Net salary Financial Analyst (FP&A): Dublin vs Madrid (2026)
For a Financial Analyst (FP&A) (Mid (3 to 7 yrs) profile), in 🇮🇪 Dublin the market pays roughly €68,000 gross: after taxes and contributions you're left with €4,098/month, but with a cost of living around €3,376 the real savings come to €722/month. In 🇪🇸 Madrid the market gross is ~€46,000, the net €2,819/month and, with ~€2,115 in expenses, real savings are €704/month.
The difference is €17/mo in favour of Dublin: that's €208 a year, and about €1,207 over 5 years if you reinvest the difference at 6% annually. A higher gross, on its own, proves nothing: what counts is what stays.
The comparison, number by number
| 🇮🇪 Dublin | 🇪🇸 Madrid | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary (estimate) | €55k-€80k | €36k-€55k |
| Net / month | €4098 | €2819 |
| Rent | −€2336 | −€1378 |
| Food & groceries | −€369 | −€277 |
| Transport | −€96 | −€35 |
| Utilities | −€231 | −€180 |
| Personal expenses | −€344 | −€245 |
| Cost of living / month | −€3376 | −€2115 |
| Real savings / month | +€722 | +€704 |
| Wealth after 5 years (6%/yr) | €50.346 | €49.138 |
The factor almost everyone ignores
For this corridor, neither city applies an expat regime that meaningfully shifts the comparison: the numbers above reflect the standard tax regime.
The indifference threshold
In Dublin you already save more than in Madrid: no raise needed to stay ahead.
How these numbers are calculated
Estimated market salaries (Robert Half, Hays, Morgan McKinley, Levels.fyi 2025-26); taxes on employment income, single with no children, 2025-26 rates with local surtaxes; cost of living for 1 person (Numbeo + official sources). These are indicative estimates, not tax advice. Full methodology → · Disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Is Madrid or Dublin better for a Financial Analyst (FP&A)?
After taxes and cost of living, a Financial Analyst (FP&A) (Mid (3 to 7 yrs) profile) saves about €722/month in Dublin, versus €704/month in Madrid: €17/month more in Dublin.
How much do you actually save per month in Dublin?
On a market salary of ~€68,000 gross, the net is ~€4,098/month; after a cost of living of ~€3,376, you're left with about €722/month.
Does a higher gross salary mean more money in your pocket?
Not always. A higher gross can be eaten by taxes and cost of living: what counts is real savings, not the nominal figure. Here the difference is €17/month in favour of Dublin.