What does it take to live comfortably in Europe? The answer depends on where you live, your household size, and what you consider comfortable. While there is no single definition, income benchmarks offer a useful starting point.
The OECD defines the middle class as households with equivalised disposable income between 75% and 200% of the national median. This range is split into lower-middle (75–100%), mid-income (100–150%), and upper-middle (150–200%). According to Sebastian Königs, senior economist at the OECD, households earning above 150% of the median likely have sufficient income to live relatively comfortably, though he cautions that this is not a guarantee of financial security.
Euronews Business calculated the monthly net income needed to reach 150% of the median for three household types across 34 European countries. In 2025, the EU median equivalised disposable income is €22,939 per year, or €1,912 per month. A single adult living alone would need €2,867 per month to hit the benchmark.
Wide gaps across the continent
The range is striking. In North Macedonia, a single adult needs just €603 per month, while in Switzerland the figure is €6,491. Within the EU, the span runs from €1,023 in Romania to €6,256 in Luxembourg. Norway (€5,240), Austria (€4,568), Denmark (€4,524), Ireland (€4,392), and the Netherlands (€4,308) all exceed €4,000.
Among the EU's four largest economies, Germany has the highest benchmark at €3,611, followed by France at €3,307, Italy at €2,758, and Spain at €2,546. That means a single adult in Germany needs €1,065 more per month than one in Spain. The gap is even wider when compared to EU candidate countries: Albania (€723), Turkey (€755), Montenegro (€825), and Serbia (€975) all fall below €1,000.
In 11 EU countries, the benchmark sits between €1,000 and €1,900, including Portugal (€1,808), Poland (€1,799), Greece (€1,463), Bulgaria (€1,108), and Hungary (€1,099).
Household size matters
A couple without children does not need double the income of a single adult, as they share costs like rent and energy. Eurostat assumes they need 1.5 times as much. So in the EU, a couple needs €4,301 per month, while a couple with two children under 14 needs €6,021. The country ranking remains the same because the same multiplier applies everywhere.
However, euro figures do not reflect price differences. Purchasing power standards (PPS) adjust for these, offering a fairer comparison. In PPS terms, the EU benchmark for a single adult is 2,830 PPS per month, ranging from 1,031 PPS in Albania to 4,709 PPS in Luxembourg—a gap of about 4.6 times, compared to 10.8 times in euros. Within the EU, Hungary has the lowest at 1,495 PPS, making Luxembourg's benchmark just over three times higher.
These differences mean that a relatively comfortable income buys very different living standards. As Prof. Koen Caminada from Leiden University notes, “The same relative income position can also buy very different living standards across countries. Being at 150% of the median in one country does not imply the same purchasing power as being at 150% elsewhere.”
Beyond income: wealth and regional variation
National averages hide significant regional disparities, particularly in housing costs. Caminada points out that purchasing-power-adjusted figures improve comparisons but still conceal local differences. Königs adds that many OECD countries have large regional gaps in both income and cost of living.
Income alone is not the full picture. Wealth, especially homeownership, plays a crucial role. “Some people may get by on low incomes just fine because they own their home and maybe live in a place where prices are lower,” says Königs. Caminada highlights that a household with modest income but accessible savings can better absorb unexpected bills or job loss than a higher-income household with debt.
Defining “living comfortably” goes beyond paying bills. Caminada suggests it means affording adequate housing, food, energy, and transport, participating in social life, enjoying leisure, and saving for the future—while being able to handle unexpected expenses without falling into hardship.
The data underscores how uneven the cost of living is across Europe. For policymakers, these benchmarks can inform debates on wages, social benefits, and housing policy. For individuals, they offer a rough guide to what a comfortable life might cost—and how far your money goes depending on where you choose to call home.
