Salary Comparison

Software Engineer Salary:
San Francisco, CA vs Melbourne

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

San Francisco, CA
$208,801
/ year
+117%
difference
Melbourne
$96,116
/ year
Bottom line: San Francisco wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
San Francisco
Melbourne
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$208,801✓ higher
$96,116
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$135,031✓ higher
$63,772
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$322,874✓ higher
$144,864
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$139,806✓ higher
$65,359
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$124,286✓ higher
$76,893
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.68×
1.25×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$135,031✓ higher
$96,933
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$322,874✓ higher
$220,193

What if you move from San Francisco to Melbourne?

Gross salary change
$112,685
117% decrease
Take-home change
$74,447
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$47,393
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

San Francisco, CA$208,801
P10: $135,031Median: $208,801P90: $322,874
Melbourne$96,116
P10: $96,933Median: $96,116P90: $220,193

More Software Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Software Engineer earn more in San Francisco or Melbourne?

The median Software Engineer salary in San Francisco, CA is $208,801/yr compared to A$146,096/yr in Melbourne. San Francisco pays 117% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Software Engineer salary worth more in San Francisco or Melbourne after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your San Francisco salary has the purchasing power of $124,286/yr in a median-cost city, vs $76,893/yr for Melbourne. San Francisco offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Software Engineer in San Francisco vs Melbourne?

After estimated taxes, a Software Engineer in San Francisco, CA takes home approximately $139,806/yr, vs $65,359/yr in Melbourne. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.