Hiring in EMEA starts with a simple calculation! How much will it cost to hire local employees?

Expanding into new markets often starts with a simple calculation: how much is the employment cost in EMEA? In reality, the answer goes far beyond salary comparisons. Across EMEA, employer costs are influenced by social security contributions, payroll taxes, pension schemes, health insurance and various country-specific obligations.

To better illustrate these differences, we compared employment costs across 21 EMEA countries. Including Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republic of Srpska), Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine. The comparison was based on a standard scenario: an employee receiving a EUR 1,000 net salary under typical employment conditions.

The results reveal major differences between countries. While the total employer cost in Cyprus reaches only EUR 1,130, businesses in Slovakia face total employment costs of EUR 1,778.75. Romania (EUR 1,747), Slovenia (EUR 1,735.21), Hungary (EUR 1,699) and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUR 1,696) also rank among the countries with the highest additional employment costs on top of net salary. For Bulgaria this employment cost is EUR 1 532,51.

The structure of these costs varies significantly as well. In the Czech Republic, employer social and health contributions alone add EUR 414 on top of salary costs. While in Estonia employer contributions can reach as much as EUR 469 depending on pension settings. By contrast, Bosnia and Herzegovina – Republic of Srpska applies no employer social security contributions at all, shifting a larger burden to employees instead.

Additional local obligations further influence the final cost of employment. Romania applies a disability fund obligation for certain employers. Ukraine includes a military tax. Employers in Bosnia and Herzegovina may also encounter environmental, injury or chamber-related taxes linked to employment.

For companies planning international expansion, these differences can directly impact workforce planning, operational budgets and market entry decisions. A EUR 1,000 net salary may ultimately cost an employer anywhere from around EUR 1,100 to nearly EUR 1,800 depending on the country.

Explore the full infographic on Accace website for a complete overview of all 21 countries.

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Data in this infographic reflects the status as of April 27, 2026 and is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice.