Salary guide · ES
Software Engineer salary in Barcelona: can you afford rent?
A Software Engineer in Barcelona typically earns €35,000–€93,000/year, with a median around €55,000/year. Median 1-bedroom rent is €1,450/month.
Affordability verdict
At a typical Software Engineer salary of €55,000/year, spending on median Barcelona rent (€1,450/mo) would take up 32% of gross income. That's above the 30% guideline but not uncommon — a manageable situation.
Software Engineer salary range in Barcelona
€35,000
Entry level
lower quartile
€55,000
Typical
median estimate
€93,000
Experienced
upper quartile
Software engineers design, build, and maintain applications and systems software. Figures are gross annual salary estimates for Barcelona.
How much rent can a Software Engineer afford?
Rent landscape in Barcelona
€950
Budget
cheapest 10%
€1,450
Median
most common
€2,200
Premium
top 10%
1-bedroom equivalent. INE ECV 2024 (income yr 2023) + Generalitat de Catalunya rental index 2024; note: Catalonia rent cap index active from March 2024 · 2024
Frequently asked questions
What does a Software Engineer earn in Barcelona?
A Software Engineer in Barcelona typically earns between €35,000 and €93,000/year, with a median around €55,000/year. Salaries vary by experience, employer, and sector.
Can a Software Engineer afford to live in Barcelona?
At a typical Software Engineer salary of €55,000/year, median Barcelona rent (€1,450/month) takes up 32% of gross income — above the 30% guideline but not unusual in this market. Budget options in Barcelona start around €950/month.
How much rent can a Software Engineer afford in Barcelona?
On a median Software Engineer salary of €55,000/year, the recommended 30% rent budget is €1,375/month. Compared to Barcelona's median rent of €1,450/month, this means some budget trade-offs will be necessary — look at areas below the city median.
Other professions in Barcelona
Software Engineer salary in other cities