Where I Can Live
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Europe · Danish · updated 2026-10

Moving to Denmark: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $3,050 a month to live in Copenhagen, and a family of four about $6,700, including rent. Denmark usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 8 yrs, with citizenship after 9 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. Most work routes need a job offer or an investment.

Monthly budget
$3,050
High cost
Safety
75
Very safe
Stability
89
Very stable
Family
81
Excellent
Main city
Copenhagen
Language
Danish
Permanent residence
8 yrs
Citizenship
9 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
No
What can your passport do in Denmark?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
Open the interactive index →

Cost of living in Denmark, per month in US$

One person
$3,050
Family of four
$6,700
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Copenhagen centre
$1,500
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$2,800
Estimate
Price level
105
US = 100
Income per person
$6,433
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
75
Very safe
Homicides per 100k
0.84
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.79
Rule of law+2.01
Control of corruption+2.26
Government effectiveness+1.96
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (89/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
81
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.755
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
4
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
82.3 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$6,745
per person / year
Education spending
6.4%
of GDP

Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

Visa & residence routes

Job offer
Pay Limit SchemeAny job paying at least about DKK 514,000 a year.
Job offer
Positive ListsJobs in listed shortage professions.
Investment
Start-up DenmarkAn approved business plan.

Who gets easier access to Denmark

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

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Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
8 yrs
Citizenship
9 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Denmark?

About $3,050 a month for one person and $6,700 for a family of four in Copenhagen, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $1,500 a month and a 3-bedroom around $2,800. Prices are 105% of US levels. Denmark is the 64th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Denmark safe to live in?

Denmark scores 75/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 21st of 76. The homicide rate is 0.84 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Denmark politically stable?

Denmark scores 89/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 10th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Denmark good for families?

Denmark scores 81/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 14th of 76. Life expectancy is 82.3 years and under-5 mortality is 4 per 1,000 births. Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Denmark?

Usually 8 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of Denmark?

Usually 9 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Denmark without a job offer?

Most routes need a job offer from a local employer or a significant investment. Citizens of EU / EEA free movement countries can move freely.

Who can live and work in Denmark without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Denmark can move