How Much Do You Need to Earn Abroad? Salary Calculator Guide

When people think about earning money abroad, they almost always start with the same mistake: they Google the exchange rate. An $80,000 salary in US dollars converts to roughly 2.8 million Thai baht. That number looks enormous. It also tells you almost nothing useful about what your life will actually cost, how much the government will take, or whether you will feel richer or poorer than you do right now.

The real question is not “what is $80,000 in local currency?” It is: how much do I actually need to earn in another country to maintain — or improve — my current standard of living? That answer depends on three variables that most salary guides ignore: local cost of living, effective tax rates, and purchasing power parity. Get any one of those wrong and your financial planning is built on sand.

That is exactly why we built the WhereNext Salary Calculator. It takes your current salary, adjusts for destination-specific cost of living and tax rates, and shows you the equivalent income you would need in any of 95 countries. No guesswork. No vibes. Just data-driven comparisons that help you understand whether a move makes financial sense before you start packing boxes.

Why Your Salary Number Is Wrong

Most people approach international salary comparisons with a mental model built for domestic moves. Moving from Chicago to Austin? Compare salaries, check rent, done. Moving from Chicago to Lisbon? The same approach will mislead you badly, because three critical factors change simultaneously.

Factor 1: Cost of Living Is Not Just “Rent”

When Americans think about cost of living abroad, they usually fixate on rent. And yes, rent is the single largest expense — but it is rarely the biggest delta. In many countries, the gap between US and local costs is even wider for groceries, dining, transportation, and healthcare than it is for housing. A meal at a mid-range restaurant in Chiang Mai costs $4–$7. The same meal in Denver costs $18–$30. That difference compounds across every meal, every week, all year.

Our calculator uses composite cost-of-living indices that cover rent, groceries, dining, transport, utilities, and healthcare — not just a single line item. The result is a ratio that tells you exactly how much further (or shorter) your money stretches in any destination versus your home city. For a deeper dive into these comparisons, see our US vs. abroad cost-of-living breakdown.

Factor 2: Tax Rates Vary Wildly

An $80,000 salary in the US means roughly $60,000–$65,000 after federal, state, and FICA taxes, depending on your state. That same $80,000 in the UAE means $80,000 in your pocket — zero income tax. In Germany, it means roughly $46,000–$50,000 after income tax and solidarity surcharges. In Portugal, under the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) regime, certain foreign-source income is taxed at a flat 20%.

Tax is not a footnote. It is often the single largest variable in whether a move improves or worsens your financial position. Our calculator applies destination-specific effective tax rates so you see take-home pay, not gross salary. For US citizens dealing with worldwide taxation obligations, see our digital nomad tax guide and the tax comparison tool.

Factor 3: Purchasing Power Is What Actually Matters

Here is the concept that ties everything together. A dollar buys different things in different places. Economists call this purchasing power parity (PPP). If you earn $50,000 in Vietnam, you are not living a $50,000-in-America lifestyle — you are living something closer to $150,000, because everything from rent to restaurants to medical care costs a fraction of US prices.

Conversely, earning $100,000 in Zurich does not make you rich. After Swiss taxes and Zurich-level costs, your actual lifestyle is roughly equivalent to earning $65,000–$70,000 in a mid-tier US city. The number on your paycheck means nothing without the purchasing power context around it. That context is exactly what the Salary Calculator provides.

How the Calculator Works

The WhereNext Salary Calculator uses a three-step process to transform your current salary into a meaningful comparison across 95 countries. Here is exactly what happens under the hood.

Step 1: Base Salary Input

You enter your current annual salary and select your home country (or city, for more precision). The tool normalizes everything to USD for consistent comparison, using current exchange rates. You can also select one of 15 professions to see how your salary benchmarks against local market rates in each destination.

Step 2: Cost-of-Living Adjustment

The calculator computes a cost-of-living ratio between your origin and each destination. This ratio is derived from composite indices covering rent, groceries, dining, transport, utilities, and healthcare. If the cost-of-living index for your destination is 40% of your origin, you need only 40% of your current salary to maintain the same lifestyle. The formula is straightforward:

Equivalent Salary = Base Salary × (Destination Cost Index ÷ Origin Cost Index)

This gives you the raw purchasing-power-adjusted figure — what you would need to earn locally to afford the same basket of goods and services you consume at home.

Step 3: Tax Rate Application

The tool then applies each country’s effective income tax rate to show your estimated take-home pay. This is critical because two countries can have the same cost of living but dramatically different tax burdens. A $50,000 equivalent salary in a zero-tax country puts $50,000 in your pocket. The same salary in a 40% tax country leaves you $30,000. The calculator surfaces both the gross equivalent and the after-tax estimate so you can plan accurately.

Finally, results are benchmarked against local salary data for your selected profession, so you can see whether the equivalent salary is realistic for that market. Earning $60,000 as a software engineer in Portugal is normal. Earning $60,000 as a teacher in Vietnam is not. Context matters.

Example: $80,000 Software Engineer from the US

Let’s walk through a concrete example. You are a software engineer earning $80,000 a year in the United States. After federal and state taxes (assuming no state income tax for simplicity), you take home roughly $63,000. You want to know what your life looks like in five popular relocation destinations.

Portugal

Equivalent salary needed: ~$52,000

Portugal’s cost-of-living index is roughly 65% of the US average. You need about $52,000 to maintain the same standard of living. However, Portugal’s income tax on that amount is approximately 28%, leaving you with around $37,400 after taxes. The good news: software engineer salaries in Lisbon average $35,000–$55,000 (higher for remote US-company roles), so the numbers work — especially if you keep a US-based remote salary. See the full Portugal profile for more details.

Thailand

Equivalent salary needed: ~$28,000

This is where purchasing power gets exciting. Thailand’s cost-of-living index is roughly 35% of the US. You need just $28,000 to live the same lifestyle that costs $80,000 in America. The effective tax rate on that income level is approximately 15%, leaving you with about $23,800 after taxes. If you are earning a US remote salary and spending in Thailand, the surplus is enormous. A software engineer earning $80,000 remotely and spending $28,000 a year in Chiang Mai is saving over $35,000 annually — something nearly impossible in most US cities. Explore Thailand’s profile.

Germany

Equivalent salary needed: ~$76,000

Germany’s cost of living is only modestly lower than the US — about 95% in major cities like Munich or Frankfurt. You would need roughly $76,000 to maintain the same lifestyle. But here is the catch: Germany’s effective tax rate at that income level is approximately 42% (including social contributions), leaving you around $44,000 after taxes. That is meaningfully less take-home than the US, despite similar costs. Germany compensates with universal healthcare, generous vacation policies, and strong worker protections — benefits that do not show up in a salary number but significantly affect quality of life. See Germany’s profile.

UAE (Dubai)

Equivalent salary needed: ~$56,000

The UAE’s cost of living is roughly 70% of major US cities (higher for housing in Dubai Marina or Downtown, lower for everything else). You would need about $56,000 to match your US lifestyle. The headline advantage: zero income tax. Every dollar of that $56,000 stays in your pocket. That zero-tax factor makes the UAE disproportionately attractive for high earners — the higher your salary, the bigger the tax savings. The trade-off is that Dubai is not cheap in absolute terms, and the lifestyle can feel transactional. Explore the UAE profile.

Colombia

Equivalent salary needed: ~$24,000

Colombia’s cost-of-living index is approximately 30% of the US. You need just $24,000 to live the same lifestyle. The effective tax rate at that level is around 19%, leaving roughly $19,400 after taxes. For a remote worker earning a US salary, Medellín or Bogotá represent extraordinary value. A $4,000 monthly paycheck goes further in Colombia than a $10,000 paycheck in San Francisco — and that is not hyperbole. The cost-of-living tool lets you see exactly where those savings come from, line by line. See Colombia’s profile.

Countries Where Your Dollar Goes Furthest

Using the Salary Calculator with a $75,000 US baseline, here are the ten countries where your purchasing power is highest — meaning you need the smallest equivalent salary to maintain the same lifestyle. These are the destinations where a US remote salary creates the biggest financial advantage.

• Vietnam — Equivalent needed: ~$22,500 (30% of US). Fast-growing economy, incredible food costs, rapidly improving infrastructure.
• India — Equivalent needed: ~$20,000 (27% of US). Massive cost advantage, English widely spoken, strong tech sector.
• Thailand — Equivalent needed: ~$26,000 (35% of US). Best balance of affordability, healthcare, and expat infrastructure.
• Indonesia — Equivalent needed: ~$24,000 (32% of US). Bali lifestyle at a fraction of Western costs, digital nomad visa available.
• Colombia — Equivalent needed: ~$23,000 (31% of US). Same US time zones, strong healthcare system, growing nomad scene.
• Mexico — Equivalent needed: ~$30,000 (40% of US). Proximity to the US, familiar culture, 180-day tourist visa.
• Turkey — Equivalent needed: ~$25,500 (34% of US). Straddling Europe and Asia, rich culture, highly affordable outside Istanbul.
• Bulgaria — Equivalent needed: ~$27,000 (36% of US). EU member, 10% flat income tax, Sofia is increasingly popular with remote workers.
• Georgia — Equivalent needed: ~$24,500 (33% of US). One-year visa-free for 95 nationalities, flat 20% income tax, Tbilisi rent from $300.
• Argentina — Equivalent needed: ~$21,000 (28% of US). Buenos Aires offers European-style living at South American prices, though currency volatility adds complexity.

The pattern is clear: Southeast Asia and Latin America dominate purchasing power rankings. A US remote salary in any of these countries creates a financial surplus that is virtually impossible to replicate domestically. For a broader look at affordability, see our cheapest countries to live guide.

High-Salary Countries That Need More Than You Think

It is tempting to look at average salaries in Switzerland ($95,000+), Norway ($70,000+), Singapore ($65,000+), or Australia ($60,000+) and assume you will live like royalty. The reality is more nuanced. High-salary countries are high-salary because they are expensive. The purchasing power gap between gross pay and actual lifestyle is often smaller than it appears.

Switzerland

Average software engineer salary: ~$110,000. Sounds incredible until you realize that a one-bedroom apartment in Zurich costs $2,000–$3,000 a month, a basic lunch runs $20–$30, groceries are double US prices, and health insurance premiums average $400–$500 monthly. After Switzerland’s progressive taxes (which vary by canton), your take-home purchasing power is roughly equivalent to earning $65,000–$75,000 in a mid-cost US city. The lifestyle is excellent, but the financial advantage over the US is slim.

Norway

Similar story. High salaries ($65,000–$85,000 average) are offset by a cost of living roughly 130% of the US average and income taxes of 35–45%. What you gain is world-class public services, universal healthcare, and five weeks of mandatory vacation. What you do not gain is a dramatically better financial position than a comparable US role.

Singapore

Singapore has low income taxes (0–22% progressive) but eye-watering housing costs. Renting a modest apartment in the city center starts at $2,500–$4,000 per month. Cars are famously expensive due to COE certificates. The net effect: a $65,000 salary in Singapore provides a lifestyle comparable to roughly $50,000–$55,000 in a mid-tier US city, despite the lower tax rate.

Australia

Strong salaries ($55,000–$80,000 average) meet high rents, especially in Sydney and Melbourne. Australia’s cost-of-living index is about 110% of the US average, and income tax rates reach 32.5% on income above ~$30,000 AUD. The result is that an Australian salary feels comparable to its US equivalent — decent, but no windfall. The real draw is lifestyle: beaches, work-life balance, and universal healthcare.

The lesson: do not chase high nominal salaries without running the purchasing power math. A $45,000 salary in Thailand or Portugal often delivers a better lifestyle than $95,000 in Switzerland. The Salary Calculator makes this comparison explicit.

Beyond the Numbers: What the Calculator Doesn’t Show

The Salary Calculator is a financial tool. It tells you what you need to earn, not whether you will be happy, healthy, or legally allowed to work in a given country. Several critical factors sit outside any salary comparison.

• Healthcare quality: A low cost of living means nothing if the local hospital cannot handle a serious emergency. Countries like Thailand and Malaysia have world-class private healthcare. Others require evacuation insurance. Check our country profiles for healthcare scores.
• Visa and work authorization: Earning money remotely in a country that does not offer a digital nomad visa or freelance permit creates legal risk. Many popular destinations now offer specific remote work visas — Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa, Thailand’s LTR visa, Colombia’s digital nomad visa — but requirements vary. Use WhereNext’s country finder to filter by visa accessibility.
• Language barriers: Your salary goes further in Vietnam than almost anywhere on Earth, but daily life without Vietnamese is genuinely challenging outside tourist zones. Language affects everything from negotiating rent to navigating hospitals to building friendships.
• Cultural adjustment: Some relocations are smooth (US to UK, US to Canada). Others involve deep cultural shifts that affect your daily happiness in ways no spreadsheet can capture. Factor this into your planning, especially for longer-term moves.
• Currency risk: If you earn in one currency and spend in another, exchange rate movements can swing your effective salary by 5–15% in either direction. This is especially relevant for countries with volatile currencies like Argentina or Turkey.

The calculator gives you the financial foundation. The rest of WhereNext’s tools help you evaluate everything else.

How to Use Results in Your Relocation Plan

A salary comparison is a starting point, not a plan. Here is how to turn calculator results into actionable decisions.

1. Start with the Salary Calculator

Enter your current salary and profession. Identify which countries give you the best purchasing power advantage. Shortlist three to five destinations where the equivalent salary is meaningfully lower than what you currently earn — that gap is your financial upside.

2. Run the Numbers with the Budget Builder

Once you have your shortlist, use the Budget Builder to model your actual monthly expenses in each destination. The Salary Calculator gives you the macro picture; the Budget Builder fills in the details — rent, groceries, dining, transport, insurance, and discretionary spending, all calibrated to local prices.

3. Check the Tax Implications

Use the Tax Comparison tool to understand your full tax picture. This is especially important for US citizens, who owe federal taxes regardless of where they live. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) can shield up to $126,500 (2026), but only if you meet the Physical Presence or Bona Fide Residence test. Our tax guide covers the details.

4. Compare Countries Side by Side

Use the comparison tool to stack your shortlisted countries against each other across all seven dimensions: cost, safety, healthcare, infrastructure, visa access, lifestyle, and economic stability. A country might win on salary equivalence but lose on safety or healthcare — and those tradeoffs matter.

5. Validate with Cost-of-Living Data

The cost-of-living tool lets you drill into specific categories — what does a one-bedroom apartment actually cost? How much is a weekly grocery run? What about internet, gym memberships, or a monthly coworking space? These granular figures turn abstract purchasing power ratios into concrete budget lines.

6. Factor in the Transition Cost

Your first three months abroad will cost more than your ongoing monthly budget. Security deposits, visa application fees, flights, shipping, temporary accommodation while apartment hunting, SIM cards, initial furniture — these add up to $3,000–$10,000 depending on the destination. Our cost comparison guide breaks these transition costs down by region.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After watching thousands of users run salary comparisons, we see the same mistakes repeatedly.

• Comparing gross salaries: A $70,000 salary in a zero-tax country is worth more than $100,000 in a 45%-tax country. Always compare after-tax income adjusted for local costs.
• Ignoring the expat premium: You will not live exactly like a local — at least not at first. Western-style groceries, international restaurants, coworking spaces, and English-speaking services cost 20–40% more than local equivalents. Budget accordingly.
• Assuming US benefits are free: Your US employer might cover health insurance, 401(k) matching, and other benefits worth $15,000–$25,000 annually. If you go freelance abroad, you need to self-fund those equivalents. Factor that into any salary comparison.
• Forgetting US tax obligations: US citizens owe federal taxes on worldwide income regardless of where they live. The FEIE helps, but it does not eliminate the obligation. State taxes may also apply depending on your last state of residence.
• Chasing the cheapest option blindly: The country with the lowest equivalent salary is not automatically the best choice. A $20,000 equivalent in a country with poor healthcare, limited visa options, and a language you do not speak may cost you more in stress and complications than the $10,000 you save.

The Bottom Line

How much you need to earn abroad depends on where you go, what you do, and how you structure your income. The Salary Calculator cuts through the noise by giving you data-driven equivalences across 95 countries, adjusted for cost of living and taxes. It will not tell you everything — no single tool can — but it gives you the financial foundation that every relocation decision should start with.

The numbers are often surprising. Countries like Thailand, Colombia, and Vietnam offer purchasing power that makes a modest remote salary feel like a six-figure income. Conversely, high-salary destinations like Switzerland and Singapore often deliver less lifestyle per dollar than you would expect. The only way to know where you stand is to run your own numbers.

Run your salary through the calculator and see what $80K really means in 95 countries.