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Germany vs United Kingdom
United Kingdom is {pct} {word} than Germany. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in United Kingdom to match Germany.
Germany vs United Kingdom at a glance — United Kingdom is 11% more expensive than Germany overall. Average net salary: $2,900/mo vs $2,900/mo. Top income tax: 45% vs 45%.
| Germany | United Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Cost of living index | 111 | 123 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 45% | 45% |
| VAT / sales tax | 19% | 20% |
| Social security (employee) | 20% | 8% |
| Corporate tax | 30% | 25% |
| Capital gains | 26.4% | 24% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $2,900/mo | $2,900/mo |
| Minimum wage | $2,716/mo✓ | $2,050/mo |
| GDP per capita | $60,496✓ | $57,602✓ |
| Inflation (annual) | 2.2%✓ | 3.9%✓ |
| Life expectancy | 81 yr✓ | 81 yr✓ |
| Quality of life | ||
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | High | High |
| Digital-nomad visa | No | No |
✓ = 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 Germany cheaper than United Kingdom?
United Kingdom is about 11% more expensive than Germany overall — its cost-of-living index is 123 versus 111 for Germany.
How much do you need to earn in United Kingdom to live like in Germany?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Germany is worth about $83,064 in United Kingdom. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.