Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from Germany to France
Both are high-tax countries, but family status changes everything. Germany's Ehegattensplitting helps married couples (income combined, halved for brackets, tax doubled). France's Quotient Familial helps families WITH CHILDREN (divide by 'parts'—each child = 0.5 parts). At €80,000 single: Germany ~€24,000, France ~€26,000 (Germany wins). At €80,000 married, no kids: Germany ~€15,000, France ~€22,000 (Germany wins big). At €80,000 married, 3 kids: Germany ~€15,000, France ~€9,000 (France wins big!). Choose Germany if: single, married without children, or want higher gross salaries. Choose France if: married with 2+ children, want 35-hour work week, or qualify for impatriate regime.
Top Rate
Plus 5.5% Solidaritätszuschlag
Top Rate
Plus 9.7% CSG/CRDS
At €80,000 (family dependent) income:
That is €500-750/month back in your pocket!
| Income | DE Tax | FR Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €50,000 (single) | €11,500 | €14,500 (incl. CSG) | Germany saves €3,000 | €30,000 |
| €80,000 (single) | €24,000 | €26,000 (incl. CSG) | Germany saves €2,000 | €20,000 |
| €80,000 (married, no kids) | €15,000 (splitting!) | €22,000 | Germany saves €7,000 | €70,000 |
| €80,000 (married, 2 kids) | €15,000 | €15,500 (quotient) | Similar | ~€0 |
| €80,000 (married, 3 kids) | €15,000 | €9,000 (quotient!) | France saves €6,000 | €60,000 |
CountryTaxCalc.com is reader-supported. When you use our partner links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. This helps us provide free tax calculators and comparison tools. Learn more about our affiliate partnerships
★ 4.3 Trustpilot · 287,413 reviews
Send money at the real exchange rate. Save up to 5x vs banks on international transfers.
⚠ For currency exchange only — not a bank account replacement.
Transfer Money Between Germany & France →★ 4.7 Trustpilot · 8,728 reviews
Need to hire internationally or pay contractors abroad? Deel handles payroll compliance in 150+ countries. Trusted by 40,000+ companies. 4.7 stars / 8,728 Trustpilot reviews.
⚠ For employers and companies only — not for individual freelancers or employees.
Hiring Internationally? Deel Handles Compliance →France wins for families with 2+ children. Quotient familial divides income by 'parts' (couple = 2, each child = 0.5). Family of 5 (3 kids) = 4 parts. €160,000 income becomes €40,000/part for bracket purposes. Germany's Kindergeld (€250/child/month) can't compete with this tax math.
Married couples combine income, halve it for bracket calculation, then double the tax. If one spouse earns €80,000 and the other €0, you're taxed as if both earn €40,000 each—falling into much lower brackets. This saves €5,000-10,000/year for couples with income disparities.
CSG (9.2%) and CRDS (0.5%) are French 'social contributions' that apply ON TOP of income tax—to salaries, investment income, rental income, everything. Unlike income tax brackets, these are flat rates from euro one. This hidden 9.7% burden makes France's real tax rate higher than the brackets suggest.
Germany typically pays 10-20% more for equivalent roles. A software engineer earning €70,000 in Paris might get €80,000 in Munich. However, Paris cost of living is often lower than Munich, and France's family benefits (if applicable) can offset the salary difference.
Yes—church tax (Kirchensteuer) only applies if you're registered Catholic or Protestant. Visit your local Standesamt (registrar) to formally leave the church (Kirchenaustritt). Costs €30-60. This immediately stops the 8-9% surcharge on your income tax. Many Germans do this and still attend church casually.