Spain vs Germany: salary after tax compared
On €60,000 a year you take home €3,515 a month in Spain and €3,130 in Germany. Between €20,000 and €200,000 a single employee always takes home more in Spain.
Spain vs Germany on €60,000Annual net ÷ 12
-
€3,515a month€42,184a year
-
€3,130a month€37,561a year
Single employee, no children, standard deductions. Spain uses Madrid. Expat regimes (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 Spain minus Germany.
| Gross salary | Spain | Germany | Difference | Difference a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €30,000 | €23,452 | €21,227 | +€2,225 | +€185 |
| €40,000 | €30,196 | €26,893 | +€3,303 | +€275 |
| €50,000 | €36,190 | €32,337 | +€3,853 | +€321 |
| €60,000 | €42,184 | €37,561 | +€4,622 | +€385 |
| €70,000 | €48,165 | €42,583 | +€5,582 | +€465 |
| €80,000 | €53,853 | €48,049 | +€5,804 | +€484 |
| €100,000 | €65,227 | €58,031 | +€7,196 | +€600 |
| €120,000 | €76,600 | €68,544 | +€8,056 | +€671 |
| €150,000 | €93,659 | €84,851 | +€8,808 | +€734 |
With expat tax regimes
If you qualify for Beckham Law (Spain), the picture changes. Each regime is applied only where it leaves you more than the standard rules.
| Gross salary | Spain | Germany | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| €30,000 | €23,452 | €21,227 | +€2,225 |
| €40,000 | €30,196 | €26,893 | +€3,303 |
| €50,000 | €36,190 | €32,337 | +€3,853 |
| €60,000 | €42,184 | €37,561 | +€4,622 |
| €70,000 | €49,204 * | €42,583 | +€6,621 |
| €80,000 | €56,783 * | €48,049 | +€8,734 |
| €100,000 | €71,938 * | €58,031 | +€13,907 |
| €120,000 | €87,090 * | €68,544 | +€18,547 |
| €150,000 | €109,818 * | €84,851 | +€24,967 |
* expat regime applied.
Key differences
| Topic | Spain | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| What comes off your salary | IRPF at state plus regional rates, and 6.5% social security up to €61,214 | 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 |
| Paid as | 14 payments: 12 months plus two extra payments | 12 monthly payments; some employers add holiday or Christmas pay |
| Expat regime | Beckham Law: 24% flat up to €600,000 for 6 tax years | No expat tax regime |
| Next year | 2026 only, no 2027 budget yet | 2027 income tax reform still a draft |
Frequently asked questions
Is take-home pay higher in Spain or Germany on €60,000?
On €60,000 a year you take home €42,184 in Spain (€3,515 a month) and €37,561 in Germany (€3,130 a month), so Spain leaves you €4,622 a year more under the standard rules.
Where is income tax lower, Spain or Germany?
Between €20,000 and €200,000 a single employee always takes home more in Spain. Total tax and social security on €60,000 is 29.7% in Spain and 37.4% in Germany.
What about expat tax regimes?
With Beckham Law (Spain) applied where they help, €100,000 leaves €71,938 in Spain and €58,031 in Germany, a difference of €13,907 a year in favour of Spain.
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Spain: single employee in Madrid on a permanent contract, 2026. Germany: single employee in tax class I, no church tax, statutory health insurance at the average rate, 2026. Monthly figures are yearly take-home divided by 12. Adjust in the Spain calculator or the Germany calculator. Methodology and sources.