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Germany vs Spain

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

Germany vs Spain at a glance — Spain is 10% cheaper than Germany overall. Average net salary: $1,900/mo vs $2,900/mo. Top income tax: 47% vs 45%.

GermanySpain
Cost of living
Cost of living index111100
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)45%47%
VAT / sales tax19%21%
Social security (employee)20%6.4%
Corporate tax30%25%
Capital gains26.4%28%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$2,900/mo$1,900/mo
Minimum wage$2,716/mo✓$1,652/mo✓
GDP per capita$60,496✓$38,627✓
Inflation (annual)2.2%✓2.7%✓
Life expectancy81 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 →

⚖ Related comparisons

? Frequently asked questions

Is Germany cheaper than Spain?

Spain is about 10% cheaper than Germany overall — its cost-of-living index is 100 versus 111 for Germany.

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

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Germany is worth about $67,500 in Spain. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Germany or Spain?

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