Compare 10 European countries: Cyprus, Portugal, Malta, Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Sweden, Switzerland, France

⚠️ Important Legal Disclaimer

This calculator provides estimates only and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Actual taxation depends on multiple factors including: personal circumstances and residency status, bilateral tax treaties and exemptions, changes in legislation (tax laws change frequently), timing of income and asset liquidation, and classification of activities (investor vs trader for crypto/stocks). Always consult a qualified tax advisor or legal professional before making financial decisions based on these estimates.

⚙️ Input Mode
⚙️ Global Settings
1 EUR = X CHF
1 EUR = X SEK
For 20-year projection

👤 Person 1

Income & Tax Status

🎯 Special Tax Status (Optional)

Available for up to 17 years. Benefits: 5% flat tax on pensions above €3,420, 0% on dividends/interest, no wealth tax.
⚠️ NHR regime CLOSED to new applicants as of 2024. Only for those with pre-2024 approval. 10% flat tax on foreign pensions.
ℹ️ New residents: Portugal now has a "Transitional NHR" and special regimes for scientists/start-ups. These rarely apply to standard pensioners.
💶 Requires €500,000+ investment in Greek real estate. Benefits: 7% flat tax on foreign income for 15 years, then 4% years 16-20.

💼 Investment Portfolio

ℹ️ Enter both your current value and cost basis (what you originally paid). Tax is calculated on the realized gains only.
🪙 Cryptocurrency
💡 What you originally paid for the crypto
📊 Current Value - Cost Basis
📈 Stocks/Funds
💡 What you originally paid for the stocks/funds
📊 Current Value - Cost Basis
📊 Investment Strategy

Person 1 Strategy

Calculate tax on annual investment gains
Sell a percentage of holdings
Sell a specific amount
Liquidate all investments

👨 Person 2

Income & Tax Status

🎯 Special Tax Status (Optional)

Available for up to 17 years. Benefits: 5% flat tax on pensions above €3,420, 0% on dividends/interest, no wealth tax.
⚠️ NHR regime CLOSED to new applicants as of 2024. Only for those with pre-2024 approval. 10% flat tax on foreign pensions.
ℹ️ New residents: Portugal now has a "Transitional NHR" and special regimes for scientists/start-ups. These rarely apply to standard pensioners.
💶 Requires €500,000+ investment in Greek real estate. Benefits: 7% flat tax on foreign income for 15 years, then 4% years 16-20.

💼 Investment Portfolio

ℹ️ Enter both your current value and cost basis (what you originally paid). Tax is calculated on the realized gains only.
🪙 Cryptocurrency
💡 What you originally paid for the crypto
📊 Current Value - Cost Basis
📈 Stocks/Funds
💡 What you originally paid for the stocks/funds
📊 Current Value - Cost Basis
📊 Investment Strategy

Person 2 Strategy

Calculate tax on annual investment gains
Sell a percentage of holdings
Sell a specific amount
Liquidate all investments
🏠 Accommodation Type
Studio
~35-45 m²
2-Room Apt
~50-65 m²
3-Room Apt
~70-85 m²
4-Room Apt
~90-110 m²
Small House
~100 m²
Large House
~200 m²

Note: Living costs calculated for a couple with mixed dining habits (home cooking + restaurants) and typical household expenses.

🌱 Frugal
-30% expenses
⚖️ Moderate
Standard
💎 Luxury
+40% expenses

Lifestyle affects groceries, dining, and entertainment. Rent is determined by accommodation type only.

📋 What's included in "Living Costs":
  • Food & groceries
  • Utilities (electricity, water, heating, internet)
  • Transportation (public transport, car maintenance)
  • Leisure & entertainment
  • Clothing & personal items
  • Miscellaneous expenses
👥 Couple Scenario
ℹ️
ℹ️
🏠 Properties
🏡 Property 1
Total annual rental income
Ownership split between persons
Override automatic tax calculation
🏥 France Health Insurance Options
ℹ️ CPAM charges 8% on total brut income (pension + investment gains). Calculated automatically.
📊 Scenario Management
🔗 Export & Share
💡 Adjusts living costs and taxes for realistic long-term planning

🏆 Optimal Destination: 🇨🇾 Cyprus

Annual savings vs France: €17,136
20-year projection: €342,725
Health savings: €4,000/year
Total income: Pension €65,000 + Crypto €0 + Stocks/Funds €0 = €65,000/year
Strategy: Both holding & earning annual gains

📊 Country Comparison
Country Pension Tax
Tax on pension income. Includes income tax, social charges, and any special pension taxes.
 Investment Tax
Tax on investment gains (crypto & stocks). Includes capital gains tax, wealth tax, and special investment taxes.
 Rental Income Tax
Tax on rental income from properties. Varies by residence country and non-dom status. Non-doms in Cyprus/Portugal may pay 0%.
 Health Cost
Annual healthcare insurance costs. Includes mandatory health insurance and any additional coverage.
 Property Tax
Annual property taxes. Includes taxe foncière (France), fastighetsskatt (Sweden), and similar property taxes. France/Sweden property taxes apply regardless of residence.
 Living Costs
Estimated annual living expenses: Rent (adjusted for local prices) + Food, utilities, transportation, leisure. Switzerland and Sweden are 80-20% more expensive than base rent. Portugal is 15% cheaper.
 Total Annual Cost
Sum of all costs: Pension Tax + Investment Tax + Rental Tax + Health Cost + Property Tax + Living Costs
 Net Income
Total income (pension + investment gains + rental income) minus total costs
 vs France
Difference in net income compared to France. Positive = better than France, Negative = worse than France
🇨🇾 Cyprus€5,650€0€0€1,200€0€24,600€31,450€33,550+€17,136

✅ Advantages

  • ☀️ 340+ days of sunshine
  • 🏖️ Beautiful beaches & Mediterranean lifestyle
  • 💶 Low cost of living
  • 🏥 S1 form accepted (free healthcare with Swiss pension)
  • ✈️ Major European hub
  • 🌍 English widely spoken

⚠️ Considerations

  • 🔥 Very hot summers (35-40°C)
  • 🚗 Car needed for most areas
  • 📡 Limited public transport
  • 🏥 Healthcare quality varies outside major cities

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Inheritance Tax

If one spouse dies: Survivor inherits tax-free (0%). If both die: Children pay 0% inheritance tax for up to €20,000, then 20% on amounts exceeding this threshold.

📊 Cost Breakdown Details:

Pension Tax: First €5,000 tax-free, then 5% on remaining amount. No social charges on foreign pensions.

Investment Tax: 0% on stocks/funds. 8% SDC on crypto sales only. No tax on holding or unrealized gains.

Health Cost: Free with S1 form for Swiss pensioners. Otherwise ~€1,200/year per person for private insurance.

Property Tax: Municipal tax ~0.6% of property value (IPU). Can vary by municipality.

Living Costs: Lower than Western Europe. Rent, food, utilities, transportation, leisure activities.

🇭🇷 Croatia€14,300€0€0€120€0€22,200€36,620€28,380+€11,966

✅ Advantages

  • 🏖️ Beautiful Adriatic coastline
  • 💰 Low cost of living
  • 🌍 EU member state
  • 🛡️ Safe & stable
  • ☀️ Mediterranean climate
  • ✈️ Growing expat community
  • 🏝️ 1000+ islands to explore

⚠️ Considerations

  • 🗣️ Croatian language barrier
  • 🏥 Limited healthcare in rural areas
  • 🏖️ Very touristy in summer (coast)
  • 💼 Limited job market for expats
  • ❄️ Continental climate inland (cold winters)

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Inheritance Tax

If one spouse dies: Spouse inherits tax-free (0%). If both die: Children inherit tax-free (0%). No inheritance tax in Croatia.

📊 Cost Breakdown Details:

Pension Tax: Progressive tax: 20-30% plus 10% surtax. Average ~24-30% for pensioners.

Investment Tax: 10% on capital gains (crypto). 12% on stock dividends. No wealth tax.

Health Cost: Mandatory HZZO health insurance ~€120/year. Good in major cities, limited in rural areas.

Property Tax: Property tax: 0.3-3% of market value (average 0.2%). Plus utility fees.

Living Costs: Low. Dubrovnik/Split touristy. Zagreb moderate. Inland Croatia very affordable.

🇬🇷 Greece€13,600€0€0€180€0€24,600€38,380€26,620+€10,206

✅ Advantages

  • 🏖️ Stunning islands & coastline
  • ☀️ Excellent Mediterranean climate
  • 💶 Very affordable cost of living
  • 🏛️ Rich ancient history
  • 🍷 Great food & wine
  • 🎯 Special 7% pension tax regime available

⚠️ Considerations

  • 💼 Economic instability concerns
  • 🏛️ Bureaucracy challenges
  • 🏥 Healthcare quality varies by region
  • 🗣️ Greek language barrier outside tourist areas
  • ⛴️ Island life logistics

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Inheritance Tax

If one spouse dies: Spouse pays 1-10% depending on amount. If both die: Children pay 1-10% progressive (€150k exempt, then 1% up to €300k, scaling to 10% above €600k).

📊 Cost Breakdown Details:

Pension Tax: Progressive tax: 9-44%. Special regime: 7% flat on foreign pensions (if qualified for 15 years).

Investment Tax: 15% flat on dividends and capital gains. No wealth tax.

Health Cost: Public healthcare (EOPYY) after residency. Quality varies. Private insurance ~€180/year.

Property Tax: ENFIA property tax: 0.1-1.0% of objective value (average 0.3%). Annual payment.

Living Costs: Lower than Western Europe. Athens moderate. Islands vary (touristy expensive, remote cheap).

🇪🇸 Spain€15,831€0€0€150€0€27,000€42,981€22,019+€5,605

✅ Advantages

  • ☀️ Excellent weather & Mediterranean climate
  • 🏖️ Beautiful coastline & beaches
  • 🍷 World-class food & wine culture
  • 💰 Affordable outside major cities
  • 🏥 Good public healthcare system
  • 🌍 Large expat communities

⚠️ Considerations

  • 🏛️ Bureaucracy can be challenging
  • 🗣️ Spanish language often required
  • 💼 High unemployment in some regions
  • 🏠 Property market varies significantly
  • 📜 Regional tax differences

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Inheritance Tax

If one spouse dies: Spouse inherits tax-free up to regional limits. If both die: Children pay 7.65-34% depending on region and amount (lower in Madrid, higher in Catalonia).

📊 Cost Breakdown Details:

Pension Tax: Progressive tax: 19-47%. Average ~30-37% for pensioners. Regional variations apply.

Investment Tax: 19-23% on capital gains (both crypto and stocks). No wealth tax for non-residents.

Health Cost: Public healthcare after residency registration. Private supplement ~€150/year.

Property Tax: IBI property tax: 0.4-1.1% of cadastral value (average 0.55%). Varies by municipality.

Living Costs: Moderate. Barcelona/Madrid expensive. Southern Spain and smaller cities affordable.

🇵🇹 Portugal€15,982€0€0€0€0€27,000€42,982€22,018+€5,604

✅ Advantages

  • 🌊 Stunning coastline
  • 🍷 Excellent food & wine culture
  • 🏥 Good healthcare system
  • 💰 NHR tax regime (10% flat tax on pensions)
  • 🌍 English-friendly
  • ✈️ Well-connected airports

⚠️ Considerations

  • 🏠 Rising property prices in Lisbon/Porto
  • 💸 Higher cost of living than Cyprus
  • 🌧️ Rainy winters
  • 📜 Bureaucracy can be challenging

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Inheritance Tax

If one spouse dies: Surviving spouse inherits tax-free (0%). If both die: Direct descendants (children) inherit tax-free with a stamp duty of 0.8% on declared value.

📊 Cost Breakdown Details:

Pension Tax: 10% flat tax under NHR regime for 10 years. After NHR: progressive rates up to 48%.

Investment Tax: 28% flat tax on capital gains (crypto and stocks). No wealth tax.

Health Cost: Public healthcare available after residency. Private insurance ~€1,000-2,000/year.

Property Tax: IMI municipal property tax: 0.3-0.8% of taxable value. Can be higher for luxury properties.

Living Costs: Moderate. Higher in Lisbon/Porto. Food, utilities, transport reasonable.

🇲🇹 Malta€8,960€0€0€3,600€0€31,200€43,760€21,240+€4,826

✅ Advantages

  • 🌍 English official language
  • ☀️ Great weather year-round
  • ✈️ Central Mediterranean location
  • 🏛️ EU member state
  • 🏥 Good private healthcare

⚠️ Considerations

  • 🏝️ Small island (limited space)
  • 🚗 Traffic congestion
  • 💰 15% flat pension tax (no exemptions)
  • 🏠 Limited housing options
  • 💸 Higher living costs

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Inheritance Tax

If one spouse dies: Spouse inherits tax-free (0%). If both die: Children pay 0% on first €250,000, then 5% on amounts exceeding this.

📊 Cost Breakdown Details:

Pension Tax: 15% flat tax on pension income. No exemptions or progressive rates.

Investment Tax: 35% on capital gains (both crypto and stocks). No wealth tax.

Health Cost: Public system for residents. Private insurance recommended: ~€3,000/year per couple.

Property Tax: Property tax: 0.55% of rental value. Stamp duty on purchase: 5%.

Living Costs: Moderate-high. Island import costs affect prices. Higher than Cyprus.

🇮🇹 Italy€16,550€0€0€250€0€29,400€46,200€18,800+€2,386

✅ Advantages

  • 🍝 World-renowned cuisine & culture
  • 🏛️ Rich history & art
  • 🏔️ Diverse landscapes (Alps to beaches)
  • 🏥 Excellent healthcare (especially north)
  • 🍷 La dolce vita lifestyle
  • 🌍 Central European location

⚠️ Considerations

  • 🏛️ Significant bureaucracy
  • 💼 Economic challenges in south
  • 📜 Complex tax system
  • 🏠 Property maintenance expensive
  • 💰 High taxes without special regimes

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Inheritance Tax

If one spouse dies: Spouse tax-free up to €1M then 4-8%. If both die: Children tax-free up to €1M per child, then 4-8% on excess.

📊 Cost Breakdown Details:

Pension Tax: Progressive tax: 23-43%. Average ~35-38% for pensioners. Regional surcharges (add. 0.9-3.3%).

Investment Tax: 26% flat rate on capital gains (both crypto and stocks). No wealth tax.

Health Cost: Public SSN after residency. Excellent in north. Private supplement ~€250/year recommended.

Property Tax: IMU municipal tax: 0.4-1.06% of cadastral value (average 0.76%). Plus TASI service tax.

Living Costs: Moderate-high. Milan/Rome expensive. South and rural areas much more affordable.

🇫🇷 France€11,586€0€0€5,200€0€31,800€48,586€16,414+€0

✅ Advantages

  • 🍷 World-renowned cuisine & wine
  • 🏥 Excellent healthcare (with insurance)
  • 🚆 Great TGV train network
  • 🎨 Rich culture & history
  • 🏔️ Diverse landscapes (beaches to Alps)
  • ✈️ Well-connected

⚠️ Considerations

  • 💸 High taxes (up to 45% income tax)
  • 🏥 Expensive mandatory health insurance
  • 📜 Complex bureaucracy
  • 🗣️ French language often required
  • 💰 High property taxes (1.2%)

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Inheritance Tax

If one spouse dies: Spouse inherits tax-free (0%) since 2007. If both die: Children: 0% on first €100,000 per child, 5-20% on €100k-€900k, up to 45% above €1.8M.

📊 Cost Breakdown Details:

Pension Tax: Progressive income tax up to 45% + 10.6% social charges. Special 7.5% rate for pensioners possible.

Investment Tax: 30% flat tax (PFU) on capital gains: 12.8% income tax + 17.2% social charges.

Health Cost: CPAM: 8% of total income (pension + gains) or LAMAL for cross-border residents.

Property Tax: Taxe foncière: ~1.2% of rental value. Taxe d'habitation mostly abolished for main residence.

Living Costs: Moderate-high. Varies by region. Food quality high, utilities moderate.

🇸🇪 Sweden€20,800€0€0€487€0€36,000€57,287€7,713€-8,701

✅ Advantages

  • 🌲 Beautiful nature & outdoor lifestyle
  • 🏥 Excellent public healthcare
  • 🎓 Great education system
  • 🚆 Efficient public transport
  • 🌍 High English proficiency
  • ♻️ Environmentally conscious

⚠️ Considerations

  • ❄️ Long, dark, cold winters
  • 💸 High taxes (32% base + 20% on high income)
  • 🏠 Expensive housing
  • 🌙 Very short winter days
  • 🍺 High alcohol & dining costs

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Inheritance Tax

If one spouse dies: Surviving spouse inherits tax-free (0%). If both die: No inheritance tax in Sweden since 2005. Children inherit tax-free.

📊 Cost Breakdown Details:

Pension Tax: Municipal tax ~32% + state tax 20% on income over SEK 58,400/month (~€5,850).

Investment Tax: 30% on capital gains (both crypto and stocks). No wealth tax.

Health Cost: Public healthcare with small fees. Maximum SEK 1,300/year (~€115) for doctor visits.

Property Tax: Fastighetsskatt: 0.75% of taxable value for residential properties. Municipal fees apply.

Living Costs: High. Especially alcohol, dining, services. Food costs moderate.

🇨🇭 Switzerland€18,850€400€0€9,600€0€49,200€78,050€-13,050€-29,464

✅ Advantages

  • ⛰️ Stunning Alpine scenery
  • 🏥 World-class healthcare
  • 🚆 Excellent public transport
  • 💼 Political stability
  • 🎿 Year-round outdoor activities
  • 🏛️ High quality of life

⚠️ Considerations

  • 💸 Extremely high cost of living
  • 🏠 Very expensive rent & property
  • 🗣️ Language barriers (German/French/Italian)
  • ☁️ Long grey winters in some areas
  • 📜 Complex tax system varies by canton

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Inheritance Tax

If one spouse dies: Varies by canton. Geneva: spouse exempt. If both die: Direct descendants typically pay 0-3% depending on canton and amount (Geneva: exempt for children).

📊 Cost Breakdown Details:

Pension Tax: Progressive cantonal taxes ~29% average in Geneva. Federal, cantonal, and municipal taxes apply.

Investment Tax: 0% capital gains tax (if held >1 year). Wealth tax: ~0.5% on total assets including crypto.

Health Cost: Mandatory private insurance (LAMAL): ~€400-600/month per person depending on age.

Property Tax: Cantonal property taxes vary: 0.35% average. Also municipal taxes.

Living Costs: Very high. Among highest in Europe. Food, rent, services expensive.
📈 Visual Comparison

Net Income Comparison

Total Annual Costs

Cost Breakdown by Country

20-Year Projection (vs France)

🏠 Living Costs Breakdown

🇨🇾 Cyprus

🏠 Rent (2room):€10,200
🛒 Groceries & Utilities:€7,200
🍽️ Restaurants:€5,040
🚗 Transport:€2,160
Total Annual Cost:€24,600

🇭🇷 Croatia

🏠 Rent (2room):€9,000
🛒 Groceries & Utilities:€6,600
🍽️ Restaurants:€4,620
🚗 Transport:€1,980
Total Annual Cost:€22,200

🇬🇷 Greece

🏠 Rent (2room):€9,600
🛒 Groceries & Utilities:€7,500
🍽️ Restaurants:€5,250
🚗 Transport:€2,250
Total Annual Cost:€24,600

🇪🇸 Spain

🏠 Rent (2room):€10,800
🛒 Groceries & Utilities:€8,100
🍽️ Restaurants:€5,670
🚗 Transport:€2,430
Total Annual Cost:€27,000

🇵🇹 Portugal

🏠 Rent (2room):€11,400
🛒 Groceries & Utilities:€7,800
🍽️ Restaurants:€5,460
🚗 Transport:€2,340
Total Annual Cost:€27,000

🇲🇹 Malta

🏠 Rent (2room):€14,400
🛒 Groceries & Utilities:€8,400
🍽️ Restaurants:€5,880
🚗 Transport:€2,520
Total Annual Cost:€31,200

🇮🇹 Italy

🏠 Rent (2room):€12,000
🛒 Groceries & Utilities:€8,700
🍽️ Restaurants:€6,090
🚗 Transport:€2,610
Total Annual Cost:€29,400

🇫🇷 France

🏠 Rent (2room):€12,600
🛒 Groceries & Utilities:€9,600
🍽️ Restaurants:€6,720
🚗 Transport:€2,880
Total Annual Cost:€31,800

🇸🇪 Sweden

🏠 Rent (2room):€14,400
🛒 Groceries & Utilities:€10,800
🍽️ Restaurants:€7,560
🚗 Transport:€3,240
Total Annual Cost:€36,000

🇨🇭 Switzerland

🏠 Rent (2room):€22,800
🛒 Groceries & Utilities:€13,200
🍽️ Restaurants:€9,240
🚗 Transport:€3,960
Total Annual Cost:€49,200
💾 Auto-saved
🏆 Best Country
-
💰 Net Income
€0
💚 Savings vs France
€0