A €100,000 offer in Berlin isn't the same as $100,000 in New York or £100,000 in London. This guide shows you how to compare salaries across different countries and understand what you'll actually have in your pocket.
Use our salary calculator to instantly compare net pay and cost of living across 33 countries—no signup required.
Step 1: Calculate Net Pay After Taxes
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: Factor in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
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 Disposable Income After Rent
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: Compare Benefits and Quality of Life
Don't forget non-salary compensation that varies dramatically 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
Real Example: $150k San Francisco vs €80k Berlin
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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