The NLV Index 2026
Where Your Salary Goes Furthest
Global Top 10 by Salary Bracket
Rankings shift based on income. Low-tax nations dominate at higher salaries, while affordable countries lead at lower brackets.
| # | Country | NLV |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 81 |
| 2 | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 78 |
| 3 | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 75 |
| 4 | 🇹🇷 Turkey | 74 |
| 5 | 🇨🇱 Chile | 72 |
| 6 | 🇮🇳 India | 71 |
| 7 | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 69 |
| 8 | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 69 |
| 9 | 🇵🇱 Poland | 67 |
| 10 | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 67 |
Regional Winners
The top-ranked country in each region at a $75K salary.
Best Cities
Top 10 cities ranked by NLV at a $75K salary. City scores account for local cost of living and rent differentials.
| # | City | NLV |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇪🇸 MalagaSpain | 82 |
| 2 | 🇵🇹 PortoPortugal | 81 |
| 3 | 🇪🇸 ValenciaSpain | 81 |
| 4 | 🇹🇭 BangkokThailand | 79 |
| 5 | 🇵🇱 KrakowPoland | 78 |
| 6 | 🇪🇸 BarcelonaSpain | 77 |
| 7 | 🇪🇸 MadridSpain | 76 |
| 8 | 🇧🇷 Rio de JaneiroBrazil | 75 |
| 9 | 🇵🇱 WarsawPoland | 75 |
| 10 | 🇵🇹 LisbonPortugal | 74 |
Key Insights
Standout performers at $75K, computed from NLV data.
Methodology
The NLV Index uses a two-pillar formula: NLV = sqrt(Economic Power x Quality of Life). Economic Power measures PPP-adjusted net income after real taxes from 30 country-specific tax engines. Quality of Life aggregates 5 dimensions (cost of living, climate, safety, healthcare, internet) from official sources including the World Bank, WHO, UNODC, and ITU. City scores apply local cost and rent multipliers sourced from 15 government statistics offices. All data is refreshed quarterly.
Read the full methodology →