Au Pair Salary by Country in 2026: Complete Comparison

Au pair pocket money varies a lot by country — but it's only part of the picture. Here's what au pairs actually earn across Europe in 2026, sorted from highest to lowest, plus everything that gets included on top.

Quick comparison: Europe ranked by pocket money

It's much more than just money

Looking at pocket money alone is misleading. Au pairs in Europe also receive:

• Free private accommodation — your own room in the host family's home
• Full board — all meals included
• Health insurance — in most countries, paid for by the host family (for EU citizens, your EHIC card covers the basics anyway)
• Language course contribution — many families help cover the cost
• Paid time off — typically 2–4 weeks per year
• No agency fees — if you find your family directly, you pay nothing

Add in the savings on rent, utilities, food, and transport in your normal life back home, and the real value is significantly higher than the pocket money alone. An au pair year in Switzerland can be worth €15,000+ in equivalent value when you factor everything in.

High-pay European destinations

🇨🇭 Switzerland — the highest pocket money in Europe

Switzerland pays nearly triple what most EU countries do, at around CHF 800/month (~€830). The Swiss au pair program is structured, the host families are usually high-earning professionals, and free movement applies for EU/EFTA citizens. The catch: cost of living is also the highest in Europe, so a chunk of your earnings goes back into daily life. Read the Switzerland guide.

🇩🇰 Denmark — the Scandinavian high-payer

Denmark pays around DKK 4,850/month (~€650), which is one of the most generous packages in Europe. You also get a paid Danish course, health insurance, and structured paid vacation. EU citizens just register their address on arrival; non-EU citizens need an au pair residence permit. Read the Denmark guide.

🇦🇹 Austria — the best work-life balance

Austria pays ~€551/month gross with the lowest weekly hours cap in Europe: only 18 hours/week. That's the highest hourly rate of any country on this list by a significant margin. Austria has a regulated au pair program with proper social insurance and paid vacation. Read the Austria guide.

🇱🇺 Luxembourg — high pay, tiny applicant pool

Luxembourg pays ~€545/month and has one of the smallest au pair markets in Europe, which means a good profile gets noticed instantly. The country is officially trilingual (French, German, Luxembourgish), so au pairs from any of those backgrounds are immediately useful. Read the Luxembourg guide.

🇮🇪 Ireland — the underrated English-speaker

Ireland pays ~€100-120 per week, which translates to roughly €430-520/month — substantially better than most people assume. English is the primary language, free movement applies for EU citizens, and Irish host families have a reputation for being some of the most welcoming on the continent. Read the Ireland guide.

Mid-pay European destinations

🇧🇪 Belgium (~€450/month, 20 hours/week) offers great hourly rates in a multilingual environment. 🇳🇱 Netherlands (~€340/month) and 🇫🇷 France (~€320/month) are the classic Western European choices — well-regulated, easy to find host families. 🇸🇪 Sweden (~€310/month) and 🇳🇴 Norway (~€500/month) round out Scandinavia. See the Belgium, Netherlands, France, Sweden, and Norway guides.

Mediterranean & lower cost of living

The pocket money in 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇵🇹 Portugal, and 🇩🇪 Germany sits at the lower end of the European range (~€260-280/month), but the experiences are some of the best the continent offers. The cost of living in southern Europe is dramatically lower than in Switzerland or Denmark, so the real purchasing power is comparable or better. Don't let the headline number put you off. See the Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Germany guides for the full breakdown of each.

Outside Europe — quick honest take

If you're comparing Europe with other regions, here's the short version of the rest of the world:

🇺🇸 United States — $195.75/week, 45 hours

The US weekly stipend is the highest by week (around $195.75, ~€180), but the hours are also the highest in the world at up to 45/week. The hourly rate ends up roughly comparable to mid-tier European countries. The catch is the structure: J-1 visa via designated sponsor agency, family pays the agency ~$10,000/year, and you give up most of your freedom to choose. Read the honest USA au pair page for the full breakdown.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — ~£85-90/week (historical)

UK au pair pocket money was ~£85-90 per week before Brexit and hasn't changed much. The catch: since 2021, EU citizens have no visa route to the UK as au pairs at all. The Youth Mobility Scheme is open only to citizens of select non-EU countries (Australia, Canada, Japan, etc). For EU citizens wanting an English-speaking au pair year, Ireland is the right answer. Read the honest UK au pair page.

🇦🇺 Australia — AUD $200-250/week (~€120-150)

Australian au pair pocket money is in the middle of the global range but the round-trip flight from Europe is €1,600-3,000, which eats much of the value. Single-employer 6-month cap means most placements are half a year long, not the typical 12. Read the honest Australia au pair page.

Which European country should you choose?

It depends on what matters most to you:

• Best pure pay: Switzerland (CHF 800/month) or Denmark (~€650/month)
• Best work-life balance: Austria (only 18 hours/week)
• Best hourly rate: Austria, then Luxembourg
• Best for English speakers: Ireland, Netherlands, Finland
• Best for language learning: Germany, France, Spain, Italy
• Best for warm climate & lifestyle: Spain, Italy, Portugal
• Lowest competition: Luxembourg, Finland, the Czech Republic, Belgium

If you're not sure where to focus, read 5 Underrated European Countries for Your Au Pair Year for the case for going somewhere unexpected.

How DearAuPair helps

DearAuPair connects au pairs directly with host families across Europe — no agency fees, no middlemen, no visa hassle for EU citizens. It's 100% free for au pairs and you can browse families today. Create your free profile and start matching with European host families this week.