About

  • About Tech Cities Index
  • Methodology
  • FAQ

Tools

  • Salary Converter
  • LinkedIn Network

Built with ❤️ by Mohamed Oun

Tech Cities Index LogoTech Cities Index
Salary ConverterLinkedIn NetworkAbout
Dubai
#39 of 124
Middle East

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Dubai compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Dubai is 30% worse off vs in San Francisco

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

Median Salary
$81,677
-$191K (-70%) vs San Francisco
Based on 175 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$81,677
-$91K (-53%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 0%

Community Insights

New

Dubai presents a polarizing but potentially lucrative opportunity for software engineers. The primary draw remains the financial acceleration offered by 0% income tax, which, when combined with a median salary of roughly $81,000, can lead to substantial savings. However, Reddit discussions highlight a 'caste system' in compensation where Western-experienced engineers command significantly higher packages than their peers.

While the city boasts #2 ranking in safety and top-tier infrastructure, the work culture is often criticized for being rigid and demanding. The trade-off is clear: you endure the extreme summer heat and a transient social environment in exchange for rapid wealth accumulation and a luxurious, convenient lifestyle. It is not typically seen as a forever home but rather a strategic 3-5 year career move.

Resident Sentiment

Current residents often describe their time in Dubai as a 'golden handcuffs' scenario. They enjoy the high disposable income and convenience but frequently complain about the soullessness of the city and the difficulty of making deep, long-term connections in a transient population.

Many see it as a temporary phase—a place to 'stack cash' for a few years before moving back home or to a lower-cost country. While few regret the financial boost, there is a common sentiment of burnout regarding the hustle culture and the relentless summer heat.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

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

Rankings

Safety Index

Top 2%

#2

of 124 cities

83.9/100

Current value

Tax Rate

Top 2%

#2

of 124 cities

0%

Current value (lower is better)

Net Income

Top 31%

#38

of 124 cities

$81,677/yr

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Dubai compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$5,720 / m²
43% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

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

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
32% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Dubai

Revolut logo
Revolut
Talabat logo
Talabat
Tabby logo
Tabby

The Good

  • Tax-free income allows for significantly higher savings potential compared to heavily taxed tech hubs in Europe or North America.
  • World-class safety and low crime rates, making it widely considered one of the safest cities globally for families and individuals.
  • Travel connectivity is unmatched, with Dubai International Airport serving as a central hub for easy vacations to Europe, Asia, and Africa.
  • High standard of modern infrastructure and convenience, from luxury housing to app-based services for almost everything.
  • Winter weather (November to April) is described as perfect, allowing for outdoor dining, beach days, and desert camping.
  • Exposure to a diverse international community, with expats from all over the world working in the same tech ecosystem.

The Bad

  • Passport discrimination in hiring and salary offers is frequently cited, with compensation often tied to nationality rather than just skill level.
  • Summer heat (May to October) is brutal and oppressive, forcing residents to stay indoors for months at a time.
  • Work culture is often described as hierarchical and top-down, with less emphasis on work-life balance compared to Western tech companies.
  • Rising cost of living, particularly skyrocketing rent prices and expensive private schooling, can eat into the tax-free benefits.
  • Lack of permanent residency or citizenship paths means living there often feels transient, like a temporary 'tour of duty'.
  • The tech scene is viewed as less mature than Silicon Valley or London, with fewer cutting-edge engineering challenges and more 'implementation' work.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Mid-to-senior Western-experienced engineers (e.g., from US/UK/EU) who can command top-tier 'expat packages' and maximize the tax-free advantage. It is also ideal for aggressive savers looking to accumulate capital quickly for property or early retirement.

Families who value safety above all else and can afford the high cost of international schooling will thrive here, as will individuals who enjoy a luxury lifestyle and frequent international travel.

Skip it if...

Junior developers without a strong network or recognized brand names on their resume, as the entry-level market is saturated and often pays poorly. Engineers who prioritize work-life balance, remote work flexibility, or flat organizational structures will likely struggle with the local corporate culture.

Those who are deeply passionate about cutting-edge innovation or open-source contribution may find the local tech work repetitive (often focused on e-commerce, logistics, or government services). Additionally, outdoor enthusiasts who cannot tolerate being indoors for 5-6 months of the year should avoid it.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather0.5/10-94% vs San Francisco
Safety84+113%
Pollution49+0%
Events9-82%
0.5/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

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
34°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
Average Low
22°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
Sunshine Hours
3,509h/yr+447h/yr(+15%)
Hottest Month High
41°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
Coldest Month Low
14°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
Rainy Days
10/yr-38/yr(-79%)

Community & Quality

Dubai community pulse

Dubai has 9 Luma events listed.

82% fewer events than San Francisco.

Purchasing Power

Top 31%

#39

of 124 cities

Community Events

Top 32%

#40

of 124 cities

9 events on luma

Current value

Home Affordability

Top 32%

#40

of 124 cities

≈5.6 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Pollution Score

Middle of the pack

#68

of 124 cities

49.3/100

Current value (lower is better)

Cost of Living

Bottom 29%

#89

of 124 cities

60/100

Current value (lower is better)

Comfortable Weather

Bottom 1%

#124

of 124 cities

5/100 weather score

Current value

SWE Affordability
5.6 years
0.9 years longer than San Francisco
Muggy Days
164/yr+164/yr(+82050%)
Cloud Cover
24%(vs 34% in San Francisco)