What is considered a good salary, comparing European capitals

What makes a good salary in your country? It is not as simple as it seems. According to Chris Chasteen, Director of Research at the ERI Economic Research Institute, the answer depends on factors such as where you live, experience, education, industry, needs and lifestyle.

Based on assessments from recruitment agencies and insights from experts, Euronews Business examines what constitutes a good salary in several European capitals.

Berlin offers mid-career white-collar workers between €40,000 and €60,000 gross per year

According to Talentup, a gross annual salary between 64,000 and 70,000 euros is considered a good salary in Germany. This translates to around €40,000 to €43,000 net per year or between €3,300 and €3,600 net per month for a single person.

Salaries tend to be higher on average in Berlin compared to other German cities for similar occupations.

Mid-career professionals in London typically earn between £50,000 (€59,455) and £70,000 (€83,235) gross per year

HousingAnywhere reported that the average monthly net income in the UK was £2,297 (€2,725). In 2023, with a cost of living of £1,950 (€2,314), an average net monthly salary of between £2,500 (€2,962) and £3,300 (€3,915) was considered a good salary in the UK.

Given that the average gross weekly income in London was 23% higher than the UK average according to the ONS, a good salary in the capital should be at least between €3,643 and €4,815.

A good representative gross salary for mid-career office workers in London is usually between £50,000 (€59,455) and £70,000 (€83,235) per year.

A good salary for a comfortable life in France is around 3200 euros per month for a single person

As of 2024, the average net monthly salary in France is €2,587, while the median salary is €1,940, according to HousingAnywhere. A good salary for a comfortable life in France is around 3,200 euros per month for a single person or 5,600 euros per month for a family of three.

However, due to the higher cost of living in Paris, you will need approximately €3,400 per month to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in the capital.

A good monthly net salary in Spain is estimated to be around 2,700 euros for a single person

According to HousingAnywhere, the average net salary in Spain in 2024 is €1,785 per month, or €2,250 gross. For a comfortable life, a good monthly net salary in Spain is estimated to be around 2,700 euros for a single person or 4,000 euros for someone with a family.

Given that the average salary in Madrid is 18% higher than the national average, a good net monthly salary in the capital for a single person should be at least 3,185 euros.

A gross salary of €4,100 to €6,000 per month is considered good for a comfortable life in Ireland

In Ireland, a gross salary ranging between €4,100 and €6,000 per month is considered good for a comfortable life, according to Instarem. The average gross salary for full-time workers in the country is 3,220 euros per month.

Rome's wages lag behind the cities of Northern Europe

According to ManpowerGroup, a good salary for a mid-career office worker typically ranges from €35,000 to €50,000 gross per year.

A good gross salary in Rome usually ranges between €3,750 and €5,690, according to Salary Explorer. Salary Explorer provides estimates of a good monthly gross salary for other capital cities as follows:

Greater financial benefits from wages in northern and western EU countries

The 2023 survey of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policies, on the quality of life in European cities, reveals significant changes in the financial satisfaction of households across the EU.

The percentage of people satisfied with their family's financial situation varies from 39% in Athens to 87% in Luxembourg. Satisfaction is generally higher in cities located in northern and western EU countries. / Monitor