What is the most tax efficient country in Europe?
England, Germany, and Ireland are among the top tax havens on the continent. Switzerland's financial secrecy has made it one of the world's top places to store cash. Foreign companies can get favorable treatment as Danish holding companies while Luxembourg doesn't charge capital gains taxes on certain stocks.
England, Germany, and Ireland are among the top tax havens on the continent. Switzerland's financial secrecy has made it one of the world's top places to store cash. Foreign companies can get favorable treatment as Danish holding companies while Luxembourg doesn't charge capital gains taxes on certain stocks.
Bulgaria and Romania (10 percent) levy the lowest rate, followed by Moldova (12 percent), Ukraine (19.5 percent), and Georgia (20 percent).
Countries like Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Monaco are renowned as tax havens in Europe due to their low tax rates and privacy laws. Luxembourg offers attractive tax treatments for international corporations and Switzerland is known for its banking secrecy and favorable tax regimes for foreign companies.
No Personal Income Taxes | Region |
---|---|
🇲🇨 Monaco | Europe |
🇻🇦 Vatican City | Europe |
🇦🇪 UAE | Middle East |
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Middle East |
In general, taxes in Europe vs US tend to be higher. When considering Denmark's taxes vs US, the income tax can vary from 8 to 56.5 percent. In the case of German tax rates vs US, it can be anything from 9 to 45 percent plus a 5.5 percent solidarity surcharge if applicable.
- Albania. Cheapest cities: Tirana, Shkodër, Vlorë ...
- Romania. Cheapest cities: Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, Timisoara. ...
- Poland. Cheapest cities: Krakow, Wroclaw, Lodz. ...
- Bulgaria. Cheapest cities: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna. ...
- Czech Republic (Czechia) ...
- Hungary. ...
- Portugal. ...
- Slovakia.
Western European countries on average have the highest headline income tax rates in the world. Per the source, seven countries have a 50%+ top rate, and six of those are in Europe, led by Denmark at 55.9%. Note: Denmark's figure includes a mandatory labor market tax for all wage earners in the country.
Luxembourg has been a tax haven of choice for corporations and the wealthy since the 1960s, when the small European country rose as a financial center for the off-shore trade of European bonds.
- The Cayman Islands. If you've ever researched what country has the lowest taxes, you may already be familiar with the Cayman Islands' famously favorable tax laws. ...
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ...
- Montenegro. ...
- Singapore. ...
- Bermuda.
Which country is best to retire in Europe for taxes?
Malta is one of four European countries that offers favorable taxation of pension income to expat retirees. In July, rumors began circulating that Portugal would bring back its non-habitual resident (NHR) tax regime. Launched in 2009, the NHR gave tax breaks to people who became tax residents of Portugal.
Two of the 29 European countries covered here, Liechtenstein and Malta, do not levy any recurrent taxes on property at all. Estonia is the sole country in this map to tax only land, meaning that its real property tax.

The double Irish Dutch sandwich is a tax avoidance scheme used by multinational companies. Under this scheme, a company sets up two subsidiaries in Ireland: a holding and operating Irish company. The holding company registers in a tax haven, which allows it to avoid paying taxes on its profits.
Some of the most popular countries that offer the financial benefit of having no income tax are Bermuda, Monaco, the Bahamas, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). There are a number of countries without the burden of income taxes, and many of them are very pleasant countries in which to live.
Among the countries with the lowest tax rates in the world are Malta, Cyprus, Andorra, Montenegro and Singapore. Aside from zero income tax, in Antigua and Barbuda, individuals are also free from paying taxes on wealth, capital gains, and inheritance.
Bulgaria. Bulgaria is the only country in Europe that hasn't changed its name since it was first established in 681 AD. What has changed is that Bulgaria offers the lowest EU income tax rate of 10%. The country has a simple and straightforward tax system with few deductions and exemptions.
- Overall, Europe has a lower cost of living due to lower healthcare expenses, a weakening euro currency, and low inflation. ...
- Europeans, however, tend to pay more of their income to taxes, and average wages tend to be lower than in America.
The countries with the highest corporate tax rates in the world are Comoros (50 percent), Puerto Rico (37.5 percent), and Suriname (36 percent), while the countries with the lowest corporate rates are Turkmenistan (8 percent), Barbados, United Arab Emirates, and Hungary (all at 9 percent).
- Portugal: Rising Star of European Living. ...
- Germany: Economic Strength Meets Quality of Life. ...
- Netherlands: Innovation and Family-Friendly Living. ...
- Spain: Lifestyle and Cultural Richness. ...
- Denmark: Scandinavian Excellence. ...
- Switzerland: Stability and Natural Beauty.
City | Cost of living for a single person (USD) | Cost of living for a family of four (USD) |
---|---|---|
London | $3,600 | $8,300 |
Paris | $2,440 | $7,000 |
Berlin | $2,400 | $6,000 |
Rome | $2,000 | $5,500 |
What is the most expensive country to live in Europe?
According to a mid-2024 index, Switzerland was the most expensive country to live in Europe, with an index score of 74.9. Iceland followed in the second place with around 13 points less.
The list of the cheapest countries to retire to includes the Netherlands, Finland, and Austria. Consult with a financial advisor if you're planning to emigrate for your retirement; doing so will help maximize your money, get the most out of it, and enjoy a comfortable retirement.
- Malta: Residence Programs with Minimal Taxes. ...
- Monaco: 0% Income Tax in the Heart of Europe. ...
- Montenegro: 9 – 15% Tax Rates in Paradise. ...
- Portugal: 20% Flat Tax for Foreign Professionals. ...
- Switzerland: Lump-Sum Taxation. ...
- The United Kingdom: Pay Less Under a Non-Dom Tax Status.
According to OECD, Denmark had the highest tax to GDP ratio of all its member countries in 2021 with a ratio of 47,4%. This is partly due to various tax-funded social transfer schemes such as pensions and unemployment benefits also being taxable when received by beneficiaries.
Luxembourg. If you're curious about which country pays the highest salary in Europe, look no further than Luxembourg. Despite being one of the world's smallest nations, Luxembourg takes the lead with an impressive average monthly salary of 7418 US dollars.