- Switzerland is relatively the cheapest country in Europe to own a car, according to research by Vignetteswitzerland.com.
- The study looked at the average monthly salary compared to the purchase price of a car, annual taxes, the price of gasoline and insurance costs.
- The Netherlands ranks sixth with an average purchase price of 36,033 euros for a new car and an average monthly salary of 3,145 euros.
- Also read: Car sales decline in April, but the share of fully electric cars is growing with the Volvo EX30 as the tow horse
Switzerland is relatively the cheapest European country to own a car, according to a survey by Vignetteswitzerland.com. The purchase price, fuel prices, taxes, maintenance costs and insurance costs were compared to the average salary.
The Netherlands is in sixth place with an average purchase price for a new car of 36,033 euros, an average petrol price of 2 euros per liter, an average of 2,158 euros in road tax per year and 663 euros in insurance costs against an average monthly salary of 3,145 euros.
Turkey is relatively speaking the most expensive, with an average purchase price of 38,642 euros and an average monthly salary of 627 euros.
“The research shows the balance between quality of life and financial considerations when it comes to owning a car,” said CEO ME Wijnmalen of Vignetteswitzerland.com in a press release. “It is interesting to see how different countries are dealing with the affordability of car ownership.”
Car ownership in Europe: cheap and expensive countries
This is the complete top 10 of the cheapest countries in Europe to own a car in reverse order with the affordability score on a scale of 0 to 10:
10. Italy – 3.84
The average purchase price in Italy at 27,548 euros is the lowest of all countries in the top 10, but so is the average monthly income of 1,740 euros net. The monthly income is therefore important to offset costs such as petrol, road tax and insurance.
9. Germany – 3.95
In Germany, the average purchase price is 37,504 euros and the average monthly income is 2,781 euros.
8. Denmark -4.69
The purchase price in Denmark is one of the highest in Europe at an average of 42,681 euros, but this is also offset by a high average monthly salary of 4,149 euros.
7. Austria – 4.90
In Austria, the average purchase price for a car is 34,805 euros and people earn an average of 3,269 euros per month.
6. Netherlands – 5.00
The purchase price in the Netherlands, at an average of 36,033 euros, is slightly below that in neighboring Germany. Mainly thanks to the higher average monthly income of 3,145 euros, the Netherlands is three places higher on the list of cheapest countries to own a car. The average road tax is 2,158 euros per year and the average fuel price is 1.54 euros per litre: petrol 2 euros, diesel 1.80 euros and LPG 0.84 euros.
5. Spain -5.18
In Spain, the average monthly income of 1,910 euros is relatively low, but so is the average purchase price of 29,485 euros. And the car-related taxes of 1,068 euros per year are also very low compared to most other European countries.
4. France -5.43
The average purchase price in France is 29,331 euros, annual taxes are 1,911 euros and the average monthly income is 2,464 euros. Together with affordable fuel prices and insurance, it ranks fourth.
3. Luxembourg – 6.83
Despite the relatively high average purchase price of 39,380 euros, owning a car in Luxembourg is very affordable thanks to the low average fuel costs of 1.29 euros per liter and the relatively high average monthly salary of 3,699 euros.
2. Ireland -7.72
In Ireland a car costs an average of €30,495 against an average monthly salary of €3,367. This favorable ratio puts Ireland in second place despite the relatively high car taxes of 2,438 euros per year.
1. Switzerland – 10.00
In Switzerland, the purchase price of a car of 46,979 euros is the highest in Europe, but so is the average monthly salary of 5,569 euros by far. Compared to those high salaries, petrol, taxes, insurance and maintenance are also very affordable.
