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Germany vs Poland: 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.
Germany vs Poland: which is better value to live in?
As of 2024, Germany offers better salary-to-cost value than Poland on the Gera EU Value Index (100.8 vs 75.5, a 25.3-point gap, EU≈100). Germany pays €30,145 net a year versus €15,044 in Poland; cost-of-living indices are 121.2 and 80.7. Figures from Eurostat (earnings & price levels).
Germany vs Poland — head to head
| Metric | Germany | Poland |
|---|---|---|
| Net annual take-home pay | €30,145 | €15,044 (zł64,109 PLN) |
| PPS earnings index (EU=100) | 115.7 | 86.8 |
| Cost of living (EU=100) | 121.2 | 80.7 |
| Gera EU Value Index | 100.8 | 75.5 |
| EU value rank (of 27) | #12 | #23 |
Compare your salary in Germany and Poland
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 | 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 vs Poland — FAQ
- Is Germany or Poland better value to live in?
- Germany offers better salary-to-cost value on the Gera EU Value Index (100.8 vs 75.5, EU≈100, 2024). Germany pays €30,145 net a year and Poland €15,044; their cost-of-living indices are 121.2 and 80.7. Figures from Eurostat.
- Where is the salary higher — Germany or Poland?
- Germany has the higher net annual take-home pay at €30,145 versus €15,044 in Poland, 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 — Germany or Poland?
- Poland has the lower cost of living, with a Gera EU Cost Index of 80.7 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)).