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Valencia
#78 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
$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

Valencia has rapidly evolved into a top-tier destination for remote software engineers and digital nomads, offering a compelling mix of sun, safety, and affordability compared to major tech hubs. However, the city is experiencing growing pains. While the tech scene is vibrant and welcoming, the influx of foreign wealth has triggered gentrification, driving up rents and creating tension with locals who are priced out.

For those on local Spanish salaries, the financial picture is less attractive, as pay has not kept pace with housing costs. Ultimately, Valencia offers an enviable Mediterranean lifestyle for those who bring their own job, but it requires patience with bureaucracy and sensitivity to the local housing crisis.

Resident Sentiment

Expats and transplants generally love the lifestyle, praising the Turia park, safety, and weather. Many express no regret in moving but often warn newcomers about the rental market nightmare.

Conversely, there is a rising sentiment of guilt or unease regarding gentrification, with frequent discussions about how digital nomads are inadvertently displacing locals. Long-term residents increasingly complain that the city is becoming "too full" and expensive, creating a palpable tension between the welcoming tech community and the economic reality for locals.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

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

Rankings

Pollution Score

Top 4%

#5

of 124 cities

21.7/100

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

65.2/100

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

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

Avg. Property Price
$3,836 / m²
62% 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
54% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Valencia

Microsoft logo
Microsoft
Datadog logo
Datadog
Revolut logo
Revolut

The Good

  • Great work-life balance with a relaxed pace of life and emphasis on leisure time.
  • High quality of life relative to cost, often cited as offering a better lifestyle than Madrid or Barcelona for less money.
  • Clean air and green spaces, specifically the Turia Garden (a riverbed turned park) which is perfect for running and cycling.
  • Active tech community with growing numbers of meetups, co-working spaces, and events like Valencia Digital Summit.
  • Digital nomad friendly with a welcoming expat community and good infrastructure for remote work.
  • Excellent weather with over 300 days of sunshine a year, making it ideal for outdoor activities.
  • Safety is frequently highlighted; residents feel safe walking alone at night compared to other major European cities.

The Bad

  • Low local salaries for software engineers compared to US, UK, or Northern European standards; local pay often doesn't match the rising cost of living.
  • Rising rent prices and a housing shortage, largely blamed on gentrification and the influx of remote workers.
  • Bureaucracy is notoriously slow and frustrating, especially for obtaining residency (NIE/TIE) and setting up as a freelancer (autónomo).

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Remote workers earning a salary from the US, UK, or Northern Europe who want to maximize their quality of life.

Senior engineers looking for a slower pace of life and a family-friendly environment with plenty of outdoor activities.

Social extroverts who enjoy meetups, outdoor sports, and a vibrant, somewhat noisy street culture.

Skip it if...

Junior developers relying on local employment, as entry-level salaries can be very low (€20k-€30k range).

Career climbers who need the fast-paced, high-density network of cities like London, Berlin, or San Francisco.

People who strictly prefer cool climates or silence; the summer heat and year-round noise levels can be dealbreakers.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather8.5/10-2% vs San Francisco
Safety65+65%
Pollution22-56%
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

#44

of 124 cities

41/100

Current value (lower is better)

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#60

of 124 cities

≈8.1 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Purchasing Power

Middle of the pack

#78

of 124 cities

Net Income

Bottom 34%

#83

of 124 cities

$37,831/yr

Current value

Tax Rate

Bottom 28%

#90

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
8.1 years
3.5 years longer than San Francisco
Summer heat can be oppressive and humid, making July and August difficult for those not used to it.
  • Language barrier exists; while English is common in tech, daily life (and dealing with bureaucracy) often requires Spanish.
  • Noise pollution in the city center can be high due to festivals (Las Fallas), nightlife, and thin walls in older apartments.
    • Muggy Days
    69/yr+69/yr(+34600%)
    Cloud Cover
    35%(vs 34% in San Francisco)