Cost of Living Comparison Calculator
Updated 4 June 2026
Compare the cost of living between cities in Europe, city-by-city. Enter your gross annual salary to see exactly how much you would have left each month after tax, rent, and living costs in Dublin, London, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Lisbon.
Explore by salary
- €50,000 in Europe — city-by-city breakdown
- €60,000 in Europe — city-by-city breakdown
- €70,000 in Europe — city-by-city breakdown
- €80,000 in Europe — city-by-city breakdown
- €100,000 in Europe — city-by-city breakdown
Explore by city comparison
- Dublin vs London — cost of living comparison
- Dublin vs Berlin — cost of living comparison
- Berlin vs Amsterdam — cost of living comparison
- London vs Berlin — cost of living comparison
- London vs Lisbon — cost of living comparison
- Amsterdam vs Lisbon — cost of living comparison
- Amsterdam vs London — cost of living comparison
- All 5 cities compared
- Where does your money go furthest in Europe?
- Salary comparison across European cities
How the cost of living comparison works
The calculator takes your gross annual salary and applies a simplified flat effective tax rate for each city to estimate your monthly net pay. It then subtracts average monthly rent (1-bedroom apartment, city centre) and estimated general living costs to give you a monthly "leftover" figure for each city.
Cities are ranked from best to worst — the city where your salary leaves you with the most money each month appears at the top. A positive number means you are likely to save money; a negative number suggests you may struggle to cover basic costs at that salary level.
Why compare the cost of living between cities in Europe?
A €60,000 salary in Lisbon feels very different from a €60,000 salary in Dublin or London. Rent alone can consume 50–70% of your monthly net pay in high-cost cities, while in more affordable cities the same salary can leave you with a comfortable surplus. This city-by-city comparison helps you quickly understand the real-world purchasing power of a salary offer before you decide where to live or work.
How this cost of living calculator compares to Numbeo, Payscale, and Expatistan
Most cost-of-living sites give you raw data: the price of a coffee, a monthly transport pass, or average rent. That information is useful but incomplete. What you actually need to know is how much of your specific salary survives after the government and your landlord take their share. This comparison calculator is built around that question — enter your salary once and instantly see your monthly surplus in five cities, ranked from best to worst.
Payscale and similar salary benchmarking tools focus on what you should earn in a given role and location. This calculator starts from the salary you already have (or have been offered) and shows you what it will actually mean for your day-to-day finances across different European cities.
Data sources and accuracy
Rent and living cost figures are based on 2024–2025 averages from publicly available data including Numbeo, Eurostat, and national statistics agencies. Tax rates are simplified effective rates and do not account for deductions, social contributions, or individual circumstances. Use this tool as a rough guide, not as financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
How does this cost of living comparison tool work?
Enter your gross annual salary and the tool applies an estimated effective income tax rate for each city to calculate your monthly net pay. It then subtracts average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre, plus estimated monthly living costs, to give you a monthly leftover figure. Cities are ranked from highest to lowest surplus.
Which European city leaves you with the most money each month?
For most salary ranges between €40,000 and €100,000, Lisbon and Berlin consistently rank first and second for monthly leftover income. Lisbon benefits from lower income tax rates (around 28% effective) and moderate rents compared to Northern European capitals. Berlin has the lowest rents of the five cities covered here despite being one of Europe's largest capitals.
How does this compare to tools like Numbeo, Payscale, or Expatistan?
Unlike Numbeo or Expatistan, which show raw cost-of-living figures, this tool lets you enter your specific salary and see your actual monthly surplus — not just prices in isolation. Unlike Payscale, the focus is on post-tax, post-rent disposable income rather than salary benchmarks. The goal is to answer "how much will I actually have left each month?" rather than "what is the average salary?"
How accurate is the data?
Rent and living cost figures are based on 2024–2025 averages from sources including Numbeo and Eurostat. Tax rates are simplified effective rates and do not account for deductions, social contributions, or special schemes such as the Dutch 30% ruling or Portugal's NHR regime. Use the results as a guide for comparing cities, not as a precise financial forecast.