Why the world's software engineers are moving to Singapore (opens in new tab)

(edb.gov.sg)

8 pointshogu7y ago21 comments

21 comments

20 comments · 12 top-level

throwaway2019X7y ago· 3 in thread

Singapore is literally the most expensive city in the world (tied for #1 with Paris and Hong Kong) and average developer salaries are around 50k.

This is a joke.

dogma11387y ago

Very low tax rates especially for expats and expats tend to get paid 3-4 times the average in total comp and even more if they contract for the more “high end” roles, there are a lot of shady companies there especially in cyber security tho so some of these might have hidden risks.

That said unless you really and honestly like the South East Asian expat life style you wouldn’t last there long, it’s pretty hard to live a “normal” life there.

shell0x7y ago

SG expat here. You're right the average salary is pretty low. I'm already on the higher end of SG salaries earning 120k USD. Keep in mind that the tax rates are lower though.

dogma11387y ago

Most expats I know work there under contract at least here in the UK I see a lot of £1200-2000 a day contracts for Singapore being advertised especially for security/fintech roles.

Unless you are being relocated you usually don’t want to work for a local firm unless you are contracting.

elindbe27y ago· 2 in thread

Last time I checked, the salaries for developers in Singapore didn't look competitive, especially when considering the high cost of living. Has this changed recently?

vraivroo7y ago

No, and it's unlikely to change given you have small armies of wannabe developers neighboring countries willing to work for a pittance and company owners that are too technically unsophisticated to know the difference. Hell, you can't even get a decent wage in London.

shell0x7y ago

The only way to make money here is working for a bank or doing consulting.

ScalaFan7y ago· 2 in thread

Nothing like asking those that actually work and live in that city state - www.reddit.com/r/singapore

Or search in that subreddit for "IT jobs" for previous discussions like https://www.reddit.com/r/singapore/search?q=IT+jobs&restrict...

You'll get a better picture. Don't forget some of the most important questions can be: - How much to buy/rent a house or apartment - How much to buy a car (if you need one) - What about tax consequences coming from overseas

brianpgordon7y ago

And what about things you might take for granted in the US like freedom of speech or other human rights?

tokyodude7y ago

or conversely not getting mugged on the street. Having lived in Singapore for a while there are trade-offs. I liked the feeling of safety I don't get in the west. I saw lots of fun times as well so to each their own.

1 more reply

rob747y ago· 1 in thread

all of them? at once?

(sorry if this comment is not constructive, I just wanted to highlight the hyperbole in the title)

mikestew7y ago

I'm assuming they're trying to load balance the ticketing. I got my eticket a few days ago, booked to fly to Singapore next month. If you haven't gotten yours yet, give a few more days, then call support.

Facetiousness aside, the URL alone tells me I'm not wrong in thinking the title is propaganda.

chomp7y ago

This is blatant propaganda. It's an article, from Singapore's economic development board, on why Singapore is so great for tech.

hoguOP7y ago

I'm posting this because my inlaws are in SG (we're in NYC). The idea of moving there is appealing. I gave a talk at the SG python meetup in 2014 and the sentiment I got at the time was that the tech scene was pretty depressing. Low wages, competing with outsourcing firms, etc.. Has it changed? I'd like opinions from locals (not propaganda from the SG govt)

leonheart2087y ago

I had to decline a job offer because Singapore doesn't issue visas for same-sex spouses. So... don't count me in on that...

pwinnski7y ago

The examples given are Facebook and Google opening data centers. 5806 job openings last year, and somehow 50,000 more expected.

I'm cynical, perhaps, but I don't think "Amazon, Apple, Dell, and Visa" are hiring in Singapore because they want to spend more money on developers.

reustle7y ago

I've been in the tech community in Asia for 5~ years and traveled a lot around the area including to Singapore. The engineers I've met definitely do not want to move to Singapore.

vaibhavsagar7y ago

I lived in Singapore for over a year and was very happy to leave. Decent tech scene but very little else going on. I don't see myself living there in the foreseeable future.

sigi457y ago

Strange. Im not moving

BurningFrog7y ago

No, we're not.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

21 comments

20 comments · 12 top-level

throwaway2019X7y ago· 3 in thread

Singapore is literally the most expensive city in the world (tied for #1 with Paris and Hong Kong) and average developer salaries are around 50k.

This is a joke.

dogma11387y ago

That said unless you really and honestly like the South East Asian expat life style you wouldn’t last there long, it’s pretty hard to live a “normal” life there.

shell0x7y ago

SG expat here. You're right the average salary is pretty low. I'm already on the higher end of SG salaries earning 120k USD. Keep in mind that the tax rates are lower though.

dogma11387y ago

Most expats I know work there under contract at least here in the UK I see a lot of £1200-2000 a day contracts for Singapore being advertised especially for security/fintech roles.

Unless you are being relocated you usually don’t want to work for a local firm unless you are contracting.

elindbe27y ago· 2 in thread

Last time I checked, the salaries for developers in Singapore didn't look competitive, especially when considering the high cost of living. Has this changed recently?

vraivroo7y ago

shell0x7y ago

The only way to make money here is working for a bank or doing consulting.

ScalaFan7y ago· 2 in thread

Nothing like asking those that actually work and live in that city state - www.reddit.com/r/singapore

Or search in that subreddit for "IT jobs" for previous discussions like https://www.reddit.com/r/singapore/search?q=IT+jobs&restrict...

brianpgordon7y ago

And what about things you might take for granted in the US like freedom of speech or other human rights?

tokyodude7y ago

1 more reply

rob747y ago· 1 in thread

all of them? at once?

(sorry if this comment is not constructive, I just wanted to highlight the hyperbole in the title)

mikestew7y ago

Facetiousness aside, the URL alone tells me I'm not wrong in thinking the title is propaganda.

chomp7y ago

This is blatant propaganda. It's an article, from Singapore's economic development board, on why Singapore is so great for tech.

hoguOP7y ago

leonheart2087y ago

I had to decline a job offer because Singapore doesn't issue visas for same-sex spouses. So... don't count me in on that...

pwinnski7y ago

The examples given are Facebook and Google opening data centers. 5806 job openings last year, and somehow 50,000 more expected.

I'm cynical, perhaps, but I don't think "Amazon, Apple, Dell, and Visa" are hiring in Singapore because they want to spend more money on developers.

reustle7y ago

I've been in the tech community in Asia for 5~ years and traveled a lot around the area including to Singapore. The engineers I've met definitely do not want to move to Singapore.

vaibhavsagar7y ago

I lived in Singapore for over a year and was very happy to leave. Decent tech scene but very little else going on. I don't see myself living there in the foreseeable future.

sigi457y ago

Strange. Im not moving

BurningFrog7y ago

No, we're not.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse