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Ask HN: Berlin - costs of living, python jobs?

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Re: Ask HN: Berlin - costs of living, python jobs?

#11

Post by Uchikoma »

I can only write from my perspective, 110qm are around 950 EUR including heating, but this is a more expensive part of town (not the most expensive though). Fairly cheap compared to other large cities in Germany.

There are many tech jobs, most companies are hiring.

As a developer you might make 35-60k EUR a year, depending on the company and your skills.

Transport is currently 72 EUR a month.

Meals are around 5 EUR for lunch, 10 EUR or above in the evening. Pizza is below 10 EUR. Beer is around 3 EUR.

Re: Ask HN: Berlin - costs of living, python jobs?

#12

Post by Uchikoma »

ig1 wrote: post #2

Berlin is fairly cheap, cheaper than any other major city in western europe at least. Accommodation prices can vary widely, they can go from as little as 200 euros/months for a studio on the outskirts. I was paying 800 euros/month for a large one-bed flat in fairly central east berlin (P-Berg). Lots of startups, probably some doing Python, not sure who off the top of my head. Most recruitment in Berlin seems to be do…

"Most recruitment in Berlin seems to be done via social networks rather than via job boards."

Most hiring I've done in Berlin is via job boards.

Re: Ask HN: Berlin - costs of living, python jobs?

#13

Post by kablamo »

shanked wrote: post #4

Somewhat related... As opposed to Berlin specifically, how should an American software engineer get a job in a different country? I'd like to experience different cultures and I'd like to move to another country (after finding a job) but I'm not sure how I should go about doing it. Initially, I think western Europe is the most ideal place since I do not know any other languages, some place where many people spoke Eng…

Singapore. English speaking. Modern clean safe beautiful city. Mostly banking and finance here. Something like 2% unemployment, 15% economic growth this year. Lots of Westerners (and Indians, Chinese, Malay, Phillipinos, Indonesians, etc hugely diverse). Little India, Chinatown. Very easy to get a work visa. Low taxes. Tropical island. Can be as cheap as $50 to fly to Bali and a weekend of surfing. All of Southeast Asia a few hours flight away.

On the bad side:

* Freaking hot. You will get used to it after about 8 months.

* Expensive apartments. Not as bad as SF or NYC, but getting up there.

* Despite being a decent size city, it often has a conservative, small town atmosphere.

* Asia loves status and brand names and leans towards Java and .Net and industrial programming and tends to look down on scripting languages

Hong kong is probably good to look at too. Bigger more interesting city but like everywhere, has its drawbacks too of course.

Re: Ask HN: Berlin - costs of living, python jobs?

#14

Post by pdelgallego »

I lived in Germany for a couple of years, most of the time in Hamburg, but I used to go Berlin quite often.

The cost of living in Berlin is very variable. I love Kreuzberg, you have good and cheap options to dinner for ~10 euros (e.g around Görlitzer Bahnhof you have some good vietnamese and indian resturants). The rent should be around 250 - 350 E a room. In east berlin you can find cheaper pelaces to live in.

I dont know about job post, but just contact the Berlin Python User Group. I am sure they can give you some good advices about it. The mailing list dont look very acttive, but I am sure is still the best place to start (http://starship.python.net/mailman/listinfo/python-berlin)

Re: Ask HN: Berlin - costs of living, python jobs?

#15

Post by robin_reala »

BvS wrote: post #10

Ramen-style about 600€/month (living with a roommate, prepare your own meals -> maybe it could be even lower if don't go out at all, don't buy new clothes, ride a bike instead of public transportation... ) Have your own space, go out sometimes, take cab once in a while... about 1.200€+/month (obviously open end). Add at least another 130€/month for health insurance. Unfortunately I don't know about any python gigs bu…

Why health insurance? Surely the OP is covered in the EU if they get an EHIC? Or does that not apply for a permanent move?

Re: Ask HN: Berlin - costs of living, python jobs?

#16

Post by sambe »

I had the option of moving to Berlin or finding something else, and whilst I liked some aspects of Berlin, eventually decided not to move there. Of course, everyone is different but the relevant points to the question are:

1) whilst it is cheap - and rent is included in that statement - it is also big and low density. I felt that I wouldn't want to live away from the central, fashionable areas as the rest of the city feels a bit deserted. Living there probably adds 500EUR/month to your costs.

2) most of the "entrepreneurial" action seems to be in the arts. I didn't see lots of technology and/or international companies e.g. if things don't work out for you.

I have a friend from Berlin running a technoloogy company who loves it there though - and he seems to be able to hire a reasonable amount of talent. And some people don't mind the commute/quiet life as much as me.

Re: Ask HN: Berlin - costs of living, python jobs?

#17

Post by [deleted] »

kablamo wrote: post #13
shanked wrote: post #4

Somewhat related... As opposed to Berlin specifically, how should an American software engineer get a job in a different country? I'd like to experience different cultures and I'd like to move to another country (after finding a job) but I'm not sure how I should go about doing it. Initially, I think western Europe is the most ideal place since I do not know any other languages, some place where many people spoke Eng…

Singapore. English speaking. Modern clean safe beautiful city. Mostly banking and finance here. Something like 2% unemployment, 15% economic growth this year. Lots of Westerners (and Indians, Chinese, Malay, Phillipinos, Indonesians, etc hugely diverse). Little India, Chinatown. Very easy to get a work visa. Low taxes. Tropical island. Can be as cheap as $50 to fly to Bali and a weekend of surfing. All of Southeast A…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Berlin - costs of living, python jobs?

#18

Post by pdelgallego »

kablamo wrote: post #13
shanked wrote: post #4

Somewhat related... As opposed to Berlin specifically, how should an American software engineer get a job in a different country? I'd like to experience different cultures and I'd like to move to another country (after finding a job) but I'm not sure how I should go about doing it. Initially, I think western Europe is the most ideal place since I do not know any other languages, some place where many people spoke Eng…

Singapore. English speaking. Modern clean safe beautiful city. Mostly banking and finance here. Something like 2% unemployment, 15% economic growth this year. Lots of Westerners (and Indians, Chinese, Malay, Phillipinos, Indonesians, etc hugely diverse). Little India, Chinatown. Very easy to get a work visa. Low taxes. Tropical island. Can be as cheap as $50 to fly to Bali and a weekend of surfing. All of Southeast A…

Can you elaborate about the work visa in Singapure?

Can you point me a couple of websites where I can try to find a temporal job (let said 6-12 months doing Java/Ruby/Javascript)?

Re: Ask HN: Berlin - costs of living, python jobs?

#19

Post by pdelgallego »

shanked wrote: post #4

Somewhat related... As opposed to Berlin specifically, how should an American software engineer get a job in a different country? I'd like to experience different cultures and I'd like to move to another country (after finding a job) but I'm not sure how I should go about doing it. Initially, I think western Europe is the most ideal place since I do not know any other languages, some place where many people spoke Eng…

I can speak about Denmark from an expat point of view. I moved here 6 months ago. I dont speak Danish at all and I am not very good in English, so far, the language has not been a problem, even many tv shows are in English with Danish subs.

There are many .Net jobs here, and not so many doing Ruby or Python. You can take a look at the job offers in http://it-jobbank.dk or http://stepstone.dk.

The living expensives are really high here.

I cant tell about work visa because I am a EU citezen, so the rules are different.

If you have any question about Denmark or Spain, just drop me a line.

Re: Ask HN: Berlin - costs of living, python jobs?

#20

Post by Uchikoma »

Uchikoma wrote: post #11

I can only write from my perspective, 110qm are around 950 EUR including heating, but this is a more expensive part of town (not the most expensive though). Fairly cheap compared to other large cities in Germany. There are many tech jobs, most companies are hiring. As a developer you might make 35-60k EUR a year, depending on the company and your skills. Transport is currently 72 EUR a month. Meals are around 5 EUR f…

I might add: Freelancer is 500 EUR to 1000 EUR (and above) a day depending on your skills (obviously ;-)
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