Top 10 Cities for Software Engineers in Europe (2023)

In the previous article, I talked about what I believe are the top 3 cities in Europe for software engineers.

In case you haven't seen it, the 3 cities were: Zurich, London and Amsterdam. If you are curious about those cities, you should check that article out, as I go into detail for each one of them, and I also look at specific numbers regarding salaries, taxes and cost of living.

Today we'll talk about the 7 other cities that I believe should make the top 10 for the best cities in Europe for software engineers. I will list them in no particular order.

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Dublin

Dublin has a very large pool of quality tech companies operating there, with positions in both engineering and business, thanks in large part to the advantageous corporate taxation the country offers and the consequential choice of many (big) tech companies to set-up shop there.

If you want to work in marketing, finance or sales within big tech, Dublin is probably the best place in Europe.

For engineers, it offers similar conditions to London and Amsterdam: comparable salaries and taxes, good pool of valid companies with a sizeable office in the city, comparable weather and standard of living.

As for the lifestyle, it receives mixed reviews, particularly among young people. Some enjoy it, while others do not. If you're into pubs and going out, you'll love it.

Regarding engineering roles, I've heard that many teams in Dublin are more on the ops side (think Site Reliability Engineers or Production Engineers), which can be good or bad depending on how interested you are in these topics. AWS has a very large office here.

In the end, Dublin is a great place for software engineers in Europe. You might consider adding it to your list of potential cities when applying for jobs. For instance, if you receive a job offer from a big tech company in Dublin, you could accept it, try living there for a while, and if it doesn't suit you, explore the option of transferring to another office within the company.

Notable Companies

AWS, Microsoft, Google, Mastercard, Workday, Salesforce, Meta, Stripe, VMware, LinkedIn, Etsy, ByteDance, Coinbase

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Oslo & Stockholm

I'm grouping these Scandinavian capitals together because they offer a similar package: a great work-life balance, strong welfare systems, high security, the presence of tech companies, high taxes, and cold weather.

People's opinions about these places vary. If you value living in a caring society, where excessive wealth display isn't encouraged, don't mind cold weather and enjoy cozy indoor gatherings with close friends, prioritise work-life balance, relationships, equality, and hobbies, then this could be an ideal choice for you.

However, if you prioritise individualism, personal freedom, low taxes, or a lively, sunny climate, these cities may not be the best fit.

Working for a local company here means experiencing a different corporate culture compared to American companies. It's less competitive, more collaborative, slower-paced, with less focus on metrics and stock performance, and fewer working hours. However, it may also come with lower pay, less cutting-edge tech, and potentially slower career growth.

If you're seeking an alternative to corporate America, considering a move to Stockholm to work for a reputable local tech company might be the change you're looking for.

Stockholm Notable Companies

Ericsson, Ubisoft, Spotify, Klarna, PayPal, Warner Bros, King, Google, Oracle, AWS, Microsoft, Wolt

Oslo Notable Companies

Microsoft, Cisco, Cognite, Sopra Steria, Aker Solutions, Arm, TietoEvry, Mastercard, Meta

Note: Local tech companies in Oslo and Stockholm may offer a lower saving potential compared to cities like London, Amsterdam, Zurich, or Dublin. However, if you work for a major tech company, your savings rate could be comparable (though still smaller). Oslo typically offers higher salaries, while Stockholm boasts a relatively more robust job market.

Madrid & Barcelona

Madrid and Barcelona, the two largest cities in Spain, offer a 'canonical European' lifestyle characterised by numerous leisure activities, affordable dining options, a rich cultural scene, and sunny, warm weather for most of the year. With a relatively contained cost of living, these cities promote a relaxed outdoor lifestyle where socialising and sports are popular pastimes.

Both cities also host a significant presence of tech companies. While post-tax salaries may be lower compared to some higher-paying European cities, the lower cost of living still allows for a comfortable lifestyle.

For tech professionals working at big tech companies or in high-paying remote positions, substantial savings are possible. Senior or staff engineers working in big tech, for instance, can earn around 200k USD per year, resulting in approximately 120k USD in after-tax income. After accounting for living expenses (around 2.5k USD per month), this can lead to yearly savings of approximately 90k USD.

It's worth noting that those in entry or mid-level roles or working for local companies may save less. However, the higher salary opportunities in these southern European cities make them attractive options for those seeking a sunnier destination without compromising on ambitious savings goals.

Madrid Notable Companies

Amazon, Datadog, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Indra, Twilio, Glovo, VMware, Meta, Oracle, Revolut

Barcelona Notable Companies

Glovo, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, N26, Criteo, Adobe, Thoughtworks, Oracle, eDreams ODIGEO, NTT DATA, Meta

Berlin & Paris

Berlin and Paris, forming the second cluster of cities, offer a classic European lifestyle. While they boast higher salaries than Spanish cities, they present varying cost-of-living dynamics. Berlin tends to be more affordable than Paris, although sometimes may feature lower salaries.

In terms of financial conditions, Berlin and Paris align somewhat closely with the Spanish capitals and Scandinavian cities.

These cities don't enjoy Mediterranean sunny weather but still provide rich and enjoyable lifestyles with diverse indoor and outdoor activities throughout the year.

Both Berlin and Paris have robust employee protection laws that make termination relatively challenging and offer generous vacation days (up to 40 days in France).

While taxes are not low, they are generally lower than those in Scandinavian countries. Services and welfare are commendable, though they may not reach the same level as Scandinavian nations.

Berlin

Berlin boasts one of the largest tech markets in Europe, second only to London. Many major tech giants, including AWS and Amazon, maintain substantial offices here. Additionally, successful US tech companies like Wayfair and Snowflake have a strong presence in the city.

It's a rapidly growing market, making it worthwhile to keep an eye on, as increased competition may drive up engineers' salaries in the future.

However, it's important to note that, at present, salaries in Berlin are not as competitive as those in higher-paying European cities like Zurich, Amsterdam, London, and Dublin.

Berlin Notable Companies

Zalando, Delivery Hero, SoundCloud, AWS, Microsoft, Wayfair, HelloFresh, Google, Meta, Apple, HubSpot, Stripe, NVIDIA, Snowflake, Shopify, Datadog, Databricks

Paris

While Paris has a smaller tech market compared to Berlin, it is showing signs of growth. Companies like Meta AI and Google AI are expanding their presence in the city, and businesses like Datadog are establishing significant European operations in the French capital.

Paris Notable Companies

Google, Meta, Datadog, Criteo, Microsoft, Airbnb, Amazon, Societe Generale, Capgemini, Atlassian

Quick Comparison: Cities 4-10

Here's how these cities compare across key factors:

City	Best For	Tech Market Size	Cost of Living	Climate	Work-Life Balance
Dublin	Big tech ops roles	Large	High	Rainy	Good
Stockholm	Work-life balance	Medium	High	Cold	Excellent
Oslo	Nordic lifestyle	Medium	Very High	Cold	Excellent
Madrid	Sunshine + savings	Medium	Medium	Hot/Sunny	Excellent
Barcelona	Lifestyle + tech	Medium	Medium	Hot/Sunny	Excellent
Berlin	Growing market	Very Large	Medium	Cold	Good
Paris	AI/Research	Medium	High	Mild	Good

Compare detailed salary data across all European cities →

Final Thoughts

The choice of the best European city for you is a personal one. In my top 3 list, I aimed to rank cities based on factors most people will appreciate, such as high salaries, low taxes, quality of life, infrastructure, and leisure options.

In this article, I wanted to highlight some other cities in Europe that also offer great conditions for software engineers. I tried to depict what 'edge' each city has, and "where to go for what".

I also hope that the companies' lists that I provided for each city will be useful for job seekers in their application process.

Keep in mind that there are many other excellent European cities for engineers, which I plan to cover in the future. If you're interested in staying updated on all things related to software engineering in Europe, including job markets, locations, salaries, taxes, trends, technologies, and interview strategies, consider subscribing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which European city has the best work-life balance for software engineers?

Stockholm and Oslo offer the best work-life balance, with 5-6 weeks of vacation, flexible working hours, and a culture that prioritizes personal time and family. Local companies especially emphasize work-life balance over aggressive growth targets.

Is Dublin good for software engineers?

Yes, Dublin is excellent for software engineers, especially for those interested in big tech roles. It hosts offices of AWS, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Stripe, and more. Note that many engineering roles tend to be on the ops/infrastructure side (SRE, Platform Engineering).

Should I choose Berlin or Paris for a tech career?

Choose Berlin if you want:

• Larger tech market (second to London in Europe)
• More startup opportunities
• Lower cost of living
• Growing salary competition

Choose Paris if you want:

• AI and research focus (Google AI, Meta AI)
• French work culture (up to 40 vacation days)
• More established city infrastructure

Can I save money working as a software engineer in Madrid or Barcelona?

Yes! While base salaries are lower than northern Europe, the low cost of living makes saving possible. Senior engineers at big tech can earn $200k USD with ~$120k after tax. With living costs around $2.5k/month, you could save $90k USD/year - comparable to higher-paying cities. Plus you get sunshine year-round!

What's the best European city for remote work?

Lisbon (honorable mention) is Europe's digital nomad capital with great weather, affordable living, and a thriving remote work community. Berlin and Barcelona are also excellent for remote workers with strong tech communities and coworking spaces.

How do Scandinavian tech salaries compare to other European cities?

Scandinavian salaries (Oslo, Stockholm) are good but not the highest in Europe. However, they come with:

• Excellent public services (healthcare, education)
• Strong social safety net
• Generous vacation (5-6 weeks)
• Superior work-life balance

For big tech roles, you'll earn less than in Zurich or London, but with better quality of life and less stress.