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Luxembourg
#73 of 124
Europe

Luxembourg

Luxembourg

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

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

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Luxembourg is 50% worse off vs in San Francisco

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

Median Salary
$103,991
-$168K (-62%) vs San Francisco
Based on 93 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$66,554
-$106K (-61%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 36%

Community Insights

New

Luxembourg offers a unique "golden handcuffs" scenario for software engineers: the financial rewards and stability are high, but the lifestyle cost is significant. While the city provides top-tier safety, free public transport, and a truly international professional environment, it struggles with a severe housing crisis that diminishes the value of its high salaries. The social vibe is distinctively quiet—often described as "sterile" or "boring" by younger expats accustomed to vibrant tech hubs. It is a place that functions incredibly well but lacks the chaotic energy of a metropolis.

Resident Sentiment

The sentiment is sharply divided by life stage. Families and long-term residents generally appreciate the high quality of life, safety, and cleanliness. However, younger transplants and singles often express regret or boredom, citing the difficulty of making deep connections outside the "expat bubble" and the lack of entertainment. There is a growing frustration with the housing market, with some noting that even high tech salaries feel insufficient for buying property, leading some to eventually leave for more affordable or livelier cities.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

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

Rankings

Pollution Score

Top 3%

#4

of 124 cities

20.4/100

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Top 19%

#24

of 124 cities

72.2/100

Current value

Net Income

Middle of the pack

#47

of 124 cities

$66,554/yr

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

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

Avg. Property Price
$10,681 / m²
6% more expensive 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 Luxembourg to maintain the same standard of living.

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
23% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Luxembourg

Amazon logo
Amazon
KPMG logo
KPMG
Goodyear logo
Goodyear
High Salaries: Gross salaries are among the highest in Europe, often competing with or exceeding those in London and Amsterdam (though lower than Switzerland/US).
  • International Environment: A huge portion of the workforce is foreign; English is widely accepted in the tech sector, and the workplace is multicultural.
  • Safety & Cleanliness: Consistently praised as one of the safest countries in the world with very clean public spaces and reliable public transport.
  • Strategic Location: Excellent for travelers; bordering France, Germany, and Belgium makes weekend trips incredibly easy.
  • Family Friendly: Great environment for raising children due to safety, good schools (including international options), and a quiet atmosphere.
  • Public Transport: Public transport (trains, trams, buses) is free for everyone throughout the entire country.

    • The Bad

    • Housing Crisis: The rental and property market is described as "insane" and "broken," with sky-high rents often eating up a large chunk of the high salary.
    • Boring Nightlife: Frequently criticized for being dull; the city "goes to sleep" early, and there is very little clubbing or bustling street life compared to Berlin or London.
    • Cost of Living: Beyond rent, daily expenses (groceries, dining out) are very expensive, lowering the effective purchasing power.
    • Dating Scene: Described as very difficult, especially for singles; the pool is small and dominated by a transient expat bubble.
    • Traffic & Commuting: For those living across the border (France/Germany/Belgium) to save money, the daily commute is notorious for terrible traffic jams.

    The Verdict

    You'll love it if...

    Families and older professionals seeking stability and safety will thrive here. It is also ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who love nature and hiking, or avid travelers who want a central European base to explore neighboring countries on weekends. Engineers focusing purely on career saving goals (if they can manage housing costs) or those who prefer a calm, predictable life over urban chaos will also be happy.

    Skip it if...

    Singles in their 20s looking for a vibrant dating life or exciting nightlife should avoid moving here, as they often report feeling lonely or bored. People who crave the big city energy of London, Berlin, or NYC will find Luxembourg frustratingly quiet. Additionally, those with limited patience for bureaucracy or high entry costs for housing might find the relocation stressful.

    Updated 11/29/2025

    Weather3.9/10-55% vs San Francisco
    Safety72+83%
    Pollution20-59%
    Events0-100%
    3.9/10TechCities 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
    13°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    6°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    1,634h/yr-1428h/yr(-47%)
    Hottest Month High
    23°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    -1°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    98/yr+50/yr(+102%)

    Community & Quality

    Luxembourg community pulse

    Luxembourg has 0 Luma events listed.

    100% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Comfortable Weather

    Middle of the pack

    #73

    of 124 cities

    39/100 weather score

    Current value

    Purchasing Power

    Middle of the pack

    #73

    of 124 cities

    Home Affordability

    Bottom 26%

    #93

    of 124 cities

    ≈12.8 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    Tax Rate

    Bottom 26%

    #93

    of 124 cities

    36%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Bottom 25%

    #94

    of 124 cities

    0 events on luma

    Current value

    Cost of Living

    Bottom 16%

    #105

    of 124 cities

    69/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    SWE Affordability
    12.8 years
    8.2 years longer than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    1/yr(same as San Francisco)
    Cloud Cover
    58%(vs 34% in San Francisco)