Moving to United States from Estonia

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Estonia to United States? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Estonia to United States, you would find that United States is 94.0% more expensive than Estonia overall. A €65,700 salary in Estonia would need to be roughly $119,315 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°F vs 48°F in Tallinn, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Estonia and United States.

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 $119,315

To maintain the same standard of living in United States

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 11.4% more

Groceries

pay 98.4% more

Transportation

pay 43.5% more

Housing

pay 2.5 times more

Childcare

pay 4.4 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 26.4% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.14 USD (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Estonia to United States.

Moved in 2023
140 ↑ 26% vs 2022

people moved from Estonia to United States · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to United States?

Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in United States compared to Estonia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

EE
1.5
US
6.4
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

EE
75%
US
63%

Estonia performs better than United States across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

EE
$3,741
US
$13,473
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

EE
34.4
US
36.1

Estonia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

EE
13.0
US
14.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

EE
7.8t
US
13.6t

Estonia performs better than United States across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

EE
40.4
US
37.8
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

EE
10.8%
US
28.2%

Estonia generally does better on infrastructure, though United States leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

EE
6.3%
US
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

EE
$42,000
US
$73,600

United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Estonia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

EE
77.9 yrs
US
80.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

EE
3.4
US
5.2

Estonia generally does better on family life, though United States leads in life expectancy.

Data: Estonian Tax and Customs Board, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tallinn Rain: 27.3 in/yr (693 mm)
48° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Washington Rain: 41.5 in/yr (1055 mm)
66° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tallinn Washington
Jan–Mar 31°/21°F (0°/-6°C) 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 57°/41°F (14°/5°C) 75°/51°F (24°/11°C)
Jul–Sep 65°/51°F (19°/10°C) 85°/62°F (29°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 40°/31°F (4°/-1°C) 57°/35°F (14°/2°C)
View all months
Month Tallinn Washington
Jan 29°/20°F (-1.4°/-6.6°C) 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C)
Feb 29°/18°F (-1.8°/-7.5°C) 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C)
Mar 36°/24°F (2.0°/-4.3°C) 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C)
Apr 47°/32°F (8.2°/0.1°C) 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C)
May 59°/41°F (14.9°/5.0°C) 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C)
Jun 66°/49°F (19.1°/9.7°C) 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C)
Jul 70°/54°F (21.2°/12.1°C) 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C)
Aug 68°/53°F (19.9°/11.6°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C)
Sep 58°/45°F (14.5°/7.2°C) 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C)
Oct 48°/38°F (9.1°/3.3°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C)
Nov 38°/30°F (3.3°/-1.2°C) 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C)
Dec 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.6°C) 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C)

Data: Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Estonia and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.

Estonia passport

Estonia passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Estonia passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.
United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Estonia

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Estonia without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in United States than Estonia?

On average United States is around 59% pricier than Estonia, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to United States?

Budget about $29,829 for 3 months in United States (based on a €65,700 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from United States?

Connectivity is usually fine (United States: 37.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United States offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is United States safe for expats?

Estonia performs better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Estonia. About 63% of people in United States feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in United States compared to Estonia?

Estonia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 34.4 in Estonia. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Estonia: 79).

What's the weather like in United States compared to Estonia?

The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 48°F in Tallinn. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Tallinn gets 27.3 in.

What language do they speak in United States?

The official language in United States is English. In Estonia, the official language is Estonian.

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At a Glance

EE US
Population 1,211,524 337,341,954
Currency Euro (€) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Estonian English
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +372 +1
Time zones 1 11
Emergency number 112 911