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Abu Dhabi
#10 of 124
Middle East

Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Abu Dhabi compare to Bogota?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Abu Dhabi is 74% better off vs in Bogota

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Abu Dhabi compared to Bogota, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$81,688
+$49K (+150%) vs Bogota
Based on 244 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$81,688
+$59K (+259%) vs Bogota
Tax Rate: 0%

Community Insights

New

Abu Dhabi offers a lucrative but quieter alternative to Dubai for software engineers. It is widely regarded as a "savings haven" due to high salaries and 0% tax, allowing senior engineers to accumulate wealth rapidly. However, the trade-off is a slower pace of life and a less developed tech ecosystem. While the safety and infrastructure are world-class, the extreme summer heat and lack of a vibrant social or tech scene can be challenging for those used to bustling tech hubs. Recent rent hikes have also slightly diminished the cost-of-living advantage it once held over its neighbor.

Resident Sentiment

Current residents, particularly transplants, generally view their time in Abu Dhabi as a "strategic financial move." Many express satisfaction with the peaceful lifestyle and ability to save, but there is a common undercurrent of boredom among younger expats. Some software engineers choose to live in Dubai and commute (despite the drive) to access better social lives. Long-term residents warn that while the money is good, the work culture can be demanding and less flexible than in the West.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Bogota.

Rankings

Safety Index

Top 1%

#1

of 124 cities

89/100

Current value

Tax Rate

Top 1%

#1

of 124 cities

0%

Current value (lower is better)

Purchasing Power

Top 8%

#10

of 124 cities

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Abu Dhabi compared to Bogota?

Avg. Property Price
$4,159 / m²
142% more expensive than Bogota
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Abu Dhabi to maintain the same standard of living.

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Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
106% more expensive than Bogota
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Abu Dhabi

Revolut logo
Revolut
Talabat logo
Talabat
Tabby logo
Tabby

The Good

  • Significant Savings Potential: With a 0% income tax rate and salaries that can sometimes exceed those in Dubai for senior roles (especially in government/defense sectors), engineers can save a large portion of their income.
  • World-Class Safety: consistently ranked as the safest city in the world (Safety Index ~89/100), making it incredibly secure for raising children or walking alone at night.
  • Family-Oriented Environment: Residents describe it as quieter and more relaxed than the hustle of Dubai, with excellent international schools and parks, making it ideal for families.
  • Strategic Travel Hub: The central location allows for relatively short flights to Europe, Asia, and Africa, making it a great base for travel enthusiasts.
  • High-Quality Infrastructure: Modern roads, malls, and amenities are top-tier, with significantly less traffic congestion compared to Dubai.

The Bad

  • Limited Tech Scene: The tech community is often described as "dead" or quiet compared to Dubai or Western hubs, with fewer meetups, hackathons, and startup events.
  • Extreme Heat: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, forcing residents indoors for months; outdoor activities are virtually impossible during this period.
  • Rising Housing Costs: While traditionally cheaper than Dubai, recent discussions highlight spiking rents, particularly in popular expat areas like Saadiyat Island, making it less of a bargain than before.
  • Work Culture Variances: Some engineers report hierarchical or "top-down" management styles, and specific entities (like G42) have mixed reviews regarding volatility and high turnover.
  • Lack of Nightlife: For singles or younger engineers, the city can feel boring, with a much smaller social scene and fewer entertainment options compared to Dubai.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Families and Senior Engineers focused on financial goals (FIRE) are the ideal candidates. If you prioritize safety, a calm environment for your children, and maximizing your net income over career networking or nightlife, this is a top-tier destination. It is also suitable for those working in defense, government, or AI sectors where Abu Dhabi is investing heavily.

Skip it if...

Junior Engineers, singles, and those seeking a vibrant startup culture should likely avoid moving here. If you thrive on tech meetups, cutting-edge open-source communities, or a bustling nightlife, you will likely find Abu Dhabi isolating and boring. Career climbers who need a dynamic market to job-hop frequently may also find the opportunities too limited compared to Dubai or Western cities.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather0.5/10-93% vs Bogota
Safety89+167%
Pollution45-35%
Events0-100%
0.5/10TechCities weather score vs 7.0/10 in Bogota

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
32°C(vs 18°C in Bogota)
Average Low
24°C(vs 9°C in Bogota)
Sunshine Hours
3,175h/yr+1847h/yr(+139%)
Hottest Month High
40°C(vs 19°C in Bogota)
Coldest Month Low
16°C(vs 7°C in Bogota)
Rainy Days
9/yr-193/yr(-96%)

Community & Quality

Abu Dhabi community pulse

Abu Dhabi has 0 Luma events listed.

100% fewer events than Bogota.

Home Affordability

Top 22%

#27

of 124 cities

≈4.1 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Net Income

Top 30%

#37

of 124 cities

$81,688/yr

Current value

Cost of Living

Middle of the pack

#54

of 124 cities

49/100

Current value (lower is better)

Pollution Score

Middle of the pack

#57

of 124 cities

45.2/100

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#71

of 124 cities

0 events on luma

Current value

Comfortable Weather

Bottom 2%

#123

of 124 cities

5/100 weather score

Current value

SWE Affordability
4.1 years
2.0 years quicker than Bogota
Muggy Days
196/yr+196/yr(+Infinity%)
Cloud Cover
25%(vs 82% in Bogota)