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Copenhagen
#95 of 124
Europe

Copenhagen

Denmark

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Copenhagen compare to Nuremberg?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Copenhagen is 27% worse off vs in Nuremberg

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

Median Salary
$95,387
+$5K (+5%) vs Nuremberg
Based on 239 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$54,371
+$1K (+2%) vs Nuremberg
Tax Rate: 43%

Community Insights

New

Copenhagen offers a distinct "deal" to software engineers: you trade the potential for aggressive wealth accumulation and rapid career climbing for stability, safety, and time. The data confirms this trade-off, with the city ranking #20 for safety and #7 for low pollution, but lagging at #57 for net income despite high gross salaries. It is a highly functional, clean, and pleasant place to live, provided you can accept that the state will take a large portion of your earnings (#124 tax rank) to fund that society. The tech scene is modern and English-friendly, but the real draw is the lifestyle outside of work rather than the grind within it.

Resident Sentiment

Most transplants describe a "Golden Cage" phenomenon. They absolutely love the quality of life—the easy commute, the safety, and the lack of stress. However, there is a persistent undercurrent of frustration regarding financial ceilings and social loneliness. Many residents report staying longer than intended because the lifestyle is so comfortable, even if they complain about the weather and the difficulty of breaking into Danish social circles.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

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

Rankings

Pollution Score

Top 6%

#7

of 124 cities

22.5/100

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Top 17%

#21

of 124 cities

74.2/100

Current value

Community Events

Top 20%

#25

of 124 cities

8 events on luma

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Copenhagen compared to Nuremberg?

Avg. Property Price
$8,575 / m²
49% more expensive than Nuremberg
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

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

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Cost of Living
39% more expensive than Nuremberg
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Copenhagen

Microsoft logo
Microsoft
LEGO logo
LEGO
Netcompany logo
Netcompany
Unmatched work-life balance: 37-hour workweeks, 5-6 weeks of vacation, and a culture that strictly respects personal time (leaving at 4 PM to pick up kids is normal).
  • Extremely flat hierarchy: In Danish tech companies, you can often challenge your boss or CTO openly; the workplace is egalitarian and consensus-driven.
  • English is spoken everywhere: It is entirely possible to live and work as a software engineer without speaking Danish, as almost everyone speaks near-native English.
  • World-class biking infrastructure: Commuting is often faster and more enjoyable by bike than by car, contributing to a healthy, active lifestyle.
  • High safety and stability: Ranking #20 in safety, residents report feeling secure walking alone at night, and the society functions with high trust and low corruption.

    • The Bad

    • Aggressive taxation: With a tax rank of #124 (one of the highest in the world), high earners often feel they hit a salary ceiling where extra effort yields diminishing financial returns.
    • Social insularity: The "hard to make friends" trope is frequently confirmed by expats; Danes are polite but often keep to established childhood friend groups, leading to isolation for newcomers.
    • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): The long, dark winters (ranking #91 in sunshine hours) are a major complaint; the lack of sunlight for months affects mental health and mood.
    • Housing market difficulty: Ranking #90 in affordability, finding a rental in Copenhagen is described as a "nightmare" with high competition, high deposits, and queues for viewings.
    • Lower savings potential compared to US/Switzerland: While salaries are high for Europe, the #104 Cost of Living rank and high taxes mean your absolute savings might be lower than in other tech hubs.

    The Verdict

    You'll love it if...

    Families and stability-seekers.

    If you have children or plan to, the subsidized childcare, safety, and short workdays make this one of the best cities in the world to be a working parent.

    WLB advocates.

    Developers who are burnt out from the "hustle culture" of London or the Bay Area will thrive here. If you want to clock off at 4 PM to cycle to the beach or park without guilt, Copenhagen is your ideal match.

    Skip it if...

    FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) chasers.

    With a tax rate ranking of #124, it is exceptionally difficult to accumulate capital quickly here compared to the US or Switzerland.

    Sun and spontaneity lovers.

    If you need bright sunshine and a culture of spontaneous social interactions to feel happy, the 8.6°C average temperature, grey winters, and reserved social culture will likely make you miserable.

    Updated 11/29/2025

    Weather3.5/10-3% vs Nuremberg
    Safety74+6%
    Pollution23-18%
    Events8+8
    3.5/10TechCities weather score vs 3.6/10 in Nuremberg

    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
    12°C(vs 14°C in Nuremberg)
    Average Low
    5°C(same as Nuremberg)
    Sunshine Hours
    1,912h/yr+212h/yr(+12%)
    Hottest Month High
    21°C(vs 24°C in Nuremberg)
    Coldest Month Low
    -1°C(vs -3°C in Nuremberg)
    Rainy Days
    90/yr(same as Nuremberg)

    Community & Quality

    Copenhagen community pulse

    Copenhagen has 8 Luma events listed.

    Nuremberg has no listed Luma events for comparison.

    Net Income

    Middle of the pack

    #57

    of 124 cities

    $54,371/yr

    Current value

    Comfortable Weather

    Bottom 30%

    #88

    of 124 cities

    35/100 weather score

    Current value

    Home Affordability

    Bottom 29%

    #89

    of 124 cities

    ≈12.6 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    Purchasing Power

    Bottom 24%

    #95

    of 124 cities

    Cost of Living

    Bottom 17%

    #104

    of 124 cities

    68/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Tax Rate

    Bottom 1%

    #124

    of 124 cities

    43%

    Current value (lower is better)

    SWE Affordability
    12.6 years
    4.0 years longer than Nuremberg
    Muggy Days
    1/yr(same as Nuremberg)
    Cloud Cover
    57%(same as Nuremberg)