France costs 1.7% more and purchasing power drops 14.7%. Your money buys less across the board.
Compared to Germany. Green = cheaper or better in France. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
Every Category, Side by Side
Averaged across 42 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇫🇷 France | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 71.3 | 72.5 | +1.7% |
| Rent | 23.4 | 23.9 | +2.1% |
| Groceries | 70.8 | 83.6 | +18.1% |
| Restaurants | 68.1 | 70.9 | +4.1% |
| Purchasing Power | 135.9 | 115.9 | -14.7% |
What You Actually Keep After Taxes
Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Berlin vs Paris.
| Gross | 🇩🇪 Net in Germany | 🇫🇷 Net in France | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| €40,000 | €26,453 | €29,601 | +€3,148 |
| €60,000 | €36,938 | €41,087 | +€4,149 |
| €80,000 | €47,279 | €52,644 | +€5,365 |
| €100,000 | €57,580 | €64,201 | +€6,621 |
Single person, no children. Tax rates for Berlin and Paris (2026). Try the full calculator
Tax Calculators
Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.
Calculate Your Take-Home PayTop Cities in Each Country
National averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | 73.9 | 34.5 | 116.6 |
| Munich | 80.7 | 40.8 | 132 |
| Frankfurt | 74.1 | 34.7 | 146.2 |
| Hamburg | 73 | 30.5 | 132.7 |
| Karlsruhe | 75.5 | 24.4 | 123.9 |
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | 80.4 | 40.6 | 111.1 |
| Lyon | 73.7 | 22.5 | 122.1 |
| Marseille | 75.1 | 21.8 | 97.2 |
| Toulouse | 72.2 | 19.7 | 123.4 |
| Nice | 76.4 | 27.8 | 94.9 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Germany and France.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.