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Mohamed Oun
Warsaw
#41 of 124
Europe

Warsaw

Poland

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

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

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Warsaw is 29% worse off vs in San Francisco

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

Median Salary
$74,636
-$199K (-73%) vs San Francisco
Based on 924 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$57,918
-$115K (-67%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 22%

Community Insights

New
7.8/10

Warsaw offers a compelling financial arbitrage for software engineers: earning near-Western salaries while living in a city that is significantly cheaper than London or Berlin, though the gap is closing. The local tech scene is robust, with heavyweights like Google and Snowflake driving demand. Residents praise the safety and cleanliness, but the winter smog and gray weather are universally cited drawbacks. The B2B contract model is a massive draw for fiscal residents, maximizing net income. However, the recent suspension of the Poland Business Harbor visa has shifted the relocation landscape from 'easy' to 'bureaucratic', and the housing market has become fiercely competitive.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

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

Rankings

Safety Index

Top 13%

#16

of 124 cities

74.7/100

Current value

Tax Rate

Top 15%

#19

of 124 cities

22%

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Top 26%

#32

of 124 cities

15 events on luma

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

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

Avg. Property Price
$5,193 / m²
48% 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 Warsaw 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 Warsaw

Netflix logo
Netflix
Snowflake logo
Snowflake
Google logo
Google
High purchasing power: Median SWE salary ($69.6k) goes very far with a #47 Cost of Living rank, allowing for a comfortable lifestyle and savings.
  • Tax optimization via B2B: Widespread option to work on B2B contracts (Sole Proprietorship) with flat tax rates (often 12% or 19%) significantly increasing net take-home pay compared to standard employment.
  • Safety: Extremely safe city (Safety Index 74.6, Rank #18), with residents frequently reporting feeling secure walking alone at night.
  • Public transport: Affordable, clean, and reliable network of metros, trams, and buses that makes car ownership optional for many.
  • Modern city vibe: A mix of skyscrapers, historical reconstruction, and diverse culinary scene that rivals Western Europe at lower prices.

    • The Bad

    • Air pollution: Winter smog is a frequent complaint, reflected in the Pollution Index (Rank #84), often requiring air purifiers at home.
    • Depressing winters: Long, gray, and dark winters with very little sunlight (only ~1997 sunshine hours/year) can take a toll on mental health.
    • Housing market crisis: Rents have skyrocketed recently (studios often 3000-3500+ PLN), making the housing affordability (7.9 years to buy) a growing concern.
    • Language barrier: While tech is English-friendly, dealing with government bureaucracy, landlords, or older generations often requires Polish speakers.
    • Bureaucracy: The suspension of the Poland Business Harbor visa has made relocation significantly slower and more complex compared to previous years.

    Moving Here

    Moderate

    Formerly very easy, now moderately difficult due to the suspension of the Poland Business Harbor program in 2024. Non-EU citizens now generally rely on standard work permits (Type A) or the EU Blue Card, which involves more paperwork and slower processing times. English is the language of the tech workplace, but daily life (post office, doctors) often necessitates Polish or a translator. The expat community is growing but less integrated than in Berlin or Amsterdam.

    Who Is This City For?

    Mid-to-Senior engineers who can leverage B2B tax benefits and value safety/savings over weather. Families looking for a secure environment with good international schools. Avoid if you are highly sensitive to air quality or need constant sunshine.

    Updated 1/20/2026

    Weather3.8/10-56% vs San Francisco
    Safety75+89%
    Pollution60+22%
    Events15-81%
    3.8/10TechCities 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
    12°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    5°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    1,997h/yr-1065h/yr(-35%)
    Hottest Month High
    24°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    -4°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    71/yr+22/yr(+46%)

    Community & Quality

    Warsaw community pulse

    Warsaw has 15 Luma events listed.

    81% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Purchasing Power

    Top 33%

    #41

    of 124 cities

    Cost of Living

    Middle of the pack

    #46

    of 124 cities

    41/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Home Affordability

    Middle of the pack

    #51

    of 124 cities

    ≈7.2 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    Net Income

    Middle of the pack

    #57

    of 124 cities

    $57,918/yr

    Current value

    Comfortable Weather

    Middle of the pack

    #81

    of 124 cities

    38/100 weather score

    Current value

    Pollution Score

    Bottom 33%

    #84

    of 124 cities

    59.6/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    SWE Affordability
    7.2 years
    2.6 years longer than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    4/yr+3/yr(+1700%)
    Cloud Cover
    57%(vs 34% in San Francisco)