Top 20 cities for Software Engineers in Europe
Top 20 cities for Software Engineers in Europe
Fourth article of a series that explores how tech opportunities are distributed across Europe.
Following our articles on the Top 3 and Top 10 cities in Europe for software engineers, here's another one featuring 10 additional target cities in Europe that provide intriguing alternatives.
These three articles, when combined, offer a comprehensive overview of cities and companies that present excellent opportunities for developers on the continent.
Munich, Germany
Notable companies with office here: Google, Apple.
Munich offers a high quality of life, blending urban living with abundant access to nature. Its strategic location facilitates easy travel within Europe. The country is known for its stability, and salaries here rank among the highest in Western Europe.
While the cost of living is relatively high, it's still more affordable than cities like London or Zurich.
Warsaw, Poland
Notable companies with office here: Google, Snowflake, Netflix, Pinterest, Rippling, Oracle, Waymo, AMD, Samsung, NVIDIA, Warner Bros, Visa.
Warsaw features one of Europe's most exciting tech markets, characterised by a rapidly growing tech scene. The city hosts numerous American companies, including unique players like Netflix and Waymo, both of which have engineering offices here. Google also has sizeable teams focused on cutting-edge infrastructure and cloud work, including contributions to Borg and Kubernetes.
Moreover, Warsaw is a hotspot for remote company hiring, making it relatively easy for engineers to find B2B contract opportunities. Freelancer engineers benefit from favorable tax rates, ranging from 12% to 8.5%, with potential for a 5% flat tax rate for certain R&D work.
The city boasts a low cost of living compared to European standards, coupled with a high quality of life. Its vibrant atmosphere and exciting nightlife add to its appeal.
While Warsaw is objectively one of the best places for engineers in Europe, it didn't make the top 10 due to salaries not reaching the high end of the European spectrum (even considering the low cost of living). Some services, particularly public ones, may be perceived as slightly lower in quality compared to Western Europe. Additionally, proximity to Ukraine and Russia, along with increased military spending, introduces an element of uncertainty about the city's future. However, arguments can be made for its inclusion in the top 10.
Kraków, Poland
Notable companies with office here: Google, Rippling, Oracle, Revolut, Deliveroo, IBM, Splunk.
Some of the advantages attributed to Warsaw also apply to Krakow. Both cities offer ease in finding B2B remote contracts, favorable taxation for freelancers, and a high quality of life at an affordable cost. Additionally, both host significant tech companies, with Krakow being home to Splunk's largest European engineering office.
However, when it comes to lifestyle, Krakow presents a more laid-back alternative to the bustling Warsaw. It boasts a historical charm and a slightly different, less modern atmosphere.
Tallinn, Estonia
Notable companies with office here: Bolt, Wise, Twilio, Wolt.
Tallinn, home to one of Europe's most exciting and successful tech companies, Bolt, stands as a vibrant and rapidly growing tech capital.
Estonia, as a whole, is a modern and highly digitalized country, with the added attraction of a 0% tax rate on reinvested profits—making it an intriguing destination for founders aspiring to launch the next tech unicorn.
However, it's important to note that while Tallinn and Estonia offer a dynamic tech environment, salaries and the cost of living may not present the most advantageous deals in Europe.
Lisbon, Portugal
Notable companies with office here: Oracle, Datadog, Tripadvisor, Farfetch.
Lisbon may not offer the best compensation-to-cost-of-living ratio among the cities on this list either.
Nevertheless, it earns its place here due to several compelling factors. The city boasts a respectable local tech market, accessible opportunities for B2B remote work, Europe's largest digital nomad community, sunny weather, and an exceptional overall lifestyle that includes nature, an ocean backdrop, great cuisine, and vibrant nightlife.
Additionally, those willing to reside outside the city center, where prices have surged due to tourism, will discover Lisbon to be quite affordable.
Bucharest, Romania
Notable companies with office here: Google, Adobe, Stripe, Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, Electronic Arts (EA), Amazon.
Bucharest is emerging as one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in Europe. The city has witnessed a steady influx of companies establishing large offices, with notable additions like Stripe, one of today's most prestigious tech companies.
However, it's worth noting that one reason for this expansion is the lower cost of engineering labor, which, even considering the local cost of living, may not make Bucharest the best choice for substantial savings. Nevertheless, given the large presence of big tech companies and the potential for significant salary growth over a long-term tech career, Bucharest still offers the prospect of building a respectable net worth for those committed to the city.
The city itself is both sizeable and offers a variety of activities while maintaining a relatively laid-back atmosphere.
Romania also presents an attractive tax system for remote B2B work.
Prague, Czech Republic
Notable companies with office here: Apple, Oracle, Microsoft, Proton, Parrot.
Prague, situated in Central Europe, stands out as a quality destination. It boasts a substantial presence of reputable companies with local offices, favorable taxation for B2B work, a manageable cost of living, and a high quality of life. Moreover, it is widely regarded as one of Europe's most charming cities.
Belgrade, Serbia
Notable companies with office here: Databricks, Microsoft.
Belgrade, the final city on this list from the Central/Eastern European region, stands out as one of the best destinations in the area.
It boasts a rich history, a high quality of life, a vibrant nightlife scene that has earned the city the reputation of 'party capital of Eastern Europe', a low cost of living, attractive taxation for B2B freelancers, and numerous engineering opportunities in local offices. Notably, Databricks has one of its largest engineering presences in Europe in this city.
Furthermore, the people in Belgrade are renowned for their friendliness, making it a welcoming place for newcomers.
Cambridge, England
Notable companies with office here: Apple, Amazon, Roku, Arm.
Thanks to its university, Cambridge offers an interesting alternative for those looking for more research-oriented positions in the industry, while also boasting good salaries and a great quality of life.
Milan, Italy
Notable companies with office here: Klarna, Bending Spoons, Amazon, Red Hat.
Italy is often regarded as one of the worst places in Europe for software engineers due to its low salaries (comparable to Romanian levels) combined with a relatively high cost of living (comparable to Germany).
That said, it still offers a great lifestyle for people who value great cuisine, an outgoing culture, good weather, a diverse nature and a rich history.
In the context of Italy, Milan stands out as its tech capital with a decent presence of tech companies offering enticing opportunities.
Bonus options
Snap Vienna, Austria: focus on Computer Vision.
Uber Aarhus, Denmark: Uber’s second largest office in Europe (after Amsterdam).
Amazon Luxembourg, Luxembourg: one of Amazon’s largest engineering offices in Europe (after London and Dublin).
Low tax, low cost of living countries
Especially interesting for remote workers.
Bulgaria, Georgia, Cyprus, Canary Islands.
More content on remote working in Europe coming soon.
