Moving Abroad: Cities That Default to English
You should always learn the native language, but when the lingua franca is English, the move is a little gentler.
Immigrants in Berlin often complain that it is difficult to learn German due to the constant barrage of English. I agree. When I order a coffee in German, the barista hears my accent and answers in English. Same with making phone calls, going to the doctor, and even attending events.
Berlin isn’t the only city where the lingua franca is English. That translates to a massive reduction in stress for U.S. residents who wish to move abroad but don’t know a second language.
To be clear, I highly support learning the local language. It unlocks culture, political power, and deep connection with your new home. But if moving abroad is urgent, aiming for one of these cities will make it easier.
NOTE: I am not covering cities located where the national language is English. You already know about Ireland and England, etc. Please don’t write me about leaving them off!
🇳🇱 Amsterdam
The bicycle capital ranks among the highest non-native English-speaking cities in the world. With the DAFT treaty making it easy for U.S. entrepreneurs to move to The Netherlands, this comes as no surprise.
🇩🇪 Berlin
It’s like NYC and Portland had a baby. Berlin is weird and culturally very free. We moved to Berlin on my partner’s work visa — the office only spoke in English. I’m embarrassed that, after five years of daily use of German, I still talk like a five-year-old. I haven’t taken classes, though. That may be the only way to gain fluency, here.
🇪🇸 Barcelona
Unfortunately, many of my friends are moving from Berlin to Barcelona — apparently it’s like Berlin but with better weather. I can’t report on that, I haven’t been there yet, but I can say that Spanish is likely already banging around in your head if you grew up in the USA. You won’t need it much: English is used a lot in this coastal city.
🇩🇰 Copenhagen
You won’t be able to hold a discussion with the Royal Family, but you’ll be able to move around daily life with just English. The startup scene is equally vibrant, here, as is the anarchist movement located in Freetown. That being said, a common complaint is the difficulty of making friends with locals due to the tight-knit culture of the Danes.
🇫🇮 Helsinki
If you like the Northern lights, cooler weather, and a heavy tech scene, Helsinki may be right for you. It is rather close to Russia, however, so take that into consideration.
🇵🇹 Lisbon
Portuguese is a pretty language, but you will struggle to learn it in this digital nomad hub. The city is known for great weather and its highly international scene. Bonus: it ranks highly on the LGBTQ+ rights scale (more in my Queer Digital Nomad guide).
🇸🇬 Singapore
If you like the heat of Florida but the culture of Chicago, Singapore might be just right for you. Crime is so low there, it’s purported that you could leave your smartphone on a park bench overnight and it will be there in the morning. Technically, English is one of the official languages, but I’ve included it because the city-state may not immediately come to mind.
🇸🇪 Stockholm
Visiting Stockholm was like visiting a EU-based Pittsburgh. Just like steel-town, Stockholm is cut into the sides of the surrounding mountains. That’s not the only thing that’ll make you feel at home — the overwhelming use of English, including in the workplace, will make the U.S. born feel they can integrate, fast.
PS — Stockholm is the home of Lovable and other startup giants. While Berlin was once known as the startup capital of the EU, Stockholm may be overshadowing us, soon.
🇦🇷 Honorable Mention: Buenos Aires
Generally, language is tied more closely to culture in LatAm, and it is difficult to find cities where English is completely woven throughout. That being said, Buenos Aires has a vibrant tech and nomad scene, increasing the use of English — at least enough to get you started.
Did I miss any? Leave a comment below to share with the community.