Why a PPP column is the only honest way to compare offers across countries
A US$100k offer in San Francisco is roughly equivalent to US$45k in Lisbon, US$38k in Bangalore, and US$120k in Zurich — using the Big Mac index as a sanity check, those numbers aren't far off. The PPP table below approximates the same lifestyle in each country using the World Bank's PPP conversion factors, with a caveat: PPP doesn't capture healthcare quality, public-transit access, safety, or visa friction. Use it as a starting point, not a final answer.
FAQ
Why does the marginal-tax number differ from "my actual paycheck"?
Because real withholding uses brackets, not a flat rate. Someone earning $75k in the US pays 0% on the first ~$11k, 12% up to ~$44k, 22% up to ~$95k, etc. The effective tax rate is much lower than the marginal rate. This calculator uses your stated marginal rate as a quick proxy; for a precise take-home, use the Income Tax Estimator tool, which handles brackets.
What is the right "working hours per week"?
For a US W-2 salaried job, 40 is standard; for many salaried roles the real number is 45–55. For an hourly contractor, it's the contracted hours. For a Swiss or German salaried position with 25 days of vacation and ~10 public holidays, the implied hours-per-work-day is lower, so the same annual number translates to a higher hourly rate than a US role with 10 vacation days and 0 stat holidays.
Why isn't cryptocurrency or gold in the currency list?
Because the user here is a salaried worker comparing an offer. The conversion factors above are for fiat currencies with stable PPP factors. Crypto and commodities are too volatile for this use case; the Currency Converter tool is the place for that.
Methodology
Cadence conversion: hourly × hours/week × weeks/year = annual; daily assumes 5 working days/week × 52 weeks; weekly × 52 = annual; monthly × 12 = annual. Net = gross × (1 − marginal rate). PPP values come from the World Bank's PPP conversion factor, GDP (LCU per international $), 2023 vintage, scaled so US = 1.0. Currency rates are illustrative mid-market snapshots and should be re-checked at offer time. Source: World Bank databank, code PA.NUS.PPP.