London

London is a high-upside but high-friction move for software engineers. The Reddit sentiment is strikingly conflicted: people complain intensely about rent, cramped housing, pollution, crowding, and the cost of living, yet many still describe London as the greatest city in the world, a place they miss deeply after leaving, or a city they keep returning to despite knowing the financial trade-offs.

For software careers, the signal is strong. Commenters consistently say London is one of the best places in Europe for developers, with especially good opportunities in finance, fintech, contracting, and big tech. It is viewed as far ahead of most UK cities for career growth, though not comparable to the top US tech hubs for pay. Given its relatively high net income ranking but weak purchasing power and very poor cost-of-living position, the salary only feels truly comfortable if you are senior, specialized, or in a high-paying sector.

The biggest practical warning is housing. Real residents repeatedly frame London as a city where even decent earners can struggle to rent well, buy property, or maintain stability. Several people moved away for space or affordability; some regretted leaving because life and work became less interesting, while others found their quality of life improved elsewhere. The most painful compromise is often not just cost, but trading money and space for access to London’s opportunities and energy.

As a foreign software engineer, London is best seen as a career accelerator and life-experience city, not an easy comfort move. If you have a strong offer, sponsorship, and enough income to live near the things you value, it can be exceptional. If your visa depends on one employer, you want to buy soon, or you are sensitive to grey weather, noise, pollution, and housing stress, the downsides are serious.