A €100,000 offer in Berlin isn't the same as $100,000 in New York or £100,000 in London. Here's how to properly compare international job offers and understand what you'll actually have in your pocket.
Step 1: Convert to Net Pay
The first step is calculating what you'll actually receive after taxes and mandatory deductions. This varies dramatically by country:
| Country | Gross | Effective Tax | Monthly Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | €100,000 | ~42% | ~€4,850 |
| UK | £100,000 | ~33% | ~£5,550 |
| USA (NYC) | $100,000 | ~30% | ~$5,800 |
| Netherlands | €100,000 | ~37%* | ~€5,250 |
| Sweden | 1.2M SEK | ~45% | ~55,000 SEK |
*Netherlands: 30% ruling can reduce this significantly for qualifying expats
Step 2: Understand Purchasing Power
Net pay doesn't tell the whole story. €5,000 in Berlin buys far more than €5,000 in Zurich. Consider:[?]
- Rent: Often 30-50% of expenses - varies 3x between cities
- Groceries: Can vary 50% between countries
- Healthcare: Free in some countries, $500+/month in others
- Childcare: Ranges from subsidized to $2,000+/month
Step 3: Calculate True Disposable Income
The real metric: what's left after essential expenses? Compare:
- Net salary - Monthly take-home
- Minus housing - Comparable apartment/house
- Minus essentials - Food, transport, utilities
- Equals disposable income - What you can save or spend freely
Step 4: Factor in Benefits
Don't forget non-salary compensation:
- Vacation days: 20 days (US) vs 30+ days (Europe)
- Parental leave: 0 weeks (US) vs 12+ months (Nordics)
- Healthcare: $0 (UK NHS) vs $6,000+/year (US)
- Pension matching: Varies from 0% to 15%+
- Relocation package: Can be worth $10,000-50,000
Example Comparison
Let's compare a $150,000 offer in San Francisco vs €80,000 in Berlin:
| Factor | San Francisco | Berlin |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly net | ~$8,500 | ~€4,100 |
| Rent (1BR) | -$3,500 | -€1,300 |
| Health insurance | -$400 | €0 (included) |
| Other expenses | -$2,000 | -€1,200 |
| Disposable | ~$2,600 | ~€1,600 (~$1,750) |
The SF offer is nominally 2x higher but only ~50% more in disposable income, with significantly more vacation time and job security in Berlin.
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