While I’ve lived outside of the U.S. for over a decade, my first stint abroad was a few years before that, during my senior year of college. I spent a semester in Amsterdam and took advantage of the plethora of cheap, short-haul flights to venture across Europe.
One of my most memorable trips was an extended weekend to Copenhagen. Between bike rides to cozy bakeries and stunning public gardens, my Danish tour guide explained to me the incredible quality of life the country provides its residents.
Healthcare and education are free and high-quality. Students can earn a stipend and rental subsidy to support their studies. Parents can take up to a year of paid leave to care for their newborn. All of these perks are financed by the generous welfare state and funded through high taxes.
Coming from the U.S., Denmark definitely sounded like some sort of utopia. Little did I know that 12 years later, I would call that utopia home. Copenhagen may have been my first taste of Denmark, but it wasn’t my ultimate destination. I now live near the charming "Second City," Aarhus.
So, if you're thinking of moving to Denmark, here's what it's like living in Aarhus.
Short on time? Here's the cheat sheet
💭Living in Aarhus means a more laid-back lifestyle than Copenhagen while still having a great quality of life.
🛂Many foreigners move here on a student visa, work visa, or a family visa.
🏠Most expats choose to live in the Latin Quarter or Aarhus N.
🛏️I recommend staying at a hotel or apartment rental right when you arrive to house hunt in person. Book your stay at Aura Apartment Hotel to scope out one of the coolest areas before you sign your long-term lease.
💰The cost of living will vary based on your lifestyle and which neighborhood you choose to live. Earn travel rewards on all expenses with a Capital One Venture Card.
☂️You'll have to deal with costly price tags and a long winter...
☀️But the city is walkable, safe, and offers a fantastic quality of life.
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Aarhus vs. Copenhagen
Aarhus is the second-largest city in Denmark and the capital of the Jutland Peninsula, the part of Denmark that borders Germany. Although it is not as well-known as Copenhagen, Aarhus is a popular destination for European students and professionals seeking a good quality of life.
The city is quickly gaining recognition worldwide and attracting a growing number of global professionals.
Aarhus is roughly half the size of Copenhagen with about one-fourth of the population, giving it a compact, small city feel. Although Aarhus is smaller, it offers just as many cultural experiences, job options, and prestigious universities as the capital.
The bonus? Housing is cheaper, making it a (relatively) more affordable place to live.
It's easy to travel between the two cities. You can take a ferry, bus, or train, and they all get you there in under 3.5 hours. It’s common for people living in Aarhus to catch flights at the Copenhagen airport and take the train back home after they land.
Life for Expats in Aarhus
Aarhus has all the factors that make Denmark top the list of expat destinations.
Job Opportunities
The city offers incredible job opportunities in multiple sectors, including IT, agriculture, logistics, green energy, and academia. Speaking English is enough to get by, as Danes have some of the highest English fluency rates in the world.
International Vibe
Aarhus can feel at times like a melting pot. You can find nearly any type of cuisine you can imagine. Aarhus University also hosts more than 35,000 students, many of whom come from across the EU and the globe. If you have a family, you can find an exceptional international school for your kids and lots of support programs for your spouse.
Things to Do
There are also so many recreation opportunities. If you enjoy hiking, you can take a short day trip to Ebeltoft and the Mojs Berg National Park. The Aarhus Harbor is perfect for a beach day.
If you love history, the interactive Den Gamle By (The Old City) museum lets you step back in time to the 1600s-1900s.
You can also check out the Rainbow Panorama at the ARoS art museum, the Rooftop Cafe at the Salling department store, the spectacular Botanical Garden, and Marselisborg Castle, where the Danish Royals stay during the summer.
Cost of Living in Aarhus
If you’ve heard only one thing about Denmark, it’s probably that it's a very expensive place to live. While I agree that Aarhus is not cheap, you may find the cost of living reasonable, depending on your home country or city.
For example, the cost of living in Aarhus is around 50% lower than in my hometown Boston. So if you’re moving from New York City, Miami, San Francisco, or another very high cost of living location, you may be quite comfortable with prices in Aarhus.
At the same time, Aarhus is one of the most expensive European metros. The cost of living here way exceeds that of Berlin or Barcelona. Since Danish salaries are also higher, the price difference tends to balance out.
One reason the cost of living is so high is the 25% value-added tax (VAT) on nearly all purchases. This makes everything from clothes to groceries more expensive. Eating out is also considerably pricier, which is why most Danes only go to nice restaurants for special occasions.
If you’re savvy, there are ways to save money. For example, the Too Good to Go app lets users order mystery bags of nearly expired meats, produce, and bakery goods for a super low price. You can also find coupons for restaurants, wellness services, and gym memberships at discount websites like Deal or Early Bird.
Best Neighborhoods in Aarhus
Aarhus, like many other European cities, has a historic, old town center surrounded by newer developments on the periphery. The extensive public transit system and intercity bike paths make it easy to get from any part of the city to the center, so where you choose to live will depend on your personal preferences and your budget.
Latin Quarter
The postcard-perfect Latin Quarter borders the harbor and the downtown core. It has some of the city’s oldest buildings and streets and looks a bit like a time capsule. The neighborhood is full of amazing vintage shops, boutique cafes, and artisanal craft sellers.
All this charm comes at a price; it is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Aarhus.
📍Get a feel for what it's like living in the Latin Quarter before you sign a lease. Consider booking a stay at one of these apartment rentals:
- Budget Stay: Hotel Royal: Although still costly, this hotel won't give you the added benefits of a kitchen but will give you a great stay in the center of the area to test it out for yourself.
- Mid-Tier Stay: Aura Apartment Hotel: Enjoy the added comforts of home at this studio, apartment, or loft rental, based on how much extra space you need.
- Luxury Stay: Søndergade: This trendy apartment rental is large enough to sleep 6 guests and is walkable from main attractions and the train station.
Aarhus N
Aarhus N (North) is near the university and has a large student population. It has a bit more of an industrial feel but is well connected to the city center by bus and tram.
Housing here is a bit cheaper when compared to the city center.
📍Get a feel for what it's like living in Aarhus North before you sign a lease. Consider booking a stay at one of these apartment rentals:
- Budget Stay: Hotel GUESTapart: The apartments here are modern yet cozy and offer everything you need for a great stay while you search for long-term housing.
- Mid-Tier Stay: athome apartments: In the same area as the budget option, this apartment adds in the benefit of a balcony or terrace for those that want some outdoor space.
- Luxury Stay: Cozy House Rental: Just 10 minutes from the city center, this two-bedroom house is the perfect choice for those moving to Aarhus with their family.
Suburbs and Neighboring Cities
Living in the outer suburbs or neighboring cities will get you the most bang for your buck. The considerably cheaper cities of Randers to the north and Horsens to the south are both only 30 minutes away from Aarhus by public transport. Other well-priced suburbs include Viby, Hjortshøj, and Egå.
Long-term Visa Options for Aarhus
Denmark is probably one of the most difficult countries to secure a long-term visa. Unless you’re an EU citizen, being able to support yourself as a digital nomad or otherwise is not enough to get more than a 90-day visa-free stay.
However, outside of marrying a Dane, there are two pretty accessible paths to long-term residency:
Student Visa
Aarhus University offers several degree programs in English that are open to anyone. If you enroll, you can qualify for a student visa that also allows you to work up to 20 hours a week. If you have an EU passport, you can also receive a monthly student stipend of around $965, known as SU.
An additional benefit of the student visa is that after graduating, you can get a 3-year job-seeking permit that converts into a work visa once you get hired.
Work Visa (Positive Lists)
Denmark has a major workforce shortage, so the government created the Positive List scheme to attract international workers to in-demand sectors. The specific jobs on the Positive List change every year, but there is a high need across a variety of industries, including:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Skilled work
- Business administration.
To get a Positive List visa, you will first need a qualifying job offer. You can job search and interview during a temporary stay or start by researching and reaching out to Danish companies online.
Tips for Living in Aarhus
You can probably guess from everything I’ve mentioned above that living in Aarhus has a ton of pros. The city is walkable and safe, has plenty of green spaces, and offers a superb quality of life. There are also, of course, some downsides.
Cons of Living in Aarhus
The biggest con may be the weather, which is dreary and grey for 6 to 8 months out of the year. A nice summer is not guaranteed. On top of that, the sun hours shrink considerably during the winter. Even though I was raised in New England, I do struggle with the long, dark winter nights. Many people experience seasonal depression or severe vitamin D deficiency.
Most Danes solve this by taking a sun vacation down south to Portugal, southern France, or Spain. I would also recommend taking a daily vitamin D supplement starting in late summer or early fall.
Many expats also find it difficult to navigate the closed-off Nordic culture. Danes tend to form their friend groups early in life, so socializing as an adult can be tricky. I’ve recently learned that Aarhus has tons of international groups that host meetups and events, which are great ways to make new local and expat friends.
Learning Danish can also open doors socially. The government offers a free class, but it’s quite a serious time commitment. If you want to learn at a more relaxed pace, you can find private language schools online or in person. You can also learn from apps and informal language exchange groups.
Thinking About Moving to Aarhus?
To wrap things up, Aarhus is a fantastic choice for expats looking for a laid-back lifestyle without sacrificing quality of life. With a reasonable cost of living compared to other big cities in Denmark and numerous cultural attractions, it’s easy to see why so many people fall in love with this charming city.
If you're curious about experiencing the Danish way of life in a city that values a healthy work-life balance, Aarhus might just be the perfect place to start your next adventure.
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