Trust & transparency

How we source & score cities

How we score 50 cities so you can plan with confidenceSetTern city guides combine living costs, visa context, and a simple relocation score. Use them to shortlist — then verify fees and rules on the official sites we link to.
Explore city guidesPlan your budget

Your shortlist workflow

Four steps — compare, read, sense-check, personalise.

Step 1Open comparisons →Compare two cities side by sideStart with score, rent, and monthly budget — then dig into visa notes. Scores are a compass, not a verdict.

The relocation score

A 0–10 headline for quick comparison — not a guarantee you will get a visa or afford rent.

Example · BerlinOpen city guide →7.1/10 — typical monthly budget ~$2,6001-bed rent around $1,200. Open the guide for the full breakdown and visa route.
Score factorCompare cities →Cost of livingHow stretchy a typical monthly budget feels relative to peer hubs.
Score factorCompare cities →HousingRent pressure and how hard it is to secure a place once you arrive.
Score factorCompare cities →BureaucracyAdmin friction — registration, permits, and paperwork load for newcomers.
Score factorCompare cities →TransportGetting around without a car — transit, walkability, airport links.

What you can plan with

Official links first. Community pulse for early warnings — never a substitute for the embassy.

On every guideCost bands you can budget withMonthly ranges and rent midpoints on every city guide — planning figures, not landlord quotes.
On every guideVisa routes with official linksWe name the common route and point to the government portal. Rules change — always confirm before you apply.
On every guideClaims we can stand behindKey numbers link to a named source. If we cannot cite it, we do not present it as fact.
Community pulseRead insights →What relocators discuss latelyShort city digests from public conversation — useful themes to double-check, not official policy.

Important

Planning aid — not legal advice

SetTern does not provide immigration, tax, or legal advice. Scores and cost bands help you compare cities — confirm visas, residency, and tax with official authorities and licensed professionals before you move.

Common questions

Still unsure? Start with a city guide or the live matcher.

How often do relocation scores update?

Live hubs with signal and community data are rescored daily (typically overnight UTC). Week and month change chips compare today's composite to the nearest daily snapshot on or before 7 and 30 days ago. Scores last calculated date and signal count appear on city pages.

Is a higher relocation score always “better”?

No. A 8.5 city can still be wrong for your visa route, budget, or family needs. Use the score to shortlist, then verify costs and official immigration rules.

Are cost figures in local currency or USD?

City cost bands on SetTern are published in USD for cross-city comparison unless a page states otherwise. Treat them as planning ranges, not quotes from a landlord.

How do you choose visa information?

We surface the primary route commonly used for that hub and link to official portals. Rules change — always confirm on the government site named on the page before you apply.

What is a “verified fact”?

A number or claim with a source URL and tier (government, official portal, or verified media). Pages missing verified facts are not promoted in our publish pipeline.

PersonaliseOpen live matcher →Weight what matters to youThe live city matcher uses the same costs and scores — tuned to your budget, visa needs, and remote-work priorities.

Last reviewed 2026-09-18 · SetTern Research