WhereTo.Work

Tax Regime Analysis:

• Krakow uses Polish employee tax because the verified calculation reflects standard employment deductions.
• Austin uses US self‑employment tax as the verified calculation includes self‑employment tax and federal income tax.

Tax Parameters:

• Poland: 12% up to 120k PLN, 32% above, 30k PLN allowance, ZUS 13.71% capped at 177,660 PLN, health insurance ~4.47% of gross.
• USA: Federal brackets from 10% to 37%, 14,600 USD allowance, self‑employment tax 15.3% capped at $168,600.

Cost-of-Living Data:

• Krakow: rent $592, meal $13.5, iPhone $799, cappuccino $3.2 (converted from PLN using 3.716 PLN/USD).
• Austin: rent $1,800, meal $25, iPhone $799, cappuccino $4.5.

Net Salary Calculations:

• Krakow net = 167,951.52 PLN → $45,200 USD (÷3.716).
• Austin net = $47,919.7 USD.

Purchasing-Power Comparison:

• PPP multiplier = 47,919.7 / 45,200 ≈ 1.06, meaning Austin’s net income buys ~6% more in its local market.

Comparison Conclusion:

• Austin scores higher (85) vs Krakow (78) due to higher net pay despite higher living costs.
• Margin: Austin net exceeds Krakow by ~$2,720 USD.

Confidence and Caveats:

• Data sources are verified tax API and standard cost‑of‑living surveys.
• Currency conversion assumes stable PLN/USD rate.
• State income tax in Texas is zero, but other local taxes not modelled.