Where does your salary go further in Europe?
A bigger number on a contract is not always a better life. Between two countries, both your tax and your cost of living change — and they can pull in opposite directions. This guide shows how to compare a salary properly, lifestyle for lifestyle, and the tool below works out the equivalent salary you would need in another country to live exactly as well.
By the Libravo editorial team · Updated 14 June 2026
Why comparing gross salaries is misleading
Gross is just the sticker price. A €70,000 offer in Amsterdam and a €70,000 offer in Madrid are not the same money: Dutch taxes take more, and Dutch prices are higher. The only fair comparison adjusts for both — what you keep after tax, and what that buys locally. That is exactly what the comparison below computes.
The two forces: tax and prices
When you move, your take-home changes because the tax system changes, and your spending power changes because prices change. Sometimes they compound — Spain taxes less than Germany and is cheaper, so a Berlin salary needs far fewer euros to match in Madrid. Sometimes they fight — a country can be cheaper but tax more heavily, partly cancelling the gain. The tool separates the two so you can see which is doing the work.
Try it yourself
Moving from
Moving to
Price levels: Eurostat comparative price indices (EU-27 = 100) · Estimate for the 2026 tax year. Assumes a single employee, no dependants, standard situation.
This is a simplified estimate for general guidance, not tax advice. Real take-home pay varies with region, tax class, dependants, benefits and deductions. Check the official source for your exact figure.
Price levels across Europe in 2026
On Eurostat's comparative price index (EU-27 = 100), the Netherlands and the UK sit at the expensive end (around 116 and 113), Germany near 109, Italy close to the European average at 98, and Spain cheapest of the five around 92. These are national averages — capital cities run hotter, especially on rent — so treat the result as a starting point, not a quote.
Reading the comparison
Enter your current gross and pick a destination. The tool shows the equivalent gross you would need there for the same lifestyle, plus a side-by-side breakdown splitting each salary into tax and take-home. If a real offer beats the equivalent figure, the move is a genuine raise; if it falls short, it is a pay cut however large the number looks.
What the numbers cannot capture
Purchasing power is only part of a move. Healthcare quality, pension systems, career trajectory, language, and the capital-city rent premium all matter and none fit in a calculator. Use the equivalent salary as your financial baseline, then weigh the rest — and when you are ready, the relocation checklist handles the paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare salaries between two countries?
Convert each to take-home pay, then adjust for local prices. The tool above does both and returns the equivalent gross you would need in the destination to keep the same lifestyle.
Is a higher salary abroad always better?
No. If taxes and prices rise faster than the salary, a bigger number buys a smaller life. Compare equivalent, lifestyle-for-lifestyle salaries before judging an offer.
Where does the price data come from?
From Eurostat's comparative price level indices, which measure household consumption costs across European countries against the EU-27 average.
Does the comparison include tax?
Yes. It computes real net pay in each country using 2026 tax rules, then adjusts for price levels — so the equivalent salary is net-of-tax and price-adjusted, not a raw price comparison.
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General information based on Regulation (EC) 261/2004 and its UK retained version, not legal advice. Libravo is not affiliated with any airline.