49 cities compared · 2026

🇩🇪 Germany vs 🇪🇸 Spain

Spain is 12.6% cheaper, but purchasing power is 30.0% weaker. Lower prices help, but you'll likely take home less overall.

-12.6%

Cost of Living

+10%

Rent

-16.8%

Groceries

-11.5%

Restaurants

-30%

Purchasing Power

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

Every Category, Side by Side

Averaged across 49 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Category	🇩🇪 Germany	🇪🇸 Spain	Diff
Cost of Living	45.1	39.4	-12.6%
Rent	22.1	24.3	+10%
Groceries	65	54.1	-16.8%
Restaurants	69.6	61.6	-11.5%
Purchasing Power	139.2	97.4	-30%

What You Actually Keep After Taxes

Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Berlin vs Madrid.

Gross	🇩🇪 Net in Germany	🇪🇸 Net in Spain	Diff
€40,000	€26,893	€30,196	+€3,303
€60,000	€37,561	€42,184	+€4,623
€80,000	€48,049	€53,853	+€5,804
€100,000	€58,030	€65,227	+€7,197

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

Tax Calculators

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

🇩🇪

Germany Tax Calculator

Income tax rates, brackets & net salary

🇪🇸

Spain 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	52.4	34.4	124.7
Munich	57.2	38.2	136.8
Frankfurt	52.5	32.8	148.8
Hamburg	51.4	28.7	140.3
Mainz	50.8	23.1	128.6

🇪🇸

Spain

City	CoL	Rent	PP
Madrid	47.5	33.8	101.7
Barcelona	47.8	34.8	93
Valencia	41.6	30.2	85.5
Seville	34	19.5	97.9
Palma de Mallorca	45.5	31.1	86.3

City-to-City Comparisons

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Spain more expensive than Germany?

Spain is 12.6% cheaper than Germany overall. Rent is 10.0% higher, and groceries are 16.8% cheaper. These figures are averages across 15 cities in Spain and 34 cities in Germany.

Which country has better purchasing power, Germany or Spain?

Germany has an average purchasing power index of 139.2 while Spain has 97.4 (NYC = 100). Germany offers better purchasing power, meaning your salary goes further relative to local prices.

Is rent cheaper in Germany or Spain?

Average rent in Germany has an index of 22.1 vs 24.3 in Spain (NYC = 100). Rent in Spain is 10.0% higher than in Germany.

How many cities are compared between Germany and Spain?

Our comparison covers 34 cities in Germany and 15 cities in Spain, with data on cost of living, rent, groceries, restaurants, and purchasing power.