Enter your net income and get a realistic monthly budget in seconds, based on the 50/30/20 rule and adapted to European costs like rent, insurance and pensions.
Salary after tax and social contributions — what actually lands in your account.
Rent, insurance, taxes, transport, groceries, utilities
Eating out, holidays, subscriptions, hobbies, shopping
Emergency fund, pension, ETF plan, debt repayment
How typical European household costs split across a budget. Treat the percentages as a starting point and adjust them for your city and situation.
Rent / housing Often higher in Paris, Amsterdam or Munich | 25% | € 1.625 |
Health & insurance Depends on country and deductible | 8% | € 520 |
Taxes (set aside) Save monthly instead of a yearly shock | 10% | € 650 |
Groceries & household Carrefour, Lidl, Albert Heijn, Mercadona | 12% | € 780 |
Transport Monthly pass, rail card or car costs | 5% | € 325 |
Lifestyle & leisure Restaurants, holidays, subscriptions | 20% | € 1.300 |
Saving & pension ETF savings plan or private pension | 20% | € 1.300 |
Download the European budget template as an Excel file and open it in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets. Every category is already set up.
The 50/30/20 rule splits your net income into three buckets: 50% for needs and fixed costs, 30% for lifestyle and 20% for saving. In expensive cities like Paris, Dublin or Munich rent is above average, so many households start closer to 60/20/20 and work their way towards 50/30/20.
Tax bills and settlements often arrive late — set aside a fixed amount every month. Energy and insurance costs rise almost every year, so review tariffs and providers annually. And plan for irregular costs such as dentist visits, car servicing or holidays with a separate annual-costs account.
New to a European country? Budget for the rental deposit, moving costs, liability and household insurance, and health cover. Also check whether income tax is withheld directly from your salary — if so, you can lower that budget line.
A budget only works if it is maintained. Finch connects your European bank accounts, categorises transactions automatically and shows each month whether you are on track — including your net worth.
20% of net income is the usual benchmark. Depending on your city and rent, 10–15% is realistic — what matters most is a standing order on payday so it happens automatically.
The common rule of thumb is a maximum of one third of gross income. Most European landlords and agencies ask for exactly this ratio when you apply for a flat.
Take your last tax bill, divide it by twelve and transfer that amount monthly to a separate tax account. If tax is withheld from your salary, that line can be reduced.
On top of your state pension, 5–10% of net income into an ETF savings plan or private pension is a solid benchmark.
Yes. The calculator and the Excel template are free and need no sign-up.
Finch connects your European accounts and keeps your budget up to date for you. Download now.