4 ms·

Why the world's software engineers are moving to Singapore

8 points by hogu 7y ago

hogu 7y 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)
elindbe2 7y ago
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?
- shell0x 7y ago
  The only way to make money here is working for a bank or doing consulting.
- vraivroo 7y 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.
rob74 7y ago
all of them? at once? (sorry if this comment is not constructive, I just wanted to highlight the hyperbole in the title)
- mikestew 7y 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.
pwinnski 7y 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.
chomp 7y ago
This is blatant propaganda. It's an article, from Singapore's economic development board, on why Singapore is so great for tech.
throwaway2019X 7y ago
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.
- shell0x 7y 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.
  - dogma1138 7y 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.
- dogma1138 7y 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.
ScalaFan 7y ago
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_sr=on 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
- brianpgordon 7y ago
  And what about things you might take for granted in the US like freedom of speech or other human rights?
  - tokyodude 7y 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.
    - theredbox 7y ago
      The problem with Singapore is that it treats you like a real shit if you are not a citizen or a permanent resident. Even if you are from a wealthy country it just makes your life there miserable.
sigi45 7y ago
Strange. Im not moving
BurningFrog 7y ago
No, we're not.
vaibhavsagar 7y 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.
leonheart208 7y 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...
reustle 7y 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.

8 points by hogu 7y ago

hogu 7y 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)

elindbe2 7y ago

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?

shell0x 7y ago
The only way to make money here is working for a bank or doing consulting.
vraivroo 7y 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.

rob74 7y ago

all of them? at once? (sorry if this comment is not constructive, I just wanted to highlight the hyperbole in the title)

mikestew 7y 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.

pwinnski 7y 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.

chomp 7y ago

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

throwaway2019X 7y ago

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.

shell0x 7y 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.
- dogma1138 7y 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.
dogma1138 7y 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.

ScalaFan 7y ago

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_sr=on 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

brianpgordon 7y ago
And what about things you might take for granted in the US like freedom of speech or other human rights?
- tokyodude 7y 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.
  - theredbox 7y ago
    The problem with Singapore is that it treats you like a real shit if you are not a citizen or a permanent resident. Even if you are from a wealthy country it just makes your life there miserable.

sigi45 7y ago

Strange. Im not moving

BurningFrog 7y ago

No, we're not.

vaibhavsagar 7y 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.

leonheart208 7y 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...

reustle 7y 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.