About

  • About Tech Cities Index
  • Methodology
  • FAQ

Tools

  • Salary Converter
  • LinkedIn Network

Built with ❤️ by Mohamed Oun

Tech Cities Index LogoTech Cities Index
Salary ConverterLinkedIn NetworkAbout
Malaga
#83 of 124
Europe

Malaga

Spain

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

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

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Malaga is 53% worse off vs in San Francisco

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

Median Salary
$58,202
-$214K (-79%) vs San Francisco
Based on 1841 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$37,831
-$135K (-78%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 35%

Community Insights

New

Málaga has successfully rebranded itself as the Silicon Valley of Europe's south, attracting major tech investment and a flood of international talent. However, this success has come at a steep price. While the lifestyle offers an enviable mix of sun, safety, and culture, the influx of remote workers and tourists has triggered a housing emergency that creates a stark divide between those earning foreign salaries and those on local wages. It is a city of high opportunity but rapidly increasing cost, where the "paradise" narrative is currently clashing with the reality of gentrification.

Resident Sentiment

The sentiment is a polarized mix of euphoria and frustration. Transplants overwhelmingly love the lifestyle upgrade—the ability to finish work and go to the beach is a constant highlight. However, there is a growing undercurrent of anxiety regarding sustainability; even well-paid residents complain that the city is becoming a "theme park" where finding long-term accommodation is a nightmare. Many talk about the 'golden handcuffs' of the lifestyle making it hard to leave despite the economic flaws.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

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

Rankings

Comfortable Weather

Top 8%

#10

of 124 cities

87/100 weather score

Current value

Pollution Score

Top 24%

#30

of 124 cities

33.9/100

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Top 27%

#33

of 124 cities

69.2/100

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

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

Avg. Property Price
$4,026 / m²
60% 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 Malaga to maintain the same standard of living.

$

Do you have kids?

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

Top Paying Companies in Malaga

Microsoft logo
Microsoft
Datadog logo
Datadog
Revolut logo
Revolut
Málaga Valley branding is real: a growing tech ecosystem with major international companies (e.g., Google, Vodafone) establishing innovation hubs here.
  • Exceptional quality of life: 3000+ hours of sunshine, mild winters, and immediate access to beaches and mountains.
  • Remote-friendly environment: strong community of digital nomads and expats, making networking and social integration easier for foreigners.
  • High safety levels compared to other major European tech hubs, with a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.
  • Culinary and cultural richness: incredible tapas culture, vibrant nightlife, and a historic city center that balances tradition with modernity.

    • The Bad

    • Severe housing crisis: rents have skyrocketed due to tourism and digital nomads, causing a shortage that impacts even well-paid engineers.
    • Low local salaries: while cost of living is rising, local tech wages often lag significantly behind Northern Europe or the US, reducing purchasing power for those on Spanish contracts.
    • Summer overcrowding: the city becomes intensely packed with tourists from June to September, leading to noise, traffic, and strained infrastructure.
    • Gentrification tension: rising resentment from locals who are being priced out of their neighborhoods by high-earning expats and short-term rentals.
    • Bureaucracy: dealing with Spanish administration (visas, NIE, tax registration) can be notoriously slow, frustrating, and paper-heavy.

    The Verdict

    You'll love it if...

    The remote-first senior engineer earning a Northern European or US salary who wants to trade gray skies for sunshine without sacrificing a tech-focused social circle. Also, social extroverts who thrive in vibrant, outdoor-centric cultures and don't mind the noise and bustle of a tourist-heavy city. It is ideal for those who already have financial stability and can afford the premium rental market.

    Skip it if...

    Junior developers or those relying solely on average local Spanish salaries, as the purchasing power will feel low relative to the rising housing costs. People who value quiet, orderly environments or cool weather will struggle with the summer heat and chaotic energy. Additionally, those who are deeply sensitive to social inequality may find the displacement of locals by the expat community uncomfortable.

    Updated 11/29/2025

    Weather8.7/100% vs San Francisco
    Safety69+76%
    Pollution34-31%
    Events0-100%
    8.7/10TechCities 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
    23°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    14°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    3,000h/yr-62h/yr
    Hottest Month High
    30°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    8°C(same as San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    44/yr-4/yr(-9%)

    Community & Quality

    Malaga community pulse

    Malaga has 0 Luma events listed.

    100% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Cost of Living

    Middle of the pack

    #45

    of 124 cities

    42/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Home Affordability

    Middle of the pack

    #66

    of 124 cities

    ≈8.5 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    Net Income

    Middle of the pack

    #82

    of 124 cities

    $37,831/yr

    Current value

    Purchasing Power

    Bottom 34%

    #83

    of 124 cities

    Tax Rate

    Bottom 30%

    #88

    of 124 cities

    35%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Bottom 24%

    #95

    of 124 cities

    0 events on luma

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    8.5 years
    3.9 years longer than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    37/yr+37/yr(+18450%)
    Cloud Cover
    32%(vs 34% in San Francisco)