GeraHome / EU Value Index / Best overall salary-to-cost value in the EU
Best overall salary-to-cost value in the EU
The EU-27 ranked for anyone choosing where their take-home pay stretches furthest against local prices, computed from real Eurostat earnings and cost-of-living data. Luxembourg ranks first.
What is the best overall salary-to-cost value in the EU in the EU?
As of 2024, Luxembourg ranks first for overall salary-to-cost value in the eu on Gera's analysis of real Eurostat earnings and cost-of-living data, ahead of Austria. Luxembourg pairs €52,029 net annual earnings with a Gera EU Cost Index of 119 and a Gera EU Value Index of 177.1. The ranking weights value, real pay and affordability for anyone choosing where their take-home pay stretches furthest against local prices.
Full EU ranking — best overall salary-to-cost value in the eu
| Rank | Country | Score | Net annual pay | Cost of living (EU=100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luxembourg | 82.5 | €52,029 | 119 |
| 2 | Austria | 61.7 | €35,824 | 117.8 |
| 3 | Malta | 61.3 | €23,958 | 79.5 |
| 4 | Ireland | 58.6 | €42,366 | 141.7 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 57.8 | €34,223 | 120.1 |
| 6 | Finland | 57.7 | €32,957 | 113.2 |
| 7 | Belgium | 57.6 | €33,481 | 117.5 |
| 8 | Denmark | 57 | €40,184 | 136.9 |
| 9 | Spain | 55.1 | €24,541 | 94.8 |
| 10 | France | 54.7 | €30,124 | 113.1 |
| 11 | Sweden | 54.1 | €33,213 | 126.6 |
| 12 | Germany | 52.2 | €30,145 | 121.2 |
| 13 | Slovenia | 51.8 | €21,320 | 87.8 |
| 14 | Cyprus | 50.5 | €22,844 | 97.5 |
| 15 | Croatia | 49.5 | €15,831 | 70.1 |
| 16 | Lithuania | 48.7 | €17,425 | 78.3 |
| 17 | Italy | 47.6 | €23,959 | 109.5 |
| 18 | Estonia | 45.1 | €19,703 | 93.8 |
| 19 | Hungary | 44.8 | €12,002 | 59.7 |
| 20 | Portugal | 43.9 | €18,835 | 96.9 |
| 21 | Poland | 43.7 | €15,044 | 80.7 |
| 22 | Slovakia | 43 | €14,981 | 78 |
| 23 | Bulgaria | 41.8 | €11,881 | 58.7 |
| 24 | Czechia | 41.8 | €18,140 | 98.8 |
| 25 | Latvia | 41.6 | €15,450 | 85.4 |
| 26 | Romania | 40.5 | €12,318 | 75 |
| 27 | Greece | 36.6 | €13,746 | 88.5 |
Check your own salary
Index your take-home pay against the EU norm
How far does your salary go in the EU?
Enter a net (take-home) salary and pick two EU countries. We index it against the EU norm using the same real Eurostat earnings and cost-of-living figures behind the Gera EU Value Index.
| Metric | Luxembourg | Austria |
|---|---|---|
| Your salary, locally | €35,000 | €35,000 |
| Salary value vs EU norm | 119.1 | 120.4 |
| Local cost of living (EU=100) | 119 | 117.8 |
| Typical local net pay | €52,029 | €35,824 |
| Gera EU Value Index | 177.1 (#1) | 123.2 (#2) |
On €35,000 a year, your salary stretches further in Austria — a value index of 120.4 against the EU norm of 100, because its cost of living is 117.8 (EU=100). The same salary indexes 119.1 in Luxembourg and 120.4 in Austria. The Gera EU Value Index median is 94.9.
Best overall salary-to-cost value in the EU — FAQ
- Best overall salary-to-cost value in the EU in the EU?
- Luxembourg ranks first for anyone choosing where their take-home pay stretches furthest against local prices, on Gera's weighting of real Eurostat earnings and cost-of-living data (2024). It is followed by Austria and Malta. Luxembourg has net annual pay of €52,029 and a cost-of-living index of 119 (EU=100).
- How is this ranking decided?
- The ranking weights three sub-scores derived from real Eurostat figures — salary-to-cost value, purchasing-power-adjusted pay, and affordability — at 0.6/0.25/0.15 for anyone choosing where their take-home pay stretches furthest against local prices. The full method and weights are published on the methodology page.
Planning a move to Luxembourg?
From installs and repairs to a full home setup, GeraHome connects you to vetted local tradespeople. Get free quotes in minutes.
Other EU rankings
Contains public sector information published by Eurostat (European Commission) and licensed under the Eurostat reuse policy (© European Union — free reuse with attribution). Source: Eurostat — Net annual earnings (earn_nt_net), single person at 100% of average wage (2024 (earnings) · 2024 price levels / 2025-S2 energy (cost of living), published 2025 (Eurostat earnings release)).