France costs 1.7% more and purchasing power drops 16.4%. 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 41 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇫🇷 France | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 68.8 | 70 | +1.7% |
| Rent | 22.9 | 22.9 | 0% |
| Groceries | 65.2 | 77.9 | +19.5% |
| Restaurants | 67.5 | 68.7 | +1.8% |
| Purchasing Power | 147.5 | 123.3 | -16.4% |
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 | €26,823 | €29,480 | +€2,657 |
| €60,000 | €37,446 | €40,975 | +€3,529 |
| €80,000 | €48,316 | €52,532 | +€4,216 |
| €100,000 | €59,121 | €64,088 | +€4,967 |
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 | 69.5 | 33.4 | 128.2 |
| Munich | 75.9 | 39.3 | 158 |
| Frankfurt | 73.5 | 30.8 | 165.4 |
| Hamburg | 70.2 | 29.5 | 145.9 |
| Wiesbaden | 72.7 | 22.5 | 135.7 |
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | 77.5 | 39 | 124.9 |
| Lyon | 71.3 | 21.6 | 128.5 |
| Marseille | 72.8 | 20.2 | 109 |
| Toulouse | 68.6 | 19.2 | 125.1 |
| Nice | 74.9 | 26.8 | 101.8 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Germany and France.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
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