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Mohamed Oun
Valencia
#80 of 124
Europe

Valencia

Spain

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

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

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Valencia is 52% worse off vs in San Francisco

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

Median Salary
$60,438
-$213K (-78%) vs San Francisco
Based on 1658 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$39,285
-$134K (-77%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 35%

Community Insights

New
7.8/10

Valencia is increasingly becoming a top choice for software engineers, particularly those working remotely for foreign companies. The city offers a Tier-1 quality of life with its stunning Turia park, year-round sun, and vibrant food culture, all at a cost that is still reasonable compared to major tech hubs. However, the local job market lags significantly in compensation, making it a financial downgrade for those relying on local contracts. The primary friction point is the bureaucracy; obtaining residency papers (NIE/TIE) is a universal complaint among expats, often requiring lawyers or paid agencies to navigate. Once settled, however, residents describe the work-life balance as unmatched.

The Good

  • Turia Garden: A 9km riverbed park winding through the city, perfect for cycling, running, and unwinding.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

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

Rankings

Pollution Score

Top 15%

#19

of 124 cities

28.2/100

Current value (lower is better)

Comfortable Weather

Top 18%

#22

of 124 cities

85/100 weather score

Current value

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#42

of 124 cities

62.8/100

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

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

Avg. Property Price
$4,597 / m²
54% 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 Valencia to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
53% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Valencia

Datadog logo
Datadog
Microsoft logo
Microsoft
Revolut logo
Revolut
  • Weather: Over 300 days of sunshine a year with mild winters, often described as the 'California of Europe'.
  • Cost of Living: Significantly more affordable than Madrid or Barcelona, though rents are rising.
  • Safety: consistently rated as one of the safest cities in Spain and Europe, very walkable at night.
  • Lifestyle: Relaxed pace of life, incredible food scene (birthplace of Paella), and easy access to beaches.
  • Connectivity: High-speed train (AVE) to Madrid in <2 hours and a growing international airport.

    • The Bad

    • Bureaucracy: Obtaining a NIE (foreigner ID) or navigating government offices is notoriously difficult, slow, and requires appointments that are hard to get.
    • Local Salaries: drastically lower than Northern Europe or US; local senior engineers often earn what juniors make elsewhere.
    • Rental Market: High demand from expats and digital nomads is driving up prices and creating competition for quality apartments.
    • Summer Heat: July and August can be oppressively hot and humid, with many locals fleeing the city.
    • Language Barrier: While tech circles speak English, daily life and administration require Spanish; some documents may even be in Valencian.

    Moving Here

    Moderate

    Spain has launched a Digital Nomad Visa, making legal residency much more accessible for non-EU tech workers. However, the bureaucratic process (getting appointments, filing paperwork) is infamous for being slow and disorganized. English is widely spoken in tech bubbles but is not sufficient for dealing with landlords, utility companies, or government officials, where Spanish is mandatory. The expat community is large and welcoming, providing a soft landing socially.

    Who Is This City For?

    Remote workers and Digital Nomads with foreign salaries who want a sun-soaked, active lifestyle. Families looking for a safe, walkable city.

    Avoid if: You are a junior developer seeking rapid career growth or high local wages, or if you have zero tolerance for administrative inefficiency.

    Updated 1/20/2026

    Weather8.5/10-2% vs San Francisco
    Safety63+59%
    Pollution28-42%
    Events0-100%
    8.5/10TechCities 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
    22°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    13°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    2,696h/yr-366h/yr(-12%)
    Hottest Month High
    30°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    6°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    42/yr-7/yr(-14%)

    Community & Quality

    Valencia community pulse

    Valencia has 0 Luma events listed.

    100% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Cost of Living

    Middle of the pack

    #45

    of 124 cities

    41/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Home Affordability

    Middle of the pack

    #78

    of 124 cities

    ≈9.4 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    Purchasing Power

    Middle of the pack

    #80

    of 124 cities

    Net Income

    Bottom 33%

    #84

    of 124 cities

    $39,285/yr

    Current value

    Tax Rate

    Bottom 28%

    #91

    of 124 cities

    35%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Bottom 2%

    #123

    of 124 cities

    0 events on luma

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    9.4 years
    4.8 years longer than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    69/yr+69/yr(+34600%)
    Cloud Cover
    35%(vs 34% in San Francisco)