Where a high salary keeps the most after tax
At high incomes the tax system dominates every other variable. We run a $300,000 gross salary through each country’s brackets and employee contributions, subtract a comfortable local lifestyle, and rank on what is left.
The ranking
| # | City | Match | Monthly cost | Left over | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 87% | $4,027 | $17,159 | 17,159 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 86/100Safety scores 94/100Healthcare scores 92/100No remote-work visa route |
| 2 | Dubai United Arab Emirates | 85% | $3,887 | $21,113 | 21,113 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 87/100Safety scores 88/100Connectivity scores 100/100 |
| 3 | Stockholm Sweden | 83% | $3,286 | $9,828 | 9,828 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 84/100Safety scores 84/100Healthcare scores 88/100No remote-work visa route |
| 4 | Copenhagen Denmark | 83% | $3,957 | $7,479 | 7,479 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 81/100Safety scores 88/100Healthcare scores 90/100No remote-work visa route |
| 5 | Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR | 83% | $3,881 | $17,178 | 17,178 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 86/100Safety scores 86/100Healthcare scores 84/100No remote-work visa route |
| 6 | Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates | 82% | $3,407 | $21,593 | 21,593 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 88/100Safety scores 92/100Healthcare scores 80/100 |
| 7 | Valencia Spain | 79% | $2,284 | $12,199 | 12,199 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 87/100Safety scores 80/100Healthcare scores 84/100 |
| 8 | Seattle United States | 79% | $4,918 | $13,056 | 13,056 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 84/100Healthcare scores 86/100English usability scores 100/100No remote-work visa route |
| 9 | Barcelona Spain | 79% | $2,966 | $11,517 | 11,517 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 86/100Healthcare scores 84/100Getting around scores 91/100 |
| 10 | Doha Qatar | 79% | $3,218 | $21,782 | 21,782 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 88/100Safety scores 92/100Healthcare scores 78/100No remote-work visa route |
| 11 | Amsterdam Netherlands | 78% | $3,980 | $9,960 | 9,960 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 83/100Safety scores 76/100Healthcare scores 86/100No remote-work visa route |
| 12 | Tokyo Japan | 78% | $3,202 | $9,557 | 9,557 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 84/100Safety scores 94/100Healthcare scores 88/100 |
| 13 | Toronto Canada | 78% | $4,100 | $11,866 | 11,866 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 84/100Safety scores 76/100Healthcare scores 84/100No remote-work visa route |
| 14 | Tel Aviv Israel | 78% | $4,455 | $9,661 | 9,661 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 82/100Healthcare scores 84/100English usability scores 84/100No remote-work visa route |
| 15 | Vancouver Canada | 78% | $4,206 | $12,120 | 12,120 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 84/100Healthcare scores 84/100English usability scores 96/100No remote-work visa route |
The top five, in detail
Zero income tax and a remote-work visa; housing, schooling and the car you will need eat most of the tax saving.
Capped childcare fees and universal healthcare make family costs unusually low relative to the headline tax rate.
High taxes buy near-free childcare, healthcare and one of the best cycling cities on earth.
A ~15% effective tax ceiling and superb transit, paid for entirely in square metres.
Other guides
Frequently asked
How was this where a high salary keeps the most after tax list produced?
It is a calculation, not an opinion. Each of the 70 cities in the dataset is scored 0–100 on ten dimensions, weighted by the criteria for this guide (Money left over on $300,000 gross; Effective tax and social rate; Safety and healthcare; Connectivity), and ranked on the weighted average. Costs are measured against a $300,000 gross salary taxed under each country's own rules.
What household does this price?
1 adult, in a 1-bed, city centre, at a comfortable lifestyle, without a car. You can change all of that in the live tool.
What is the number one where a high salary keeps the most after tax?
Singapore, Singapore, with a 87% match and a modelled monthly cost of $4,027 for this household. The best-run city in Asia with low taxes and top-tier healthcare — housing and car ownership are the exceptions.