Germany vs United Kingdom
Germany applies progressive income tax. United Kingdom applies progressive income tax up to 45%. Enter each salary in its own currency, then pick a currency to compare them in.
Nothing compared yet. Add a country above, then change the country and add another to compare them side by side.
What each one leaves you, at four income levels
12.60 points apart in effective rate, in favour of United Kingdom
| Gross | Germany rate | United Kingdom rate | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000 | 28.8% | 16.27% | 12.53 points |
| 60,000 | 37% | 24.4% | 12.6 points |
| 100,000 | 41.75% | 31.44% | 10.31 points |
| 150,000 | 43.28% | 39.14% | 4.14 points |
Different currencies. Germany figures are in EUR and United Kingdom in GBP, so the take-home amounts are not comparable and are not shown. Effective rates are comparable and are shown instead.
The two systems side by side
Germany
- Rentenversicherung
- Arbeitslosenversicherung
- Krankenversicherung
- Pflegeversicherung
- Vorsorgepauschale
- Arbeitnehmer-Pauschbetrag
- Sonderausgaben-Pauschbetrag
- Einkommensteuer
- Solidaritaetszuschlag
Bundesministerium der Finanzen, 2026-08-17
United Kingdom
- Personal Allowance
- Income Tax
- National Insurance (Class 1)
HM Revenue & Customs, 2026-08-16
These two tax years are not the same period. Germany runs its 2026 year from 01-01 to 12-31, and United Kingdom runs its 2026/27 year from 04-06 to 04-05. Figures are compared at the rates in force in each country's current year, which is the convention most people mean when they ask what they would keep in each place today.
A salary is not a standard of living. Converting both figures into one currency makes them comparable in units, not in what they buy. Housing, healthcare and everyday costs differ far more than the exchange rate suggests.