Question 1

How accurate are the salary and tax calculations?

Accepted Answer

Tax rates come straight from each country's tax authority for 2026. Your personal situation (deductions, allowances, special regimes like the Dutch 30% ruling) can move your actual take-home meaningfully. Treat the number as a solid starting point, then talk to a local tax advisor once you have a real offer in hand. Try the calculator to see your estimated take-home pay.

Question 2

Where does the cost of living data come from?

Accepted Answer

Rent and cost figures come from national statistical offices, government housing reports, and current rental market data. We refresh rents regularly based on active listings. Everything here is an estimate, and your actual spend will shift based on how you live. More on sources on our about page.

Question 3

What's included in the monthly expense estimates?

Accepted Answer

Six buckets. Rent uses neighborhood averages for the apartment size your living situation implies. Food and groceries reflect typical supermarket spending. Transport covers a monthly public transit pass or average commute costs. Utilities bundle electricity, heating, water, and internet. Entertainment covers eating out, activities, and subscriptions. Other picks up personal items and out-of-pocket health costs. Your lifestyle priority adjusts the flexible ones.

Question 4

How do lifestyle priorities affect the calculations?

Accepted Answer

It flexes the categories you actually control. Save-focused pulls food down to 85% of the city average, entertainment to 50%, other to 70%. Comfort-focused pushes food to 120%, entertainment to 150%, other to 130%. Balanced leaves things at the city average. Rent and utilities don't move — you can't really negotiate your electricity bill based on mood.

Question 5

What living situations are supported?

Accepted Answer

Three. Living alone maps to a studio or one-bedroom. With partner uses a one-bedroom with costs split two ways. With family assumes a two-plus bedroom place for a household with kids. The choice drives the rent estimate and the total household spend.

Question 6

Are the neighborhood rent prices up to date?

Accepted Answer

We refresh the rent data quarterly (January, April, July, October) using current listings and market reports. Rental markets can still shift faster than that, especially in tight cities. The prices you see are median estimates for the typical apartment size that matches your living situation. Your actual rent will depend on the specific building, condition, and when you sign.

Question 7

Do the tax calculations include all deductions?

Accepted Answer

We cover the big pieces: income tax, social security, and country-specific additions like Germany's solidarity surcharge or UK National Insurance. We don't model personal deductions — mortgage interest, childcare, special-status allowances, expat regimes you haven't opted into yet. If you qualify for those, your real tax bill will be lower than what we show.

Question 8

Can I compare multiple cities?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pick Compare all to see how the same salary plays out across every supported city in a country, side by side. You can also open any single city to see the neighborhood breakdown and local costs in detail. Start comparing cities now.

Question 9

What currencies are supported?

Accepted Answer

Each country shows costs in its local currency. Supported: EUR (Eurozone), SEK (Sweden), GBP (UK), CHF (Switzerland), PLN (Poland), CZK (Czechia), DKK (Denmark), NOK (Norway), USD (USA), CAD (Canada), MXN (Mexico), AUD (Australia), NZD (New Zealand), JPY (Japan), SGD (Singapore), HKD (Hong Kong), TWD (Taiwan), MYR (Malaysia), THB (Thailand), VND (Vietnam), IDR (Indonesia), INR (India), and AED (UAE). Pick a home currency and we'll show approximate conversions alongside.

Question 10

Is my salary data stored or shared?

Accepted Answer

No. Everything runs in your browser. Your salary and personal details never leave your device, and we don't log, transmit, or sell anything you enter. The Privacy Policy has the details.

Question 11

How should I use the savings estimates?

Accepted Answer

It's what's likely left after a typical month at city averages — a benchmark, not a promise. Keep a buffer for the first few months, when moving costs, deposits, and admin fees tend to pile up. See your savings estimate.

Question 12

What if my situation is different from the presets?

Accepted Answer

Use the numbers as a baseline and adjust in your head. Company-provided housing, a car payment, specific dietary needs, a long commute — these all shift the picture, and the category breakdown makes it easy to see which lines would move for you. More notes on this over on the blog.

Frequently asked questions