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Riyadh
#21 of 124
Middle East

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Riyadh compare to Milan?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Riyadh is 262% better off vs in Milan

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

Median Salary
$60,000
+$19K (+45%) vs Milan
Based on 53 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$60,000
+$34K (+133%) vs Milan
Tax Rate: 0%

Community Insights

New

Riyadh presents a high-risk, high-reward proposition for software engineers. The city is aggressively modernizing under Vision 2030, creating a booming market for senior tech talent with the allure of 0% income tax. However, the lifestyle requires a significant adjustment. While the financial upside is undeniable—often allowing engineers to save 2-3x what they would at home—the extreme weather, traffic, and conservative social environment (despite rapid loosening of rules) mean it is not a destination for everyone. It is less of a permanent home and more of a strategic 2-5 year career move to build wealth.

Resident Sentiment

The consensus among expat residents is pragmatic: 'Come for the money, leave with a house deposit.' Most software engineers view their time in Riyadh as a temporary financial accelerator rather than a forever home. While many are pleasantly surprised by the safety and the rapid pace of social liberalization (cinemas, concerts, mixed-gender workspaces), complaints about driving habits, bureaucratic hurdles, and the summer confinement are persistent. There is a strong sense of community within expat circles to combat potential isolation.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

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

Rankings

Tax Rate

Top 2%

#3

of 124 cities

0%

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Top 9%

#11

of 124 cities

75.4/100

Current value

Home Affordability

Top 15%

#19

of 124 cities

≈3.2 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Riyadh compared to Milan?

Avg. Property Price
$2,388 / m²
70% cheaper than Milan
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

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

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Cost of Living
36% cheaper than Milan
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Riyadh

Delivery Hero logo
Delivery Hero
Aramco logo
Aramco
STC KSA logo
STC KSA

The Good

  • Tax-free salary allows for significantly higher savings compared to Western or Asian tech hubs.
  • High demand for senior engineers, particularly in FinTech, AI, and government digital transformation projects (Vision 2030).
  • Extremely safe city with very low crime rates (#11 globally in safety index).
  • Modern infrastructure and world-class amenities including massive malls, luxury dining, and new entertainment districts.
  • Opportunity to work on massive, greenfield projects like NEOM or smart city initiatives that use cutting-edge tech stacks.
  • Expat packages for senior roles often include housing allowances, health insurance, and annual flight tickets.
  • Strategic location for travel to Europe, Asia, and Africa during time off.

The Bad

  • Extreme heat during summer (highs of 43°C+) limits outdoor activities for several months.
  • Internet censorship can be frustrating for developers; VPNs are often necessary but can be legally gray or throttled.
  • Work culture can be hierarchical with slower decision-making processes and longer hours compared to Western standards.
  • Air quality is poor (#91 pollution rank) due to dust storms and heavy reliance on cars.
  • Traffic congestion is a major daily complaint, making commutes stressful despite good road infrastructure.
  • Cost of living is rising, specifically for Western-style housing in expat compounds, eating into the tax-free benefits.
  • Lack of alcohol-centric nightlife and stricter social codes can be isolating for those used to Western social norms.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Senior engineers or specialists (AI, Cybersecurity, DevOps) looking to aggressively maximize savings or achieve FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early). It is also ideal for Muslim professionals who value proximity to holy sites and a compatible cultural environment. Expats who are adaptable, patient with bureaucracy, and interested in working on large-scale greenfield government projects will thrive here.

Skip it if...

Junior developers (entry-level salaries often don't justify the move), LGBTQ+ individuals due to legal and safety concerns, and those heavily reliant on an alcohol-based social life or liberal Western freedoms. People with respiratory issues should avoid it due to dust and pollution. If you struggle with heat or require a flat hierarchy at work to be happy, you will likely struggle here.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather1.0/10-79% vs Milan
Safety75+62%
Pollution63-6%
Events0-100%
1.0/10TechCities weather score vs 4.8/10 in Milan

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
33°C(vs 18°C in Milan)
Average Low
21°C(vs 9°C in Milan)
Sunshine Hours
3,225h/yr+1310h/yr(+68%)
Hottest Month High
43°C(vs 29°C in Milan)
Coldest Month Low
10°C(vs -1°C in Milan)
Rainy Days
6/yr-80/yr(-93%)

Community & Quality

Riyadh community pulse

Riyadh has 0 Luma events listed.

100% fewer events than Milan.

Purchasing Power

Top 17%

#21

of 124 cities

Cost of Living

Top 32%

#40

of 124 cities

38/100

Current value (lower is better)

Net Income

Middle of the pack

#51

of 124 cities

$60,000/yr

Current value

Pollution Score

Bottom 28%

#91

of 124 cities

63.3/100

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Bottom 9%

#114

of 124 cities

0 events on luma

Current value

Comfortable Weather

Bottom 3%

#122

of 124 cities

10/100 weather score

Current value

SWE Affordability
3.2 years
21.5 years quicker than Milan
Muggy Days
1/yr-34/yr(-98%)
Cloud Cover
24%(vs 43% in Milan)