Best cities for freelancers in Europe

Where self-employment adds up in Europe: cities scored on the catalog's effective freelance tax rate, internet, living costs and how easy it is to find your people — the four things that decide a freelancer's month.

Methodology: Only cities with a 60+ internet score and a known freelance tax rate qualify; blended score: effective freelance tax (30%), affordability (30%), internet (25%) and expat scene (15%). Actual liability depends on residency and treaties — this is not tax advice.

1. 1. Izmir, Turkey

   Freelance tax ~0% · Internet 78/100 · $810/mo

   ~0% effective freelance tax with 78/100 internet on about $810/mo all-in.

2. 2. Novi Sad, Serbia

   Freelance tax ~10% · Internet 88/100 · $900/mo

   ~10% effective freelance tax with 88/100 internet on about $900/mo all-in.

3. 3. Sofia, Bulgaria

   Freelance tax ~10% · Internet 88/100 · $1,050/mo

   ~10% effective freelance tax with 88/100 internet on about $1,050/mo all-in.

4. 4. Plovdiv, Bulgaria

   Freelance tax ~7.5% · Internet 88/100 · $995/mo

   ~7.5% effective freelance tax with 88/100 internet on about $995/mo all-in.

5. 5. Ohrid, North Macedonia

   Freelance tax ~10% · Internet 80/100 · $750/mo

   ~10% effective freelance tax with 80/100 internet on about $750/mo all-in.

6. 6. Pécs, Hungary

   Freelance tax ~13% · Internet 88/100 · $1,005/mo

   ~13% effective freelance tax with 88/100 internet on about $1,005/mo all-in.

7. 7. Kraków, Poland

   Freelance tax ~12% · Internet 88/100 · $1,085/mo

   ~12% effective freelance tax with 88/100 internet on about $1,085/mo all-in.

8. 8. Istanbul, Turkey

   Freelance tax ~0% · Internet 70/100 · $1,150/mo

   ~0% effective freelance tax with 70/100 internet on about $1,150/mo all-in.

9. 9. Cluj-Napoca, Romania

   Freelance tax ~10% · Internet 88/100 · $1,070/mo

   ~10% effective freelance tax with 88/100 internet on about $1,070/mo all-in.

10. 10. Kaunas, Lithuania

    Freelance tax ~15% · Internet 92/100 · $1,135/mo

    ~15% effective freelance tax with 92/100 internet on about $1,135/mo all-in.

11. 11. Wrocław, Poland

    Freelance tax ~12% · Internet 88/100 · $1,065/mo

    ~12% effective freelance tax with 88/100 internet on about $1,065/mo all-in.

12. 12. Bucharest, Romania

    Freelance tax ~8% · Internet 84/100 · $1,180/mo

    ~8% effective freelance tax with 84/100 internet on about $1,180/mo all-in.