Moving to Luxembourg City

Luxembourg City is the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and one of the three official capitals of the European Union, hosting the EU Court of Justice, the European Court of Auditors, and the European Investment Bank. Nearly half the city's workforce consists of cross-border commuters known as frontaliers who travel daily from France, Belgium, and Germany. With Luxembourgish, French, and German all holding official status, the city operates as a genuinely multilingual hub where expats from every EU member state and beyond build careers in finance, EU institutions, and technology. This guide covers everything you need to relocate to one of Europe's wealthiest and most international small cities.

Luxembourg City at a Glance

Why Move to Luxembourg City

• Exceptional salaries: Luxembourg has the highest GDP per capita in the EU. The minimum wage (SMIC) is indexed to inflation and was approximately €2,300–€2,400/month gross in 2025, and professionals in finance and tech regularly earn €80,000–€120,000+ per year.
• Free public transport: Since 1 March 2020, all public transport across the entire country — buses, trams, and trains — is completely free. No tickets, no passes, no gates.
• Multilingual environment: Luxembourgish, French, and German are all official languages. English is widely spoken in professional circles, particularly in Kirchberg's EU and financial sectors.
• Central European location: Paris in 2 hours by train, Brussels in 3 hours, Frankfurt in 3 hours, and Trier in 40 minutes via the A1 motorway.
• Political and economic stability: AAA sovereign credit rating, pro-business regulation, and a government that actively attracts international talent.

Visas and Residency

EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens

EU citizens can live and work in Luxembourg freely. Within 90 days of arrival you must register at your local Administration Communale (Municipal Administration) and submit a Déclaration d'arrivée (Arrival Declaration). You will receive a registration certificate as proof of residence.

Non-EU Citizens

Non-EU nationals planning to stay longer than 90 days must apply for a temporary authorisation to stay before arriving, through the Directorate of Immigration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After arrival, you apply for a residence permit (titre de séjour) at the Immigration Directorate (Direction de l'Immigration) in Luxembourg City. Common permit types include:

• Employee permit: Tied to a specific employer and role; the employer often initiates the application.
• EU Blue Card: For highly qualified workers with a salary threshold (approximately €58,000/year in 2025).
• Self-employed permit: Requires a viable business plan approved by the Ministry of the Economy.

Required documents typically include a valid passport, proof of accommodation in Luxembourg, proof of health insurance, a clean criminal record, and evidence of sufficient financial resources.

Naturalisation

After five years of legal residence (seven years for non-EU nationals without a Luxembourgish language certificate), you may apply for Luxembourgish citizenship. Passing a Sproochentest (language test) at B1 level in Luxembourgish is required.

Finding Housing in Luxembourg City

Average Rents

How to Find Housing

• Adele.lu (formerly atHome.lu): The largest property portal in Luxembourg. Filters for furnished, unfurnished, and shared flats.
• Wortimmo.lu: Run by the Luxemburger Wort newspaper; strong for residential listings.
• Immotop.lu: Popular portal with listings from estate agents across the country.
• Relocation agencies: Companies like Expat Housing and Erny Relocation specialise in finding accommodation for incoming professionals, handling viewings, lease negotiation, and registration.
• Facebook groups: "Expats in Luxembourg Housing" and "Luxembourg Apartment Finder" have active listings, though scams exist — never transfer money before viewing.

Tips for Expats

• Prepare a dossier: proof of income (last three payslips or employment contract), ID, and a reference from a previous landlord. Landlords in Luxembourg expect this at the viewing.
• Rental deposits are legally capped at two months' rent for unfurnished and three months for furnished properties. The deposit must be held in a blocked bank account.
• Lease agreements are typically for one year (unfurnished) or shorter (furnished). Standard notice period is three months.
• Start searching early — vacancy rates in Luxembourg City hover around 1–2%, making the market extremely competitive.

Neighborhoods Guide

• Ville Haute (Upper City): The historic heart perched on the Bock promontory, home to the Grand Ducal Palace, boutique shopping on Grand Rue, and the Bock Casemates (UNESCO World Heritage tunnels). Best for professionals who want to walk everywhere. Rents are the highest in the country.
• Kirchberg: Luxembourg's modern business and EU quarter on the plateau northeast of the city. Home to the Philharmonie, MUDAM (Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art), the European Court of Justice, and numerous banks and fund houses. Largely post-2000 architecture, wide boulevards, and the T1 tram line. Ideal for EU and finance professionals.
• Belair: A quiet, leafy residential area west of Ville Haute with a village-like atmosphere. Popular with families and mid-career expats. Avenue Louis Pasteur provides local cafés and shops. Green spaces include Parc Tony Neuman.
• Limpertsberg: Northwest of the centre, adjacent to the University of Luxembourg's Kirchberg campus and the Lycée de Garçons. A mix of students, families, and professionals. Well served by AVL buses and close to the A6 motorway toward Arlon (Belgium).
• Gasperich: South of the station area, experiencing rapid development with new residential complexes. The Ban de Gasperich redevelopment is adding housing, retail, and parks. More affordable than Kirchberg or Ville Haute, attracting younger professionals.
• Rollingergrund: A verdant valley neighbourhood northwest of the centre with a strong local identity. More affordable than central areas, with good bus connections. Popular with Portuguese and German-speaking communities.
• Grund and Clausen (Ville Basse): The lower city sits in the Alzette and Pétrusse valleys beneath dramatic cliffs. Grund is tranquil and picturesque with riverside walks; Clausen is the city's main nightlife strip, packed with bars and restaurants in former brewery buildings. Attracts younger renters and those seeking character.

Cost of Living in Luxembourg City

Monthly Budget Breakdown

Day-to-Day Costs

• Coffee (espresso): €2.50–€3.50
• Lunch (daily special at a brasserie): €14–€20
• Monthly transport pass: €0 (free since 2020)
• Beer (bar, half litre): €5–€7
• Cinema ticket: €10–€13
• Gym membership: €40–€80/month
• Baguette: €1.20–€1.80

Banking

Opening a bank account is straightforward but usually requires an in-person visit. Major banks include BGL BNP Paribas, Spuerkeess (BCEE), and POST Luxembourg. You will need:

• Valid passport or EU ID card
• Proof of Luxembourg address (rental contract or Administration Communale registration)
• Proof of employment or income

Most salaries in Luxembourg are paid by bank transfer, so setting up an account quickly is essential. Luxembourg is a major financial centre, and its banks offer services in Luxembourgish, French, German, and English. Spuerkeess and BGL BNP Paribas both have English-language online banking.

A Luxembourg social security number (matricule) is issued automatically when you register with the Centre Commun de la Sécurité Sociale (CCSS) after starting employment. Your employer handles the initial registration.

Getting Around Luxembourg City

• Public transport: All public transport in Luxembourg has been free since 1 March 2020 — this includes AVL city buses, the T1 tram line running from Luxexpo on Kirchberg to the train station via the Adolphe Bridge, regional buses (RGTR), and CFL trains across the entire country. No tickets or passes are needed.
• Tram (T1): Connects Luxembourg Findel Airport via Kirchberg, the Royal-Hamilius transport hub, the train station (Gare Centrale), and the Cloche d'Or business district. Extensions continue to open.
• Buses (AVL): The city bus network covers all neighborhoods with frequent service. Key hubs are Hamilius, Badanstalt, and the Gare Centrale.
• Trains (CFL): Luxembourg City's Gare Centrale connects to Esch-sur-Alzette (20 min), Trier (40 min), Metz (1 hour), Brussels (3 hours), and Paris (2 hours via TGV). CFL also operates commuter lines to Rodange, Wiltz, and Ettelbruck.
• Cycling: The city has expanded its cycling network with dedicated lanes along major routes, though the hilly terrain is challenging. Vél'OH! is the city's bike-sharing system with stations across the capital.
• Driving: Car ownership is high. Parking in Ville Haute is limited and expensive; underground garages charge €2–€3/hour. The A1, A3, A4, A6, and A7 motorways radiate from the city to Germany, France, and Belgium.
• Airport: Luxembourg Findel Airport (LUX) is 6 km east of the city centre, connected by bus and tram. Luxair and other carriers serve destinations across Europe. Cargo operations make it one of Europe's busiest freight airports per capita.

Healthcare in Luxembourg City

Luxembourg operates a high-quality public healthcare system funded through mandatory social security contributions.

• CNS (Caisse Nationale de Santé): The national health insurance fund. Registration is automatic when you start employment and join the social security system. The CNS reimburses approximately 80–90% of medical costs. You choose a médecin traitant (primary care doctor) who coordinates referrals.
• Hospitals: The Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL) operates three sites in the city — CHL Centre (Ville Haute), CHL Eich, and the Maternité Grande-Duchesse Charlotte (maternity). The Hôpitaux Robert Schuman (HRS) group runs the Kirchberg and Zitha hospitals.
• English-speaking doctors: Widely available, especially in Kirchberg and near the EU institutions. The British and American communities have well-established doctor networks.
• Pharmacies: Found in every neighborhood. The Pharmacy de Garde (on-call pharmacy) system ensures 24/7 availability. Look for the green cross and the night-duty list posted on pharmacy doors.
• Emergency number: 112 for medical emergencies; 113 for police.

Supplementary mutual insurance (mutuelle) is recommended to cover the portion of costs not reimbursed by the CNS. Popular providers include CMCM, Mutueliste, and DKV.

Job Market in Luxembourg City

• Main industries: Investment fund administration and management, private banking, EU institutional administration, ICT, logistics, steel (ArcelorMittal headquarters), and insurance.
• Major employers: European Court of Justice, European Investment Bank, European Court of Auditors, European Commission (Luxembourg offices), Amazon (European headquarters in Contern), ArcelorMittal, BGL BNP Paribas, Clearstream, CFL, POST Luxembourg.
• Average salaries by sector (annual gross):
• Job search resources: ADEM (Administration de l'Emploi) is the national employment agency. Jobs.lu, Moovijob.lu, and Euraxess.ec.europa.eu are the main online portals. LinkedIn is widely used in Luxembourg's professional market.

Education in Luxembourg City

International Schools

• European School Luxembourg I (Kirchberg) and European School Luxembourg II (Bertrange/Mamer): Established for children of EU officials but open to others. Offer multilingual curricula in EU language sections leading to the European Baccalaureate.
• International School of Luxembourg (ISL): Located in Merl, offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum in English. Long-established, heavily oversubscribed.
• St. George's International School: British-curriculum school in Hamm, serving ages 3–18.
• Lycée Michel Lucius: Offers an English-language international stream (British curriculum) alongside the traditional Luxembourgish system.

Universities

• University of Luxembourg: Founded in 2003, with its main campus at Belval (Esch-sur-Alzette, 20 minutes by train). Offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programmes, many taught in English. Research strengths in finance, law, and ICT.
• Sacred Heart University (Jack Welch College of Business): American-accredited MBA programme with a campus in the Coptic quarter of Luxembourg City.

Language Schools

• INL (Institut National des Langues): The national language institute offers courses in Luxembourgish, French, German, and English at subsidised rates.
• Berlitz Luxembourg: Private language school in the city centre offering intensive and business-oriented courses.
• Alliance Française de Luxembourg: French-language courses and cultural events.

Culture and Lifestyle

• Multilingual daily life: Menus, signage, and conversations shift between Luxembourgish, French, German, and English seamlessly. A typical café order might be placed in French, confirmed in Luxembourgish, and paid for with a German greeting.
• UNESCO heritage: The Fortified Medieval Old Town and its fortifications — including the Bock Casemates tunnel network and the Corniche promenade — are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The casemates alone stretch over 17 km underground.
• Green city: Over 20% of the city is parkland and forest. Parc de la Pétrusse, Parc Edmond Klein, and the surrounding forests of Grünewald and Bambesch offer running, walking, and cycling minutes from the centre.
• Arts and music: The Philharmonie Luxembourg on Kirchberg hosts the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra and international acts. MUDAM (Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art), the Casino Luxembourg (contemporary art forum), and the National Museum of History and Art (MNHA) anchor the city's cultural scene.
• Festivals: The Schueberfouer (funfair, August–September) has run since 1340. The National Day celebrations on 23 June feature a torchlight procession and fireworks over the Adolphe Bridge. Printemps Musical and the Summer in the City festival series fill warmer months.

Food and Dining

• Local specialities: Judd mat Gaardebounen (smoked pork neck with broad beans), Bouneschlupp (green bean soup), Quetschentaart (plum tart), Gromperekichelcher (fried potato cakes), and Rieslingspaschtéit (Riesling-infused pâté in pastry).
• Best dining areas: Place d'Armes and Rue du Nord in Ville Haute for upscale restaurants. Clausen for casual dining and brunch. The Grund for romantic riverside dinners at places like Mosconi (Michelin-starred Italian). Station area for quick lunches and diverse cuisines.
• Budget options: Supermarkets Cactus, Auchan (Kirchberg), and Match are competitively priced. Food trucks gather at the Gare and at Place de Paris. Many bistros offer a plat du jour (daily special) for €14–€18.

Expat Community

• Organisations: The British Chamber of Commerce, American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), and the Chambre de Commerce Luxembourg-Great Britain host regular networking events. The Luxembourg Expats Association organises social activities.
• Meetups and groups: Active groups on Meetup.com for running, board games, tech, and language exchange. The "Expats in Luxembourg" Facebook group has over 60,000 members.
• Language exchanges: Café des Langues runs multilingual conversation evenings. INL and the University of Luxembourg host tandem language partner programmes.

Related Guides

• Moving to Luxembourg — comprehensive country guide
• Moving to Esch-sur-Alzette — second-largest city and University of Luxembourg campus