Highest Savings Cities for Software Engineers in Europe 2026: Data-Driven Rankings
Helsinki, London and Zurich lead 2026 for developer savings, with up to €55,750/year left after tax & living costs. Full city rankings, strategy & tips.
Thinking about where software engineers can actually save the most money in Europe, not just earn a flashy gross salary? You’re asking the right question. In 2026, the real game isn’t “who pays €140k base” – it’s which cities let you keep €40–55k+ per year after tax and cost of living while still having a life.
In this guide I’ll walk through the highest savings cities for software engineers in Europe 2026, based on our CodeCapitals dataset across 20 countries and 32 cities. We’ll look at yearly savings, composite scores, sample sizes, and practical strategies for squeezing the most out of your tech salary in Europe.
Explore 5,000+ European tech jobs →
See full country & city rankings →
Introducing CodeCapitals (how we calculate savings) →
Key Takeaways / TL;DR
- Helsinki is #1 by savings – but with limited data: Based on our 2026 dataset, Helsinki devs save ~€55,750/year on average (n=8, so treat as early signal, not gospel).
- London and Zurich are the “reliable” high-savings giants: With €48,598/year savings in London (n=39) and €47,077 in Zurich (n=40), these are the most statistically solid top cities for stacking cash.
- Eastern & Central Europe are quietly lethal for savings: Bucharest hits ~€38,583/year and Amsterdam ~€38,238/year – very competitive once you adjust for costs and taxes, especially for senior engineers.
- Absolute savings beat gross salary flexing: A €90k role in the right city can leave you with more savings than a €150k role in the wrong one. Treat “software engineer salary savings Europe” as your main metric, not just total comp.
- Strategy matters more than location: Combine high-paying roles (Big Tech, finance, strong product companies) + tax optimisation + sane lifestyle inflation, and almost any top-10 city becomes a FIRE engine.
How do we define the “highest savings cities for software engineers in Europe”?
The highest savings cities software engineers Europe ranking here is based on a single, brutally practical question:
“After taxes, rent, and realistic living costs, how much can an average software engineer save per year in City X?”
What exactly is “yearly savings” in this ranking?
Direct answer:
We calculate yearly savings as:
Net income (after tax & social contributions) – average living costs (rent + expenses)
This gives a number like:
“You can save ~€48,598/year in London if you live like a normal mid/senior dev, not like an investment banker LARPing in Mayfair.”
We use a composite of:
- Reported gross salary / total comp from real devs (CodeCapitals submissions)
- Local tax & social contribution rules
- City-specific cost of living assumptions (rent, food, transport, utilities, moderate going out)
This is the same framework I use in:
Why does sample size matter so much?
Because a dataset of 8 people in Helsinki is not the same as 40 in Zurich:
- n ≥ 30 → strong, stable signal
- 20 ≤ n < 30 → decent, but treat as “directionally correct”
- n < 20 → early indicator; good for spotting opportunities, not for betting your life savings
So for places like Helsinki or Bucharest, I’ll call out the “⚠️ LIMITED DATA” caveat clearly.
Which cities offer the highest yearly savings for software engineers in Europe 2026?
Direct answer:
In 2026, the top 5 highest savings cities for software engineers in Europe by absolute yearly savings are:
- Helsinki, Finland – €55,750/year (n=8, limited data)
- London, UK – €48,598/year (n=39)
- Zurich, Switzerland – €47,077/year (n=40)
- Bucharest, Romania – €38,583/year (n=12, limited data)
- Amsterdam, Netherlands – €38,238/year (n=35)
Here’s the core comparison:
Top 5 Highest Savings Cities for Software Engineers (Europe 2026)
| Rank | City | Country | Yearly Savings (€) | Composite Score | Sample Size (n) | Data Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helsinki | Finland | 55,750 | 54.5 | 8 ⚠️ limited data | Low–Medium |
| 2 | London | UK | 48,598 | 61.7 | 39 | High |
| 3 | Zurich | Switzerland | 47,077 | 53.7 | 40 | High |
| 4 | Bucharest | Romania | 38,583 | 71.6 | 12 ⚠️ limited data | Medium- |
| 5 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | 38,238 | 55.5 | 35 | High |
Composite score mixes: savings, lifestyle, job market depth, visa/ease, and long-term career upside.
If your question is strictly:
“What are the best cities to save money as a developer in Europe in raw € per year?”
The answer lives in that table.
But the interesting nuance is how each city gets there – and what trade-offs you’re actually signing up for.
Why is Helsinki #1 for developer savings, and should you actually move there?
Helsinki comes out top with €55,750/year savings, but we only have n=8 data points, so think “early signal” not divine truth. The rough story: Nordic-level salaries + high taxes, but also very strong social services and not-insane rent compared to Zurich/London.
How much can software engineers save in Helsinki?
- Average yearly savings: ~€55,750
- Composite score: 54.5
- Sample size: 8 (⚠️ early data – likely skewed to strong profiles / senior roles)
What’s happening in practice:
- Experienced engineers at large Finnish or international companies pulling €80k–€110k+
- Tax pressure is high, but take-home is still strong
- Rent & costs: high, but not Zurich-insane
- Culture: not obsessed with conspicuous consumption. It’s relatively easy to live well but not stupidly expensively.
I cover the Nordic trade-offs more broadly in
Nordic Tech Jobs 2026: Work-Life Balance Meets High Salaries in Scandinavia.
Who should consider Helsinki?
Good fit if you:
- Value work-life balance, safety, and infrastructure
- Are okay with dark winters and less “Mediterranean vibe”
- Have in-demand skills (data, infra, backend, embedded, senior roles)
- Want a high-savings / low-drama life – FIRE in a stoic, efficient way
Not ideal if you:
- Are super early-career and just want volume of opportunities (Berlin/London might be better)
- Need constant sunshine or a hyper social city
- Have a lower tolerance for higher tax rates, even if the net savings still work
Is London still worth it for software engineers in 2026 if you care about savings?
Yes – very much yes, if you’re strategic. In 2026, London is one of the best cities to save money as a developer in Europe in absolute euros, with €48,598/year average savings and a strong composite score of 61.7. The catch: you need to land in the right part of the job market and avoid lifestyle traps.
How much can you really save as a dev in London?
- Yearly savings: ~€48,598
- Sample size: 39 data points (solid)
- Composite score: 61.7 (very strong overall city)
Why it works financially:
- Top-end dev comp (Big Tech, trading, fintech, scale-ups) at £90k–£160k base + bonus/equity → easily €120k–€200k+ total comp at today’s FX
- Taxes are not low, but not France-level either
- Yes, rent is painful – but beyond Zone 1/2 and with flatshares/couples, savings can still be enormous
Deep-dive on London strategy here:
London for Software Engineers 2026: Salaries, Companies, Cost of Living & Lifestyle
How to maximise savings in London as a software engineer
If you’re serious about software engineer salary savings Europe, and choosing London:
- Aim for the right employers
- Big Tech (Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, etc.)
- High-paying fintech & trading (Revolut, Checkout, Jump, Citadel, Jane Street, etc.)
- Well-funded scale-ups with meaningful equity
- Optimise your housing
- Avoid luxury one-beds in Zone 1–2 unless you enjoy burning cash
- Flatshare or live slightly further out (Zones 3–4) with good rail links
- Target savings rate of 35–50% of net income
- Ditch lifestyle creep
- You do not need £2k/month on bars+restaurants to be happy
- Cook at home, pick a couple of deliberate nice experiences per month, not autopilot spending
London is ideal if you want:
- Huge networking & career upside
- Very strong salary ceiling
- A combo of high savings and brand-name CV building for future geo-arbitrage moves (e.g. later move to Central/Eastern Europe with London-validated profile).
Is Zurich still king for raw pay, and how does that translate into savings?
Zurich is still the canonical “print money” city for European devs – but our numbers show it’s not #1 by savings anymore. It still hits €47,077/year savings with n=40 submissions and a solid composite score of 53.7.
How much can software engineers save in Zurich?
- Yearly savings: ~€47,077
- Composite score: 53.7
- Sample size: 40 (high-confidence data)
Zurich’s dynamic:
- Stupidly high gross salaries:
- Senior/Staff in Big Tech, banks, or top product companies easily CHF 160k–260k+
- Total comp at L6+/Principal levels can approach US FAANG levels
- Taxes are low to moderate (canton-dependent)
- Cost of living is insane:
- Rent can easily be CHF 2.5k–3.5k+ for a decent 1BR
- Food, restaurants, services are all inflated
The gap between income and expenses is still very strong, but not necessarily better than London/Helsinki once you normalise.
Deep dives if you want to go down the rabbit hole:
- Switzerland Big Tech Guide: How to Make $500k+ as a Software Engineer in Zurich
- Ever Heard of the 'Zurich Trap'? Reality Check for Software Engineers
- Zurich vs Warsaw Cost of Living: Real €6k vs €3.5k Monthly Breakdown
When does Zurich make sense vs a “normal” EU city?
Zurich is compelling when:
- You’re at Senior+ level and can command CHF 180k–250k+
- You’re comfortable with intense work environments (banks, trading, high-performing product teams)
- You plan a deliberate “earn hard, then move” strategy – e.g. 5–7 years in Zurich, then geo-arbitrage to a cheaper base
If you’re mid-level and getting CHF 130k–150k with no equity, a good remote job plus Warsaw/Bucharest/Belgrade base can beat Zurich on lifestyle + savings combined.
Is Bucharest really that good for software engineer savings, or is it just hype?
Bucharest shows €38,583/year in savings with a huge composite score of 71.6 – arguably one of the best cities to save money as a developer in Europe when you factor in lifestyle and growing ecosystem. But keep in mind: sample size is 12 (limited, though consistent with macro data).
How strong is the Bucharest opportunity for devs?
- Yearly savings: ~€38,583
- Composite score: 71.6 (very high)
- Sample size: 12 (⚠️ limited, but corroborated by regional trends)
Why Bucharest punches so far above its PR:
- Salaries are catching up: senior roles in product or international companies can hit €60k–€90k+
- Cost of living is still much lower than Western Europe
- Flat tax regime (or near-flat, depending on structure) means you keep a good chunk of what you earn
- Ecosystem is maturing: more product companies, not just outsourcing
If you want a deeper country-level picture:
Romania vs Finland for Software Engineers: Complete Comparison 2026
Eastern Europe Tech Hub Guide 2026
Who should seriously look at Bucharest?
- Senior ICs or strong mid-levels in backend, distributed systems, data, or cloud
- Devs open to remote work for Western employers while living in Romania (geo-arbitrage on steroids)
- People who want good nightlife, relatively low costs, and a high savings rate without Nordic winters
Bucharest is especially lethal in combination with:
- How to Land $100k+ Fully-Remote Dev Jobs in Europe
- Geo-Arbitrage for Software Engineers: Earn Western Salaries, Live in Low-Cost Europe
If you can get €100k+ remote and keep Bucharest-level costs, you’re looking at €50k–€70k+ savings per year without Switzerland-level rent.
How does Amsterdam compare for software engineer salary savings in Europe?
Amsterdam sits in an interesting middle: Western EU quality, strong tech ecosystem, solid savings. Our data shows €38,238/year in savings, composite score 55.5, from 35 data points – so this is a reliable number.
How much can you save in Amsterdam as a dev?
- Yearly savings: ~€38,238
- Sample size: 35 (good reliability)
- Composite score: 55.5
The pattern:
- Senior dev roles often sit around €75k–€110k base
- Stock/equity in big companies and scale-ups can add €10k–€30k+
- Taxes are moderate-high, but not Scandinavian level
- Housing is tight & pricey, but not Zurich insane
Amsterdam is the classic “I want Europe, but not chaos” city:
- Strong English use
- Easy networking
- Great cycling culture, decent public transport
- Good compromise between savings, quality of life, and career optionality
It often comes up in comparisons like:
Serbia vs Netherlands for Software Engineers
Western Europe Tech Hubs Compared 2026: Germany vs Netherlands vs Belgium
What about other strong European cities for developer savings?
Beyond the top-5, a few cities are worth highlighting from the 32-city CodeCapitals analysis:
Notable high-savings contenders (outside the top-5)
Note: Some of these have limited sample sizes (<20), so interpret as signals, not final rankings.
| City | Country | Notes on Savings & Market | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels | Belgium | Early data suggests solid savings, but n=5 is too low for hard claims. | 5 ⚠️ |
| Hamburg | Germany | Good salaries + cheaper than Munich; small sample (n=9). | 9 ⚠️ |
| Belgrade | Serbia | Very strong purchasing power + remote-geo-arbitrage play. | 22 |
| Warsaw | Poland | One of the best value-for-money hubs; strong local & remote roles. | 25 |
| Berlin | Germany | 54 data points: strong, well-understood market; savings decent but not top-5. | 54 |
| Copenhagen | Denmark | High salaries, high taxes, high costs; savings good but not Zurich/London-level. | 37 |
If you care more about relative purchasing power than absolute € savings, read:
- Central Europe for Software Engineers: Why Poland, Serbia, and Bulgaria Offer the Highest Purchasing Power
- Poland Has Become Europe's Top Place for Software Engineers
What’s the best strategy to maximise your software engineer savings in Europe?
Knowing the highest savings cities is step one. Actually turning your tech salary into €40k–€70k/year of savings is step two – and most devs mess this part up.
1. Optimise for absolute savings, not just salary
If you take nothing else from this article:
A €120k London role with €45k–€50k savings is better than a €150k Zurich role with €35k savings if your goal is FIRE.
Use tools like CodeCapitals and think in terms of:
Net savings / year = main career KPI, not “biggest base”
For deeper money philosophy:
How to Think About Money as a Developer in Europe
2. Time your moves across cities
A powerful career path in Europe 2026 looks like:
-
Early-career (0–3 years):
- Berlin, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Bucharest – where you can learn, ship, and not die on RSU ladders.
- See: Best European Cities for Junior Developers 2026
-
Growth phase (3–8 years):
- London, Zurich, Amsterdam, Nordic capitals – chase €100k–€200k total comp.
- Or go fully-remote with US/UK salaries while based in lower-cost Europe.
-
FIRE phase (8+ years):
- Bucharest, Warsaw, Belgrade, Lisbon, Southern / Eastern Europe – keep or slightly reduce income, slash expenses, push savings rate to 60–75%.
This is basically the refined version of the frameworks I use in:
Location Planning for Corporate Careers and Financial Independence and
How to Reach FIRE as a Software Engineer in Europe
3. Leverage remote work + geo-arbitrage
The highest EV move for many mid/senior engineers:
- Land a €100k–€180k remote role with a US/UK/EU company:
- Base yourself in:
- Warsaw / Bucharest / Belgrade / Sofia / Valencia (lower cost cities from our dataset)
- Keep housing, lifestyle, and taxes optimised → €50k–€80k/year savings is very achievable.
- Geo-Arbitrage for Software Engineers: Earn Western Salaries, Live in Low-Cost Europe
- Best Low-Cost Low-Tax Countries for Fully-Remote Devs
4. Don’t ignore tax optimisation
You can’t out-hustle a stupid tax structure forever. Read this carefully if you’re serious about FIRE:
- Tax Optimization for Software Engineers in Europe: Keep More of Your Salary in 2026
- Leveraging Low-Cost, Low-Tax Countries as a Remote Developer
Maximising savings is often:
50% great job, 25% city choice, 25% tax/legal optimisation
Summary: Which city should you choose if savings are your priority?
If your #1 goal is maximum yearly savings as a European software engineer:
- Helsinki – #1 by our numbers (€55,750/year), but current data is limited; great for balanced, stable, high-savings life.
- London – Best mix of high savings (€48,598), high opportunity, strong data (n=39). My top pick for “go big, then geo-arbitrage later.”
- Zurich – Still the insane-money capital; worth it if you’re Senior+ and okay with intensity and very high costs.
- Bucharest – Rising Eastern powerhouse; huge purchasing power, especially if combined with remote Western salaries.
- Amsterdam – Strong, mature Western hub; excellent for those wanting solid savings + great quality of life without going full Swiss.
Your ideal strategy is probably something like:
- Get into one of these top savings cities or a top-earnings remote role.
- Keep lifestyle reasonable and taxes optimised.
- After 5–10 years, move to a cheaper base (Central/Eastern/Southern Europe) while keeping high earnings as long as possible.
That’s how you get to €500k+ invested before 35–40 without working like a Silicon Valley martyr.
See full country & city rankings →
Explore high-paying jobs in these cities →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a software engineer realistically save per year in Europe?
For mid-to-senior engineers in 2026, realistic yearly savings in top cities are:
- Helsinki: ~€55,750 (limited data)
- London: ~€48,598
- Zurich: ~€47,077
- Bucharest / Amsterdam: ~€38k+
For a more typical scenario (not top-5 cities), many devs can save €15k–€30k/year if they avoid lifestyle creep. With remote + geo-arbitrage (e.g. €120k remote, €2k/month expenses in Central Europe), savings of €40k–€70k/year are very achievable.
Which city in Europe is best to save money as a junior developer?
For juniors, the best cities to save money as a developer in Europe are usually not London or Zurich, unless you land an unusually high-paying grad role. Instead, look at:
- Berlin – 54 data points, solid ecosystem, cheaper than Amsterdam/London
- Warsaw / Bucharest / Belgrade – lower costs, easier to keep a 30–40% savings rate even on moderate salaries
- Amsterdam – if you can get a solid junior offer with housing covered or subsidised
As a junior, focus more on growth, learning, and getting to mid-level quickly – then optimise for savings. See:
Best European Cities for Junior Developers 2026
Is it easier to reach FIRE in Zurich, London, or in cheaper Eastern European cities?
Counter-intuitively, you’ll often reach FIRE faster with a hybrid strategy:
- Earn in Zurich/London during your high-earning years (savings €40k–€70k per year possible if you’re disciplined).
- After you’ve built a €300k–€600k portfolio, move to Bucharest/Warsaw/Belgrade or Southern Europe and keep working remotely at good pay levels.
- Combine high past savings + lower future expenses → FIRE timeline collapses.
Staying in Zurich forever with €4k+ rent and inflated costs can actually delay FIRE despite higher salary. I break this down in:
Would You Rather Have a $300k Job in Switzerland or a $150k Remote Job in Europe? and
FIRE in Europe: How Software Engineers Can Reach Financial Independence Faster
Are tech salaries in Europe in 2026 still competitive with the US?
Raw cash numbers: top US roles still win – total comp at FAANG/AI labs can blow past $400k–$800k. But if you focus on tech salaries Europe 2026 adjusted for cost of living and taxes, the picture is more balanced:
- London/Zurich/Helsinki senior roles at €120k–€220k+ total comp
- Much better work-life balance and lower healthcare risk
- With geo-arbitrage, your effective purchasing power in Central/Eastern Europe can match or beat mid-tier US cities
The “US golden era” is clearly weakening for many engineers, especially non-citizens. See:
Is Europe Better Than the U.S. for Software Engineers in 2024? and
The End of the USA Golden Era for Software Engineers
How can I increase my salary fast enough to benefit from these high-savings cities?
You need to aggressively optimise for skill stack + signalling + negotiation:
- Target top-paying paths: Big Tech, trading/quant, high-growth product companies, or elite remote roles
- Build deep expertise (back-end, distributed systems, infra, data/ML, security – not random “full stack React + whatever”)
- Use a structured job search and avoid spam-applying; see the SPA framework here:
The Skills Pattern Analysis (SPA) Framework
In Europe, moving from €45k → €90k+ within 3–6 years is very realistic if you’re deliberate. Once you’re in that range, the cities in this article become extremely powerful FIRE accelerators.
What’s more important: city choice or job choice for maximising savings?
If we’re being brutally honest:
- Job choice (employer + role + comp structure) is ~60–70% of the equation
- City choice is ~20–25%
- Personal behaviour (tax optimisation, spending discipline) is ~10–20%
A mediocre-paying job in Zurich will not magically make you rich. Conversely, a €150k remote role while living in Bucharest or Warsaw can beat almost any on-site Zurich package in real savings terms. Use location as a multiplier, not as a crutch, and be intentional with both – that’s the whole thesis behind this blog.
Explore high-paying European tech jobs →
See the full CodeCapitals rankings & methodology →