Hungary

In Budapest, and Hungary’s other major cities, you won’t have problems speaking English and being understood by most people. Outside of these hubs and among the older generation, the same can’t be said. Language is a potential barrier to settling into life here, as integrating into the local community without speaking Hungarian is difficult.

Hungarian is a challenging language to learn. It has 35 cases, 14 different vowels, and relies heavily on idioms. It may not be worthwhile to learn if you’re living in a big city. That said, always learn the basics, like “hello”, “goodbye”, and “thank you”.

To cope with the language barrier between themselves and the locals, expats have turned to fellow non-Hungarian speakers and created steadily growing communities.

Here, you’ll find expats from diverse backgrounds. The expat community interacts regularly through Facebook groups, where events and meet-ups are organized. You’ll build your social network over time by attending events that interest you.