What if you were born in Denmark?

If you had grown up in Denmark instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Copenhagen could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Nyhavn harbour, Copenhagen. Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Denmark

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in DKK and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Denmark: DKK 29,200Rs 1,210,000
Rent (city centre): DKK 8,440
Transport (public transport): DKK 1,120
Food: DKK 4,220
Saved: DKK 4,380

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Denmark: DKK 67,100Rs 2,770,000
Rent (suburbs): DKK 17,100
Transport (public transport): DKK 2,570
Food: DKK 11,400
Saved: DKK 10,100

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Denmark: DKK 109,000Rs 4,500,000
Rent (city centre): DKK 26,600
Transport (car): DKK 10,200
Food: DKK 13,300
Saved: DKK 30,500

Try it with my own income

A day in Copenhagen

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Copenhagen, a city of snowy winters around 1°C and cool summers around 18°C.
Commute
You take the metro or train: about 25 to 35 minutes, door to door, and it runs on time.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Danish at home, and English works almost everywhere.
Lunch
Lunch might be smørrebrød: open sandwiches on dark rye bread.
Evening
You get home with DKK 10,100 saved each month. Walking home late feels completely normal here.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast.

Denmark compared with Pakistan

	Denmark	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	4.6× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	82 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	8 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	5.5%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	9°C	26°C
Languages	Danish	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	DKK	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Denmark, living in Denmark and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Denmark?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around DKK 67,100 a month at the same level in Denmark (about Rs 2,770,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Denmark more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 4.6 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Denmark?

Mainly Danish. English is widely spoken.

Can I actually move to Denmark?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Denmark page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.