Where Your Salary Goes Furthest
Type in what you earn and see how far it stretches in 100+ countries. A real cost of living and purchasing power comparison, not just exchange rates.
Cost of living vs your salary, by country
Where your salary goes furthest comes down to one thing: the cost of living gap between countries. This free cost of living and salary calculator converts your income into real purchasing power across 100+ countries, using each country's cost of living index and live exchange rates, so you can see what your money is actually worth abroad. The table below shows how $80,000 earned in the United States compares around the world. Enter your own income and country in the calculator above for personalised numbers.
| Country | Cost of living index (US=100) | Income feels like | Purchasing power | Est. living cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 24 | $333,333 | ×4.2 | $264/mo |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 25 | $320,000 | ×4.0 | $275/mo |
| 🇮🇳 India | 26 | $307,692 | ×3.8 | $286/mo |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | 28 | $285,714 | ×3.6 | $308/mo |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | 28 | $285,714 | ×3.6 | $308/mo |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | 33 | $242,424 | ×3.0 | $363/mo |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia | 33 | $242,424 | ×3.0 | $363/mo |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 33 | $242,424 | ×3.0 | $363/mo |
| 🇵🇪 Peru | 34 | $235,294 | ×2.9 | $374/mo |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | 35 | $228,571 | ×2.9 | $385/mo |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 35 | $228,571 | ×2.9 | $385/mo |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | 35 | $228,571 | ×2.9 | $385/mo |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | 37 | $216,216 | ×2.7 | $407/mo |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 38 | $210,526 | ×2.6 | $418/mo |
| 🇬🇪 Georgia | 38 | $210,526 | ×2.6 | $418/mo |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 38 | $210,526 | ×2.6 | $418/mo |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 38 | $210,526 | ×2.6 | $418/mo |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | 38 | $210,526 | ×2.6 | $418/mo |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | 40 | $200,000 | ×2.5 | $440/mo |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | 40 | $200,000 | ×2.5 | $440/mo |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | 40 | $200,000 | ×2.5 | $440/mo |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | 42 | $190,476 | ×2.4 | $462/mo |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | 45 | $177,778 | ×2.2 | $495/mo |
| 🇨🇳 China | 45 | $177,778 | ×2.2 | $495/mo |
| 🇨🇿 Czechia | 50 | $160,000 | ×2.0 | $550/mo |
| 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 52 | $153,846 | ×1.9 | $572/mo |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 52 | $153,846 | ×1.9 | $572/mo |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | 52 | $153,846 | ×1.9 | $572/mo |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 55 | $145,455 | ×1.8 | $605/mo |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 55 | $145,455 | ×1.8 | $605/mo |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 60 | $133,333 | ×1.7 | $660/mo |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | 65 | $123,077 | ×1.5 | $715/mo |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 65 | $123,077 | ×1.5 | $715/mo |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 68 | $117,647 | ×1.5 | $748/mo |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 68 | $117,647 | ×1.5 | $748/mo |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 68 | $117,647 | ×1.5 | $748/mo |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | 70 | $114,286 | ×1.4 | $770/mo |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 72 | $111,111 | ×1.4 | $792/mo |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 72 | $111,111 | ×1.4 | $792/mo |
| 🇫🇷 France | 72 | $111,111 | ×1.4 | $792/mo |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 72 | $111,111 | ×1.4 | $792/mo |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 74 | $108,108 | ×1.4 | $814/mo |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 76 | $105,263 | ×1.3 | $836/mo |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 78 | $102,564 | ×1.3 | $858/mo |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 82 | $97,561 | ×1.2 | $902/mo |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | 85 | $94,118 | ×1.2 | $935/mo |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | 86 | $93,023 | ×1.2 | $946/mo |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | 95 | $84,211 | ×1.1 | $1,045/mo |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 100 | $80,000 | 1.0× | $1,100/mo |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 122 | $65,574 | ×0.8 | $1,342/mo |
Cost of living index: United States = 100. Purchasing power shows how much further the same income goes. Estimates for a single person, excluding rent; use the calculator for your own income and currency.
Where your salary goes furthest
The countries where a typical Western salary buys the biggest lifestyle, cheapest first.
- 🇵🇰 Pakistan: your $80,000 lives like about $333,333 (×4.2 further); a local lifestyle runs around $264/month.
- 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka: your $80,000 lives like about $320,000 (×4.0 further); a local lifestyle runs around $275/month.
- 🇮🇳 India: your $80,000 lives like about $307,692 (×3.8 further); a local lifestyle runs around $286/month.
- 🇳🇵 Nepal: your $80,000 lives like about $285,714 (×3.6 further); a local lifestyle runs around $308/month.
- 🇪🇬 Egypt: your $80,000 lives like about $285,714 (×3.6 further); a local lifestyle runs around $308/month.
- 🇦🇷 Argentina: your $80,000 lives like about $242,424 (×3.0 further); a local lifestyle runs around $363/month.
- 🇨🇴 Colombia: your $80,000 lives like about $242,424 (×3.0 further); a local lifestyle runs around $363/month.
- 🇻🇳 Vietnam: your $80,000 lives like about $242,424 (×3.0 further); a local lifestyle runs around $363/month.
Where your salary is worth least
The most expensive countries, where the same income buys the least.
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: the same $80,000 feels like about $65,574; expect roughly $1,342/month to live locally.
- 🇺🇸 United States: the same $80,000 feels like about $80,000; expect roughly $1,100/month to live locally.
- 🇳🇴 Norway: the same $80,000 feels like about $84,211; expect roughly $1,045/month to live locally.
- 🇩🇰 Denmark: the same $80,000 feels like about $93,023; expect roughly $946/month to live locally.
- 🇮🇱 Israel: the same $80,000 feels like about $94,118; expect roughly $935/month to live locally.
- 🇸🇬 Singapore: the same $80,000 feels like about $97,561; expect roughly $902/month to live locally.
How we calculate purchasing power
We take each country's cost of living index, compare it with your home country's, and convert your income at live exchange rates to show what your money would feel like locally. It is a guide for comparing destinations, not a relocation quote. Read the full methodology, or see how far $1,000 goes around the world.
Make your salary go further abroad
Beyond choosing a lower-cost country, avoid losing money on exchange. A Wise account lets you spend and withdraw at the real exchange rate. For more ideas, see the cheapest countries for digital nomads and the cheapest countries to travel, or compare any two places in the country comparison tool.
Frequently asked questions
How far does my salary go abroad?
It depends on the cost of living gap between countries. In low-cost countries like India, Vietnam or Egypt, a typical Western salary can stretch three to four times further, while in Switzerland or Norway it buys less than at home. Enter your income in the calculator to see your own numbers across 100+ countries.
Which country makes your salary go furthest?
Among major destinations, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and Egypt give the most purchasing power for a typical Western salary, with costs roughly a quarter of US levels. Vietnam, Colombia and Georgia are close behind.
How is purchasing power calculated?
We compare each country's cost of living index (United States = 100) with your home country's, then convert your income at live exchange rates. The result is what your money would feel like locally in real purchasing power, not just a currency conversion.
How much salary do I need to live in another country?
As a rough guide, a single person's monthly living costs excluding rent range from about $250 in the cheapest countries to over $1,300 in the priciest. The calculator shows an estimated monthly living cost for every country.
Is a higher salary always better abroad?
Not necessarily. A lower salary in a low-cost country can deliver a higher standard of living than a bigger salary in an expensive one. Purchasing power, not the headline number, is what matters.
What is a cost of living index?
A cost of living index scores how expensive a country is relative to a baseline, here the United States at 100. A score of 40 means costs are roughly 40 percent of US levels, while 120 means about 20 percent higher.
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