How we calculate the salary, tax, cost-of-living and quality-of-life figures shown across Global Salary Atlas.
Average monthly salary figures represent a blended national average across common roles within a country, converted to USD at prevailing exchange rates. Figures are drawn from government labour statistics and independent compensation surveys, then cross-checked where more than one source is available.
Individual professions shown in our rankings use the reported average for that role within the country, rather than the national blended figure.
The tax percentage shown for each country is an effective personal income tax estimate at the average salary level for that country, based on published national tax authority brackets. It does not include social security contributions, regional/state taxes, or deductions specific to an individual's situation — treat it as a starting reference point, not a personal tax calculation.
Cost of living is scored on a 0–10 scale, where a higher score indicates a more expensive country relative to the global set we track. The score blends housing, groceries, transport and everyday living costs from public cost-of-living datasets and is recalculated as underlying data is refreshed.
Quality of life is also scored on a 0–10 scale, combining published indicators for healthcare access, safety, political stability, and general living standards. It is intended as a directional signal, not a precise ranking — two countries scored closely should be read as roughly comparable rather than strictly ordered.
Country and profession data is reviewed on a fixed monthly schedule. When a primary source (a government statistics office, a tax authority, or a major compensation survey) publishes updated figures, we incorporate them at the next review cycle. See Data Sources for the categories of sources we draw from.
Before a figure is published or updated, it goes through a documented review step:
This process is part of our broader Editorial Policy.
All figures on Global Salary Atlas are estimates and averages, not individual guarantees. Actual salary, take-home pay, and cost of living vary by city, employer, seniority, and personal circumstances. Use these figures as a starting point for research, not as a substitute for professional financial, tax, or legal advice — see our full Disclaimer.