€30,000 gross sounds like a simple figure, but what truly matters is how much of it ends up in your pocket after taxes and social contributions. This overview shows how dramatically net salaries differ depending on the country. Whether you're comparing markets, considering career options, or just curious — here’s what €30k gross actually looks like after deductions across Eastern Europe.

All calculations are based on single, non-married professionals.

🇷🇺 Russia
💰 Gross Salary: 2.757.861 RUB
✂️ Deductions: Income tax: 358.522 RUB (~13.00%)
🤑 Net Salary: 2.399.339 RUB (€26.100)

🇧🇬 Bulgaria
💰 Gross Salary: 58.674 BGN
✂️ Deductions: Taxes & social: 11.448 BGN (~19.51%)
🤑 Net Salary: 47.226 BGN (€24.147)

🇨🇿 Czech Republic
💰 Gross Salary: 748.168 CZK
✂️ Deductions: Taxes & social: 168.280 CZK (~22.49%)
🤑 Net Salary: 579.888 CZK (€23.252)

🇺🇦 Ukraine
💰 Gross Salary: 1.340.427 UAH
✂️ Deductions: Taxes & social: 308.298 UAH (~23.00%)
🤑 Net Salary: 1.032.129 UAH (€23.100)

🇪🇪 Estonia
💰 Gross Salary: €30.000
✂️ Deductions: Taxes & social: €7.442 (~24.81%)
🤑 Net Salary: €22.558

🇵🇱 Poland
💰 Gross Salary: 125.407 PLN
✂️ Deductions: Taxes & social: 39.589 PLN (~31.57%)
🤑 Net Salary: 85.818 PLN (€20.530)

🇭🇺 Hungary
💰 Gross Salary: 12.075.405 HUF
✂️ Deductions: Taxes & social: 4.045.257 HUF (~33.50%)
🤑 Net Salary: 8.030.148 HUF (€19.950)

🇱🇹 Lithuania
💰 Gross Salary: €30.000
✂️ Deductions: Taxes & social: €11.693 (~38.98%)
🤑 Net Salary: €18.307

🇷🇴 Romania
💰 Gross Salary: 149.318 RON
✂️ Deductions: Taxes & social: 61.967 RON (~41.50%)
🤑 Net Salary: 87.351 RON (€17.550)

🇭🇷 Croatia
💰 Gross Salary: €30.000
✂️ Deductions: Taxes & social: €14.760 (~49.20%)
🤑 Net Salary: €15.240

💡 Insights:
At first glance, €30k may seem like a decent salary in most parts of Europe. However, this comparison reveals that in Russia and Bulgaria you could take home more than €24k net, while in Croatia it could drop to just €15k — a nearly €10k difference, despite the same gross.

This highlights the importance of understanding local tax and social contribution systems before accepting an international job offer. For example:

In countries like Bulgaria and Czechia, lower deductions make the salary feel closer to Western Europe in real terms.

In Lithuania, Romania, and Croatia, social contributions and taxes eat up over a third to almost half of the gross salary.

In Estonia and Poland, you land somewhere in the middle, balancing moderate deductions with good access to EU-level infrastructure and opportunities.

📌 The research is based on publicly available data & exchange rates from March 30, 2025. Deviations are possible.

📖 Ready to take your tech career global? Book a career counseling session with us and secure a better job, earn more, or relocate — with our help.

👉 Like, 🔗 share, & ▶️ follow for more career tips & job advice!

#czechrepublic #croatia #tax #salary #taxes #europe #career