Most people budget for the first month’s rent and a deposit, then get blindsided by everything else. Relocating abroad has a long tail of upfront costs, and knowing them in advance is the difference between a smooth move and a cash crunch in your first month.
The standard upfront costs
- Security deposit: one to three months’ rent (Spain typically one to two, Germany up to three).
- First month’s rent in advance: universal.
- Agency fee: up to one to two months with a traditional agency — or zero with a no-agency-fee service.
- Guarantor cost: if you use a guarantor service, a fee of roughly half to one month.
Cost comparison by city (two-bedroom)
- Barcelona: rent ~€1,500 + deposit ~€3,000 + first month ≈ €6,000 upfront.
- Berlin: rent ~€1,600 + three-month deposit ~€4,800 + first month ≈ €7,900 upfront.
- Lisbon: rent ~€1,300 + deposit ~€2,600 + first month ≈ €5,200 upfront.
- Dubai: often a year’s rent in one to four cheques, plus 5% agency fee and a deposit — by far the largest cash requirement.
The hidden costs nobody budgets for
- Temporary housing while you search: €1,000–3,000.
- Document translation and notarisation: €100–500.
- Utility and internet deposits and setup: €100–300.
- Furniture if the flat is unfurnished: €500–3,000.
- Flights, shipping or movers: highly variable.
- Local bureaucracy — residence permits, tax numbers, health cover — small fees that add up.
💡 The two biggest levers you control are the agency fee (avoid it with a no-fee service) and the guarantor question (a guarantor service is far cheaper than locking up six months of advance rent).
How to budget sensibly
As a rule of thumb, have the equivalent of four to six months’ rent available for a European move before you count furniture and flights — more for Dubai’s cheque system. Build a city-specific list rather than a generic one, because the deposit rules and fee structures differ enormously from place to place.
Frequently asked questions
How much money should I have before relocating abroad?
For a European city, plan for roughly four to six months’ rent to cover deposit, first month, fees and setup — more for Dubai, where a year’s rent is often paid in a few cheques.
What hidden costs do people forget when moving abroad?
Temporary housing while searching, document translation, utility deposits, furniture for unfurnished flats, and small bureaucracy fees for permits, tax numbers and health cover.
How can I reduce the upfront cost of renting abroad?
Use a no-agency-fee service to remove the agency commission, and a guarantor service instead of paying many months of rent in advance.
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