Gross salary is the number in the contract. Net salary is the money that reaches your account. For career and relocation decisions, neither number is enough on its own: the useful comparison is net income after local housing, transport and recurring costs.
The published comparison
Our Instagram analysis compared indicative annual take-home pay at €30,000, €40,000, €60,000, €80,000 and €100,000 gross in Germany, France, Spain and Hungary. At €100,000 gross, the illustrative results ranged from roughly €51,000 to €66,500 net.
- Germany: approximately €55,000 net
- France: approximately €51,000 net
- Spain: approximately €62,000 net
- Hungary: approximately €66,500 net
Why gross salary misleads
Income tax is only one deduction. Social insurance, pension contributions, allowances, family status and local payroll rules can all change the result. Two people on the same gross salary may receive different net pay.
The professional comparison
Build a relocation comparison with four lines: annual net salary, essential annual costs, employer benefits and investable surplus. The best offer is not automatically the one with the highest gross salary.
- Confirm take-home pay with an official or employer calculator
- Price housing in the actual city—not the national average
- Add employer pension, insurance and allowances
- Compare the amount left to save and invest