Poll: Full-time software engineer salaries in Berlin • Hacker News Board

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineer salaries in Berlin

#21

Post by Argorak » Thu, Jan 23, 2014, 5:07 PM UTC

k__ wrote: post #7

_ak wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. There are rather huge gaps between Berlin vs. cities like Frankfurt or Munich. Living costs are much lower in Berlin, and so naturally, wages are lower, too.

But jobs which pay 100k in Munich should also pay 100k in Berlin. If you make more than 60k the living costs aren't much of a concern for you anymore.

That would assume that salary is a pure function of the work you do.

Berlin has certain advantages for tech employers:

* It is an expat-friendly city

* Nightlife is great, if you like the makeshift style

* It is the epicenter of the german hacker community

* Costs of living are still lower

All these are soft factors are opportunities for employers to haggle prices down.

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineer salaries in Berlin

#22

Post by _ak » Thu, Jan 23, 2014, 5:08 PM UTC

eik3_de wrote: post #10

_ak wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. There are rather huge gaps between Berlin vs. cities like Frankfurt or Munich. Living costs are much lower in Berlin, and so naturally, wages are lower, too.

some data on wages+prices in Berlin/Frankfurt/Munich from 2012: http://www.ubs.com/global/en/wealth_management/wealth_manage...

Thanks!

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineer salaries in Berlin

#23

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jan 23, 2014, 5:11 PM UTC

dreen wrote: post #12

Developer here looking to possibly relocate from London to Berlin or other German (or Dutch) place, I have a question for anyone filling out this poll: I spend on avarage about £700 a month excluding rent, which allows for relatively comfortable life in London. What spending can I expect in Berlin? What about rent? (I pay £425 which is pretty cheap for London)

[deleted]

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineer salaries in Berlin

#24

Post by levosmetalo » Thu, Jan 23, 2014, 5:13 PM UTC

sasvari wrote: post #14

levosmetalo wrote: post #3

Also, "without bonuses" part makes no sense, since in Germany some bonuses are contractually enforced and employer doesn't have an option not to pay them. For example, Weihnachtsgeld (Christamas money) is usually 1 or 1/2 of monthly salary and is defined in every contract. In addition to that comes the yearly bonus, which is rarely not awarded in its entirety. In my company it's about 15% of salary for previous year,…

For example, Weihnachtsgeld (Christamas money) is usually 1 or 1/2 of monthly salary and is defined in every contract. In addition to that comes the yearly bonus, which is rarely not awarded in its entirety. Nope. Weihnachtsgeld is not defined in every contract. Either you're working for a company bound by a union rate to pay Weihnachtsgeld or the company pays it voluntarily. There is no Weihnachtsgeld guaranteed by…

Sorry, I didn't say that Weihnachtgeld is required by law, just that I don't know a single person that doesn't have Weihnachtsgeld guaranteed by employment contract.

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineer salaries in Berlin

#25

Post by timme » Thu, Jan 23, 2014, 5:13 PM UTC

levosmetalo wrote: post #3

Also, "without bonuses" part makes no sense, since in Germany some bonuses are contractually enforced and employer doesn't have an option not to pay them. For example, Weihnachtsgeld (Christamas money) is usually 1 or 1/2 of monthly salary and is defined in every contract. In addition to that comes the yearly bonus, which is rarely not awarded in its entirety. In my company it's about 15% of salary for previous year,…

All of the things you mention are completely optional for the employer.

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineer salaries in Berlin

#26

Post by vincentkriek » Thu, Jan 23, 2014, 5:14 PM UTC

dreen wrote: post #12

Developer here looking to possibly relocate from London to Berlin or other German (or Dutch) place, I have a question for anyone filling out this poll: I spend on avarage about £700 a month excluding rent, which allows for relatively comfortable life in London. What spending can I expect in Berlin? What about rent? (I pay £425 which is pretty cheap for London)

Eindhoven is cool as well!

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineer salaries in Berlin

#27

Post by 64mb » Thu, Jan 23, 2014, 5:17 PM UTC

dreen wrote: post #12

Developer here looking to possibly relocate from London to Berlin or other German (or Dutch) place, I have a question for anyone filling out this poll: I spend on avarage about £700 a month excluding rent, which allows for relatively comfortable life in London. What spending can I expect in Berlin? What about rent? (I pay £425 which is pretty cheap for London)

Whoa, where are you living on that kinda rent? I pay almost double.

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineer salaries in Berlin

#28

Post by glazskunrukitis » Thu, Jan 23, 2014, 5:17 PM UTC

Relevant - http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?coun...

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineer salaries in Berlin

#29

Post by resiros » Thu, Jan 23, 2014, 5:18 PM UTC

dreen wrote: post #12

Developer here looking to possibly relocate from London to Berlin or other German (or Dutch) place, I have a question for anyone filling out this poll: I spend on avarage about £700 a month excluding rent, which allows for relatively comfortable life in London. What spending can I expect in Berlin? What about rent? (I pay £425 which is pretty cheap for London)

For the rent in Berlin calculate circa. 10 euro per square meter. Generally life in Berlin is cheap (For around 1200 Euros you can have a nice life).

Re: Poll: Full-time software engineer salaries in Berlin

#30

Post by ccbrandenburg » Thu, Jan 23, 2014, 5:18 PM UTC

dreen wrote: post #12

Developer here looking to possibly relocate from London to Berlin or other German (or Dutch) place, I have a question for anyone filling out this poll: I spend on avarage about £700 a month excluding rent, which allows for relatively comfortable life in London. What spending can I expect in Berlin? What about rent? (I pay £425 which is pretty cheap for London)

You can find extremely nice places for around 500-700 Euros per Month depending on where you want to live. Demand for flats is extremely high so it's really a matter of luck. Another 700 Euros to live very comfortably in Berlin (Lunch, occasional dinner, going out on weekends). Standards of living are extremely high in Berlin. I can only recommend this city!