Data science remains one of the most in-demand and well-compensated tech disciplines in 2026. But where you practice it matters as much as what you know. The best city for a data scientist depends on a mix of salary levels, job availability, industry concentration, cost of living, and long-term career trajectory.

Here are the top cities for data scientists in 2026, analyzed across these dimensions.

How We Evaluated

Each city was scored on five criteria:

  • Salary: Median data scientist compensation (base + bonus + equity where applicable)
  • Job market depth: Number of open data science roles relative to the local talent pool
  • Industry diversity: Breadth of industries hiring data scientists (not just tech)
  • Cost-adjusted value: How far the salary goes after taxes and living expenses
  • Career ceiling: Availability of senior/principal/lead data science roles

The Rankings

1. San Francisco / Bay Area

  • Median DS salary: $175,000–$230,000 (TC: $220,000–$350,000 at Big Tech)
  • Key employers: Google, Meta, Apple, Salesforce, hundreds of AI startups
  • Why #1: The highest concentration of data science roles on the planet, the most advanced AI/ML teams, and the highest compensation. The cost of living is brutal, but for career growth and compensation ceiling, nothing else comes close. See data scientist salaries in San Francisco.

2. New York City

  • Median DS salary: $160,000–$215,000
  • Key employers: JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg, Google, Amazon, Meta, Two Sigma, Citadel
  • Why it ranks: New York offers something San Francisco does not: deep data science demand from finance, media, healthcare, and advertising in addition to tech. Quant roles at hedge funds and trading firms pay among the highest DS salaries anywhere. Check data scientist salaries in New York.

3. Seattle

  • Median DS salary: $160,000–$210,000
  • Key employers: Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Google, Zillow, Expedia
  • Why it ranks: No state income tax pushes take-home pay above New York despite similar gross salaries. Amazon alone employs thousands of data scientists in Seattle. The ML and AI teams at these companies are among the best in the world. See what a $200k salary looks like in Seattle.

4. London

  • Median DS salary: GBP 65,000–95,000 (~$83,000–$121,000)
  • Key employers: DeepMind, Revolut, Monzo, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Meta
  • Why it ranks: Europe's deepest data science market. London's fintech boom has created enormous demand for data scientists who can work with financial data, fraud detection, and risk modeling. The talent pool is strong (thanks to Imperial, UCL, Oxford, and Cambridge nearby), but demand still outpaces supply at the senior level. Check data scientist salaries in London.

5. Toronto

  • Median DS salary: CAD 110,000–$145,000 (~$80,000–$106,000)
  • Key employers: Shopify, Wealthsimple, Google Brain (Toronto), NVIDIA, Vector Institute startups
  • Why it ranks: Toronto has become a global AI research hub, anchored by Geoffrey Hinton's legacy at the University of Toronto and the Vector Institute. The academic-to-industry pipeline is strong, and the Canadian immigration system makes it accessible for international talent. See data scientist salaries in Toronto.

6. Berlin

  • Median DS salary: EUR 62,000–85,000 (~$67,000–$92,000)
  • Key employers: Zalando, Delivery Hero, N26, HelloFresh, Amazon, various AI startups
  • Why it ranks: The most affordable major tech city in western Europe. Berlin's startup scene relies heavily on data science for product optimization, logistics, and personalization. Lower salaries than London are offset by significantly lower cost of living. Check what $80k buys in Berlin.

7. Singapore

  • Median DS salary: SGD 100,000–$140,000 (~$74,000–$104,000)
  • Key employers: Grab, Sea Group, ByteDance, Google, Stripe, GovTech
  • Why it ranks: Asia's financial and tech hub with extremely low taxes. Singapore is a gateway to Southeast Asia's rapidly growing data economy. The government's AI Singapore initiative has poured investment into the ecosystem. See data scientist salaries in Singapore.

8. Amsterdam

  • Median DS salary: EUR 65,000–90,000 (~$70,000–$97,000)
  • Key employers: Booking.com, Adyen, TomTom, Uber, Netflix (EMEA), ING
  • Why it ranks: Booking.com alone employs hundreds of data scientists and is considered one of the world's best data science organizations. The Dutch 30% ruling (tax benefit for skilled migrants) makes Amsterdam exceptionally attractive for relocating data scientists. See data scientist salaries in Amsterdam.

9. Sydney / Melbourne

  • Median DS salary: AUD 120,000–160,000 (~$78,000–$104,000)
  • Key employers: Atlassian, Canva, CommBank, Woolworths, Google, Amazon (AWS)
  • Why it ranks: Australia's data science market is smaller but growing fast, particularly in financial services and e-commerce. High quality of life, universal healthcare, and a strong immigration pathway make it attractive for international talent. Compare salaries in Sydney vs Melbourne.

10. Dublin

  • Median DS salary: EUR 70,000–95,000 (~$76,000–$103,000)
  • Key employers: Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon, Stripe, Microsoft, Accenture
  • Why it ranks: European headquarters of every major US tech company. Data science roles at these companies in Dublin often pay close to US levels (adjusted for location). The catch is high personal tax rates and rising housing costs. See what $100k looks like in Dublin.

Emerging Cities to Watch

Several cities are building data science ecosystems that could crack the top 10 in the next 2–3 years:

  • Austin, TX: Rapid tech migration, zero state income tax, growing startup scene
  • Munich: BMW, Siemens, and Celonis are building significant data teams
  • Vancouver: Microsoft, Amazon, and Shopify offices plus the proximity to Seattle

Choosing Your City

The best city depends on your priorities:

  • Maximize earnings: San Francisco, Seattle, or New York
  • Maximize purchasing power: Austin, Berlin, or Toronto
  • Minimize taxes: Dubai, Singapore, or Seattle (no state income tax)
  • Best work-life balance: Berlin, Amsterdam, or Melbourne
  • Easiest immigration: Toronto, Amsterdam (30% ruling), or Dublin

Compare data scientist salaries across any two cities using our city comparison tool and salary insights directory.