Salary by city · Software engineer
Best cities for a Software engineer: salary vs cost of living
Senior individual-contributor software engineer working on production systems at a tech-product company.
NYC P50 anchor: $180,000/year · scaled by local pay-tier multipliers + FX into each city's currency. Net + lifestyle-tier mapping uses each country's effective payroll deduction.
Illustrative bands, not negotiation data. Cross-check against Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, or local recruiters before quoting these numbers in a real offer conversation.
Who this band describes
The software engineer archetype here is a senior IC — typically 5+ years of professional experience, comfortable owning systems end-to-end, ramping new hires, and reviewing architectural decisions. Common stacks vary; the pay band tends to be stable across language and framework choices at this seniority.
Employers anchoring the highest salary bands are public tech companies (FAANG-equivalents and their local analogues), late-stage scale-ups with funding, and high-margin SaaS businesses. Mid-band employers are mature non-tech companies, regional tech leaders, and earlier-stage startups paying mostly in equity rather than cash.
All cities ranked by best-supported lifestyle tier
P50 local-currency band shown; net is the post-tax monthly take-home at P50. Lifestyle tier is the highest Mundevo tier that net covers in this city.
| City | P25 / P50 / P75 (gross/year) | Net / month at P50 | Best tier | Headroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria· Egypt | EGP 4,416,667 EGP 3,557,870 – EGP 5,643,519 | EGP 290,764 | Premium | +887% |
| Cairo· Egypt | EGP 4,416,667 EGP 3,557,870 – EGP 5,643,519 | EGP 290,764 | Premium | +681% |
| Cordoba· Argentina | ARS 87,500,000 ARS 70,486,111 – ARS 111,805,556 | ARS 5,395,833 | Premium | +485% |
| Cebu· Philippines | ₱5,166,667 ₱4,162,037 – ₱6,601,852 | ₱361,667 | Premium | +393% |
| Dubai· United Arab Emirates | AED 430,083 AED 346,456 – AED 549,551 | AED 34,048 | Premium | +386% |
| Delhi· India | ₹7,500,000 ₹6,041,667 – ₹9,583,333 | ₹468,750 | Premium | +379% |
| Arequipa· Peru | PEN 333,333 PEN 268,519 – PEN 425,926 | PEN 24,444 | Premium | +372% |
| Chiang Mai· Thailand | THB 3,208,333 THB 2,584,491 – THB 4,099,537 | THB 240,625 | Premium | +353% |
| Penang· Malaysia | MYR 420,833 MYR 339,005 – MYR 537,731 | MYR 29,108 | Premium | +350% |
| Manila· Philippines | ₱5,166,667 ₱4,162,037 – ₱6,601,852 | ₱361,667 | Premium | +280% |
| Bogota· Colombia | COP 366,666,667 COP 295,370,370 – COP 468,518,519 | COP 23,833,333 | Premium | +272% |
| Ankara· Turkey | TRY 3,500,000 TRY 2,819,444 – TRY 4,472,222 | TRY 207,083 | Premium | +270% |
| Hanoi· Vietnam | ₫2,250,000,000 ₫1,812,500,000 – ₫2,875,000,000 | ₫145,312,500 | Premium | +263% |
| Kuala Lumpur· Malaysia | MYR 252,500 MYR 203,403 – MYR 322,639 | MYR 17,465 | Premium | +253% |
| Mumbai· India | ₹7,500,000 ₹6,041,667 – ₹9,583,333 | ₹468,750 | Premium | +243% |
| Valparaiso· Chile | CLP 85,833,333 CLP 69,143,519 – CLP 109,675,926 | CLP 5,364,583 | Premium | +240% |
| Lima· Peru | PEN 333,333 PEN 268,519 – PEN 425,926 | PEN 24,444 | Premium | +238% |
| Marrakech· Morocco | MAD 900,000 MAD 725,000 – MAD 1,150,000 | MAD 61,500 | Premium | +235% |
| Bali· Indonesia | IDR 1,458,333,333 IDR 1,174,768,519 – IDR 1,863,425,926 | IDR 105,729,167 | Premium | +229% |
| Jakarta· Indonesia | IDR 1,458,333,333 IDR 1,174,768,519 – IDR 1,863,425,926 | IDR 105,729,167 | Premium | +227% |
| Guadalajara· Mexico | MX$1,791,667 MX$1,443,287 – MX$2,289,352 | MX$131,016 | Premium | +221% |
| Bangkok· Thailand | THB 1,925,000 THB 1,550,694 – THB 2,459,722 | THB 144,375 | Premium | +215% |
| Buenos Aires· Argentina | ARS 35,000,000 ARS 28,194,444 – ARS 44,722,222 | ARS 2,158,333 | Premium | +199% |
| Casablanca· Morocco | MAD 900,000 MAD 725,000 – MAD 1,150,000 | MAD 61,500 | Premium | +197% |
| Bangalore· India | ₹7,500,000 ₹6,041,667 – ₹9,583,333 | ₹468,750 | Premium | +191% |
| Seoul· South Korea | ₩148,000,000 ₩119,222,222 – ₩189,111,111 | ₩9,743,333 | Premium | +188% |
| Johannesburg· South Africa | ZAR 1,666,667 ZAR 1,342,593 – ZAR 2,129,630 | ZAR 112,500 | Premium | +181% |
| Osaka· Japan | ¥14,000,000 ¥11,277,778 – ¥17,888,889 | ¥851,667 | Premium | +166% |
| Santiago· Chile | CLP 85,833,333 CLP 69,143,519 – CLP 109,675,926 | CLP 5,364,583 | Premium | +164% |
| Istanbul· Turkey | TRY 3,500,000 TRY 2,819,444 – TRY 4,472,222 | TRY 207,083 | Premium | +163% |
| Medellin· Colombia | COP 366,666,667 COP 295,370,370 – COP 468,518,519 | COP 23,833,333 | Premium | +162% |
| Debrecen· Hungary | HUF 32,916,667 HUF 26,516,204 – HUF 42,060,185 | HUF 1,824,132 | Premium | +152% |
| Busan· South Korea | ₩123,333,333 ₩99,351,852 – ₩157,592,593 | ₩8,119,444 | Premium | +151% |
| Tokyo· Japan | ¥16,800,000 ¥13,533,333 – ¥21,466,667 | ¥1,022,000 | Premium | +141% |
| Mexico City· Mexico | MX$1,075,000 MX$865,972 – MX$1,373,611 | MX$78,609 | Premium | +138% |
| Cape Town· South Africa | ZAR 1,666,667 ZAR 1,342,593 – ZAR 2,129,630 | ZAR 112,500 | Premium | +137% |
| Taipei· Taiwan | NT$2,875,000 NT$2,315,972 – NT$3,673,611 | NT$193,464 | Premium | +124% |
| Rio de Janeiro· Brazil | R$483,333 R$389,352 – R$617,593 | R$26,986 | Premium | +121% |
| Ho Chi Minh City· Vietnam | ₫2,250,000,000 ₫1,812,500,000 – ₫2,875,000,000 | ₫145,312,500 | Premium | +116% |
| Thessaloniki· Greece | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,444 | Premium | +104% |
| Brno· Czech Republic | CZK 2,041,667 CZK 1,644,676 – CZK 2,608,796 | CZK 133,559 | Premium | +96% |
| Budapest· Hungary | HUF 32,916,667 HUF 26,516,204 – HUF 42,060,185 | HUF 1,824,132 | Premium | +84% |
| Cluj-Napoca· Romania | RON 416,667 RON 335,648 – RON 532,407 | RON 19,097 | Premium | +81% |
| Bucharest· Romania | RON 416,667 RON 335,648 – RON 532,407 | RON 19,097 | Premium | +80% |
| Beijing· China | CN¥650,000 CN¥523,611 – CN¥830,556 | CN¥42,792 | Premium | +75% |
| Toronto· Canada | CA$171,500 CA$138,153 – CA$219,139 | CA$10,290 | Premium | +70% |
| Prague· Czech Republic | CZK 2,041,667 CZK 1,644,676 – CZK 2,608,796 | CZK 133,559 | Premium | +70% |
| Krakow· Poland | PLN 358,333 PLN 288,657 – PLN 457,870 | PLN 20,753 | Premium | +69% |
| Athens· Greece | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,444 | Premium | +66% |
| Singapore· Singapore | SGD 169,167 SGD 136,273 – SGD 216,157 | SGD 13,251 | Premium | +65% |
| Warsaw· Poland | PLN 358,333 PLN 288,657 – PLN 457,870 | PLN 20,753 | Premium | +64% |
| Jeddah· Saudi Arabia | SAR 337,500 SAR 271,875 – SAR 431,250 | SAR 25,313 | Premium | +62% |
| Valencia· Spain | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €5,250 | Premium | +62% |
| Wellington· New Zealand | NZ$150,000 NZ$120,833 – NZ$191,667 | NZ$10,375 | Premium | +61% |
| São Paulo· Brazil | R$483,333 R$389,352 – R$617,593 | R$26,986 | Premium | +61% |
| Shanghai· China | CN¥650,000 CN¥523,611 – CN¥830,556 | CN¥42,792 | Premium | +60% |
| Sydney· Australia | A$178,750 A$143,993 – A$228,403 | A$11,470 | Premium | +55% |
| Tallinn· Estonia | €66,667 €53,704 – €85,185 | €4,356 | Premium | +55% |
| Montreal· Canada | CA$122,500 CA$98,681 – CA$156,528 | CA$7,350 | Premium | +52% |
| Stockholm· Sweden | SEK 1,045,000 SEK 841,806 – SEK 1,335,278 | SEK 56,604 | Premium | +49% |
| Auckland· New Zealand | NZ$150,000 NZ$120,833 – NZ$191,667 | NZ$10,375 | Premium | +49% |
| Brisbane· Australia | A$137,500 A$110,764 – A$175,694 | A$8,823 | Premium | +46% |
| Gothenburg· Sweden | SEK 950,000 SEK 765,278 – SEK 1,213,889 | SEK 51,458 | Premium | +43% |
| Riyadh· Saudi Arabia | SAR 337,500 SAR 271,875 – SAR 431,250 | SAR 25,313 | Premium | +39% |
| Melbourne· Australia | A$137,500 A$110,764 – A$175,694 | A$8,823 | Premium | +32% |
| Lyon· France | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,444 | Premium | +32% |
| Manchester· United Kingdom | £70,833 £57,060 – £90,509 | £4,368 | Premium | +29% |
| Florence· Italy | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,549 | Premium | +27% |
| New York· United States | $180,000 $145,000 – $230,000 | $11,303 | Premium | +26% |
| Vienna· Austria | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,028 | Premium | +25% |
| Antwerp· Belgium | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,306 | Premium | +24% |
| Porto· Portugal | €58,333 €46,991 – €74,537 | €3,354 | Premium | +18% |
| Rome· Italy | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,549 | Premium | +17% |
| Zurich· Switzerland | CHF 134,583 CHF 108,414 – CHF 171,968 | CHF 8,916 | Premium | +16% |
| Edinburgh· United Kingdom | £70,833 £57,060 – £90,509 | £4,368 | Premium | +16% |
| Vancouver· Canada | CA$122,500 CA$98,681 – CA$156,528 | CA$7,350 | Premium | +15% |
| Amsterdam· Netherlands | €108,333 €87,269 – €138,426 | €6,094 | Premium | +14% |
| Madrid· Spain | €66,667 €53,704 – €85,185 | €4,200 | Premium | +13% |
| Brussels· Belgium | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,306 | Premium | +13% |
| Paris· France | €100,000 €80,556 – €127,778 | €5,333 | Premium | +12% |
| Abu Dhabi· United Arab Emirates | AED 330,833 AED 266,505 – AED 422,731 | AED 26,191 | Premium | +10% |
| Salzburg· Austria | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,028 | Premium | +10% |
| Milan· Italy | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,549 | Premium | +9% |
| Lisbon· Portugal | €66,667 €53,704 – €85,185 | €3,833 | Premium | +8% |
| Rotterdam· Netherlands | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,687 | Premium | +8% |
| Cork· Ireland | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,931 | Premium | +5% |
| Berlin· Germany | €91,667 €73,843 – €117,130 | €4,431 | Premium | +3% |
| London· United Kingdom | £99,167 £79,884 – £126,713 | £6,115 | Premium | +3% |
| Munich· Germany | €108,333 €87,269 – €138,426 | €5,236 | Premium | +1% |
| Barcelona· Spain | €66,667 €53,704 – €85,185 | €4,200 | Comfortable | +25% |
| Copenhagen· Denmark | DKK 746,000 DKK 600,944 – DKK 953,222 | DKK 34,192 | Comfortable | +21% |
| Oslo· Norway | NOK 966,667 NOK 778,704 – NOK 1,235,185 | NOK 49,783 | Comfortable | +19% |
| Hamburg· Germany | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,028 | Comfortable | +10% |
| Dublin· Ireland | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,931 | Comfortable | +9% |
| Frankfurt· Germany | €83,333 €67,130 – €106,481 | €4,028 | Comfortable | +8% |
| Austin· United States | $90,000 $72,500 – $115,000 | $5,651 | Comfortable | +1% |
| Chicago· United States | $90,000 $72,500 – $115,000 | $5,651 | Comfortable | +0% |
| Hong Kong· Hong Kong | HK$704,167 HK$567,245 – HK$899,769 | HK$46,944 | Balanced | +14% |
| Tel Aviv· Israel | ₪333,333 ₪268,519 – ₪425,926 | ₪18,333 | Balanced | +11% |
| Los Angeles· United States | $90,000 $72,500 – $115,000 | $5,651 | Balanced | +4% |
| Seattle· United States | $90,000 $72,500 – $115,000 | $5,651 | Balanced | +4% |
| Geneva· Switzerland | CHF 79,167 CHF 63,773 – CHF 101,157 | CHF 5,245 | Balanced | +1% |
| Miami· United States | $90,000 $72,500 – $115,000 | $5,651 | Frugal | +24% |
| San Francisco· United States | $90,000 $72,500 – $115,000 | $5,651 | Frugal | +13% |
See the full math per city
Click any city in the table above for the full breakdown: gross-to-net derivation, monthly budget allocation, tier-by-tier salary requirements, and what the band would actually buy you locally. Or jump to the calculator for your own inputs.