Spain is 23.4% cheaper — but purchasing power is 30.5% 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 43 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇪🇸 Spain | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 68.8 | 52.7 | -23.4% |
| Rent | 22.9 | 24.7 | +7.9% |
| Groceries | 65.2 | 52.1 | -20.1% |
| Restaurants | 67.5 | 56.5 | -16.3% |
| Purchasing Power | 147.5 | 102.5 | -30.5% |
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 | €26,823 | €29,660 | +€2,837 |
| €60,000 | €37,446 | €41,488 | +€4,042 |
| €80,000 | €48,316 | €52,953 | +€4,637 |
| €100,000 | €59,121 | €63,953 | +€4,832 |
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 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid | 58.7 | 32.6 | 105.2 |
| Barcelona | 58.7 | 33.9 | 102.1 |
| Valencia | 51 | 28.1 | 97.7 |
| Seville | 48.3 | 19.7 | 101.6 |
| Palma de Mallorca | 58.7 | 30.6 | 90.4 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Germany and Spain.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
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