Thinking of relocating in Europe? Here's the real comparison. 🌍
🇩🇪 Berlin: The Startup Capital
💰 Salary & Cost • Average dev salary: €55-85k • Cost of living: Moderate (rising quickly) • Rent: €800-1500/month (1-bed apartment) • Overall: Good value, but gentrification pressure
🏢 Tech Scene • Massive startup ecosystem • Company names: Rocket Internet, SoundCloud, N26 • Strengths: Fintech, e-commerce, deep tech • Culture: Risk-taking, experimental, international
🌟 Lifestyle • Incredible nightlife and culture • Green spaces and work-life balance • Strong expat community • German bureaucracy (love it or hate it)
🇳🇱 Amsterdam: The Scale-Up Hub
💰 Salary & Cost • Average dev salary: €65-95k • Cost of living: High (especially housing) • Rent: €1200-2500/month (1-bed apartment) • Overall: High salaries offset by high costs
🏢 Tech Scene • Scale-ups and international headquarters • Company names: Booking.com, Adyen, Bunq • Strengths: Fintech, travel tech, sustainability • Culture: Pragmatic, international, work-life focused
🌟 Lifestyle • Bike-friendly, compact city • English widely spoken • Great European travel hub • Limited housing market
🇬🇧 London: The Financial Tech Giant
💰 Salary & Cost • Average dev salary: £60-120k (€70-140k) • Cost of living: Very high • Rent: £1500-3500/month (1-bed apartment) • Overall: Highest salaries, highest costs
🏢 Tech Scene • Mature tech ecosystem • Company names: Revolut, Monzo, DeepMind • Strengths: Fintech, AI, enterprise software • Culture: Fast-paced, competitive, professional
🌟 Lifestyle • World-class cultural scene • Diverse, international city • Strong career advancement opportunities • Weather... it's London
📊 Side-by-Side Comparison
Best for Startups: Berlin Best for Scale-ups: Amsterdam Best for Big Tech: London
Best Work-Life Balance: Amsterdam Best Nightlife: Berlin Best Career Growth: London
Best for Juniors: Berlin (lower cost, more opportunities) Best for Seniors: London (highest compensation) Best for Families: Amsterdam (bike culture, compact)
🎯 Decision Framework
Choose Berlin if: • You want to join/start a startup • Cost of living matters • You value cultural diversity and nightlife • You're early in your career
Choose Amsterdam if: • You want work-life balance • You prefer English-speaking environment • You like biking and compact city living • You want European travel access
Choose London if: • Maximum career advancement is priority • You want highest compensation • You prefer established companies • You want access to global opportunities
🚀 Emerging Contenders
Stockholm: Strong gaming and enterprise software Paris: Growing AI and luxury tech scene Zurich: High salaries, but very expensive Barcelona: Growing startup scene, great lifestyle Dublin: European headquarters for US companies
Practical Relocation Tips:
🏠 Housing • Start looking 2-3 months before moving • Use local platforms (not just international ones) • Consider temporary housing first • Factor in deposits and registration fees
💼 Visa & Legal • EU citizenship = freedom of movement • Non-EU needs work permits/visas • Post-Brexit, UK is more complex for EU citizens • Consider tax implications
🌐 Network Building • Join local tech meetups before moving • LinkedIn is crucial for job searching • Attend conferences in your target city • Connect with expat communities
The Remote Work Factor: With remote/hybrid work, you can often: • Live in lower-cost city, work for high-pay company • Split time between cities • Work for companies in different European countries
Remember: The "best" city depends on your career stage, personal priorities, and life situation. All three cities offer incredible opportunities in tech.
Which European tech hub calls to you? 🎯