Amsterdam vs London Salary: Software Engineer Comparison 2026
A software engineer earning €80,000 gross in Amsterdam can take home more than a counterpart on £75,000 in London — once the Netherlands' 30% ruling and lower national insurance contributions enter the picture. The gross figures look similar; the net figures tell a different story. This guide breaks down the real numbers so you can make a direct comparison if you're weighing up a move or evaluating an offer in either city.
What software engineers actually earn: Amsterdam vs London benchmarks
London, according to ONS ASHE 2024 data, puts software developer and programmer salaries at roughly:
- P25: £52,000
- Median (P50): £65,000
- P75: £82,000
- P90: £105,000+
These figures are for full-time employees across London and the surrounding South East region. Roles in the City of London or at large US-headquartered tech firms skew toward the upper percentiles.
Amsterdam sits in the top tier of Dutch tech salaries. CBS (Statistics Netherlands) labour accounts and Eurostat SES data for 2023–2024 place software developers in the Netherlands at:
- P25: €48,000
- Median (P50): €62,000
- P75: €78,000
- P90: €100,000+
Amsterdam commands a premium over the Dutch national median — typically 10–15% — because it concentrates the country's largest tech employers: ASML's software teams, Booking.com, Adyen, TomTom, and an expanding cluster of US tech companies with European engineering hubs.
At headline level, London's median is moderately higher. But gross salary is the wrong metric for a cross-border comparison.
For a broader European picture, see Software engineer salaries in Europe 2026.
Take-home pay: how tax and the 30% ruling change everything
This is where the Amsterdam vs London comparison gets interesting.
London tax on £65,000 (2025/26)
A software engineer on the London median of £65,000 pays:
- Income tax: approximately £15,432 (20% basic rate on earnings above the £12,570 personal allowance, plus 40% on earnings above £50,270)
- National Insurance (employee): approximately £4,284 (8% on earnings between £12,570–£50,270, 2% above)
- Net take-home: roughly £45,300/year (£3,775/month)
Amsterdam tax on €62,000 (2025)
The Netherlands has two income tax bands. In 2025, earnings up to approximately €75,518 are taxed at 35.82% (the combined rate including social contributions under Box 1). Earnings above that threshold are taxed at 49.5%.
On €62,000 gross:
- Income tax + social contributions: approximately €22,200
- Net take-home: roughly €39,800/year (€3,315/month)
Without any adjustments, London's net pay is higher at comparable gross levels.
The 30% ruling — a significant variable
The Netherlands operates a tax incentive for skilled migrants called the 30% ruling (30%-regeling). If you qualify — broadly, you are recruited from abroad and earn above the salary threshold (€46,107 in 2025 for roles under 30; €35,048 for those with a master's degree under 30) — your employer can treat 30% of your gross salary as a tax-free allowance for up to five years.
On a €75,000 gross salary with the 30% ruling applied:
- Taxable base reduces to €52,500
- Effective income tax drops significantly — net take-home moves to roughly €52,000–€54,000/year, depending on exact social contribution calculations
- That is competitive with, or ahead of, a London salary in the low-to-mid £70,000s on a net basis
The ruling is not guaranteed. It requires an employer willing to apply it, and it was narrowed in 2024 (the partial repeal was reversed, but the rules were tightened). Always confirm eligibility directly with a Dutch tax adviser or the Belastingdienst before factoring it into your decision. If you do qualify, however, it materially closes the gross salary gap between the two cities — and can flip the comparison in Amsterdam's favour for mid-to-senior roles.
Cost of living: housing, transport, and day-to-day spending
Salary comparisons need to account for what that money buys.
Housing is the dominant cost in both cities:
- A one-bedroom apartment in central Amsterdam rents for approximately €1,800–€2,400/month (2025 market rates). The rental market is extremely tight; vacancy rates are under 2%.
- A one-bedroom apartment in central London runs approximately £2,000–£2,800/month, with Zone 2–3 areas coming in at £1,700–£2,200.
On purchasing power grounds, Amsterdam and London are broadly comparable for housing — both expensive relative to national averages, with Amsterdam's smaller absolute numbers partially offset by lower post-tax income.
Transport: London's monthly Travelcard (Zones 1–2) costs around £165. Amsterdam's public transport pass is cheaper at roughly €100/month, and the city is highly cyclable, making a bike a genuine daily transport option that eliminates the cost entirely for many residents.
Healthcare: The Netherlands requires residents to purchase mandatory basic health insurance (basisverzekering), costing approximately €135–€160/month, with an annual deductible of €385 (2025). The UK's NHS is free at point of use for residents. This adds roughly €1,800/year to Amsterdam's cost base that doesn't appear in gross salary comparisons.
For a cost-of-living-adjusted view across European cities, Cost of living adjusted salaries in Europe covers the methodology.
Equity, bonuses, and total compensation differences
Base salary comparisons miss a significant portion of tech compensation, particularly at Series B+ startups and large public companies.
London has a mature startup ecosystem — particularly in fintech — and a substantial presence of US tech firms (Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Palantir, Wise, Revolut) paying US-aligned total compensation. At P75 and above, stock-based compensation can add £15,000–£50,000+ to annual packages, especially at larger companies.
Amsterdam has fewer public tech companies but a set of high-paying employers: Booking.com, Adyen, and ASML in particular offer significant equity or profit-sharing schemes. Adyen's stock has historically generated substantial returns for employees. US tech companies with Amsterdam engineering offices (Uber, TikTok, Netflix) often apply globally consistent comp frameworks.
One structural difference: the Netherlands imposes a 30% employer social contribution (approximately), which raises the cost of employment and can compress gross salary offers compared to equivalent London roles. Some employers in Amsterdam offer somewhat lower gross figures than London counterparts partly because employer overhead is higher.
If you are comparing total compensation packages — especially those including RSUs or options — CompVerdict — compare offers across cities lets you enter the full package and benchmarks it against market data for each city.
Which city pays more for software engineers?
The honest answer: it depends on your seniority, tax status, and total package.
| Scenario | London advantage | Amsterdam advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Junior engineer (P25) | Modest gross advantage | — |
| Mid-level, no 30% ruling | Clear net advantage | — |
| Mid-level, with 30% ruling | — | Broadly comparable to slight Amsterdam edge |
| Senior/staff + 30% ruling | — | Amsterdam can pull ahead on net |
| Big Tech RSU-heavy package | Strong London advantage | — |
| Lifestyle (cycling, healthcare quality, size) | — | Amsterdam advantage |
For a comparable European city breakdown, London vs Berlin salary comparison uses the same methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 30% ruling still available in 2025 and 2026?
Yes. The Dutch government proposed abolishing the 30% ruling in 2024 but reversed the full repeal. As of 2025, the ruling remains available for up to five years for eligible incoming employees. The income threshold and duration have been adjusted from historical terms. Confirm your specific eligibility with a Dutch tax specialist before relying on it in salary negotiations.
How much does a senior software engineer earn in Amsterdam vs London?
According to Eurostat SES data and CBS labour accounts, senior software engineers (P75) in Amsterdam earn approximately €78,000–€95,000 gross. ONS ASHE data places the equivalent London P75 at £82,000–£105,000 for experienced developers. With the 30% ruling applied to the Amsterdam figure, after-tax take-home at these levels is broadly comparable between the two cities.
Do US tech companies pay the same in Amsterdam as in London?
Generally no. US tech companies typically pay US-aligned total compensation in both cities, but London offices tend to command slightly higher base salaries and more consistent RSU grants, partly because London is more often designated a Tier 1 city in their internal comp frameworks. Amsterdam is frequently Tier 2 in US pay bands, which means base salaries can run 10–20% below London equivalents at the same level and company.
What official data sources cover Dutch software engineer salaries?
CBS (Statistics Netherlands) publishes the Arbeidsrekeningen (labour accounts) and Eurostat compiles the Structure of Earnings Survey (SES) with Dutch data contributed by CBS. These are the primary official benchmarks. The SES runs every four years; CBS annual figures are more current but cover broader occupational categories. CompVerdict uses these sources alongside OECD international income data when generating Dutch salary benchmarks.
Check whether your Amsterdam or London offer is fair
The numbers above give you a framework, but your specific offer — accounting for your seniority, the exact role, bonuses, equity, and whether the 30% ruling applies — needs to be benchmarked against current market data for that position.
CompVerdict lets you enter your full offer details and returns an instant verdict — Strong, Fair, or Below Market — drawn from ONS ASHE, CBS labour accounts, Eurostat SES, and other official sources. It covers both London and Amsterdam, takes under 30 seconds, and requires no sign-up. If you've received an offer and want to know where it sits in the distribution before you sign, that's the place to start.