Career Strategy

Salaries

Europe vs US

Working from Europe for a US Company: The Ultimate Career and Lifestyle Hack

US tech salaries ($150-300k) + European lifestyle + 15% tax rates = 60-70% savings. Google has 125 Poland openings, 2x Switzerland+Germany+UK combined.

The European Engineer

July 28, 2025

15 min read

Spending money well is a skill that needs time to develop: a 1-month Euro-vacation in summer is not gonna cut it.

I would even argue that "spending money" is often just a bad proxy for what people actually mean by that, which is "living a good life".

Let me do some Europesplaining: You don't really need a lot of money to lead a great life.

That's why you don't really need to make a lot of money in the first place.

Maybe you don't need the US?

Find US companies hiring in Europe →

The Ultimate Career Hack: US Salary + European Lifestyle

The formula is simple:

👉 A US tech job working remotely from Europe.

Why this works:

The US has the highest tech salaries in the world
Europe has the best lifestyle in the world
Combine the two, and you're optimizing both dimensions

Almost forgot: you can also get lower taxes as a remote dev in Europe (~15% or even less).

Browse fully-remote high-paying roles →

You Don't Even Need a Remote Job

You can also just work for an American company's office in Europe.

They still pay very well compared to the local market and cost of living.

The goal in this case: Getting a big tech job in Europe.

EuroTopTechJobs.com offers the easiest way to monitor and track these jobs (in addition to collecting an ever-increasing list—currently 85+—of fully-remote companies paying 6 figures).

The US vs Europe Comparison

Factor	United States	Europe (Remote/Big Tech)	Winner
Tech Salaries	$150-400k+	$100-250k (€90-230k)	🇺🇸 US
Cost of Living	$60-100k (SF/NYC/Seattle)	€25-50k (Warsaw/Lisbon/Berlin)	🇪🇺 Europe
Taxes	30-45%	15-25% (optimized)	🇪🇺 Europe
Healthcare	$500-2k/month premium	Free or €50-200/month	🇪🇺 Europe
Work-Life Balance	40-60 hr weeks, 2 weeks PTO	35-45 hr weeks, 4-6 weeks PTO	🇪🇺 Europe
Lifestyle Quality	Car-dependent, stressful	Walkable cities, cultural richness	🇪🇺 Europe
Savings Rate	20-40%	50-70%	🇪🇺 Europe (remote)

The Math That Changes Everything

US-based engineer in San Francisco:

Salary: $200k (~€183k)
Taxes: 35% = €119k after tax
Living costs: €75k/year
Saved: €44k (24% savings rate)

Europe-based engineer with US remote job:

Salary: $150k (~€137k)
Taxes: 15% = €117k after tax
Living costs: €35k/year (Warsaw/Krakow)
Saved: €82k (60% savings rate)

Result: Lower gross salary in Europe, but nearly 2x the annual savings.

See our financial comparison tool for your specific scenario.

Is There Any Reason Left to Be in the US as a Dev?

Let's be fair—the US still has advantages:

When the US Makes Sense

1. You want to build the next Google

Undeniably a great place to build
Access to VC funding ($100B+ annually)
Talent density in SF/NYC is unmatched
Network effects for founders

2. You're optimizing for absolute salary

Top compensation ($300-700k) still concentrated in US
FAANG L6+ roles mostly US-based
Equity upside bigger at US companies

3. You're early in your career

Resume building at US companies carries weight
Learning from the best teams
Career acceleration in 2-3 years

4. You have specific personal reasons

Family, relationships, or strong ties
Specific niche only exists in US (certain AI labs, etc.)

The New Reality

With all the tools we have nowadays, unless you really want to build the next Google, you might just be fine in Europe.

Companies like Lovable seem to be doing just fine after all.

Even Scott Galloway's description of the US as the place for ambition might now better fit the UAE.

Poland Is the #1 Country Right Now for High-Paying Tech Companies

Yes, Warsaw is only the 3rd city by number of openings on EuroTopTechJobs.com.

But the rate at which it's expanding, the competition for landing such roles (easier than landing a big tech role in Western Europe), and the taxes/cost-of-living, easily make it outshine the top 2 cities (London and Dublin).

Also, Cracow is another big hub (8th in Europe at the moment).

Where Google Is Hiring Engineers in 2025

Country	Open SWE Jobs	Population Context
🇺🇸 United States	1,000	Home country advantage
🇮🇳 India	350	1.4B population
🇵🇱 Poland	125	38M population
🇨🇭 Switzerland	20	8.7M population
🇩🇪 Germany	20	83M population
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	15	67M population

Mind-blowing insight: Poland has twice the openings of Switzerland, Germany, and the UK—the largest Google engineering offices in Western Europe—COMBINED.

It also has about 50% the positions of India despite being just 2.5% of its population.

(For all the people who say that "tech jobs are moving from Eastern Europe to Asia" 😄)

Why the US Still Dominates Hiring

The US stays strong as a hiring hub because:

Google is an American company after all
Easy to fire people (employment-at-will)
Access to lots of qualified talent
400k+ desperate devs laid off in the last 2 years
H1B workers providing cost advantages

But the European opportunity is expanding rapidly.

The European Tech Ecosystem Is Maturing

Why now is the perfect time:

Growing Local Opportunities

City	Big Tech Offices	Typical Senior Salary	Living Costs (Family)
Warsaw	Google, Netflix, Amazon, NVIDIA	€80-140k	€35-45k
Dublin	Meta, Google, Microsoft, Apple	€85-130k	€65-75k
London	All major tech companies	€90-150k	€75-90k
Zurich	Google, Meta, Microsoft	€120-200k	€85-100k
Berlin	Multiple startups + scale-ups	€70-110k	€55-65k

Remote-First US Companies Hiring Europeans

Increasingly, US companies are hiring Europeans remotely:

GitLab, Zapier, Automattic (remote-first culture)
Stripe, Shopify, Coinbase (expanding EU presence)
Many YC startups (cost-effective, timezone overlap)

The opportunity: Get US-level compensation while living in Europe.

Browse our fully-remote job listings to find these opportunities.

Building Wealth: The Real Comparison

It's not about salary. It's about how much you keep and grow.

10-Year Wealth Building Scenarios

US-based (San Francisco):

Average annual savings: $60k (€55k)
10-year savings: €550k
Investment in S&P 500 (60% growth): €880k
Final net worth: ~€880k

Europe-based remote (Warsaw):

Average annual savings: €70k
10-year savings: €700k
Investment split: Real estate (€300k → €564k) + S&P (€400k → €640k)
Final net worth: ~€1.2M

The winner: Europe-based remote strategy, with less stress and better lifestyle.

Quality-Adjusted Returns

Financial returns aren't everything:

Factor	US (SF)	Europe (Warsaw Remote)
Annual stress level	High (long hours, car-dependent)	Moderate (better WLB)
Time with family/friends	Limited (60hr weeks, long commute)	Good (40hr weeks, walkable city)
Healthcare anxiety	High (insurance, costs)	None (universal coverage)
Cultural richness	Tech monoculture	Access to 30+ countries
Vacation days	10-15	25-30

Net assessment: Europe offers better quality-adjusted returns.

Tax Optimization: The European Advantage

One of the most underrated benefits of working remotely in Europe is tax optimization.

European Tax Strategies for Remote Workers

Strategy	Tax Rate	Requirements	Best For
Polish B2B contract	12-15%	Freelancer registration	Remote workers
Portuguese NHR	20%	New resident, approved income	Digital nomads
Estonian e-Residency	0% (until withdrawal)	E-residency + company	Founders
Cyprus non-dom	12.5%	Tax residency, >€60k income	High earners
Digital nomad visas	15-24%	Qualifying remote income	Location flexibility

Compare to US:

Federal: 24-37%
State (CA): 9.3-13.3%
FICA: 7.65%
Total: 40-55%

European advantage: Save an additional 20-30% on taxes = €30-60k/year extra for €150k income.

For detailed strategies, see leveraging low-tax countries as a remote developer.

How to Make This Work: Practical Steps

Step 1: Secure the Remote Role

Target companies:

Fully-remote US companies (browse our list)
European offices of US companies
US startups expanding to Europe

Strategies:

Optimize LinkedIn for remote positions
Get referrals from Europeans working remotely
Apply to remote-first companies (50% less competition)
Highlight timezone overlap and cultural fit

See: LinkedIn career hack for tech jobs

Step 2: Choose Your European Base

Optimize for:

Tax efficiency (Poland, Portugal, Cyprus)
Cost of living (Eastern Europe wins)
Quality of life (your personal preferences)
Job market backup (Warsaw, Dublin, London)

Top recommendations:

Warsaw/Krakow - Best financial optimization
Lisbon - Best weather + reasonable costs
Berlin - Best social scene + startup culture
Dublin - Best backup job market

Use our city comparison tool to run your numbers.

Step 3: Optimize Legal/Tax Setup

Critical actions:

Consult with tax advisor in target country
Understand residency requirements (usually 183+ days)
Set up freelancer/contractor structure if beneficial
Maintain compliance with both countries' regulations

Timeline: Plan 3-6 months for full transition.

Step 4: Build Your European Life

Integration tips:

Learn basic local language (critical for real life)
Join expat and local communities
Establish routines (gym, cafes, social groups)
Travel extensively (you're in Europe!)

Budget adjustment period: 6-12 months to feel fully settled.

Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I legally work remotely from Europe for a US company without a European entity?

Yes, with caveats. Short-term (tourist visa, <90 days): Technically gray area but commonly done, many digital nomads do this, low enforcement risk, but not sustainable long-term. Long-term (>6 months): You need proper legal setup: Digital nomad visa (Portugal, Spain, etc. offer these), Freelancer/contractor status in European country, US company pays you as contractor (1099) not employee (W-2), or US company establishes Employer of Record (EOR) arrangement. Tax implications: You'll owe taxes in your country of residence (usually 183+ days = tax resident), US may also have obligations depending on citizenship/status, Tax treaty prevents double taxation but requires filing. Best approach: Consult with international tax advisor who knows both jurisdictions ($500-2000 investment that saves you headaches and potentially tens of thousands in taxes/penalties). Many engineers successfully do this with proper setup.

How do I convince my US-based employer to let me work from Europe?

Build a case around business benefits and address their concerns proactively. Address their concerns first: "Timezone overlap" - Commit to 4-5 hours overlap with US hours (easily doable from Europe), show willingness to accommodate key meetings. "Legal/tax complexity" - Offer to work as contractor instead of employee (shifts burden to you), suggest Employer of Record services (Remote.com, Deel.com) that handle compliance. "Performance concerns" - Point to your track record, propose 3-month trial period, offer to visit US office quarterly. Build your case: "Cost savings" - You're cheaper as contractor (no benefits, payroll taxes), EOR is still cheaper than US employee for them. "Talent retention" - Losing you = recruiting cost ($20-50k) + ramp-up time (3-6 months), much cheaper to accommodate your request. "Global expansion" - You become their European presence, future hiring in Europe becomes easier. Timing matters: Best time to ask: After strong performance review, when you have leverage (competing offers, critical projects), during company expansion phase. Worst time: First 6 months, during layoffs/hiring freezes, after performance issues. Success rate: ~40% if you're strong performer with good relationship with management. Have backup plan if they refuse.

What's the best European country for remote workers optimizing for taxes and lifestyle?

Depends on your income level and priorities, but here's the breakdown. For high earners ($150k+) prioritizing wealth building: Poland (Warsaw/Krakow) - 12-15% tax as freelancer, low cost of living (€30-40k/year family), great lifestyle, strong tech community, total optimization score: 9/10. Cyprus - 12.5% tax with non-dom status, beach lifestyle, English-spoken, higher costs than Poland, score: 8/10. For good balance of taxes, lifestyle, and weather: Portugal (Lisbon) - 20% tax with NHR regime (expiring 2024, but new digital nomad visa at 15%), great weather/lifestyle, higher costs (€40-50k/year), score: 8.5/10. For optimal lifestyle with okay taxes: Spain (Barcelona/Madrid) - 24% tax on digital nomad visa, amazing lifestyle/weather, moderate costs, score: 7.5/10. For career backup + optimization: Dublin - 25-35% tax (worse than Eastern Europe), but best job market in Europe (#2 after London), English-speaking, score: 7/10 if you value job security. My recommendation: Start in Poland or Portugal for 3-5 years (build wealth), then choose based on lifestyle preference once financially secure. Sequential approach beats trying to optimize everything simultaneously. See our comprehensive country comparison.

Is the US-remote-from-Europe strategy sustainable long-term or just a short-term arbitrage?

More sustainable than you might think, though dynamics may shift. Why it's sustainable: Structural advantages persist - CoL differences between US and Eastern Europe won't disappear in next 10-20 years, even as Poland develops, still 50-70% cheaper than US. Remote work is permanent - Post-COVID, remote work is normalized, companies realize they can't force everyone back, talent shortage gives workers leverage. European work preferences - Many Europeans prefer Europe lifestyle over US even at equal pay, provides sustainable supply of remote workers, US employers get quality talent without full US compensation. Tax arbitrage remains - European tax optimization (15-25%) vs US taxes (40-50%), unlikely to change drastically (would require international coordination), gives sustained 20-30% advantage. What could threaten it: Salary equalization - Companies might adjust salaries for location (already happening at some companies), but market competition prevents race to bottom. Immigration restrictions - Governments might crack down on long-term remote work from abroad, but trend is opposite (digital nomad visas multiplying). Company policies - Some companies mandating return to office, but others going more remote (balances out). Realistic assessment: This strategy will work for at least next 10-15 years for tech workers, might evolve but fundamentals remain strong, get in now while arbitrage is widest. Even if salary gap closes 20-30%, lifestyle + tax advantages remain compelling. Plan for 10-year horizon, adjust as market evolves.

How much money can I realistically save per year working remotely from Europe with a US salary?

Highly dependent on salary and location, but here are realistic scenarios. Scenario 1: $120k US remote salary, Warsaw base: Gross: $120k (€110k), Tax (15% freelancer): €93.5k after tax, Living costs: €35k (family) / €25k (single), Saved: €58-68k per year (53-62% savings rate). Scenario 2: $150k US remote salary, Lisbon base: Gross: $150k (€137k), Tax (20% NHR): €110k after tax, Living costs: €45k (family) / €30k (single), Saved: €65-80k per year (47-58% savings rate). Scenario 3: $200k US remote salary, Warsaw base: Gross: $200k (€183k), Tax (15%): €156k after tax, Living costs: €40k (family) / €30k (single), Saved: €116-126k per year (63-69% savings rate). Compare to US (SF) baseline: $150k salary in San Francisco: After tax (35%): $97.5k (€89k), Living costs: €70k (family) / €50k (single), Saved: €19-39k per year (13-26% savings rate). The advantage: 3-4x higher savings rate in Europe, €40-80k more saved per year (depending on scenario), over 10 years = €400-800k additional net worth. Investment compounding: That extra €60k/year saved, invested in real estate + equities, compounds to €1M+ over 10 years. This is how engineers in their 30s achieve financial independence. Use our detailed calculator to model your specific situation with your actual numbers.

What about health insurance, retirement, and benefits when working as a contractor from Europe?

You need to set these up yourself, but costs are much lower than you might think in Europe. Health insurance in Europe: Public healthcare: Many countries offer universal healthcare even to residents (not just citizens), costs €0-200/month, quality is good to excellent in Western/Central Europe. Private health insurance: €100-300/month for comprehensive coverage, shorter wait times than public, English-speaking doctors. Total healthcare cost: €1,200-3,600/year vs $6,000-24,000/year in US (even with employer contribution, you pay $500-2k/month premiums + deductibles). Retirement savings: As contractor, you control your savings: Can often opt-out of required pension contributions (depends on country), invest in tax-advantaged accounts (varies by country), or simply invest in brokerage accounts (S&P 500, real estate, etc.). You should save 15-20% for retirement (but you control the investments), vs US 401k which is employer-controlled. With 55-65% savings rate, saving 20% for retirement still leaves 35-45% for near-term wealth building. Other benefits you lose as contractor: No paid time off (but just take time off, you're saving €60k+/year), no employer equity (but you can invest your savings), no free lunch/perks (real cost: ~€2-3k/year, negligible). Net calculation: Extra savings as Europe contractor: +€40-70k/year, extra costs (health, retirement, perks): -€10-15k/year, net advantage: +€30-60k/year. Totally worth it. Many engineers find they prefer the control over their own benefits rather than depending on employer.