Portugal (Current)
Spain
Methodology: Projections use average tax rates, social security contributions, and relative cost of living indices.
Annual salary growth is based on historical averages for each country. Costs are automatically adjusted by the destination country's cost of living index.
Note: This is a simplified simulation. Factors such as capital gains taxes, specific tax benefits, and relocation costs are not included.
What-If Scenario Simulator – Economic Projections for EU Relocation
The What-If simulator allows you to model financial scenarios when considering a move between EU countries. By projecting net income, accumulated savings, and cost of living adjustments over multiple years, you can make data-driven decisions about international career moves and long-term financial planning.
Understanding Scenario Modeling
What-if analysis compares your current financial situation with potential alternatives. The simulator considers: your current net income and expenses, projected salary in the destination country (based on sector averages and growth rates), anticipated tax burden changes, cost of living differential, and currency stability. By modeling these factors over 3 to 10 years, you can see the cumulative financial impact of relocating – not just the immediate difference but the long-term trajectory.
Multi-Year Financial Projections
Short-term salary gains from relocation may be offset by adjustment costs, or conversely, modest initial gains may compound significantly over time. The simulator models annual salary growth rates (which vary by country from 2% to 5%), inflation differentials, progressive tax bracket changes as your income grows, and the impact of career advancement in different labor markets. A 5-year projection reveals patterns invisible in a simple salary comparison.
Accumulated Savings Comparison
Beyond monthly disposable income, accumulated savings are the true measure of financial success. Higher gross salaries in expensive countries like Luxembourg or Switzerland may result in less savings than moderate salaries in lower-cost countries like Portugal or Poland. The simulator tracks monthly savings potential (net income minus estimated expenses) across your projection period, showing total accumulated wealth including realistic assumptions about spending patterns in each country.
Risk Factors and Sensitivity Analysis
International relocation carries financial risks: exchange rate fluctuations for non-euro countries, housing market volatility, policy changes affecting tax rates or social benefits, and economic cycles. The simulator's scenario comparison feature lets you model optimistic, neutral, and pessimistic cases. You can adjust growth rates, inflation assumptions, and expense ratios to stress-test your decision. This helps identify breakeven points – how long you need to stay to make relocation financially worthwhile.
Making Data-Driven Relocation Decisions
Combine the What-If simulator with our other tools for comprehensive planning: use the Mobility Simulator for immediate financial comparison, the Cost of Living tool for detailed expense analysis, the Tax Simulator for precise tax calculations, and the Retirement Simulator for long-term pension impact. Together, these tools provide a complete picture that accounts for both short-term adjustment costs and long-term financial outcomes across all 27 EU member states.