GeraHome / EU Value Index / Germany
Is Germany good value? Salary vs cost of living
Real Eurostat take-home pay and cost of living for Germany, with its Gera EU Value Index of 100.8 (ranked 12 of 27 EU countries).
Is Germany good value — how far does a salary go there?
As of 2024, Germany has a Gera EU Value Index of 100.8 (EU≈100), above the EU median of 94.9 and ranked 12 of 27 EU countries. Net annual take-home pay is €30,145 (Eurostat, single person, 100% of average wage), with a Gera EU Cost Index of 121.2. In purchasing-power terms its earnings index is 115.7 (EU=100).
Germany salary & cost figures
| Metric | Value | vs EU |
|---|---|---|
| Net annual take-home pay | €30,145 | +22.1% |
| PPS earnings index (real buying power) | 115.7 | EU=100 |
| Cost of living (Gera EU Cost Index) | 121.2 | +21.2 pts |
| Gera EU Value Index | 100.8 | median 94.9 |
| EU value rank | 12 of 27 | — |
See how your own salary compares
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 | Germany | Austria |
|---|---|---|
| Your salary, locally | €35,000 | €35,000 |
| Salary value vs EU norm | 117 | 120.4 |
| Local cost of living (EU=100) | 121.2 | 117.8 |
| Typical local net pay | €30,145 | €35,824 |
| Gera EU Value Index | 100.8 (#12) | 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 117 in Germany and 120.4 in Austria. The Gera EU Value Index median is 94.9.
Germany salary & value — FAQ
- Is Germany good value to live and work in?
- Germany has a Gera EU Value Index of 100.8 (EU≈100, 2024), better than the EU median of 94.9, and ranks 12 of 27 EU countries. It pairs €30,145 net annual earnings with a Gera EU Cost Index of 121.2. The index reflects how far take-home pay stretches against local costs, using Eurostat data.
- What is the average take-home salary in Germany?
- Net annual earnings in Germany are €30,145 for a single person at 100% of the average wage, after tax and social contributions, per Eurostat (earn_nt_net, 2024). In Purchasing Power Standard terms its earnings index is 115.7 (EU=100), adjusting for local prices.
- Is the cost of living high in Germany?
- Germany has a Gera EU Cost Index of 121.2 (EU average ≈ 100), built from Eurostat price levels and household electricity and gas prices. That is above the EU average, so day-to-day costs are higher than in most member states.
Setting up home in Germany?
From installs and repairs to a full home setup, GeraHome connects you to vetted local tradespeople. Get free quotes in minutes.
Compare Germany
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)).