Expanding your horizons to job markets in different countries is a great way of ensuring you get the best possible career for you and many people in the tech sector are moving for opportunities in different countries for better pay, better way of life, better opportunities, etc.
Here we have the top 10 countries people are moving to for tech jobs and a list of the most popular countries for tech candidates to originate from. Compare My Move has compared the average annual salary, the average property prices, and the cost of international moving companies for these countries for your ultimate guide to moving abroad for a tech career.
The most popular countries have all been provided by Relocate.Me.
Top 10 Countries People Move to for Tech Jobs
Here are the top 10 countries that people are moving to for tech jobs:
| Rank | Country | Capital City | Average Annual Salary | Average Property Price (Two Bed Flat) | Removal Cost From the UK (Estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Netherlands | Amsterdam | £64K | £257,000 | £ 1,248 |
| 2 | Germany | Berlin | £59K | £328,000 | £953 |
| 3 | Canada | Ottawa | £64K | £326,000 | £2,972 |
| 4 | UK | London | £58K | £263,000 | N/A |
| 5 | Switzerland | Bern | £96K | £772,000 | £967 |
| 6 | Sweden | Stockholm | £67K | £267,000 | £1,464 |
| 7 | USA | Washington D.C. | £89K | £226,000 | £6,080 |
| 8 | Australia | Canberra | £62K | £360,000 | £5,258 |
| 9 | Denmark | Copenhagen | £64K | £260,000 | £1,066 |
| 10 | Belgium | Brussels | £59K | £178,000 | £3,079 |
*Average annual salary based on Software Engineer job role.
Removal Costs are based on a 40ft shipping container.
Salary Statistics are taken from Glassdoor.
The Netherlands tops our list as the most popular country to move to for tech jobs, with an average annual salary that beats the UK and Germany and a housing market cheaper than the majority of the top 10 list. The Nerthalnds also make it easy for non-EU/EEA tech workers to start a career with their “residence permit for highly skilled migrants”, which allows migrant workers with specialised skills that you would find in tech work to live and work in the Netherlands.
Germany ranks as the 2nd most popular country to move to for tech jobs and for good reason. The German tech market is currently forecast to increase by USD 30.34 Billion by 2027, and there’s an increase in German SMEs employing tech solutions to their business driving IT jobs to the market. Germany is also the cheapest country to move to on this list when it comes to removals, costing less than £1000 to move the contents of a 40ft shipping container from the UK.
Canada is the third most popular country for people moving for tech careers, and the most popular country outside Europe. The Canadian tech job market has grown by more than 15% between 2020 and 2022, with Vancouver leading the way and seeing the most growth throughout North America. When looking at removals, Canada is also over 50% cheaper to move to than the U.S.
Although having the lowest average salary for a Software Engineer in the top 10 list, the UK ranks as the 4th most popular country to move to for a tech career. A lot of this will have to do with the booming tech market in the UK, with the industry being valued at £820bn.
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Top 10 Countries Where Candidates Are Coming From
Here are the 10 countries that the most people are moving from for tech jobs:
| Rank | Country | Capital City | Average Annual Salary (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | New Delhi | £8K |
| 2 | Nigeria | Abuja | £6K |
| 3 | Russia | Moscow | £54K |
| 4 | Pakistan | Islamabad | £9K |
| 5 | Iran | Tehran | £105K |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte | £9K |
| 7 | Brazil | Brasília | £41K |
| 8 | Turkey | Ankara | £20K |
| 9 | Egypt | Cairo | £10K |
| 10 | USA | Washington D.C. | £89K |
While 7 out of the top 10 countries to move to for a tech career are countries in Europe, no countries from Europe make it onto the top 10 countries where candidates are coming from. On average, the countries in which the most candidates move from for tech careers have a much lower salary for tech jobs, which will likely be the main reason for a change in the job market.
However, there are some standouts on this list. Mainly Iran, which according to Glassdoor has an average salary of £105K for a software engineer role. However, this has to be taken with a pinch of salt, as this salary is taken from a much lower pool of employees than the data for other countries and therefore the average is skewed. When looking at the salaries offered you’ll see a majority below £51,000 annually, and a majority of that below £21,000 annually.
The USA also features on both lists, which is likely due to the sheer volume of the USA tech job market. The US tech market accounts for 37% of the total worldwide tech market, and 37% will have a lot of people arriving for a tech job in the USA and a lot of people leaving the USA for work in Europe. Although the average salary in the US is better than the average across Europe, the work-life balance and social benefits seem to outway the US, which could account for the number of people leaving.
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