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From Ireland to Poland: How One Dev Quadrupled Their Saving Rate While Keeping Irish Pay

After 6 years in Dublin saving €10k total, moved to Poland with €4k raise that netted only €2k after tax. Now saves more in 1 year than 6 years in Ireland combined.

The European Engineer

August 11, 2025

22 min read

Here's the story of a software engineer who made a life-changing move—from Ireland to Poland—and quadrupled their saving rate while keeping their Irish salary.

After several years in Ireland working for multiple companies, despite doing well professionally, they struggled to get ahead financially.

High taxes and rent made saving and investing nearly impossible.

Eventually, they decided to take the leap and move to Poland.

They got re-hired as a freelancer, with a ~15% tax rate.

Tech stack: mostly Go.

Find high-paying remote opportunities →

The Irish Reality: High Pay, But Where Does It Go?

The Frustrating Economics

Before moving, they received a €4k raise, which only netted them €2k after taxes.

This seemed ridiculous to them—and rightfully so.

Ireland's tax brackets (2024):

Income Range	Tax Rate	USC	PRSI	Total
€0-€40k	20%	0.5-2%	4%	~26%
€40-70k	40%	2-4.5%	4%	~48%
€70k+	40%	4.5-8%	4%	~52%

The reality: For every €1,000 raise above €70k, you keep only €480 after tax.

The math on a €4k raise:

Gross increase: €4,000
After 52% tax: €1,920
Effective gain: €160/month

For senior engineers earning €80-100k in Dublin, marginal tax rates are brutal.

The Property Price Crisis

The skyrocketing property prices in Dublin caused even more frustration.

Dublin housing market reality:

Property Type	Average Price	Mortgage (30yr, 20% down)	As % of €90k Gross Salary
1-bed apartment	€350-450k	€1,600-2,000/month	39-49% of take-home
2-bed apartment	€450-550k	€2,000-2,500/month	49-61% of take-home
3-bed house	€550-700k	€2,500-3,200/month	61-78% of take-home

Or rent instead:

1-bed apartment: €1,800-2,300/month
2-bed apartment: €2,200-2,800/month
Room in shared house: €800-1,200/month

Total monthly costs in Dublin (single engineer):

Rent (1-bed): €2,000
Utilities: €150
Groceries: €400
Transport: €135 (Leap card)
Social/dining: €500
Miscellaneous: €200
Total: €3,385/month (€40,620/year)

For €90k gross salary:

After tax: €56,700 (~37% take-home)
After living costs: €16,080 saved
Savings rate: 18%

Despite Dublin ranking #2 in Europe (after London, before Warsaw) for number of high-paying tech jobs on EuroTopTechJobs.com, the financial reality was frustrating.

See more: Top European cities for software engineers

The Bold Move: Relocating to Poland

The Negotiation

The key aspect? They performed so well that their employer allowed for relocation while keeping the Irish pay.

This is similar to the story of that German dev who moved from Germany to Poland while keeping their job and pay.

What made this possible:

Strong performance track record (multiple years)
Critical skills (Go backend development)
Trusted relationship with management
Willingness to work as contractor/freelancer
Company's flexibility on remote work

The transition:

From employee to B2B contractor
Same company, same team, same salary
But different tax jurisdiction
More autonomy, more risk, massive upside

The Polish Freelancer Advantage

They got re-hired as a freelancer with ~15% total tax rate.

How Polish tax optimization works:

Tax Structure	Rate	Who It's For
B2B Contract + Flat Tax	12% income tax + 3% social	Freelancers with B2B clients
"Ryczałt" (Lump Sum)	15% all-in	IT services, simplified
IP Box Regime	5% tax	R&D-qualifying software work
Regular Employment	32-39%	Standard employment contract

This engineer likely used: B2B flat tax = ~15% total burden

Compare the same €90k salary:

Location	Gross Salary	Tax Rate	Net Income	Difference
Ireland (employee)	€90k	37% total	€56,700	Baseline
Poland (freelancer)	€90k	15% total	€76,500	+€19,800/year

Before even considering cost of living, they're €19.8k better off just from taxes.

The Financial Transformation

Cost of Living: A Massive Difference

Monthly costs in Warsaw (similar lifestyle to Dublin):

Expense	Dublin	Warsaw	Savings
Rent (1-bed, city center)	€2,000	€800	-€1,200
Utilities	€150	€120	-€30
Groceries	€400	€280	-€120
Transport	€135	€40	-€95
Gym membership	€60	€35	-€25
Dining out (monthly)	€500	€300	-€200
Entertainment	€200	€120	-€80
Miscellaneous	€200	€150	-€50
Total	€3,645	€1,845	-€1,800/mo

Annual difference: €21,600 lower costs in Warsaw

Note: This is for equivalent or better quality of life—modern apartment, city center location, eating out regularly, active social life.

The Complete Financial Picture

Scenario: €90k salary (kept from Ireland)

Ireland (Dublin-based employee):

Gross: €90,000
After tax (37%): €56,700
Living costs: €43,740
Annual savings: €12,960
Savings rate: 14.4%

Poland (Warsaw-based freelancer):

Gross: €90,000
After tax (15%): €76,500
Living costs: €22,140
Annual savings: €54,360
Savings rate: 60.4%

Fast Forward One Year After the Move

The difference has been life-changing:

✅ Net earnings are now 2-3x higher than what they made in Ireland (after taxes + lower costs)

✅ They've saved more in one year than they did in six years working in Ireland

✅ They've built a home base in Poland but can work from anywhere, traveling whenever they want

The math:

6 years in Ireland saving €12-15k/year = €72-90k total saved
1 year in Poland saving €54k = €54k saved
In just 1 year in Poland, they saved 60-75% of what took 6 years in Ireland

Use our financial calculator to run your own scenarios.

The Only Regret: Not Doing It Sooner

What Held Them Back?

The move seemed risky:

Freelancing gives less security than employment
More pressure to perform (you're dispensable)
No guaranteed benefits or severance
Fear of the unknown (new country, language, culture)
Leaving established social network
Family concerns about "moving East"

Common fears that prevent people from making this move:

Fear	Reality Check
"I'll lose my job security"	As a strong performer, you have leverage. Companies keep valuable contractors.
"Poland is less developed"	Warsaw is a modern European capital with excellent infrastructure, faster internet than Dublin, safer streets.
"I won't fit in culturally"	Large expat community, international atmosphere, English widely spoken in tech circles.
"My career will stagnate"	Remote work for Western company = same career growth. Plus lower stress = more energy for learning.
"I'll regret leaving Ireland"	You can always go back. But few do once they see the financial difference.

But the Results Speak for Themselves

More financial freedom:

Saving €54k/year enables real wealth building
Can invest in property, index funds, or business
Financial independence achievable in 10-15 years vs never

More flexibility:

Work from anywhere (they travel regularly)
Can afford to take months off if desired
Options to start business or side projects

A greater sense of control:

Over career (not dependent on one employer's location)
Over finances (keep more of what you earn)
Over life (choose lifestyle, not forced by economics)

Instead of working to barely keep up with rent, taxes, or an expensive mortgage, they're now exploring options like investing in property or starting a business.

See: Location planning for financial independence

How Difficult Would It Be to Replicate This?

The Key Success Factors

1. Strong Performance Record

Multiple years at company showing consistent delivery
Trusted by management and team
Ownership of critical systems or projects
Track record that makes you hard to replace

Without this foundation, the negotiation is much harder.

2. In-Demand Technical Skills

Go, Rust, or other specialized backend skills
Distributed systems, cloud architecture
AI/ML engineering
Skills that are harder to hire for

Generic full-stack developers have less leverage.

3. Remote-Friendly Company Culture

Company already has remote workers or distributed teams
Progressive management that values outcomes over presence
Tech stack and processes support remote work
Not a "butts in seats" culture

Banks and traditional corps are much harder to negotiate with.

4. Willingness to Take Calculated Risk

Accept contractor status (less job security, more tax efficiency)
Move to new country (requires adaptation, but huge upside)
Build emergency fund first (6-12 months expenses)
Have backup plan (can you get local job in Poland if needed?)

Step-by-Step Replication Guide

Phase 1: Preparation (6-12 months before)

✓ Build emergency fund (€15-25k—critical for contractor transition)

✓ Excel at current job (become indispensable to your team)

✓ Research target country (visit Poland/Portugal/Romania for 1-2 weeks)

✓ Learn about freelancer/contractor legal setup in target country

✓ Connect with expats who've made similar moves (Reddit, expat forums)

Phase 2: The Ask (3-6 months before)

✓ Have informal conversation with manager about long-term goals

✓ Gauge company's openness to remote work and relocation

✓ Frame it as win-win (you're more productive, they save on office costs)

✓ Offer to work as contractor (reduces their legal complexity)

✓ Propose trial period (3-6 months to prove it works)

Phase 3: Legal Setup (2-4 months before)

✓ Consult with tax advisor in target country ($500-1,500 investment)

✓ Set up freelancer/contractor entity (in Poland: B2B company registration)

✓ Understand tax obligations in both countries (avoid double taxation)

✓ Get proper visa/residency if needed (EU citizens within EU = easy)

✓ Set up local bank account and accounting

Phase 4: The Move (1-2 months)

✓ Find short-term accommodation (Airbnb for first 2-3 months)

✓ Move essentials or start fresh (often cheaper to buy new furniture)

✓ Register address with local authorities

✓ Join expat communities for support system

Phase 5: Optimization (after 6-12 months settled)

✓ Optimize tax setup with accountant (might get rate even lower)

✓ Invest savings aggressively (real estate, index funds, etc.)

✓ Learn local language (critical for real integration and quality of life)

✓ Build social network (don't just stay in expat bubble)

✓ Help others replicate your success

Success rate: If you're a strong performer with 2+ years at company, ~40-60% success rate in negotiation based on company culture and your leverage.

Beyond Poland: Other Attractive Destinations

This strategy works in multiple European locations:

Top Alternatives for Remote Workers

Country/City	Tax Rate (Optimized)	Living Costs (Single)	Quality of Life	Job Market Backup
Poland (Warsaw/Krakow)	12-15%	€22-28k	Excellent	Best in Central Europe
Portugal (Lisbon)	15-20%	€28-35k	Excellent	Growing rapidly
Romania (Bucharest)	8-12%	€18-24k	Very good	Strong local market
Czech Republic (Prague)	15-22%	€24-30k	Excellent	Good tech scene
Spain (Barcelona/Madrid)	24%	€30-38k	Excellent	Moderate
Cyprus (Limassol)	12.5%	€26-34k	Good (beach life)	Limited local jobs

Key Selection Criteria

Choose Poland/Czechia/Romania if:

Maximizing wealth building is priority
You value safety and modern infrastructure
You're okay with colder winters
You want strong backup job market

Choose Portugal/Spain if:

Weather and lifestyle are critical
You prefer Mediterranean culture
You're willing to accept slightly higher taxes
You value beach/outdoor activities

Choose Cyprus if:

You want beach lifestyle + tax optimization
You're comfortable in smaller expat community
You don't need local job market backup
You can tolerate summer heat

See: Best low-cost, low-tax countries for remote developers

The Broader Pattern: Location Arbitrage 2.0

This isn't just one person's story—it's a growing trend.

Why This Strategy Works in 2025

1. Remote work is normalized post-COVID

Companies realized they can't force everyone back
Talent shortage gives workers leverage
Tools for remote collaboration are mature

2. European tax optimization is legal and accessible

Multiple countries competing for digital nomads
Straightforward legal frameworks (B2B contracts, freelancer visas)
EU freedom of movement for EU citizens

3. Cost of living arbitrage persists

Eastern Europe developing fast but still 40-60% cheaper
Quality of life gap narrowing (Warsaw now comparable to Dublin)
Infrastructure in Poland/Romania/Czechia is excellent

4. Tech salaries converging globally

Remote US companies pay close to US rates for top talent
European companies raising salaries to compete
But local costs not rising at same pace

Who This Works Best For

Ideal candidate profile:

Mid to senior level (3+ years experience)
Strong performer with proven track record
In-demand technical skills
Working for remote-friendly company
EU citizen (much easier) or eligible for digital nomad visa
Adaptable personality (comfortable with change)
Financial goals (want to build wealth fast)

Less ideal for:

Fresh graduates (build experience and savings first)
Highly specialized roles requiring specific location
Those with strong family/relationship ties to current city
People who hate cold weather and can't cope with Polish winters
Those who need extensive local support network

The Meta-Lesson: Performance Buys Optionality

The ultimate takeaway from this story isn't just about Poland vs Ireland.

It's about this:

👉 Strong performance gives you options. Options give you leverage. Leverage enables optimization.

The cycle:

Excel at your job → Build leverage with employer
Leverage = negotiation power → Get flexible arrangements
Flexible arrangements → Geographic arbitrage possible
Financial optimization → Faster wealth building
Faster wealth building → More options (entrepreneurship, semi-retirement, etc.)

This engineer's performance allowed them to negotiate remote work from Poland while keeping Irish pay. That negotiation unlocked massive financial optimization.

Without the performance foundation, none of this is possible.

Taking Action

If this story resonates with you, here's what to do:

Immediate Actions (This Week)

Assess your current situation:
- Calculate your actual savings rate (use our tool)
- How much are you saving annually?
- Is this trajectory acceptable?
Research options:
- Browse remote opportunities that allow European location
- Read guides about Poland, Portugal, other destinations
- Join expat forums (Reddit: r/expats, r/digitalnomad)
Talk to people who've done it:
- DM engineers who've made similar moves (LinkedIn is great for this)
- Ask about: negotiation tactics, legal setup, cultural adaptation
- Learn from their mistakes

Medium-Term Actions (Next 3-6 Months)

Build your leverage:
- Excel at your current job (become hard to replace)
- Take ownership of critical projects
- Build strong relationships with management
Prepare financially:
- Build 6-12 month emergency fund
- Pay down high-interest debt
- Research tax implications with advisor
Visit target location:
- Spend 1-2 weeks in Warsaw/Lisbon/Bucharest
- Experience daily life (not tourist experience)
- Talk to expats living there

Long-Term Actions (6-12 Months)

Make the ask:
- Have conversation with manager about remote work
- Frame as win-win scenario
- Propose trial period
Execute the move:
- Set up legal/tax structure
- Relocate gradually (start with 3-6 month trial)
- Build new life in new location
Optimize and scale:
- Invest your increased savings
- Help others replicate your success
- Enjoy your financial freedom

Life's too short to spend 6 years barely saving anything when you could be saving 60% of your income with better life quality.

Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How did they convince their Irish employer to let them relocate to Poland while keeping the same salary?

The key was strong performance over multiple years combined with strategic framing. What made it work: They had become indispensable to their team (critical Go backend skills, owned important systems), company had some remote workers already (so precedent existed), they offered to transition from employee to B2B contractor (reducing legal complexity for the company), proposed a trial period to prove it wouldn't hurt productivity. The framing: "I want to continue working with you and delivering results, just from a different location. I'll work as a contractor to make it simpler for you legally. Let's try it for 3 months—if my performance suffers, I'll reconsider." Why the company agreed: Losing a senior engineer costs €20-50k in recruiting plus 3-6 months ramp-up time, keeping them as contractor actually saved money (no employer taxes, benefits), they'd already proven remote work capability during COVID, the engineer had enough leverage that saying no might push them to leave anyway. Success factors: 2+ years at company, strong performance reviews, specific in-demand skills, existing remote work culture. Realistic odds: ~40-60% success rate if you have these factors. Worth trying even if uncertain—worst case they say no and you start job searching.

What about the language barrier? Can you really live well in Poland without speaking Polish?

Yes, especially in Warsaw and other major cities—but learning Polish significantly improves your experience. English proficiency in Poland: In tech industry: Nearly everyone speaks fluent English (it's the working language at international companies), in city centers of Warsaw/Krakow/Wroclaw: Most restaurants, shops, services have English speakers or English menus, young people (under 35) generally speak decent to good English. Where English isn't enough: Government bureaucracy (bring a Polish-speaking friend or hire translator for important appointments - costs €30-50), older generation (doctors, landlords, etc. - though this is changing), outside major cities (small towns are more Polish-only). Recommended approach: First 6 months: Survive on English while settling in (totally doable), months 6-18: Take Polish lessons seriously (3-4 hours/week), invest in tutor, after 18 months: Basic conversational Polish opens up the city completely. Cost of lessons: €15-25/hour for private tutor, €200-400 for group course. ROI of learning Polish: Access to better apartments (landlords prefer Polish speakers), deeper friendships (locals appreciate effort), better deals (not "foreigner pricing"), richer cultural experience, significantly improved daily life quality. Bottom line: You CAN live comfortably in Warsaw with English only, but learning Polish transforms the experience from "expat bubble" to actually living in Poland. Worth the investment.

What are the risks of working as a B2B contractor vs employee, and how do you mitigate them?

Greater income volatility and less protection, but manageable with proper preparation. Risks you take on: Job security - Contracts can be terminated more easily (often 30-90 days notice vs longer for employees), no severance pay typically, no unemployment benefits in most cases. No benefits - Must arrange own health insurance, pension, paid time off (just... don't get paid when not working). Income volatility - If client cuts contract, income stops immediately, you bear the business risk. Administrative burden - Must handle your own accounting, invoicing, tax filings (costs €100-300/month for accountant). Mitigation strategies: Build emergency fund (6-12 months living expenses—non-negotiable before making the leap), this is your unemployment insurance, gives you negotiation leverage and reduces anxiety. Maintain multiple client relationships - Even if 80% of income from one client, cultivate 1-2 smaller contracts, reduces single point of failure risk. Get everything in writing - Contract specifies scope, payment terms, notice period, have lawyer review first contract in new jurisdiction. Stay employable - Keep skills sharp, maintain network, have "Plan B" companies you could join quickly. Optimize taxes aggressively - The 20-35% tax savings vs employment should more than compensate for the extra risk, invest those savings immediately (don't lifestyle-inflate). Reality check: After 6-12 months, most contractors prefer it—more control, better taxes, often more respect from clients. The initial anxiety fades as you build buffer and confidence.

Is Dublin really that bad financially, or was this person just not optimizing well?

Dublin is genuinely challenging financially for most tech workers, even with optimization. The structural problems are real: Housing costs - Supply shortage has driven prices to unsustainable levels, €2,000+ for 1-bed is market rate, not "bad optimization", buying is worse (€400-500k for basic apartment). Tax burden - 52% marginal rate above €70k is unavoidable for employees, no legal optimization available (unlike Poland's freelancer options), even accountants can't fix this much. Cost of living - Groceries, dining, transport all expensive compared to Eastern Europe, even "budget" lifestyle runs €35-40k/year. Math for typical senior engineer (€90k salary): After tax: €56k (37% effective rate), after rent (€24k): €32k remaining, after other costs (€16k): €16k saved, savings rate: 18%, over 6 years: ~€100k saved. This IS typical, not exceptional. Could they have optimized slightly better?: Maybe save €2-3k more per year by having roommates (€1,000-1,200/month instead of €2,000 solo), cooking all meals at home, living in suburbs, but this only improves to 22% savings rate—still way below Poland's 60%. The fundamental issue: Dublin has high salaries (€80-120k is good) but HCOL + high taxes eat most of it, leaving minimal savings despite "doing well" professionally. Bottom line: It's not about personal failure to optimize—the city's economics just don't work well for wealth building. Great for career building (excellent job market), poor for savings accumulation. Sequence matters: 2-3 years Dublin building CV, then move to LCOL keeping salary.

Can this strategy work for someone with a family (spouse + kids), or only for single engineers?

It works for families too, but requires more planning and the benefits are even larger. Why it works well for families: CoL savings amplify - Rent: 3-bed in Dublin (€2,800) vs Warsaw (€1,200) = €19k/year savings, childcare: Dublin (€1,200/month) vs Warsaw (€400/month) = €9,600/year savings, schools: Public schools excellent in Poland (free) vs private often needed in Dublin (€5-15k/year). Total family savings: €30-40k/year in costs alone (before even considering tax optimization). Quality of life often improves - Warsaw is safer than Dublin (especially at night), more green spaces and family-friendly infrastructure, less stress about money (frees up mental space for parenting), can afford bigger apartment (kids have their own rooms). Example math for family of 4: Dublin (€100k salary): After tax: €63k, rent (3-bed): €33k, childcare (1 kid): €14k, other costs (food, etc.): €18k, saved: -€2k (negative or breaking even). Warsaw (€100k salary, 15% tax): After tax: €85k, rent (3-bed): €18k, childcare: €6k, other costs: €20k, saved: €41k (41% savings rate). Additional considerations for families: Visit first with whole family (kids adapt faster than you think), research schools (international schools €8-12k/year, but Polish public schools are good), healthcare for kids (excellent in Poland, both public and private), expat family communities (Warsaw has large international community). Trade-offs: Moving kids away from extended family (grandparents, cousins), potential language challenges for kids initially (but kids learn fast), spouse's career (what will they do in new location?). Best timing: When kids are young (0-8 years old—they adapt fastest) or after they finish school (18+). Avoid moving teenagers mid-high-school if possible. Bottom line: The strategy works even better for families financially, but requires more logistical coordination. The financial upside is massive—€40k+/year savings can fund kids' education, family's future, early retirement.

After making this move, what happens if the company decides to end the contract or you want to change jobs?

This is where location choice matters—Warsaw's strong local job market provides a safety net. Scenario 1: Your contract ends (company decision): You have local job market backup in Warsaw: 191 high-paying tech jobs currently listed on EuroTopTechJobs (3rd in Europe after London and Dublin), Google, NVIDIA, Netflix, Amazon, Snowflake all hiring in Warsaw, easier to get hired locally in Poland than in Western Europe (less competition), salary might drop 20-30% (from €100k remote to €70-80k local), but your costs are low and taxes are low, so still saving well. Emergency fund (6-12 months) buys you time to find next role without panic accepting poor offer. Scenario 2: You want to change jobs: You have three options: (A) Find another remote role - You've proven you can work remotely, easier to get next remote role with experience, maintain €100k+ salary from US/Western company. (B) Get local Polish role - Companies like Asana Warsaw pay €100-180k total comp, competitive with remote roles, office culture if you prefer that. (C) Relocate elsewhere - You've built savings (€50k+/year), can afford to move to different country, or try entrepreneurship. What makes this strategy lower-risk than it seems: You're in EU member state with strong job market, not some isolated location with zero opportunities, you've built emergency fund before making the leap, your skills are transferable and in-demand, worst case scenario: You move back to Ireland/home country with €100k+ saved (way ahead of if you'd never moved). Key insight: Choosing Warsaw/Krakow over Cyprus/Bali/etc is strategic specifically because of the backup job market. You get LCOL + low taxes + job security. That combination is rare and valuable. Pro tip: Even while contracted to one client, keep your CV updated, maintain your network (LinkedIn, conferences), do occasional interviews (even if not serious) to stay sharp and know your market value. Makes any transition much smoother if/when needed.