Best cities for software engineers
Engineers optimise the wrong variable when they compare gross offers. What matters is take-home pay after the local tax system, minus what the city costs to live in. On that measure the ranking looks quite different from a salary table.
The ranking
| # | City | Match | Monthly cost | Left over | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 87% | $3,676 | $7,542 | 7,542 USD/month left after costsConnectivity scores 100/100Affordability scores 82/100Getting around scores 93/100No remote-work visa route |
| 2 | Dubai United Arab Emirates | 84% | $3,417 | $9,083 | 9,083 USD/month left after costsConnectivity scores 100/100Affordability scores 84/100English usability scores 88/100 |
| 3 | Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR | 83% | $3,435 | $7,178 | 7,178 USD/month left after costsConnectivity scores 96/100Affordability scores 82/100Getting around scores 96/100No remote-work visa route |
| 4 | Stockholm Sweden | 83% | $2,723 | $4,392 | 4,392 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 80/100English usability scores 96/100Getting around scores 91/100No remote-work visa route |
| 5 | Copenhagen Denmark | 82% | $3,274 | $3,163 | 3,163 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 94/100Getting around scores 92/100No remote-work visa route |
| 6 | Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates | 80% | $2,960 | $9,540 | 9,540 USD/month left after costsConnectivity scores 96/100Affordability scores 85/100English usability scores 86/100 |
| 7 | Barcelona Spain | 79% | $2,519 | $5,089 | 5,089 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 82/100Getting around scores 91/100Nightlife & culture scores 96/100 |
| 8 | Seattle United States | 78% | $4,162 | $5,293 | 5,293 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 100/100Affordability scores 77/100Connectivity scores 84/100No remote-work visa route |
| 9 | Amsterdam Netherlands | 78% | $3,440 | $4,186 | 4,186 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 77/100English usability scores 96/100Getting around scores 90/100No remote-work visa route |
| 10 | Tokyo Japan | 77% | $2,588 | $4,078 | 4,078 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 79/100Connectivity scores 88/100Getting around scores 94/100English usability is weak here (30/100) |
| 11 | Valencia Spain | 77% | $1,912 | $5,696 | 5,696 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 84/100Getting around scores 83/100Nightlife & culture scores 82/100 |
| 12 | Toronto Canada | 77% | $3,435 | $5,201 | 5,201 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 79/100English usability scores 98/100Getting around scores 77/100No remote-work visa route |
| 13 | Tel Aviv Israel | 77% | $3,626 | $4,143 | 4,143 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 76/100English usability scores 84/100Nightlife & culture scores 94/100No remote-work visa route |
| 14 | Lisbon Portugal | 77% | $2,416 | $3,853 | 3,853 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 80/100Getting around scores 82/100English usability scores 82/100 |
| 15 | Vancouver Canada | 76% | $3,541 | $5,269 | 5,269 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 79/100English usability scores 96/100No remote-work visa route |
The top five, in detail
Zero income tax and a remote-work visa; housing, schooling and the car you will need eat most of the tax saving.
A ~15% effective tax ceiling and superb transit, paid for entirely in square metres.
Capped childcare fees and universal healthcare make family costs unusually low relative to the headline tax rate.
High taxes buy near-free childcare, healthcare and one of the best cycling cities on earth.
Other guides
Frequently asked
How was this best cities for software engineers list produced?
It is a calculation, not an opinion. Each of the 70 cities in the dataset is scored 0–100 on ten dimensions, weighted by the criteria for this guide (Money left over on $150,000 gross; Broadband speed; Getting around; English usability; Nightlife and culture), and ranked on the weighted average. Costs are measured against a $150,000 gross salary taxed under each country's own rules.
What household does this price?
1 adult, in a 1-bed, city centre, at a moderate lifestyle, without a car. You can change all of that in the live tool.
What is the number one cities for software engineers?
Singapore, Singapore, with a 87% match and a modelled monthly cost of $3,676 for this household. The best-run city in Asia with low taxes and top-tier healthcare — housing and car ownership are the exceptions.