Salary Comparison: City vs City
This salary comparison tool calculates the equivalent gross salary you need in another European city to keep the same standard of living. Example: a EUR 70,000 salary in Berlin is equivalent to roughly CHF 120,000 in Zurich once housing, food and transport are accounted for.
How to use this calculator
- 01Pick the city you currently live in.
- 02Pick the city you are considering moving to.
- 03Enter your current gross annual salary.
- 04Read the equivalent salary and category breakdown.
- •A higher nominal salary can mean lower real purchasing power.
- •Housing typically drives the biggest city-to-city difference.
- •Swiss cities are nominally the highest paid but also the most expensive.
- •Always compare net (after tax) salaries for a truly fair view.
Frequently asked questions
What data is the comparison based on?
Cost-of-living indices are aggregated from public sources for housing, food and transport with Zurich set to 100. They are updated periodically and represent typical middle-class household spending.
Why is Zurich the baseline?
Zurich consistently ranks among the most expensive cities in the world, making it a clear upper anchor for European comparisons. All other indices are expressed relative to Zurich at 100.
Does this account for taxes?
No — the calculator compares gross salaries on a cost-of-living basis. To compare net pay, run the Income Tax Estimator on each side first, then bring the net figures here.
How accurate is it for me personally?
Indices average a typical household. If you rent city-center, dine out often or own a car, your real delta may be 10–30% higher than shown. Treat the result as a planning anchor.
Can I compare more than two cities?
Not in a single view yet. For multi-city analysis, run the comparison pairwise using Zurich (the baseline) as your anchor.
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