How much you need to earn for a comfortable life in Europe

Ever wondered how much you'd need to earn each month to live without financial worries? A new analysis by Euronews Business, based on OECD definitions, has put a number on it: for a single person in the European Union, you need a net monthly income of €2,867 to be considered part of the upper middle class.

That figure represents 150 percent of the median equivalised disposable income across the EU, which stood at €1,912 per month in 2025. The calculation covered 34 European countries, with thresholds ranging from just €603 in North Macedonia to a hefty €6,491 in Switzerland.

Within the EU, the cheapest entry into the upper middle class was found in Romania, where a single person needs €1,023 net per month. Luxembourg topped the list at €6,256. Germany came in at €3,611, France at €3,307, and Italy at €2,758. Neighbouring Hungary required €1,099, while Serbia, just outside the EU, needed €975.

Noticeably absent from the list was Croatia. The analysis did not provide a specific figure for the country, but the EU average offers a useful benchmark. For a couple without children, the threshold rises to €4,301 per month across the EU, and for a family with two children under 14, it jumps to €6,021.

Experts caution that these numbers tell only part of the story. According to Koen Caminada, a professor at Leiden University, the same relative income doesn't guarantee the same standard of living everywhere, as housing costs vary hugely between and even within countries. Sebastian Königs, an economist at the OECD, added that people with lower incomes can live relatively well if they own their home and live in a cheaper area.

Ultimately, "a comfortable life" means more than just hitting an income threshold. It includes covering basic costs, participating in social life, enjoying free time, saving, and handling unexpected expenses without financial stress. As the experts stress, the 150 percent figure is not an official guarantee of financial security.