44 cities compared · 2026

🇩🇪 Germany vs 🇫🇷 France

France costs 0.7% more and purchasing power drops 14.9%. Your money buys less across the board.

+0.7%

Cost of Living

+3.6%

Rent

+18.3%

Groceries

+4.2%

Restaurants

-14.9%

Purchasing Power

Compared to Germany. Green = cheaper or better in France. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Every Category, Side by Side

Averaged across 44 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Category	🇩🇪 Germany	🇫🇷 France	Diff
Cost of Living	45.2	45.5	+0.7%
Rent	22.1	22.9	+3.6%
Groceries	65	76.9	+18.3%
Restaurants	69.6	72.5	+4.2%
Purchasing Power	139.2	118.5	-14.9%

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	€26,893	€29,697	+€2,804
€60,000	€37,561	€41,149	+€3,588
€80,000	€48,049	€52,706	+€4,657
€100,000	€58,030	€64,262	+€6,232

Single person, no children. Tax rates for Berlin and Paris (2026). Try the full calculator

Tax Calculators

See detailed income tax brackets and net salary calculations for Germany and France.

🇩🇪

Germany Tax Calculator

Income tax rates, brackets & net salary

🇫🇷

France Tax Calculator

Income tax rates, brackets & net salary

These are averages. What about your salary?

Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.

Calculate Your Take-Home Pay

Top Cities in Each Country

National averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.

🇩🇪

Germany

City	CoL	Rent	PP
Berlin	51.6	34.4	124.7
Munich	56.8	38.2	136.8
Frankfurt	52.1	32.8	148.8
Hamburg	51.4	28.7	140.3
Mainz	50.8	23.1	128.6

🇫🇷

France

City	CoL	Rent	PP
Paris	61.4	38.8	115.1
Lyon	45.7	21.5	126.7
Marseille	45.6	20.5	99.6
Toulouse	46.8	18.9	126.2
Nice	47.6	26.4	96.9

City-to-City Comparisons

See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Germany and France.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is France more expensive than Germany?

France is 0.7% more expensive than Germany overall. Rent is 3.6% higher, and groceries are 18.3% more expensive. These figures are averages across 10 cities in France and 34 cities in Germany.

Which country has better purchasing power, Germany or France?

Germany has an average purchasing power index of 139.2 while France has 118.5 (NYC = 100). Germany offers better purchasing power, meaning your salary goes further relative to local prices.

Is rent cheaper in Germany or France?

Average rent in Germany has an index of 22.1 vs 22.9 in France (NYC = 100). Rent in France is 3.6% higher than in Germany.

How many cities are compared between Germany and France?

Our comparison covers 34 cities in Germany and 10 cities in France, with data on cost of living, rent, groceries, restaurants, and purchasing power.