How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in various European countries? The answer to this question is by no means simple.
A comfortable life means different things to different people. Euronews Business calculated what monthly net household income is needed to reach 150% of the national median — a starting point for the upper-middle class.
Firstly, the concept of "comfortable life" is subjective. Secondly, price levels vary greatly both between and within countries. Thirdly, household size differs. Additionally, income does not account for savings or home ownership.
Nevertheless, some income indicators allow for an approximate estimation of how much money is needed for a comfortable life.
One such indicator is equivalent disposable income.
All monetary receipts of a household are added up: salary, investment income, social benefits, and other sources. Then, taxes and social contributions are deducted from this sum.
After that, the amount is divided by the number of household members, converted into so-called equivalent adults, meaning it's not about the personal income of a specific individual.
Middle-class income ranges
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines middle-class households as those with an equivalent disposable income between 75% and 200% of the national median level.
This range is divided into three groups: 75% to 100% of median income – "lower middle" class, 100% to 150% – "middle", and 150% to 200% – "upper middle".
However, there is no universally accepted threshold that defines what share of median income a household should possess.
"If we only have income data, we can assume that most households with income levels above 150% of the median income have sufficient means for a relatively comfortable life," said OECD Senior Economist Sebastian Königs to Euronews Business.
However, other researchers note that an income above 150% of the median level does not itself guarantee financial stability.
Euronews Business calculated the 150% median income level for three types of households to show what net income they need to reach the lower boundary of the upper-middle income group.
In 2025, the median equivalent disposable income in the EU was 22,939 euros per year, or 1,912 euros per month. A single adult living alone needs to earn 2,867 euros per month to reach 150% of the median level.
In 34 European countries, this threshold ranges from 603 euros per month in North Macedonia to 6,491 euros in Switzerland. Within the EU, the range is from 1,023 euros in Romania to 6,256 euros in Luxembourg.
In several countries, this indicator also exceeds 4,000 euros per month: in Norway (5,240 euros), Austria (4,568 euros), Denmark (4,524 euros), Ireland (4,392 euros), and the Netherlands (4,308 euros). In Poland it is 1,799 euros, in Lithuania — 1,748 euros, in the Czech Republic — 1,900 euros.
Among the four largest EU economies, Germany has the highest threshold at 3,611 euros. It is followed by France — 3,307 euros, approximately 15% above the EU average, while Italy is slightly lower at 2,758 euros. The lowest level among the four is in Spain — 2,546 euros.
The gap is significant: a single adult in Germany needs 1,065 euros more per month than in Spain.
The threshold is also below 1,000 euros per month in Albania (723 euros), Turkey (755 euros), Montenegro (825 euros), and Serbia (975 euros). Along with North Macedonia, all five countries are candidates for EU accession.
In 11 EU countries, this indicator ranges from 1,000 to 1,900 euros per month, including Portugal (1,808 euros), Poland (1,799 euros), Greece (1,463 euros), Bulgaria (1,108 euros), and Hungary (1,099 euros).
Does a couple need twice the income?
A couple without children does not need an income twice that of a single person. Since they share rent and utility costs, Eurostat assumes they need only one and a half times as much money.
Thus, in the EU, a couple needs a net income of 4,301 euros per month to reach the benchmark level. For a couple with two children under 14, this amount increases to 6,021 euros.
The ranking of countries does not change for couples or families, as the same multiplier is used in all cases: 1.5 for a couple and 2.1 for a family with two children.
The buttons on the chart show the values for all three household types in each country.
Comparison accounting for purchasing power
Figures in euros do not reflect differences in price levels between countries. Purchasing Power Standards (PPS) — a notional currency that eliminates these differences — provide a more reliable basis for comparison.
The gap narrows but remains significant. In PPS terms, the benchmark for a single adult in the EU is 2,830 PPS per month. The range varies from 1,031 PPS in Albania to 4,709 PPS in Luxembourg — roughly 4.6 times, compared to 10.8 times in euro terms.
Within the EU, the lowest figure is in Hungary — 1,495 PPS. In this case, the threshold in Luxembourg is only slightly more than three times higher, whereas in euros it is six times higher. In Poland it is 2,491, Lithuania — 2,142 euros.
A relatively comfortable income offers different opportunities
Differences in indicators show that a comfortable life means completely different things in different countries. The PPS values demonstrate what exactly a household with such a relatively comfortable income can afford.
"The same position in the income distribution can provide very different living conditions in different countries. Being at 150% of the median income in one country does not at all mean you have the same purchasing power as someone at 150% of the median income elsewhere," said Professor Koen Caminada from Leiden University to Euronews Business.
Regional differences within countries
"Adjusting indicators for purchasing power improves comparability, but national averages still hide regional differences, especially in housing costs," he added.
Königs also noted that many OECD countries show significant regional differences in both income levels and the cost of living.
Income is only part of the picture: savings are also important
Königs noted that income only reflects part of the situation. The issue of wealth inequality, primarily access to homeownership, remains extremely relevant in many OECD countries.
"Some people manage perfectly well even with low incomes because they own their homes and, perhaps, live where prices are lower," he said.
Caminada also highlighted the role of wealth and savings. According to him, a household with a moderate income and accessible savings often copes better with an unexpected bill or job loss than a family with a higher income but no savings and large debts.
How to determine if you live comfortably
Caminada emphasized that "comfortable living" should mean more than just being able to pay current bills: "A household should be able to afford decent housing, food, energy, and transportation, participate in social life, recreation, and save money. It's important that it can withstand an unexpected expense or temporary loss of income without immediately facing financial problems."
He warned that neither 150% nor 200% of a country's median income can be considered an established threshold for comfortable living. The economist stressed that the OECD's income-level classification describes a household's relative position in the income distribution, not the sufficiency of its budget.
Dr. Markus M. Grabka from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) also believes that an income above 150% of the median level does not itself guarantee financial security.
"An income exceeding 150% of the median level only provides financial security when combined with a certain amount of private assets," he said in an interview with Euronews Business.
"Doctor", lawyer, man with a camera and several strong guys. In Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, Russian special services took advantage of a specific Ukrainian wartime business 1515
Comments