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Top-Ranked Cities for Software Engineers in Europe 2026: Our Composite Analysis

A data-driven ranking of the best overall cities for software engineers in Europe in 2026, balancing salary, cost of living, savings, and lifestyle.

The European Engineer

February 10, 2026

16 min read

Looking for the best overall cities for software engineers in Europe in 2026 – not just “highest salary” or “cheapest rent”, but the real trade‑off between pay, savings, and quality of life?

That’s exactly what this ranking tries to answer.

Most “top ranked cities for developers in Europe” lists are vibes-based: someone liked the coffee, the metro works, the UX meetup had free beer. Nice, but useless when you’re deciding whether to uproot your life.

This one is different: it’s based on hard numbers from real job submissions, then rolled into a composite score per city.

See all city & country rankings →
Explore current tech jobs across Europe →

How We Built the Composite Ranking

To identify the best cities for tech workers in Europe in a realistic way, I used three main pillars:

Savings potential – how much you can reasonably save per year
Lifestyle score – how livable the city feels for an average engineer (not a crypto whale)
Market depth & stability – based on number of submissions and strength of local tech scene

Then I built a composite score (0–100) that tries to answer:

“As a typical mid‑senior software engineer, how good is this city overall if you care about money and life quality?”

The Inputs (Simplified)

Net Savings per Year (€)
What’s left after:
- Net salary (after tax & social contributions)
- Typical rent for a decent 1–2 bed place in a tech area
- Normal living expenses (food, transport, utilities, etc.)
Lifestyle Score (1–3)
Rough scale (from our respondents):
- 1.0–1.5 → “Bearable, but expensive / stressful / cramped”
- 1.5–2.2 → “Pretty decent overall”
- 2.2–3.0 → “Genuinely pleasant and comfortable”
Sample Size (n)
How many real job submissions we have per city.
- n ≥ 20 → we trust the ranking a lot more
- n < 20 → interesting, but treat as early indicators

You’ll see ⚠️ on cities with limited data. Do not sell your house based only on a city with n=5.

The Top-Ranked Cities for Software Engineers in Europe (2026)

Let’s start with the headline: our top ranked cities for developers in Europe by composite score.

These are the current “best overall cities for software engineers in Europe” in our 2026 data:

Rank	City & Country	Composite Score	Est. Annual Savings	Lifestyle Score	Sample Size
1	Brussels, Belgium	75.8	€29,800	2.00	5 ⚠️
2	Bucharest, Romania	71.6	€38,583	2.00	12 ⚠️
3	Hamburg, Germany	66.4	€16,625	2.11	9 ⚠️
4	Belgrade, Serbia	62.0	€23,905	2.05	22 ✅
5	London, UK	61.7	€48,598	1.92	39 ✅

A few immediate takeaways:

The “obvious” hype cities (Berlin, Amsterdam, Zurich, Copenhagen) aren’t in the top 5 composite – but they do appear strongly once we discuss trade‑offs.
Eastern and “second‑tier” cities like Bucharest and Belgrade punch way above their weight on savings-adjusted quality of life.
London is still a beast, even with Brexit, inflation, and £££ rent – the raw money is that good.

We’ll go city by city, then compare them to other popular hubs like Berlin, Amsterdam, Zurich, Copenhagen, Warsaw, etc.

1. Brussels, Belgium – Quietly Crushing the Composite Score

Composite: 75.8
Est. annual savings: ~€29,800
Lifestyle score: 2.0
Sample size: 5 (⚠️ limited data, treat with caution)

Brussels topping the list of the best overall cities for software engineers in Europe will surprise a lot of people – and I’ll be honest: we need more data here.

With only 5 submissions, this is more of an early signal than a verdict from Mount Salary.

Why Brussels scores so well

Salaries for software engineers (mid–senior) tend to be €60–90k gross, sometimes more in EU institutions / fintech / consultancy.
Tax is high, but:
- Many expats benefit from specific tax regimes
- Net take-home isn’t as brutal as places like Denmark
Rent is moderate for a capital:
- €900–1300 for a decent flat in many areas
- You’re not paying London/Amsterdam insanity prices

Combine decent net salaries with not-outrageous rent, and suddenly €25–30k/year savings looks realistic.

Lifestyle score 2.0 suggests:

Solid public transport 🚄
Walkable neighborhoods
Decent food scene, good healthcare
But not “Mediterranean beach life” levels of bliss

The catch

With n=5, I won’t tell you “drop your job in Berlin and move to Brussels now”.

Treat Brussels as:

“A likely underrated, financially solid EU capital for engineers, worth investigating if you like political, multilingual cities.”

Browse tech jobs in Belgium →

2. Bucharest, Romania – Extreme Value for Money

Composite: 71.6
Est. annual savings: ~€38,583
Lifestyle score: 2.0
Sample size: 12 (⚠️ still limited, but stronger signal than Brussels)

Bucharest is exactly the kind of city that shows why a composite “best cities for tech workers in Europe ranking” is more useful than salary tables alone.

Why Bucharest is near the top

Strong salaries vs local cost of living
- Mid–senior devs: €40–70k gross, sometimes higher in multinational product companies and US remote contracts.
- Taxes are moderate; social contributions less painful than in Western Europe.
Cost of living still relatively low (even after recent rises):
- Rent for good 1–2 bed place: €400–800
- Eating out, utilities, transport: significantly below Western EU levels.

Result: very healthy savings potential relative to your income – hence the €38k+ per year figure from our respondents.

Lifestyle score of 2.0 means:

It’s not Zurich, but it’s also not some depressing commuter town.
Big city energy, strong nightlife, growing tech meetups.
Downsides: infrastructure can be hit-and-miss; bureaucracy and corruption still annoyances; air quality and traffic can be rough.

Who Bucharest is ideal for

Engineers who want to maximize savings over a 3–5 year horizon.
Remote devs paid in Western salaries who want a lower-cost base.
People who care more about financial runway than perfect urban planning.

Again, sample size is only 12 – but this is consistent with anecdotal and market data over the last few years.

See dev jobs in Romania →

3. Hamburg, Germany – Germany Without Berlin’s Chaos

Composite: 66.4
Est. annual savings: ~€16,625
Lifestyle score: 2.11
Sample size: 9 (⚠️ limited but directionally interesting)

Hamburg often lives in Berlin’s shadow in tech discussions, but it quietly shows up as one of the top ranked cities for developers in Europe when you weigh comfort, stability, and income.

Why Hamburg ranks so high

Salaries are solid German-level:
- Mid–senior engineers: often €65–90k gross, more in some product and logistics giants.
Rent is high but not as insane as Munich, and slightly more reasonable than some Berlin hotspots:
- Good 1–2 bed: €900–1400 in many areas.
You still get the German social package:
- Strong healthcare
- Tenant protections
- Reasonable work culture compared to London/US

Lifestyle score 2.11 – higher than Brussels & Bucharest – tracks:

Very livable city: water, parks, decent biking, good public transport.
Less “party/startup chaos”, more grown‑up, family‑friendly.

Savings around €16k/year aren’t life-changing versus Bucharest, but combined with a high lifestyle score, Hamburg is a classic “balanced” city.

Compare with Berlin

We have 54 submissions for Berlin, so that’s more solid. In most cases:

Berlin gives slightly lower savings because cost of living has spiked.
Lifestyle is higher if you value culture, nightlife, and international atmosphere.
Hamburg is calmer, richer, slightly more conservative.

If you’re burned out on Berlin but want to stay in Germany with a good salary and decent quality of life, Hamburg is absolutely worth a look.

See Germany-wide tech jobs →

4. Belgrade, Serbia – High Savings, Growing Scene

Composite: 62.0
Est. annual savings: ~€23,905
Lifestyle score: 2.05
Sample size: 22 (✅ reasonably strong)

Belgrade is where the ranking gets really interesting.

With 22 submissions, we’re now in “I trust this directionally” territory. And Belgrade comes out as one of the best overall cities for software engineers in Europe if you’re willing to go outside the EU.

Why Belgrade scores well

Great earnings vs local costs:
- Local salaries for strong engineers are often €30–60k, but:
- Many devs are on remote US/EU contracts → much higher net incomes.
Low to moderate cost of living:
- Decent 1–2 bed flats: €350–700.
- Eating out, utilities, services: still significantly cheaper than Western Europe.

That produces almost €24k/year in savings on average among our sample.

Lifestyle score 2.05 = “solid, but not picture‑perfect”:

Very strong nightlife and café culture ☕️
Decent expat and tech community, especially in certain neighborhoods
Downsides: bureaucracy, politics, air quality, infrastructure outside the core areas.

Caveats

Non‑EU residency and visas can be trickier if you’re coming from outside the region.
Currency risk & local political/economic volatility are real factors over a long horizon.
For EU citizens, you’re losing some benefits of EU healthcare / pension systems.

But if your priority is:

“Remote‑friendly, affordable city with a lively social scene and strong savings potential”

Belgrade belongs high on any best cities tech workers Europe ranking.

Check remote‑friendly roles across Europe →

5. London, United Kingdom – Still the Money Monster

Composite: 61.7
Est. annual savings: ~€48,598
Lifestyle score: 1.92
Sample size: 39 (✅ strong)

Love it or hate it, London is still absolutely wild from a financial perspective.

Nearly €49k/year in savings for software engineers, after factoring high rent and cost of living, tells you everything you need to know about raw earning power here.

Why London still dominates on money

Senior engineers in good product companies, fintech, trading firms:
- £90–160k+ is realistic.
- Bonuses and equity can push this significantly higher.
Even mid‑level roles are frequently £70–100k.
The UK tax system is not as brutal as some continental systems at those levels.

Yes, rent is comically bad:

£1800–2500 for a decent 1–2 bed in a good zone is normal.
Everything from a pint to a haircut is more expensive.

But if you focus on savings, not vibes, the numbers win.

Lifestyle score 1.92 reflects reality:

Pros:
- Incredible career opportunities, networking, international community.
- World‑class culture, food, events.
Cons:
- Commutes can be soul‑destroying.
- Housing stress.
- A general “you’re never quite relaxed” background buzz.

Who London is ideal for

Ambitious engineers optimizing for career growth + high savings in 5–10 year windows.
People who want high optionality: roles in fintech, trading, AI, big tech, startups.
Those okay with burning some mental health fuel now for more financial independence later.

If you hate big cities, London is probably hell. If you don’t, it’s still one of the top ranked cities for developers in Europe purely on financial and career metrics.

Find high-paying roles in London & the UK →

How These Compare to Other Big Tech Hubs

You might be thinking:
“Where the hell are Berlin, Amsterdam, Zurich, Copenhagen, Warsaw in all this?”

They’re very much in the data – and they matter. They just didn’t squeeze into the top 5 composite once we balanced savings + lifestyle.

Here’s how they broadly stack up:

City	Notes from Data & Market	Sample Size
Berlin	Strong scene, good salaries, but rising rents eroding savings; lifestyle high, composite solid but not top‑5.	54 ✅
Amsterdam	High salaries, very high rents, good lifestyle; strong but expensive.	35 ✅
Zurich	Enormous salaries, insane costs; still great savings, but not as lifestyle‑efficient once rent/mortgages included.	40 ✅
Copenhagen	Very high taxes, strong social support, great lifestyle; savings decent but not extreme.	37 ✅
Warsaw	Good balance of strong income vs cost of living; likely just below Bucharest/Belgrade for ROI.	25 ✅
Helsinki	Great quality of life, high costs, moderate salaries; sample small.	8 ⚠️
Valencia	Lifestyle heaven, salaries far weaker; likely low savings but great QoL.	5 ⚠️
Krakow	Similar story to Warsaw with smaller sample; promising but lower confidence.	14 ⚠️
Sofia	Cheap cost of living, rising tech salaries; sample limited.	10 ⚠️
Dublin	Very high salaries, very high costs; data limited but consistent with “London‑lite”.	11 ⚠️

When we’re talking best overall cities for software engineers in Europe, you need to pick your poison:

Zurich / London / Dublin: Insane cash, but also high pressure, extreme housing, and lifestyle friction unless you’re earning at the very top.
Berlin / Amsterdam / Copenhagen: Great vibes, strong ecosystems, modest‑to‑good savings if you’re disciplined, but not the absolute top by our composite.
Bucharest / Belgrade / Warsaw: Great for savings-adjusted lifestyle – not as prestigious on paper, but very financially efficient.
Brussels / Hamburg: Often underrated, more balanced and mature, less chaotic than the hottest hubs.

See full city rankings with filters →
Compare country‑wide scores →

Why Composite Score > “Where’s the Highest Salary?”

If you only sort by gross salary, your top choices will be:

Zurich
London
Dublin
A couple of niche finance/trading hubs

But that ignores:

Local taxes (brutal in some Nordic countries, moderate in others)
Housing (which can eat 50%+ of your net in places like London/Amsterdam)
Daily costs (transport, childcare, healthcare gaps, etc.)

Our composite score tries (imperfectly, but honestly) to answer:

“After living like a normal human, how much do you actually keep – and how nice is your life while doing it?”

The Trade-Offs In Practice

Using the top cities as examples:

London
- Highest savings in absolute €€€.
- Lowest lifestyle score of the top 5.
- Great if you plan to escape later with a fat bank account.
Bucharest / Belgrade
- Lower nominal salaries.
- Very high savings-to-stress ratio.
- Great if you want to live well now and still save a lot.
Hamburg / Brussels
- More “boring adult stability” vibes.
- Strong social systems, decent savings.
- Good if you like balanced, less extreme trade‑offs.

How to Use This Ranking for Your Own Career Decisions

Here’s how I’d actually use this data if I were planning my next move as a mid‑senior engineer.

1. Decide Your Priority: Money vs Lifestyle vs Optionality

Brutal self‑honesty time:

If money is #1 goal (5–10 year horizon)
Aim for:
- London
- Zurich
- Possibly Dublin / top‑tier fintech hubs
  Then optimize inside those cities for:
- High‑paying niches (trading, infra, distributed systems, low‑latency, senior IC, staff roles)
- Companies with generous equity/bonus structures
If balanced QoL + good savings is the goal
Look closely at:
- Hamburg
- Brussels (but double-check with more data; talk to locals)
- Berlin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam (even if they’re just outside top 5 composite)
- Warsaw
If maximum savings / geo‑arbitrage is the goal
Shortlist:
- Bucharest
- Belgrade
- Other Eastern European hubs where you can earn Western salaries remotely

2. Filter by Market Depth

Our sample sizes correlate with how deep the local tech job pool is:

Berlin (54), London (39), Zurich (40), Copenhagen (37), Amsterdam (35), Warsaw (25)
→ You’ll have options. You’re not relying on a single unicorn.
Brussels (5), Valencia (5), Helsinki (8)
→ Can still be great, but you really want:
- Either remote work
- Or strong niche roles where you know the market

Rule of thumb:
If n < 20, don’t move there without talking to actual engineers living in the city right now and cross‑checking offers.

3. Run Your Own Numbers

Before committing to any city, do this:

Get 3–5 real offers or solid salary data points for your level.
Price out:
- Rent (for neighborhoods you’d actually live in, not the cheapest possible)
- Monthly living budget (with some generosity – you’re not a student anymore)

Estimate:

Annual net salary
– Annual rent
– 12 × (monthly expenses)
= Realistic annual savings

Compare that to:
- Our figures (e.g. €48k in London, €38k in Bucharest, €23k in Belgrade, ~€30k in Brussels)

If your personal number is, say, half our average, that city may not be great for you.

Who Should Not Follow the Composite Ranking Blindly

This ranking is aimed at:

Mid‑career software engineers (3–12 YOE)
Working mostly in:
- Backend / full‑stack / mobile
- Cloud / DevOps / platform
- Data engineering / ML engineering (not pure research)
Single or couples without 3 kids in international school

If your situation is different:

Very junior dev (0–2 YOE)
Prioritize learning environment over savings:
- Senior mentors
- Strong engineering culture
- Code review, design reviews, good product management
Staff/Principal engineer earning top 1% comp
You’re playing a different game:
- Zurich, London, Geneva, Monaco‑adjacent – these become far more interesting.
- Lifestyle may matter more than another €10–20k/year.
Family with kids
Childcare costs, schooling (especially international schools), and safety shift the equation.
Some cities like Copenhagen or Helsinki become more attractive than their composite score suggests.

Key Takeaways

To wrap it up, here’s the distilled version of this best cities tech workers Europe ranking:

Brussels, Bucharest, Hamburg, Belgrade, and London come out as top composite cities in 2026, each for different reasons.
Brussels & Hamburg → underrated, balanced Western European cities with good savings and solid lifestyle.
Bucharest & Belgrade → extreme value for money: strong savings + decent lifestyle if you’re okay with being outside the usual “LinkedIn‑cool” hubs.
London → still an absolute monster for earnings and savings, at the cost of stress and rent.

But:

Sample sizes matter. Where n < 20, treat this as a strong hint, not gospel.
You should run your own numbers and factor in your priorities (career prestige, remote vs on‑site, family, language, etc.).

If you want to go deeper:

See full interactive city rankings →
Compare salaries & savings by country →
Search 5,000+ tech jobs across Europe →

Pick your city like you’d pick a database:
Know your workload, understand the trade‑offs, and don’t just follow the hype.