[andyroid]

From my friends in Poland I hear many of them are considering moving after the latest election and the direction the country seems to be heading. Good to know there are tech workers from Belarus to step into their positions.

[xiphias2]

If they get an EU citizenship, they may not stay in Poland for long.

[crispyporkbites]

Most likely they will want to stay close to Belarus, as most will have family that remains and be hopeful that their country improves in the future.

[bonoboTP]

Germany is just one country further; flights are fast and dirt cheap. If you go abroad, might as well go to a place where salaries are higher.

[xyzzyz]

Surprisingly enough, tech salaries are not that much higher in Germany than they are in Poland. In Germany, the tech wages are surprisingly low, and when you couple that with higher taxes and high cost of living, it is not as attractive as US or Switzerland.

In more concrete terms: 60-70k EUR is what you are looking at in Germany in good job markets, while in Poland the figure is 30-40k EUR. When you consider taxes, housing, and other costs, the difference is really not that great.

[bonoboTP]

Life is pretty cheap in Germany if you live a simple life. Supermarkets are famously cheap. Clothes, electronics cost the same as anywhere else. Rent is bearable outside of big cities and jobs are quite well distributed across Germany.

The big difference is in the savings. Even if you just make twice as much, your savings per month can be several times higher than in Poland, which makes a lot of difference if you want to go back to your country later on and buy a house etc.

[blub]

One has to also mention that living a simple life likely involves living in a smaller town somewhere with all the negative aspects that it involves. i.e. lack of social life, no other like-minded expats, etc.

[xyzzyz]

Outside of big cities, you're looking at <50k EUR gross. Granted, software wages outside big cities in Poland are significantly worse, but you can live pretty grand life in Warsaw for the same amount as simple life in Germany, while saving more.

[dukeme09]

It's possible to earn far more than 60-70k a year in Germany as a SWE. In my city, Munich, total cash compensation packages range from 85-110k Euros per year for 5-10 years of experience. The base salary trends to on the lower end, but there can be significant bonuses (company bonus, August vacation bonus, and Christmas bonus. For example st BMW, each of these are typically a month's extra salary). In addition, if your position is unionized, it's possible for you to accrue substantial overtime to further increase annual compensation.

[xyzzyz]

And it's possible to earn far more than 40k EUR a year in Poland as well. Google Warsaw starts at 45k EUR for new grads, and you're looking at 80k EUR for senior software engineers. There are a few high pitching companies that try to match that. I was rather pointing out the typical case that covers most of the workers.

[imtringued]

>When you consider taxes, housing, and other costs, the difference is really not that great.

I've made the opposite experience. Sure everything is 30% more expensive in Germany than in Poland but you also make twice as much money. The differences in cost of living are pretty insignificant but the salary is so much higher that it more than makes up the difference.

[ornornor]

Then go to Switzerland. If you find a job and have EEU citizenship (not sure about residence permit), getting a permit to stay is just a form and less than 100.-. you can’t find a better place in the EEU for salaries imho. In a small town, your expenses are rather low and these jobs pay 80–120k CHF with taxes around 15–30% depending on the kanton.

[blub]

Switzerland's famously cold towards foreigners. I'm not judging that either way, just mentioning it because I think it's a relevant detail.

[krageon]

Famous where? Perhaps the country of origin of these rumors can shed some light about where the cold reception comes from.

[ornornor]

I wouldn’t say so. And I have experienced being a foreigner there.

[severino]

> be hopeful that their country improves in the future

Yes, but things can go into the other direction too, if for example the EU takes over and their good old country turns into another failed state ala Ukraine...

[ClumsyPilot]

Ukraine was taken over by EU? What? This reads like gobbledygook

[Tostino]

If the EU takes over they are more likely turn into a failed state? Not quite sure I'm getting what you mean.

[Nginx487]

In any internet topic covering Ukraine or Belarus, you can find at least one toxic Russian actively hating its Western neighbors.

[severino]

Only that they don't have to be Russian. One can be a westerner and still be able to think by itself.

PS: sometimes I'm a Chinese too.

[krageon]

Even reading this charitably this reads like you need serious help re-discovering the world and what's going on in it.

[severino]

Don't worry, I hope Mr. Navalny resumes his blogging soon so I can be as well informed as you are