A worker earning the average wage takes home more than four times as much in Luxembourg as in Hungary, according to the latest Eurostat figures.
Annual net earnings, which reflect what people actually take home, for a single worker without children range from €12,967 in Hungary to €54,260 in Luxembourg, highlighting the stark differences in take-home pay across Europe.
The rankings reveal a significant gap across countries. Though the divide narrows when adjusted for purchasing power, it remains considerable.
Differences reflect a combination of wage levels, tax systems, social security contributions and family benefit schemes. Countries with higher salaries do not always rank as highly once taxes and living costs are taken into account.
So, which countries offer the highest net earnings across Europe? And how do the rankings compare in purchasing power?
