By students, for students

Move abroad,no surprises

The adulting skills nobody taught you at school: paperwork, housing, work and money, step by step.

11 destinations · practical guides · always free

How it works

Everything you need to live abroad

1

Pick a country

Select your destination from our available guides

2

Browse the topics

Paperwork, housing, work, healthcare, and more

3

Get practical answers

Guides written by people who have been through it

Everything you need

Practical topics organized for students abroad, written by people who’ve been there

Paperwork

Visas, residence permits, university enrollment—explained step by step.

Housing

How to search safely, avoid scams, and pick the right neighborhood.

Money & budgeting

Realistic budgets, bank accounts, scholarships, and saving tips.

Health

Healthcare systems, insurance, and how to access care abroad.

Safety

Verified info and practical tips from people on the ground.

Daily life

Culture, habits, transport—what nobody tells you before you move.

Where do you start?

Every country has its own bureaucratic traps. Pick a destination and learn what to prepare before you book your flight.

🇮🇹 €1,100

Italy

Tax code, contracts, and healthcare: Italian bureaucracy explained without the runaround.

🇺🇸 €2,200

United States

Healthcare and visas to figure out before you leave; costs vary wildly between coasts and the Midwest.

🇩🇪 €1,250

Germany

High rents and complex paperwork, but strong student job opportunities if you plan ahead.

🇫🇷 €1,300

France

Paris rents are tough, but healthcare and student rights are solid if you hit every deadline.

🇪🇸 €950

Spain

Lower living costs than Northern Europe, but your lease and NIE need careful handling.

🇬🇧 €1,800

United Kingdom

Housing and post-Brexit visas need early planning; English helps a lot on the ground.

🇳🇱 €1,500

Netherlands

Competitive rents and BSN registration first: without an address, most services stay blocked.

🇨🇭 €2,000

Switzerland

High wages but permits and mandatory insurance: without a clear budget you run short fast.

🇷🇴 €700

Romania

Low costs and a growing tech scene; bureaucracy is often faster than in Western Europe.

🇯🇵 €1,400

Japan

Visa, guarantor, and My Number: strict rules, but everything flows if you follow them.

🇨🇳 €800

China

Z visa and residence permits take patience; day-to-day life is surprisingly affordable.

Explore destinations

Tools you actually use

Currency converter, weather compare, cost of living, and visa checker — all on one dedicated page.

What does it really cost?

Live exchange rates updated hourly. See instantly whether €1,200 rent in New York is a deal or a rip-off.

100 EUR
108.50 USD

10 FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about guides, tools, and accounts—what you need before you leave

Is LifeSkills free?

Yes. Guides and homepage tools—currency converter, weather, and cost-of-living calculator—are free. Advanced features such as saving visa cases in the tracker require a free account.

Who writes the guides?

The LifeSkills team and community contributors, focused on students and young professionals abroad. We cite official sources and useful links where possible.

Is the information always up to date?

Rules and procedures change often. Always double-check government, embassy, and university websites. We update when we can and welcome reports via the form at the bottom of each guide.

Which languages are the guides in?

The site is available in Italian, English, Spanish, and French. Not every chapter is translated into every language; if one is missing, the content is still available in at least one language.

Which tools are on the homepage?

A currency converter with live rates, weather for 200+ cities, a cost-of-living comparison between destinations, and a preview of the visa & permit tracker—built to compare countries before you move.

Where do the tool data come from?

Weather from OpenMeteo, exchange rates from public APIs, cost-of-living estimates from urban datasets (e.g. Teleport). Results are indicative—not legal or financial advice.

Do I need to sign up?

No to read guides and use the converter, weather, and cost-of-living tools. Yes if you want to save visa cases, keep a personal checklist, and use the dashboard for your paperwork.

Is LifeSkills a relocation agency?

No. We don’t sell packages, housing, or paid consulting—we provide guides and informational tools so you can plan on your own.

Can I contribute or report a mistake?

Yes. Use the form at the bottom of each guide, or write to us from the contact page.

How do I stay updated?

Check back for new destinations and chapters, or create an account for evolving personalized features.

Ready to go?

Browse country guides and use the tools to plan before you leave.