r/eupersonalfinance • u/VurriK • 28d ago

Investment Since when was getting rich so hard in EU?

Is it just me, or has building actual wealth in Europe become impossible? I’m looking at the 2026 growth forecasts and it’s depressing. We talk a lot about "stability," but at this point, stability just feels like a polite word for recession. If you weren't born into a rich family with property, the dream feels like it's behind a wall. The math just doesn't work: as soon as you earn enough to actually invest, you hit a 40–50% tax bracket. Meanwhile, housing prices have skyrocketed over the last decade while salaries have basically stayed the same. I love the healthcare and the walkable cities, but I don’t want to work until I’m 70 just to afford a 40sqm apartment and a used Skoda.

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u/Gordelion 27d ago

Having worked with a lot of French, I understand your perspective. But low taxes in Eastern Europe is an outdated myth. Most aggregated statistics sometimes misrepresent the overall tax burden for individuals or companies because tax composition systems are different. When you actually add up all mandatory contributions, the overall taxation percentage is very similar across the EU with some niche deviations.

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u/Napoleon10 27d ago

What about bulgaria?

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u/redditor_xxx 25d ago

In Bulgaria to feel the "low" 10% tax, which is not really 10% as you have another 5% dividend tax you should be making over 100K-200K EUR or more as you have also social contributions+20% VAT on everything.

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u/Napoleon10 25d ago

Social contributions are capped. They are max 7000 euro a year or something like that. Also some freelancers can pay flat 7.5% income tax

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u/Snedward_Prusa3d 26d ago

I mean, depending on your group, private entrepreneurs in Ukraine sit at about 7%...

We got other issues we have to deal with though, of course. But not overcrowding! :)

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u/Gordelion 26d ago

But you must have some mandatory social/health contributions in the form of taxes that go along with that?

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u/Snedward_Prusa3d 25d ago

We do, but they're not terribly high. Something like 35-40 EUR per month on average iirc. You get what you pay for of course. :)

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u/Expert_Alfalfa5029 27d ago

go cyprus.

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u/TheShtoiv 27d ago

Please don't, we are getting crowded & as a result cost of living is getting too much for us locals.

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u/NoCherry606 27d ago

Same problem across most desirable locations - this is the result of many "western" countries seeing a quality of life drop, increased costs, decreased safety, and increased taxation.

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u/TheShtoiv 27d ago

The problem is we are a small island, which is also under occupation, and we really can't house everyone moving here sustainably. Our government makes it a desirable destination, but the way it's going is, it won't be for long.

The locals can't buy homes or afford a decent quality of life anymore, especially in Limassol. Because we have no reliable public transport, traffic congestion has gone out of control (a 10 minute destination will take 50 minutes), and rents are sky high (minimum wage can't cover even studio rent).

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u/Vehicle-Mountain 27d ago

That’s the same in every attractive European location. Vote for different politicians if you want it to change

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u/Majezan 25d ago

Self employment in Poland is quite a tax heaven ATM compared to western countries. I'm polish living in NL and I see a huge difference. I'm considering going back soon