A €100,000 offer in Berlin isn't the same as $100,000 in New York or £100,000 in London. This guide walks through how to compare salaries across countries and what actually lands in your pocket.
Use the salary calculator to compare net pay and cost of living across 33 countries. No signup required.
Step 1: net pay after taxes
Start with what actually lands in your account after taxes and mandatory deductions. The gap between countries is wider than most people expect:
| 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: purchasing power parity
Net pay is half the story. €5,000 in Berlin buys a very different life than €5,000 in Zurich. Think through:[?]
- 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: disposable income after rent
The number that matters is what is left after essentials. 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: benefits and quality of life
Don't skip the non-salary comp. It varies wildly by country:
- 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: $150k San Francisco vs €80k Berlin
Put a $150,000 SF offer next to €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 once rent and healthcare land. Berlin adds more vacation time and stronger job security on top.
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