Portugal vs Spain: salary after tax compared
On €60,000 a year you take home €3,190 a month in Portugal and €3,515 in Spain. Between €20,000 and €200,000 a single employee always takes home more in Spain.
Portugal vs Spain on €60,000Annual net ÷ 12
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€3,515a month€42,184a year
-
€3,190a month€38,275a year
Single employee, no children, standard deductions. Spain uses Madrid. Expat regimes (IFICI 20% and Beckham Law) apply only where you would take home more. Assumptions
Take-home pay at common salaries
Standard rules, single employee, yearly figures. The difference is Portugal minus Spain.
| Gross salary | Portugal | Spain | Difference | Difference a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €30,000 | €22,139 | €23,452 | −€1,313 | −€109 |
| €40,000 | €27,701 | €30,196 | −€2,495 | −€208 |
| €50,000 | €33,314 | €36,190 | −€2,876 | −€240 |
| €60,000 | €38,275 | €42,184 | −€3,908 | −€326 |
| €70,000 | €43,206 | €48,165 | −€4,959 | −€413 |
| €80,000 | €48,136 | €53,853 | −€5,716 | −€476 |
| €100,000 | €57,692 | €65,227 | −€7,535 | −€628 |
| €120,000 | €66,503 | €76,600 | −€10,097 | −€841 |
| €150,000 | €79,720 | €93,659 | −€13,939 | −€1,162 |
With expat tax regimes
If you qualify for IFICI 20% (Portugal) and Beckham Law (Spain), the picture changes. Each regime is applied only where it leaves you more than the standard rules.
| Gross salary | Portugal | Spain | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| €30,000 | €22,139 | €23,452 | −€1,313 |
| €40,000 | €28,517 * | €30,196 | −€1,678 |
| €50,000 | €35,600 * | €36,190 | −€590 |
| €60,000 | €42,720 * | €42,184 | +€536 |
| €70,000 | €49,840 * | €49,204 * | +€636 |
| €80,000 | €56,960 * | €56,783 * | +€177 |
| €100,000 | €71,200 * | €71,938 * | −€738 |
| €120,000 | €85,440 * | €87,090 * | −€1,650 |
| €150,000 | €106,800 * | €109,818 * | −€3,018 |
* expat regime applied.
Key differences
| Topic | Portugal | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| What comes off your salary | IRS at progressive rates up to 48%, plus 11% social security on all pay | IRPF at state plus regional rates, and 6.5% social security up to €61,214 |
| Paid as | 14 payments: 12 months plus holiday and Christmas pay | 14 payments: 12 months plus two extra payments |
| Expat regime | IFICI: 20% flat rate on salary from qualifying jobs for 10 years | Beckham Law: 24% flat up to €600,000 for 6 tax years |
| Next year | 2027 Budget proposal included | 2026 only, no 2027 budget yet |
Frequently asked questions
Is take-home pay higher in Portugal or Spain on €60,000?
On €60,000 a year you take home €38,275 in Portugal (€3,190 a month) and €42,184 in Spain (€3,515 a month), so Spain leaves you €3,908 a year more under the standard rules.
Where is income tax lower, Portugal or Spain?
Between €20,000 and €200,000 a single employee always takes home more in Spain. Total tax and social security on €60,000 is 36.2% in Portugal and 29.7% in Spain.
What about expat tax regimes?
With IFICI 20% (Portugal) and Beckham Law (Spain) applied where they help, €100,000 leaves €71,200 in Portugal and €71,938 in Spain, a difference of €738 a year in favour of Spain.
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Portugal: single resident employee, mainland, 2026. Spain: single employee in Madrid on a permanent contract, 2026. Monthly figures are yearly take-home divided by 12. Adjust in the Portugal calculator or the Spain calculator. Methodology and sources.