Tech Settler
Your GitHub has more stamps than your passport.
Cities where tech actually hires, visas actually exist, and the office language is English — or close enough that your standup won't need subtitles. Ranked for people who write code for a living and want to do it somewhere with a real lease.
53 cities ranked by data · updated June 2026
There are two kinds of cities for tech workers: ones with actual engineering jobs and ones with nice cafés where people talk about their startup idea. This list is the first kind. If a city has more recruiters than engineers, it probably made the cut. If it has more digital nomad vlogs than job postings, it didn't.
How we rank
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Tech job density score (25%) — are there actual jobs or just coworking spaces? Local software pay (20%, Levels.fyi / Eurostat median gross) — the number that pays for all the other numbers. Visa sponsorship score (20%) — can you legally work here without marrying a local? Workplace English (15%) — will your colleagues understand your PR comments? Internet speed (10%) — enough to push to prod without a prayer. Democracy index (10%) — your employment contract should be enforceable. Floor: tech density score ≥ 50 (at least a moderate tech scene).
Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · EIU · OECD PISA · Ookla · EF EPI · World Bank · Updated June 2026
This ranking is based on fixed data criteria (tech job density score (25%) — are there actual jobs or just coworking spaces? local software pay (20%, levels). Your ideal city depends on your personal priorities — climate, budget, language, politics all weigh differently for everyone. Take the quiz for a personalized ranking.
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Frequently Asked Questions
OK but which tech settler city actually wins?▾
Zurich (Switzerland) sits at #1 right now — city-centre rent starts around $3006/month. That's based on data, not vibes.
Top 3, no hedging?▾
#1 Zurich (Switzerland), #2 Copenhagen (Denmark), #3 Amsterdam (Netherlands). These scored highest on the actual metrics we use for this collection — not on how many Instagram reels mention them.
Where can I do this without burning through savings?▾
Bangalore (India) — rent starts at ~$324/month for a 1-bed in the centre. Your mileage varies with lifestyle, but the signal is clear.
Which one won't keep me up at night?▾
Singapore (Singapore) — 0.1 homicides per 100k residents (UNODC). That's the lowest in this collection, and a strong proxy for overall safety.
How does this ranking actually work?▾
Cities where tech actually hires, visas actually exist, and the office language is English — or close enough that your standup won't need subtitles. Ranked for people who write code for a living and want to do it somewhere with a real lease. Scores come from real data: Numbeo (rent), UNODC (crime), EIU (democracy), Ookla (internet speed), EF EPI (English). No one paid to be here.