Hiring Developers From Eastern vs. Western Europe. Hourly Pay, Advantages and Disatvantages...

The combination of a proficient talent pool and strong tech education is what makes Eastern Europe a desired location for those who look for skilled Developers. Locations like Poland, Ukraine, and Romania deliver qualified IT developers and are cost-effective, alongside the Czech Republic, Moldova, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Slovakia. Western Europe has an admirable work ethic and robust tech education with big tech centers like Germany, the UK, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

In this article, we describe the perks of hiring Developers in Software & Web, AI & Machine Learning, and Cybersecurity from countries in the Eastern and Western regions of Europe. We analyzed multiple resources like Statista, Index, and Quibit Labs.

What is the hourly pay of Developers in Software, Cybersecurity, AI & ML in Eastern Europe?

Eastern Europe has grown into a vibrant tech environment that offers talented developers at competitive rates. Multiple things determine salaries for Software, Cybersecurity, AI & Machine Learning Developers. For instance, educational achievements, career stage, and location can influence the pay per hour for these industries.

Salaries of Developers in Eastern Europe are determined by different reasons, including:

• The level of education and skills
• Global trends in outsourcing
• Experience level
• Country
• The size and type of the tech firm
• Remote work
• Financial and tax-related aspects

Knowing the rate of pay can help you find the right Developer and manage your budget for the project.

The hourly pay of Software Developers in Eastern Europe

According to Statista, the market’s revenue will be approximately $11.3 billion in 2026, with a rate of growth per year (CAGR) equal to 14.84%. It is said that EE (Eastern Europe) is chosen by almost 80% of tech businesses due to: A backing business ecosystem, up-to-date tech innovations, qualified Developers, technological education & skilled graduates, and expertise in tech.

In EE, the average hourly fees for Software Developers can range between $15 - $25 for Junior, $30 - $45 for Intermediate, and for Senior, it can vary between $45 - $65+ per hour.

• For countries in this region, the pay per hour is very different, for example, in Poland, it can be between $51 - $103, the same as in Hungary $51 - $103.
• Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria all have approximately the same fees of <$26.

Even though some regions have lower fees, like Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria, they still provide quality services like Poland and Hungary, with the highest rate of pay.

The Hourly Pay of Cybersecurity Engineers in Eastern Europe

The Cybersecurity market in Eastern Europe is expected to reach $5.57 billion by 2029, with a rate of 5.65%. It is heavily influenced by rising cyber threats, digital transition, skilled workforce, tech innovations, and support from the Government & EU. Among them, Poland is considered a leader in this domain, according to Statista. The cybersecurity services have a high demand that influences the growth of this market. Another evolving leader in cybersecurity from EE is the Czech Republic, with a growing number of startups and a focus on R&D.

The rate of pay is created based on experience and skill level, tech & soft abilities, certification, geographic region, and demand in the industry.

• It is estimated that Poland has the highest hourly fee, equal to $26.4 - $35.79, followed by Hungary with $22.36 -$30.26.
• Ukraine and Romania have almost identical rates of pay $21.42 - $28.98 and $21.05 - $28.47 per hour.
• Then is Bulgaria with $20.34 - $27.52, followed by Moldova with the lowest pay per hour being $16.82 - $22.75.

Countries like Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, and Romania have the highest prices per hour, while Moldova and Bulgaria have the lowest fees, but still offer qualified services and skills.

The Hourly Pay for AI & ML Professionals in Eastern Europe

The market of Artificial Intelligence can reach $24.76 billion by 2031, and the Machine Learning market is predicted to be $14.78 billion by 2031, versus $2.78 billion in 2025. The market of AI & Machine Learning is facing an optimization boosted by local innovation and investments across the world. Many startups delivering AI services with their location in Eastern Europe have a more than 50% rise in investment every year in Q1 2025. The evolution of Cybersecurity in Eastern Europe is influenced by several key factors. These include the help from the EU and Government, costs more affordable than those in Western Europe, and a developing talent pool.

In Eastern European countries, the hourly pay for AI & Machine Learning services is formed due to several factors: Analysis of the market dynamics and requests in the specific domain, the number of professionals, the stability, and living expenses.

• Romania is reported to have an hourly pay equal to $26.44 - $35.77, and Poland has a slightly higher fee: $26.45 - $35.79.
• Hungary, Ukraine, and Bulgaria have the same range with $22.69 - $30.7, then $21.75 - $29.43, and $20.67 - $27.96.
• The last one is Moldova with an hourly fee equal to $16.49 - $22.31 per hour.

Cybersecurity, Software, and AI & Machine Learning Developers in Eastern Europe have different models of payment. Which makes your choice easier if you want to hire a specialist or work in this domain.

What is the hourly pay of Developers in Software, Cybersecurity, AI & ML in Western Europe?

The IT Services market in Central and Western Europe is predicted to experience substantial growth, with revenue reaching $342.39 billion in 2025 and $414.88 billion by 2030. Germany stands out to be a leader in Western Europe thanks to its workforce powered by innovation. Also, the data expresses the opportunity for investments and service innovation.

The costs for services provided by Developers in tech domains are influenced by various things, for example:

• Demand for qualified skills
• Complexity of the project
• Tech stack
• Location
• Presence of global companies
• Local talent pools
• Financial and Political factors

The future of the IT market in Western Europe is moving steadily. Software Development companies are choosing cloud-native infrastructures to keep digital sovereignty. Decreasing the reliance on non-European technologies is the European Union’s focus on Cybersecurity. Also, they focus on developing cross-border collaborations through systems like NIS2. Europe has the possibility to increase its productivity by almost 3% every year with the help of GenAI in the industry of AI & Machine Learning.

The hourly pay of Software Developers in Western Europe

The Software industry across Central and Western Europe is projected to reach $145 billion by 2030, showing an annual rate of growth of around 3.5%. The cost for Software development services has a large range, caused by the country, tech stack, professional experience, and the platform used to find developers. In Western Europe, the average cost ranges between $50 - $300

According to sources like Toptal Developers and Quibit Labs, the average prices per hour for Software Development in various countries of Western Europe are the following:

• In Germany, the hourly pay depends on the level of experience and education: $50 - $199, and its average is $61.
• The rate of fees in the UK is formed in consideration of the level of experience, with a usual cost of about $93, and a price range $55 - $300.
• France has an average hourly fee for Software Development services of $49, with a salary window of $50 - $149, depending on the type of project.
• The average price per hour in the Netherlands is $69 and can vary between $50 - $149.
• In Sweden, the costs are based on a 40-hour week with a range of $40.58 - $55.

There is also a possibility to choose a team offering Software services that can save approximately 60% of your budget.

The Hourly Costs of Cybersecurity Developers in Western Europe

The market of Cybersecurity in the West and Central part of Europe will have a rise of almost 8% reaching $45.2 billion in 2029. The leaders of Western Europe in this domain are Germany, the UK, and France. They have robust infrastructure protection.

Factors influencing the costs for cybersecurity services include the experience & certification, location, and regulatory compliance (for example, GDPR and NIS2).

The prices for Cybersecurity experts span from $19.23 to $53, depending on the country.

In France, the hourly pay for services in Cybersecurity is approximately $44.52

• The Netherlands has an average price of $49.32, influenced by the type of company and the difficulty of the project.
• Sweden has costs for Cybersecurity services with a range of $38.9 - $52.63.
• The UK offers a variety of hourly pay starting with $20.77 and reaching $32.21, although many companies can have higher fees.
• In Germany, cybersecurity pay per hour is between $21.63 - $33.17, influenced by the skill and education level.

This variety offers the possibility to choose the developers who are budget-friendly and have the required skills.

The Pay per Hour for AI & ML Developers in Western Europe

The market of AI & Machine Learning in the West is predicted to reach $79.59 billion in 2031, with a growth rate of 32.09% estimated for 2025-2031. Key growth factors for this industry include the legal frameworks, cross-industry technologies, and the possibility of big data.

Artificial intelligence & ML services in the Western countries of Europe have costs formed based on factors like talent limitations, infrastructure, and data measures.

• In Sweden, the hourly pay for AI & Machine Learning is $48.96 - $66.42, followed by the Netherlands with $49.55 - $67.04.
• In the UK $33.65 - $45.67 represents the pay per hour for these services
• Germany is reported to have an hourly fee equal to $30.10 - $34.23, close to France with $21.78 - $31.59.

Many AI & ML experts can work remotely, so choosing the right developer is not a problem if you are in another city or country. The prices can differ due to the schedule.

Hourly Pay Comparison: Software, Cybersecurity, and AI & ML Developers Eastern Europe vs Western Europe

Country	Software Development ($/hr)	Cybersecurity($/hr)	AI & ML ($/rh)
Eastern Europe
Poland	51 - 103	26.40 – 35.79	26.45 – 35.79
Hungary	51 - 103	22.36 – 30.26	22.69 – 30.70
Ukraine	<26	21.42 – 28.98	21.75 – 29.43
Romania	<26	21.05 – 28.47	26.44 – 35.77
Bulgaria	<26	20.34 – 27.52	20.67 – 27.96
Moldova	<26	16.82 – 22.75	16.49 – 22.31
Czech Republic	n/a	n/a	n/a
Western Europe
Germany	50 - 199 (avg 61)	21.63 – 33.17	30.10 - 34.23
UK	55 – 300 (avg 93)	20.77 – 32.21	33.65 – 45.67
France	50 – 149 (avg 49)	~44.52	21.78 – 31.59
Netherlands	50 – 149 (avg 69)	~49.32	49.55 – 67.04
Sweden	40.58 – 55	38.90 – 52.63	48.96 – 66.42

As we notice, Eastern Europe offers lower average hourly rates, especially in Moldova, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Romania, while Poland and Hungary command the highest rates in the region. Western Europe has a much wider range, with senior or highly specialized roles (especially in the UK and Germany) reaching up to $300/hr for software development. Cybersecurity and AI & ML roles show similar trends, with Western European countries generally offering higher pay, particularly in the Netherlands and Sweden for AI & ML.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Hiring from Eastern Europe?

The tech market in Eastern Europe is expanding its influence with main tech hubs that are Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Slovakia.

Hiring Developers from Eastern Europe has multiple benefits due to the fact that the market is growing and evolving. The following perks are:

• Rich talent pool with qualified experts: In EE are more than 1 million Software Developers, and about 3.5 million ICT professionals.
• Fresh perspectives and innovation: Having a variety of cultures, tech developers from Eastern Europe can give new ideas and inspiration to improve efficiency and other work processes.
• High literacy and multilingual skills: many people in EE are fluent in English and several languages, like German, Spanish, plus other languages spoken in Europe.
• Competitive lower costs: Salaries in Eastern Europe are budget-friendly compared to those in Western Europe and North America.
• Emphasis on STEM education: This region provides a steady flow of strong graduates in different domains like tech, IT, engineering, and science.
• Cost efficiency: Having lower costs doesn’t mean that the quality is also decreased.

Despite the numerous perks, choosing developers from EE may bring some issues and concerns, which include:

• Tax laws and labor regulations: Each country has its tax laws and regulations, which may be confusing.
• Employment contracts: These contracts need to follow the specific country’s laws and employment requirements. It is also possible to need a second copy in another language.
• Time zone differences: The United States, Asia, and Europe are different time zones, which may create some issues for the hiring companies. Despite that, hiring an expert to help with time coordination is more affordable than hiring a developer from Western Europe.
• Project transparency: Being at a distance can cause issues in project administration, analyzing the progress, and studying the work process. Especially when the time zones have a big gap.
• Concerns about data privacy: The total sensitive information of a company should be protected by international data protection standards, for example GDPR.

The advantages of hiring developers from Eastern Europe outweigh its disadvantages. The tech ecosystem in EE offers multiple possibilities for startups to foster innovation. Developer fees in Eastern Europe are 40–50% lower than in Western Europe or the U.S., while keeping high code quality and efficiency.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Hiring from Western Europe?

The technological environment in Western Europe is improving every day with innovations in AI, Cloud computing, Cybersecurity, and Software. The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Spain are important tech hubs in the Western part. Among the main benefits of choosing developers from these countries are the following:

• High English knowledge: Besides English, many tech professionals know additional languages.
• Good work ethic: The companies in this region put quality over quantity, have a great work-life balance, and a partnership culture.
• High performance criteria
• Minimized time zones problems: Thanks to the proximity to the U.S. and other countries that choose developers from Western Europe, it shortens the gap in the time zones.
• High demand for skills: The countries of this part of Europe have a strong need for services like Cloud & DevOps, Data engineering, AI & ML, Cybersecurity, and Full-Stack Development.

Alongside the perks, working with Developers from Western Europe may have some disadvantages, for example:

• Complex tax system: Countries like Germany and France have strong protection for employees, which can make the hiring process more complex.
• Higher prices than other regions
• Freelance rates: Hourly rates for freelancers are high, and long-term contracts can be expensive.
• High competition: Salary expectations, remote work transition, and the lack of qualified professionals create this rivalry.

Big tech players such as Google, Microsoft, and Meta have facilities in Ireland, Switzerland, and the UK to foster innovation. Tech companies choose tech services in these places due to their benefits that surpass the drawbacks.

Developers from Eastern vs. Western Europe

The rising tech influence of Eastern Europe can be a strong rival for the major tech market of Western Europe. EE has lower hourly fees, a big talent pool, new perspectives, and is budget-friendly, while Western Europe’s Developers provide high performance, an outstanding work ethic, and English proficiency. The time zones issue is more prominent on the Eastern side, but the Western side has a high competition for the required technical skills. There is a table of comparison between East and West.

Pros	Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania, and Hungary)	Western Europe (Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK)
1.	Rich talent pool with skilled experts	High English knowledge
2.	Fresh perspectives and innovation	Good work ethic
3.	High literacy and multilingual skills	Great work-life balance
4.	Competitive lower costs	High performance criteria
5.	Emphasis on STEM education	Minimized time zone problems
6.	Cost efficiency	High demand for skills

Cons.	Eastern Europe	Western Europe
1.	Employment contracts	Complex tax system
2.	Time zone differences	Higher prices than in other regions
3.	Project transparency	Freelance rates
4.	Concerns about data privacy	High competition
5.	Tax laws and labor regulations

To select the right Developer, be it from Eastern or Western Europe, you should consider all the pros and cons. Understand what advantages outweigh the disadvantages to help your project.

Conclusion

Developers from Eastern and Western Europe are offering their services in many tech domains like Software, Cybersecurity, AI & Machine Learning. Eastern countries like Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and Hungary are known for their low prices. The West, which includes Germany, France, the UK, and Sweden, is notorious for its remarkable work ethic and work-life balance.

Hiring developers from these places can be challenging in various ways. For instance, in EE, it is difficult to form employee contracts, manage data safety, ensure transparency of work processes, and deal with the time zone differences. Meanwhile, Western Europe has complex law and tax systems, high competition among specialists, higher prices, and higher rates for freelancers.

To find the right developer for the required services, you should carefully analyze all the advantages and disadvantages that can help your project improve or otherwise fail.