :)

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USS-Enterprise@reddit

I will say, you have to be relatively sick and relatively poor for healthcare being more expensive in Ireland (and not just the same). Hospital is expensive, but i would hope that you aren't spending so much time in hospital 😅

Anyway, if you really want to save money, consider a city that isn't a major European capital. Denmark outside of Copenhagen becomes quite cheap quite fast.

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Majestic-Vehicle5393@reddit

Then he is maybe in social housing or in some form of housing that requires to be on a waiting list for years; unavailable options as a newcomer. For a somewhat central studio or 1-2 room apartment you’re looking at 10.000kr minimum, about €1300. And remember Denmark has very high deposit requirements; in total 6 months of rent, so easily upwards to €7000-10.000. With roommates: a room in central Copenhagen will be 5000-7000kr so about €700-1000. Same deposit required; around 6 months rent.

Yes, you’ll hear people telling you they rent for way less, but they don’t tell you they have acces to different options because they are locals/have been living in CPH and on waiting lists for years, sometimes decades. Have acces to social housing (which also requires being on a waiting list for often 10+ years)

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Same_Requirement_760@reddit (OP)

I pay more than €1300 per month for a room in a house in Dublin. I know that sounds dumb, but the housing crisis here is really that bad, so in addition to the high cost the quality is also shit. Paying €1000 sounds like a dream

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CoffeeInTheTropics@reddit

You will pay possibly double of that in Amsterdam, for a small studio that is.

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Majestic-Vehicle5393@reddit

Sure, but you do realize you can’t just move to a different country being non EU and have no visa?

I see you posted about wanting an aupair visa and possibly doing your masters?

I’d suggest you look into the actual visa requirements for Denmark, before you ‘plan’ any type of move because you seem very unrealistic and delusional in your assessment of actual being able to obtain a visa.

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Wonderful-Part3495@reddit

I'd opt for Paris, the breathtaking city

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CoffeeInTheTropics@reddit

With generally terribly arrogant who refuse to speak even a word of English to you.

Even my French friends despise France and in particular Paris!

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Important_Coach9717@reddit

If you think Dublin is expensive don’t even look at house prices in Amsterdam. And you probably can’t find one anyway

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CoffeeInTheTropics@reddit

Actually-believe it or not-currently Dublin is more expensive than Amsterdam!

In answer to your question, I would pick Amsterdam (or The Netherlands in general) over France & Denmark hands down.

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RoundAd4247@reddit

So based on your comments, you’re in Ireland as an au pair. Which means you’re living with a family (and would be as an au pair also in other cities), so why would you worry about rent?

You cannot “switch” from an au pair status to a permanent residence permit, you get to live in a country for a year, then off you go. If you get a study visa for a master’s degree, you’ll be paying the non-EU tuition on top of the rent and must have proof of funds before being granted said visa. All of this requires tens of thousands of euros in all your target countries. Sounds like you’ve been quite hasty at “planning” any of this.

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Same_Requirement_760@reddit (OP)

Hi! I don’t live with my boss currently. I work for a private family full time but pay rent and commute to their home everyday :)

I didn’t mention permanent residence, I’m just young and in my 20s and looking for cultural experiences. The au pair visa in Denmark is two years, and I have the goal of getting my masters there afterwards, so about four years :)

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The-American-Abroad@reddit

Paris for sure. Copenhagen a distant second. Amsterdam not at all.

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nightcom@reddit

"Currently on a working holiday visa nannying, switching to au pair visa"

xDDDD that is most funny in this story. You don't have totally idea what you doing mate

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SeanBourne@reddit

Copenhagen is the most expensive of the four by far, and the most boring by far as well.

Amsterdam is next in terms of expensiveness, then Paris.

Amsterdam has quite a lot to do, but Paris has much more.

All three are absolutely brutal on taxes.

Don’t think I’d necessarily choose any of them, but if you’re not in a high tax bracket and have some French, I’d say Paris.

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tussentweewindmolen@reddit

Haven’t been to Copenhagen. Live in the Netherlands but would never live in Amsterdam. So by default my answer is Paris, but I also like Paris and my partner secretly loves it. Paris.

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Subterraniate2@reddit

What’s this flexible visa situation? Is your work with children in high demand and recruiting extra-EU candidates in Copenhagen, in Paris, and also Amsterdam?

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Same_Requirement_760@reddit (OP)

Currently on a working holiday visa nannying, switching to au pair visa 🤗 then my masters

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Majestic-Vehicle5393@reddit

Ok so that completely changes the story; I suggest you thoroughly look into your visa options because it’s not that easy as you think. An au pair visa comes with very strict regulations, you’ll live with a host family, get pocket money (5250kr so 700€) Your visa is tied to your host family.

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LibrarianByNight@reddit

Are you going to be an au pair in Denmark? Have you researched heavily and listened to feedback from current au pairs in Denmark?

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shoalmuse@reddit

If Dublin is too expensive for you do not move to Copenhagen.

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Competitive-Leg-962@reddit

They are all more expensive than Dublin... I'd go to Odense or Aalborg, way cheaper than CPH if Danish is your game.

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Both__@reddit

Paris. I’d die of boredom in Copenhagen. The culture of Amsterdam leaves a lot to be desired, as well.

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strsofya@reddit

Copenhagen for sure. It will less “fun”, but more clean, safe, and pleasant overall.

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Annawiththesauce@reddit

I’d choose Copenhagen. Just more ‘clean’.

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SocialMediaUser1234@reddit

I have good memories in Copenhagen (I got married there!) but I couldn’t live in this city. I enjoyed Amsterdam as a tourist and could see myself living there but I heard some negative stories from friends. Paris is a complete no go, possibly the only European city I’d say no to without hesitation. But hey, that’s just me, you may like it.

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lakehop@reddit

Paris by a long way. Such a beautiful city. CPN is fine but would get boring quickly, and the weather is not as good. I’d put that in 3rd place. Amsterdam is also beautiful and full of character, but doesn’t have the richness and depth (and cuisine) of Paris.

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Same_Requirement_760@reddit (OP)

Noted! Thx