49 cities compared · 2026

🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇩🇪 Germany

Germany is 15.6% pricier, but purchasing power is 42.9% stronger. You pay more but earn proportionally more.

+15.6%

Cost of Living

-9.1%

Rent

+20.1%

Groceries

+13%

Restaurants

+42.9%

Purchasing Power

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

Every Category, Side by Side

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

Category	🇪🇸 Spain	🇩🇪 Germany	Diff
Cost of Living	39.1	45.2	+15.6%
Rent	24.3	22.1	-9.1%
Groceries	54.1	65	+20.1%
Restaurants	61.6	69.6	+13%
Purchasing Power	97.4	139.2	+42.9%

What You Actually Keep After Taxes

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

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

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

Tax Calculators

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

🇪🇸

Spain Tax Calculator

Income tax rates, brackets & net salary

🇩🇪

Germany 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.

🇪🇸

Spain

City	CoL	Rent	PP
Madrid	46.9	33.8	101.7
Barcelona	47.6	34.8	93
Valencia	40.7	30.2	85.5
Seville	34.4	19.5	97.9
Palma de Mallorca	45	31.1	86.3

🇩🇪

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

City-to-City Comparisons

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

Barcelona → Frankfurt

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Germany more expensive than Spain?

Germany is 15.6% more expensive than Spain overall. Rent is 9.1% lower, and groceries are 20.1% more expensive. These figures are averages across 34 cities in Germany and 15 cities in Spain.

Which country has better purchasing power, Spain or Germany?

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

Is rent cheaper in Spain or Germany?

Average rent in Spain has an index of 24.3 vs 22.1 in Germany (NYC = 100). Rent in Germany is 9.1% lower than in Spain.

How many cities are compared between Spain and Germany?

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