About DKK 18,000 a month after tax
DKK 322,000 a year is DKK 26,833 a month before tax. First 8% labour market contribution (AM-bidrag) is taken, then income tax. Under 2026 rules, with no church tax and no pension contribution of your own, you take home between DKK 17,865 and DKK 18,342 a month, depending on the municipality. About one third of the salary goes to tax.
Use the salary calculator for your own case.
Your first pay may be lower
Without a tax card, the employer withholds 55% in tax. You can apply for a tax card from 1 month before you start work, so do it as soon as you have the job offer. Your first salary may also not arrive until the end of the first month.
How much cash to bring
Housing is the largest cost. Danish law lets a landlord ask for a deposit of up to 3 months’ rent and up to 3 months’ prepaid rent, and you still pay the first month’s rent on top.
The City of Copenhagen estimates DKK 4,000 to 6,000 a month for a room in a shared flat in the city centre. At DKK 5,000, a landlord who asks for the maximum of both takes 7 months’ rent before you move in: DKK 35,000 (about $5,174). Not every landlord asks for the maximum, but plan for it. You also need money to live on until the first salary arrives.
Everyday costs each month
Statistics Denmark figures for 2024: a single person under 60 spends on average about DKK 1,811 a month on food and drink at home, not counting eating out. A phone plan is about DKK 250, and a 2-zone monthly travel pass with metro in Copenhagen is about DKK 600.
People who want to save mostly cook at home. What is left after rent and these costs is what you can save. For more on the first weeks in Denmark, take the first-month quiz.