Where to Build a European Engineering Team
London, Berlin, Amsterdam and Dublin compared on cost, talent depth and hiring speed.
By Priya Raghunathan, Editor, Growth & Discovery
London: depth at a price
London has the largest talent pool in Europe by a wide margin, the deepest fintech expertise and a time zone that reaches both US coasts and Asia within a working day.
It is also the most expensive European option, at roughly 68% of US compensation bands. Sponsorship costs and housing pressure add friction that Berlin does not have.
Berlin: the cost-to-talent leader
Berlin offers the best ratio of engineering quality to cost in Western Europe, at about 54% of US bands, with an internationally sourced workforce and EU Blue Card routes that are fast and predictable.
Plan around notice periods of one to three months, which materially slow hiring compared with US norms, and works councils once headcount grows.
Amsterdam: commercial strength, thin engineering
Amsterdam's English fluency, infrastructure and quality of life make it an excellent EU headquarters for commercial and operational teams.
The local engineering pool is small (roughly 88,000 technology workers), and the housing shortage makes relocation genuinely difficult. It is a poor choice for a large engineering base.
Dublin: EMEA operations, not engineering
Dublin is the established EU entry point for US technology companies, with English-language hiring and deep experience of US corporate structures.
Its technology employment skews heavily toward operations, support and commercial roles. Engineering depth is limited and concentration risk from a few large employers is real.
Choosing
For a large engineering base at the best cost, Berlin. For depth, fintech expertise and time-zone reach regardless of cost, London. For an EU commercial headquarters, Amsterdam. For EMEA operations at speed, Dublin.
Companies that need both frequently split: engineering in Berlin, commercial in London or Amsterdam. The coordination cost is lower than forcing one city to serve both.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cheapest European city to hire engineers?
- Of the major hubs, Berlin, at roughly 54% of US compensation bands with a deep international talent pool. Costs are lower still outside the primary hubs, with corresponding trade-offs in seniority depth.
- How long does European hiring take compared with the US?
- Add one to three months for notice periods in Germany and the Netherlands. UK and Irish notice periods are typically one month at non-senior levels.