Retirement Gap Calculator
See your pension gap at a glance and find out how much you need to save.
Your Details
After taxes & contributions.
Estimated from net (tax class I).
5 contribution years so far.
Based on today's purchasing power.
Net after tax & social contributions.
Monthly gap (at retirement)
2.048 €
Today: 1.087 €
Total capital needed
597.277 €
20 years · Today: 260.880 €
Desired income, state pension & monthly gap grow with 2% inflation. Pension increases offset inflation.
How do you close the gap?
Use the compound interest calculator to find out how much you need to save monthly to reach your target capital.
Want to put your result into context?
Let’s explore your options together
What Is the Retirement Gap and Why Does It Affect Expats?
The retirement gap (Versorgungslücke) describes the difference between your desired retirement income and the state pension you're expected to receive. For expats in Germany, this gap is often particularly large: those who start contributing to the German pension system at age 30 or 35 accumulate significantly fewer pension points than someone who has worked their entire career in Germany.
The German Pension System for Expats
The German pension system is built on three pillars: statutory pension insurance (mandatory for employees), company pension (bAV, often with employer matching), and private provision (Riester, Rürup, ETF savings plans, flexible pension insurance). Expats should leverage all three pillars to close their retirement gap. The Rürup pension in particular offers significant tax benefits for higher earners and freelancers. Compare your options in detail and use our Compound Interest Calculator to simulate how your investments will grow.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Retirement Gap
How do I find out how much state pension I'll receive?
The Deutsche Rentenversicherung sends you an annual pension statement (Renteninformation) with your projected monthly pension. You can also request a Kontenklärung (account clarification), especially if you want to credit contribution periods from other countries.
What happens to my German pension if I leave Germany?
You don't lose your pension entitlements. If you've contributed to the German pension system for at least 5 years, you'll receive your pension even abroad. With shorter contribution periods, refunds may be possible or contributions can be credited via EU/bilateral agreements.
How much should I save for retirement?
That depends on your desired lifestyle, age, and current situation. As a rule of thumb: you'll need about 70-80% of your last net income in retirement. Use our calculator to determine your personal gap and the monthly savings needed.
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Disclaimer: This calculator provides simplified estimates for educational purposes only. The state pension is estimated using the Deutsche Rentenversicherung pension-point model with 2026 parameters (pension value €42.52, average wage €51,944, contribution ceiling €101,400, early/late retirement adjustments). The displayed net pension includes health/care contributions (8.75% and 3.6%) as well as income tax on the pension (taxable share under sec. 22 EStG as amended by the Wachstumschancengesetz: 82.5% for pensions starting in 2023, rising 0.5 pp per year to 100% from 2058, basic tax rate, no church tax). The net-to-gross estimate of employment income assumes tax class I, no church tax and no childless surcharge in long-term care insurance (2026 tariff, 2.9% health insurance supplementary rate). Career gaps, child-raising periods, foreign contribution periods and future wage or pension developments are not considered. Accurate figures are only available from your official Renteninformation. No liability is assumed for the accuracy of results. This does not constitute financial or retirement planning advice.