Monthly cost of living planner - updated July 2026
Cost of living calculator for Europe
Estimate whether a monthly salary can cover rent, food, transport, utilities, insurance, debt and savings in Poland, Germany, Romania, Czechia, Spain or Portugal.
Reviewed: July 2026Planning estimateSix European countries
Free cost of living calculatorTotal monthly outflow- Money left after budget- Expense ratio- 3-month reserve target-
Enter monthly income and regular costs
Use local currency values for the selected country. The result shows budget pressure and an emergency reserve target, not an official financial recommendation.
Before accepting a salary
Gross salary can look strong while the monthly budget is tight. Estimate net income first, then test rent, bills and savings together.
Check salary vs rent →Before choosing a city
Use the same cost categories for each city. If rent is cheaper but commuting or utilities are higher, the cheaper city may not be cheaper.
Compare countries and cities →Before moving abroad
Monthly costs are only one part of the decision. Add deposit, first rent, documents, travel and setup costs before you move.
Estimate moving budget →How to read the result
The total monthly outflow includes rent, food, transport, utilities, insurance, debt or subscriptions and planned savings. The leftover value is the first warning signal: if it is close to zero, a small bill or price change can break the plan.
| Result | What to do next |
|---|---|
| High expense ratio | Try a cheaper rent, smaller transport cost or lower fixed subscriptions. |
| Low leftover money | Build a second scenario with conservative food, utility and transport assumptions. |
| Reserve target feels impossible | Check moving costs and delay one-off spending until the monthly budget stabilizes. |
What people often forget
A useful cost-of-living estimate includes more than advertised rent and food. Add small recurring costs because they behave like rent: they return every month.
- Heating season or higher winter electricity use.
- Internet, mobile phone, building fees and waste fees.
- Public transport pass, parking or fuel for commuting.
- Health, insurance, documents and banking costs.
- Furniture, repairs and first-month setup items after moving.
Country starting points
Start with a country page when you need local salary, rent or language-specific guidance, then return to this calculator for a neutral monthly cost check.
Germany
Estimate gross-to-net income, then test rent, utilities and transport as one monthly budget.
Germany salary tool →Spain
Check rent pressure and local city guides before comparing monthly cost scenarios.
Spain rent tool →Portugal
Plan salary, rent and cost of living before choosing Lisbon, Porto or another city.
Portugal cost guide →Poland
Use salary and rent tools together before committing to a Polish city or apartment.
Poland salary tool →Czechia
Compare net pay, rent pressure and full monthly cost before choosing Prague or another city.
Czech salary tool →Romania
Screen rent, utilities and monthly budget pressure before moving or changing jobs.
Romania rent tool →Use this with related tools
Cost of living is strongest when it is connected to salary, rent, utilities and moving costs. These tools answer the adjacent questions.
Simple method
Use this order for a cleaner decision: salary after tax, rent, utilities, transport, food, fixed commitments, savings, then one-off moving costs. If the order is reversed, the apartment often looks affordable before the full month is counted.
FAQ
Start with net income, rent or mortgage, food, transport, utilities, insurance or health costs, debt or subscriptions, and planned savings. Add one-off moving costs separately.
Yes. Enter values in the local currency of the selected country and test the same lifestyle across Poland, Germany, Romania, Czechia, Spain or Portugal.
For planning, yes. Treat planned savings as a monthly commitment so the result does not look safer than it really is.
No. It is a simplified planning estimate. Verify salary, rent, tax, benefit, tariff and contract details with official sources or qualified professionals.
Source and method notes
PayMap uses simplified country assumptions and user-entered values to help compare salary, rent and monthly budget pressure. Treat each result as a planning estimate and verify current tax, payroll, benefit, rent contract and utility tariff details before making a financial decision.
Income target
Calculate required salaryStart with the salary your budget actually needs
Build a monthly net-income target from rent, bills, food, transport and savings before you compare job offers or choose a city.