Multi-country tool
Compare take-home pay across Europe
Enter a gross salary and see how much you would actually keep in seven countries, ranked by the share of your pay that survives tax and social security. Each figure comes from that country's factchecked salary calculator.
Take-home is shown in each country's own currency. The retention rate (the share of gross you keep) is directly comparable across all of them.
How it works
- We run your gross salary through each country's income tax and employee social security rules.
- The retention rate is the take-home divided by the gross, so a higher percentage means you keep more.
- Take-home is shown in local currency for reference, but the percentage is what makes countries comparable.
Worked example
On a 50,000 gross salary, a single employee keeps a different share in each country. The ranking shifts with income because tax is progressive, so it is worth checking at your own salary rather than assuming one country is always best.
Frequently asked questions
Why compare the retention rate instead of the cash amount?+
Salaries are paid in different currencies, so comparing the cash take-home in pounds, euros and zloty is misleading. The retention rate, the share of your gross you actually keep, is the same idea everywhere and is directly comparable.
What is included in the take-home figure?+
Income tax and the employee social security or insurance that comes out of a normal salary, using each country’s factchecked salary calculator. It excludes pensions you opt into, student loans, and country-specific extras.
Are the amounts converted between currencies?+
No. Each take-home is shown in that country’s own currency and is not converted, because exchange rates move. Use the retention rate for a fair comparison.
How accurate is this?+
It uses the same sourced, dated and factchecked salary calculators as the individual country pages, so it is a solid estimate for a single employee on a standard tax code. Individual circumstances vary.
This is an estimate for general guidance, not financial or tax advice. It assumes a single employee on a standard tax code with no pension, student loan or country-specific reliefs. Confirm with the official sources on each country's salary page before making decisions.
Reviewed by Vikas Dulgunde.