Compare salaries, taxes, cost of living and wealth-building potential across seven countries — so you can make smarter decisions before relocating or accepting an overseas role.
🇦🇺 Australia🇺🇸 United States🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇨🇦 Canada🇸🇬 Singapore🇳🇿 New Zealand🇦🇪 UAE (Dubai)
Your Salary
Enter your gross annual salary
We’ll convert it to each country’s currency automatically.
Used for 10/20/30-year projections
USD/month beyond standard COL estimates
Choose Countries to Compare
Select two countries
Compare any combination of the seven countries below.
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Educational estimates only. Actual tax outcomes depend on residency, deductions, filing status, pension contributions, local legislation and exchange rates. Cost-of-living data is based on publicly available composite estimates and varies significantly by individual lifestyle and location. This calculator provides general information and is not personal financial, tax or migration advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making significant financial decisions.
How This Calculator Works
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Tax calculation
Progressive tax brackets for each country, applying standard deductions and allowances. Australia includes LITO. US applies federal standard deduction. UK applies NI bands separately. 2025–26 rates.
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Exchange rates
Indicative mid-2026 rates convert all figures to USD for comparison. Live rates are not used — exchange rates at time of any actual move will differ.
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Cost of living
Composite monthly estimates for each country based on Numbeo, EIU and Expatistan data for a single professional. Costs vary significantly by city, neighbourhood and lifestyle.
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Retirement projection
Compound interest projection on estimated annual savings (approx. 50% of disposable income after COL). Illustrative only — actual savings rate depends on personal choices.
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What’s excluded
State/provincial income taxes (US/CA). Capital gains tax. Employer super contributions (shown separately). Individual tax reliefs, credits or deductions beyond standard allowances.
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Update schedule
Tax data reviewed annually after each country’s budget. Exchange rates and COL data reviewed quarterly. Data version: 2025–26.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are the estimates?
The calculator uses official 2025–26 tax brackets and rates for each country, applying standard deductions for a single resident taxpayer. Cost-of-living data is based on composite estimates from publicly available sources. Results should be treated as directional comparisons rather than precise payslip predictions.
Why doesn’t my result match my actual payslip?
Payslips reflect your specific situation: employer arrangements, individual deductions, credits, additional income, filing status and any special elections (e.g. salary sacrifice, additional super). This calculator applies standard assumptions. The gap between the estimate and your payslip tells you something about your individual situation.
Does the calculator include Australian employer superannuation?
Australian employer super (11.5% for 2025–26) is paid on top of your salary and is not deducted from take-home pay — so it is not included in the comparison. It is a genuine and significant part of total compensation, and is noted in the country information.
What about Singapore CPF?
Expats on an Employment Pass are generally exempt from CPF contributions. Citizens and Permanent Residents pay 20% employee CPF. The calculator shows income-tax-only figures for Singapore by default, which reflects the typical expat position. CPF contributions are described in the Country Info tab.
Do I still pay Australian tax if I move overseas?
Australian tax residency rules are complex. The ATO applies a facts-and-circumstances test rather than a simple day-count rule. If you remain an Australian tax resident, you are taxed on worldwide income in Australia, regardless of where you work. Always seek advice from a tax professional before relocating.
Will more countries be added?
Yes. The calculator stores all tax and COL data in structured data objects, which means adding a new country requires only a new data entry. Germany, Netherlands, Japan, Hong Kong and Ireland are planned for future updates.
Why do US state taxes matter so much?
US state income tax ranges from 0% (Texas, Florida, Nevada) to 13.3% (California). On a $150,000 salary, the difference between living in Texas and California is approximately $12,000–15,000 per year. The calculator shows federal tax only and notes that state tax is excluded, to avoid misleading comparisons across states.
How are the cost-of-living estimates calculated?
COL estimates are composite figures for a single professional based on data from Numbeo, the Economist Intelligence Unit and Expatistan, with adjustments for mid-2026 conditions. They represent a typical mid-tier lifestyle rather than either the minimum or maximum possible cost. Individual costs vary significantly by suburb, accommodation choice and personal habits.
Sources & References
Australian Taxation Office (2025). Tax rates — residents 2025–26. ato.gov.au
Internal Revenue Service (2025). Revenue Procedure 2025 — Federal tax brackets. irs.gov
HM Revenue & Customs (2025). Income Tax rates and Personal Allowances 2025–26. gov.uk
Canada Revenue Agency (2025). Federal and Ontario provincial tax rates 2025. canada.ca
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (2025). Individual income tax rates. iras.gov.sg
Inland Revenue Department, New Zealand (2025). Tax rates for individuals. ird.govt.nz
Numbeo (2026). Cost of Living Comparison. numbeo.com
ASIC MoneySmart (2025). Working overseas. moneysmart.gov.au