Košice: eastern Slovakia's walkable university and steel city

The expat scene: Small, and shaped by two big institutions. Pavol Jozef Šafárik University's medical faculty has taught medicine in English since 1992, which brings a steady stream of international students. And the steelworks long run by U.S. Steel employed 7,573 people at the end of 2025; Nippon Steel scheduled its move to direct ownership, under the name Nippon Steel Slovakia, for October 2026. Across Slovakia, about 278,600 foreigners held residence permits in 2022, most from neighboring countries, so Americans are rare. Learning some Slovak will make daily life much easier.

Healthcare: Louis Pasteur University Hospital (Univerzitná nemocnica L. Pasteura) is the city's main hospital and the medical faculty's teaching hospital. It's also the one Košice facility on the UK government's list of medical facilities in Slovakia, though that list makes no promise about English, so ask before you book. Whether you're in the public insurance system or need private coverage depends on your residence status; our Slovakia guide explains how that works.

Remote work: Home internet runs about $20 a month in our data. Spaces runs coworking in the city, including at the Aupark shopping mall and Atrium Optima, with day passes and hot desks available.

International schools: Košice International School is a private IB school taking children from age 3 through high school. It's authorized for the IB Primary Years Programme (2022), the Middle Years Programme (2025) and, as of June 2026, the Diploma Programme. Middle and upper years are taught in English, and the primary years in English and Slovak.

LGBTQ expats: Pride Košice has run since 2013, and its 2023 edition was a nine-day festival that ended with a rainbow march through the center; organizers call it Slovakia's second-largest LGBTI+ festival. The national law is the harder part. In September 2025, parliament amended the constitution to recognize only two sexes and to make adoption almost impossible for anyone other than married couples, and the constitution already limits marriage to a man and a woman. Weigh that seriously if you're planning a family here.

Black Americans: With so few foreign residents, you're likely to stand out. A 2025 Slovak Spectator feature on foreigners who've made Slovakia home includes a Black delivery courier in Košice and a section on encountering racism, so experiences vary. Spend a few weeks here before committing, and look for Black residents in online expat groups who can tell you how daily life goes.

Limited mobility: Mixed, so check the details in person. The city has published a map of barrier-free routes that marks ramps, elevators, stairs and transit stops, and riders with disabilities travel free on city transit. Historic buildings and older housing are harder to get into than newer districts, so confirm an apartment's elevator and your daily route before you sign a lease.

Retirement: Košice's prices and walkable center appeal to retirees, but the paperwork doesn't. Slovakia grants temporary residence only for set purposes like business, a job, study or family, and none of them covers living on a pension. Americans who make it work usually have Slovak roots, a Slovak spouse or a business residence permit. Our retirement visa guide covers countries built for retirees, and our Slovakia moving guide walks through every route here.