Spain is 21.7% cheaper — but purchasing power is 28.8% weaker. Lower prices help, but you'll likely take home less overall.
Compared to Germany. Green = cheaper or better in Spain. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
Every Category, Side by Side
Averaged across 44 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇪🇸 Spain | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 70.4 | 55.1 | -21.7% |
| Rent | 23.5 | 25.6 | +8.9% |
| Groceries | 68.6 | 56.5 | -17.6% |
| Restaurants | 67.5 | 58.4 | -13.5% |
| Purchasing Power | 129.9 | 92.5 | -28.8% |
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 | €26,453 | €29,655 | +€3,202 |
| €60,000 | €36,938 | €41,436 | +€4,498 |
| €80,000 | €47,279 | €52,865 | +€5,586 |
| €100,000 | €57,580 | €63,865 | +€6,285 |
Single person, no children. Tax rates for Berlin and Madrid (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 | 73.6 | 34.6 | 111.7 |
| Munich | 79.3 | 40.1 | 129.6 |
| Frankfurt | 73.1 | 34.6 | 137.1 |
| Hamburg | 71.8 | 29.7 | 131.3 |
| Karlsruhe | 75 | 24.3 | 117.4 |
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid | 60.1 | 36.1 | 94.2 |
| Barcelona | 60.8 | 35.7 | 89 |
| Valencia | 52.9 | 30.1 | 85.1 |
| Seville | 49.4 | 20 | 93 |
| Valladolid | 61.6 | 14.9 | 106 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Germany and Spain.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
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