Germany vs Italy: salary after tax compared
On €60,000 a year you take home €3,130 a month in Germany and €3,130 in Italy. Below about €60,000 a year you take home more in Italy; above it, Germany leaves you more.
Germany vs Italy on €60,000Annual net ÷ 12
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€3,130a month€37,561a year
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€3,130a month€37,555a year
Single employee, no children, standard deductions. Expat regimes (Impatriati 50%) apply only where you would take home more. Assumptions
Take-home pay at common salaries
Standard rules, single employee, yearly figures. The difference is Germany minus Italy.
| Gross salary | Germany | Italy | Difference | Difference a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €30,000 | €21,227 | €23,425 | −€2,198 | −€183 |
| €40,000 | €26,893 | €27,960 | −€1,067 | −€89 |
| €50,000 | €32,337 | €32,568 | −€231 | −€19 |
| €60,000 | €37,561 | €37,555 | +€6 | +€1 |
| €70,000 | €42,583 | €42,447 | +€136 | +€11 |
| €80,000 | €48,049 | €47,339 | +€710 | +€59 |
| €100,000 | €58,031 | €57,122 | +€909 | +€76 |
| €120,000 | €68,544 | €66,906 | +€1,637 | +€136 |
| €150,000 | €84,851 | €83,120 | +€1,731 | +€144 |
With expat tax regimes
If you qualify for Impatriati 50% (Italy), the picture changes. Each regime is applied only where it leaves you more than the standard rules.
| Gross salary | Germany | Italy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| €30,000 | €21,227 | €28,098 * | −€6,870 |
| €40,000 | €26,893 | €35,182 * | −€8,289 |
| €50,000 | €32,337 | €42,272 * | −€9,935 |
| €60,000 | €37,561 | €49,637 * | −€12,076 |
| €70,000 | €42,583 | €56,708 * | −€14,125 |
| €80,000 | €48,049 | €63,639 * | −€15,591 |
| €100,000 | €58,031 | €77,632 * | −€19,600 |
| €120,000 | €68,544 | €91,569 * | −€23,025 |
| €150,000 | €84,851 | €114,559 * | −€29,708 |
* expat regime applied.
Key differences
| Topic | Germany | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| What comes off your salary | Wage tax from 14% to 45%, solidarity surcharge only on high incomes, and about 21% social insurance (pension, unemployment, health, care) up to the contribution ceilings | IRPEF at 23%, 33%, 43% minus the employee deduction, regional and city surcharges, and 9.19% INPS |
| Paid as | 12 monthly payments; some employers add holiday or Christmas pay | 13 payments: 12 months plus the tredicesima in December |
| Expat regime | No expat tax regime | Impatriati: only 50% of salary taxed (40% with a minor child) for 5 years |
| Next year | 2027 income tax reform still a draft | 2026 only; a new income tax code applies from 2027 |
Frequently asked questions
Is take-home pay higher in Germany or Italy on €60,000?
On €60,000 a year you take home €37,561 in Germany (€3,130 a month) and €37,555 in Italy (€3,130 a month), so Germany leaves you €6 a year more under the standard rules.
Where is income tax lower, Germany or Italy?
Below about €60,000 a year you take home more in Italy; above it, Germany leaves you more. Total tax and social security on €60,000 is 37.4% in Germany and 37.4% in Italy.
What about expat tax regimes?
With Impatriati 50% (Italy) applied where they help, €100,000 leaves €58,031 in Germany and €77,632 in Italy, a difference of €19,600 a year in favour of Italy.
Other comparisons
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Germany: single employee in tax class I, no church tax, statutory health insurance at the average rate, 2026. Italy: single employee in Milan, 2026. Monthly figures are yearly take-home divided by 12. Adjust in the Germany calculator or the Italy calculator. Methodology and sources.