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France vs Germany: salary & cost of living
Which offers better value? A real Eurostat comparison of take-home pay and cost of living, with each country’s Gera EU Value Index.
France vs Germany: which is better value to live in?
As of 2024, France offers better salary-to-cost value than Germany on the Gera EU Value Index (107.9 vs 100.8, a 7.1-point gap, EU≈100). France pays €30,124 net a year versus €30,145 in Germany; cost-of-living indices are 113.1 and 121.2. Figures from Eurostat (earnings & price levels).
France vs Germany — head to head
| Metric | France | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| Net annual take-home pay | €30,124 | €30,145 |
| PPS earnings index (EU=100) | 112.9 | 115.7 |
| Cost of living (EU=100) | 113.1 | 121.2 |
| Gera EU Value Index | 107.9 | 100.8 |
| EU value rank (of 27) | #9 | #12 |
Compare your salary in France and Germany
Index your take-home pay against the EU norm in both
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 | France | Austria |
|---|---|---|
| Your salary, locally | €35,000 | €35,000 |
| Salary value vs EU norm | 125.4 | 120.4 |
| Local cost of living (EU=100) | 113.1 | 117.8 |
| Typical local net pay | €30,124 | €35,824 |
| Gera EU Value Index | 107.9 (#9) | 123.2 (#2) |
On €35,000 a year, your salary stretches further in France — a value index of 125.4 against the EU norm of 100, because its cost of living is 113.1 (EU=100). The same salary indexes 125.4 in France and 120.4 in Austria. The Gera EU Value Index median is 94.9.
France vs Germany — FAQ
- Is France or Germany better value to live in?
- France offers better salary-to-cost value on the Gera EU Value Index (107.9 vs 100.8, EU≈100, 2024). France pays €30,124 net a year and Germany €30,145; their cost-of-living indices are 113.1 and 121.2. Figures from Eurostat.
- Where is the salary higher — France or Germany?
- Germany has the higher net annual take-home pay at €30,145 versus €30,124 in France, for a single person at 100% of the average wage (Eurostat earn_nt_net, 2024). A higher salary does not always mean better value once cost of living is taken into account.
- Where is the cost of living lower — France or Germany?
- France has the lower cost of living, with a Gera EU Cost Index of 113.1 versus 121.2 (EU average ≈ 100), built from Eurostat price levels and household energy prices.
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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)).