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France vs Spain

Spain is {pct} {word} than France. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in Spain to match France.

France vs Spain at a glance — Spain is 3% cheaper than France overall. Average net salary: $1,900/mo vs $2,600/mo. Top income tax: 47% vs 45%.

FranceSpain
Cost of living
Cost of living index104100
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)45%47%
VAT / sales tax20%21%
Social security (employee)22%6.4%
Corporate tax25%25%
Capital gains30%28%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$2,600/mo$1,900/mo
Minimum wage$2,164/mo✓$1,652/mo✓
GDP per capita$48,986✓$38,627✓
Inflation (annual)0.9%✓2.7%✓
Life expectancy83 yr✓84 yr✓
Quality of life
LGBTQ+ acceptanceHighHigh
Digital-nomad visaNoYes

✓ = official statistics (Eurostat 2026, World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

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? Frequently asked questions

Is France cheaper than Spain?

Spain is about 3% cheaper than France overall — its cost-of-living index is 100 versus 104 for France.

How much do you need to earn in Spain to live like in France?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in France is worth about $72,492 in Spain. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, France or Spain?

France has the lower top income-tax rate — 45% versus 47% in Spain.