Singapore Added to CodeCapitals: Asia's Switzerland for Software Engineers

After a request to update CodeCapitals to include Singapore, I went ahead and added it.

Result?

<blockquote style="font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; padding: 20px;">Not too shabby!</blockquote>

Singapore ranks impressively high for software engineer savings globally.

Check Singapore on CodeCapitals →

The Singapore Numbers

Savings Potential by Level

Level	Salary	After Tax (18%)	Living Cost	Annual Savings	Global Rank
L3 (Junior)	€85k	€70k	€36k	€34k	Top 15 globally
L4 (Mid)	€120k	€98k	€42k	€56k	Top 12 globally
L5 (Senior)	€180k	€148k	€48k	€100k	Top 8 globally
L6 (Staff)	€260k	€213k	€54k	€159k	Top 5 globally

Performance: Mid/high European standards, better than most Western European cities for savings.

Why Singapore Performs So Well

1. Pretty Decent Salaries

Salary range: Mid/high European standards

• Less than: Zurich or London
• Similar to: Germany (Munich, Berlin)
• More than: Southern Europe, Eastern Europe

Not the highest, but respectable compensation that grows well with seniority.

2. Quite Low Taxes

Basically flat 18% tax rate - one of Singapore's biggest advantages.

Location	Tax Rate at €180k	After-Tax Income
Singapore	18%	€148k
Zurich	20%	€144k
London	38%	€112k
Berlin	42%	€104k
California	45%	€99k

That's why it performs better at higher levels - most other locations increase their taxes dramatically as salaries rise. Singapore stays flat.

3. Cost of Living: London Levels

Not low, but not extreme either:

Category	Monthly Cost	Notes
Housing	€1,800-€2,800	1-bed apartment, varies by neighborhood
Food	€600-€1,000	Hawker centers (cheap) vs restaurants
Transport	€150-€250	Excellent MRT system
Entertainment	€300-€500	Social life, activities
Total	€3,000-€4,500/month	Comparable to London

Comfortable lifestyle: €3.5k-€4k/month (€42k-€48k/year)

The Singapore Tech Scene

Major Tech Companies Present

Large presence:

• ByteDance/TikTok (huge engineering office)
• Stripe (APAC engineering hub)
• Palantir (Asian operations)

Strong presence:

• Google
• Meta
• LinkedIn
• Amazon
• Microsoft

High-Frequency Trading Firms

Very high-paying:

• Jane Street (€200k-€400k+ at senior levels)
• Jump Trading
• Two Sigma
• Other HFT shops

Note: Trading firms in Singapore pay at or near US/London levels.

Regional Headquarters

Many companies use Singapore as their Asian HQ:

• Easier business environment than other Asian countries
• English-speaking
• Strong legal system
• Business-friendly regulations

Explore Singapore tech opportunities →

Immigration: Easier Than US and Europe

For Indians

Singapore is much easier to immigrate to than US or Europe:

Destination	Visa Type	Difficulty	Timeline	Notes
Singapore	Employment Pass	Easy	2-4 weeks	Straightforward if job offer
Europe	Blue Card	Medium	2-4 months	Requires degree, salary threshold
USA	H-1B	Very Hard	Lottery-dependent	30-40% annual chance

Employment Pass requirements:

• Job offer from Singapore company
• Minimum salary ~S$5,000/month (€3,200) for fresh grads
• Higher for experienced (€4,500-€6,000+)
• University degree

Processing: Usually 2-4 weeks after application

Permanent Residency: Available after 2-3 years of working there

For Europeans

I think Singapore can also be an interesting place for Europeans.

Why Europeans Should Consider Singapore

1. No standard of living downgrade

You won't have the standard of living downgrade that you might have - in some regards - by going to the US:

• Modern infrastructure (arguably better than most of Europe)
• Excellent public services
• Universal healthcare
• Safe, clean, efficient
• Great public transportation

2. Easier immigration than US

Much easier to immigrate to Singapore than to the US for a European:

• No lottery system (vs H-1B)
• Faster processing (weeks vs months/years)
• Path to PR more straightforward
• No visa uncertainty

3. Experience Asia without career sacrifice

Many Europeans are curious about Asia. Singapore offers:

• High-paying opportunity to live there
• No career or financial downsides
• Gateway to exploring Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia nearby)
• International environment (not as culturally jarring as other Asian cities)

4. English-speaking

English is official language and widely spoken in business:

• No language barrier in tech work
• Easier daily life than other Asian cities
• International culture

Singapore: The Switzerland of Asia

Similarities to Switzerland

Aspect	Singapore	Switzerland
Economy	Financial hub, global business center	Financial hub, global business center
Efficiency	Extremely efficient, well-organized	Extremely efficient, well-organized
Standard of Living	Top-notch quality, modern infrastructure	Top-notch quality, modern infrastructure
Taxes	Low (18% flat)	Low (~20% effective)
Cost of Living	High (London levels)	Very high (highest in Europe)
Cleanliness	Exceptionally clean	Exceptionally clean
Safety	Very safe	Very safe
Business	Great place to do business	Great place to do business

Key Differences

Aspect	Singapore	Switzerland
Location	Asia	Europe
Climate	Tropical, hot & humid year-round	Temperate, cold winters
Size	City-state	Country with multiple cities
Culture	Asian with strong Western influence	European
Language	English (official)	German/French/Italian (English as business)
Tech Market	Growing, strong in certain areas	Mature, strong in fintech/research

Singapore = Asian Switzerland in terms of business environment, efficiency, and quality of life.

Asia's Growth Trajectory

Why This Matters

Arguably, Asia is on a better trajectory than Europe or the US, so you'll be in a steadily-growing region.

Growth is important: The more the environment around you is growing, the more opportunities it will bring.

That's one of the reasons why in Europe I tend to like Central Europe more than Western Europe (see: Warsaw's rapid growth).

Asian Tech Boom

• China: Tech giants (though facing regulatory challenges)
• India: Bangalore, Hyderabad booming
• Southeast Asia: Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok growing
• Japan: Still strong in specific sectors
• South Korea: Gaming, semiconductors, AI

Singapore position: Gateway to all of these markets, neutral ground for companies operating across Asia.

Lifestyle Considerations

Pros

✅ Weather: Warm year-round (no winter)
✅ Food: Incredible food scene (hawker centers to Michelin restaurants)
✅ Safety: One of safest cities globally
✅ Healthcare: World-class healthcare system
✅ Transportation: Excellent MRT, no car needed
✅ Travel: Easy access to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia
✅ Modern: Cutting-edge infrastructure
✅ Clean: Exceptionally clean city
✅ Efficient: Everything works smoothly

Cons

❌ Hot & humid: Can be uncomfortable (30-34°C year-round)
❌ Small: City-state, can feel confined
❌ Expensive: Housing costs high
❌ Strict laws: Heavy fines for minor offenses
❌ Less cultural diversity: Than Europe
❌ Work culture: Can be intense/competitive
❌ Far from family: If family in Europe/Americas
❌ Limited nature: Small country, limited outdoor options

Comparing Singapore to Other Options

Singapore vs Zurich

Aspect	Singapore	Zurich	Winner
Savings (L5)	€100k/year	€145k/year	Zurich (+45%)
Weather	Hot year-round	Cold winters	Singapore (subjective)
Immigration	Easy	Hard (non-EU)	Singapore
Language	English	German (English works)	Singapore
Cost of Living	€48k/year	€60k/year	Singapore (-20%)
Tech Market	Growing	Mature	Zurich (for now)
Travel	Asia-focused	Europe-focused	Tie (depends on preference)

Verdict: Zurich for pure savings, Singapore for lifestyle and immigration ease.

Singapore vs Berlin

Aspect	Singapore	Berlin	Winner
Savings (L5)	€100k/year	€42k/year	Singapore (+138%)
Cost of Living	€48k/year	€30k/year	Berlin (-38%)
Salary	€180k	€135k	Singapore (+33%)
Culture	Asian	European	Berlin (for Europeans)
Startup Scene	Growing	Very active	Berlin
Weather	Hot	Cold	Singapore (subjective)

Verdict: Singapore crushes Berlin for savings, Berlin offers more European lifestyle.

Singapore vs Bangalore

Aspect	Singapore	Bangalore	Winner
Savings (L5)	€100k/year	€72k/year	Singapore (+39%)
Cost of Living	€48k/year	€18k/year	Bangalore (-63%)
Salary	€180k	€100k	Singapore (+80%)
Infrastructure	World-class	Developing	Singapore
Career Growth	Strong	Very strong	Bangalore (more opportunities)
For Indians	Good option	Home advantage	Depends on goals

Verdict: Singapore for expats wanting Asian experience with first-world amenities, Bangalore for Indians wanting to stay close to home.

Singapore vs US Cities

City	Annual Savings (L5)	Immigration Ease	Work-Life Balance
Seattle	$195k (€178k)	Hard (visa lottery)	Medium
Austin	$197k (€180k)	Hard (visa lottery)	Medium
Singapore	€100k	Easy	Medium
San Francisco	$171k (€156k)	Hard (visa lottery)	Low

Verdict: US cities offer higher absolute savings, but Singapore's easier immigration and Asian positioning may outweigh for some.

Compare all options on CodeCapitals →

Who Should Consider Singapore?

Strong Match If You:

✅ Are from Asia (India, China, Southeast Asia) - easier than US/Europe
✅ Want to experience Asia without sacrificing career/income
✅ Prefer hot weather over cold
✅ Value efficiency, safety, cleanliness
✅ Want easier immigration than US
✅ Are European curious about Asia
✅ Work for company with Singapore office (internal transfer)
✅ Want flat, low taxes (18%)
✅ Are okay with smaller city-state

Less Ideal If You:

❌ Prefer maximum savings (Zurich, US better)
❌ Can't handle heat and humidity
❌ Want vibrant startup scene (Berlin, SF better)
❌ Need to be close to European/American family
❌ Prefer more cultural/historical depth
❌ Want lots of nature/outdoor activities
❌ Prefer more relaxed work culture

Opportunity for Different Roles

Netflix Warsaw Update

Unrelated to Singapore, but worth mentioning: Netflix Warsaw is consistently hiring for UI/Frontend devs at various seniority levels.

I think this can be a great office for devs in Europe. Expected TC range:

• Junior/Mid-level: $80k-$120k
• Senior+: $150k+

Netflix Warsaw is the only tech office for Netflix in Europe, making it unique. Netflix is a top tech company to work for.

Waymo Warsaw

Another tech company that has its only European tech office in Warsaw is Waymo (Google's self-driving car company).

Both are unique opportunities in the European market.

Explore Warsaw tech opportunities →

Should We Add Singapore to EuroTopTech Jobs?

On EuroTopTech Jobs, we're now tracking EMEA roles - including Dubai, for example - in addition to fully-remote companies.

I feel like it wouldn't hurt to add Singapore.

Community Question

Should Singapore be added to the job board?

Let me know if you want that. If there's high enough interest, I'll prioritize it.

Otherwise I won't do it just now (assuming people don't care - or even would prefer me not to in order to not "pollute" the job board with non-European roles).

Vote by engaging with this post or emailing feedback!

Key Takeaways

1. Singapore Performs Impressively

€85k-€159k annual savings depending on level makes it competitive with top European cities and some US cities.

2. Tax Advantage Grows with Seniority

18% flat tax means Singapore becomes relatively better as you progress to senior+ levels where other cities have 35-50% rates.

3. Easier Immigration for Asians

Much easier than US or Europe for Indians, Chinese, and other Asians. 2-4 week processing vs months/years for US/Europe.

4. Good Option for Europeans Too

Offers Asian experience without career sacrifice, easier than US immigration, no standard of living downgrade.

5. Position in Growing Region

Asia's trajectory arguably better than Europe/US. Being there early could pay dividends as region grows.

6. Not Maximum Savings

Still beats by: Berlin, Barcelona, most European cities
Beaten by: Zurich, US cities, for absolute savings

7. Quality of Life High

Singapore = Asian Switzerland: Top infrastructure, safety, efficiency, healthcare.

Conclusion

Singapore's addition to CodeCapitals reveals it as a highly competitive option for software engineers globally:

For Asians: Often better than staying in home country, much easier than US/Europe immigration

For Europeans: Interesting Asian experience with first-world amenities

For Americans: Lower savings than staying in US, but Asian experience and different lifestyle

For everyone: Solid savings (€85k-€159k/year), efficient city, great tech companies, flat 18% tax

Whether Singapore makes sense for you depends on:

• Your immigration situation
• Whether you want Asian experience
• Temperature tolerance
• Family location
• Career goals

Use CodeCapitals to see how it compares to your alternatives.

Run your Singapore comparison →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Singapore's 18% tax compare to other cities?

Singapore's 18% flat tax is among the lowest globally for high earners:

Tax on €180k salary (L5 Senior):

City	Tax Rate	After-Tax Income	Difference from Singapore
Singapore	18%	€148k	Baseline
Zurich	20%	€144k	-€4k (-3%)
Dubai	0%	€180k	+€32k (+22%)
Austin/Seattle	28%	€130k	-€18k (-12%)
London	38%	€112k	-€36k (-24%)
Berlin	42%	€104k	-€44k (-30%)
California	45%	€99k	-€49k (-33%)

Key insight: Only Dubai (0% tax) and Zurich (20%) beat Singapore. All other major tech hubs have significantly higher taxes, especially at senior+ levels where progressive tax systems kick in but Singapore stays flat.

Is Singapore really easier to immigrate to than US/Europe?

Yes, dramatically easier:

Immigration timeline comparison:

Destination	Visa Type	Application	Approval Rate	Timeline to Start Working
Singapore	Employment Pass	Simple	~90% if qualified	2-4 weeks
Europe (Blue Card)	Blue Card	Moderate	~80% if qualified	2-4 months
USA (H-1B)	H-1B lottery	Complex	30-40% chance per year	6+ months (if selected)

Singapore advantages:

• No lottery system (vs H-1B)
• No labor market test (vs Switzerland B permit)
• Fast processing
• High approval rate for qualified candidates
• English-speaking (easier to navigate)

For Indians especially: Singapore is most accessible path to high-paying international tech job.

Can I save more in Singapore than in European cities?

Yes, Singapore beats most European cities except Zurich:

Annual savings comparison (L5 Senior, Comfortable lifestyle):

City	Annual Savings	vs Singapore
Zurich	€145k	+45% better than Singapore
Singapore	€100k	Baseline
London	€75k	-25% worse
Dublin	€77k	-23% worse
Amsterdam	€70k	-30% worse
Munich	€58k	-42% worse
Berlin	€42k	-58% worse
Barcelona	€41k	-59% worse

Singapore beats: London, Amsterdam, Munich, Berlin, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Stockholm, and all Eastern European cities.

Singapore loses to: Zurich, and all no-tax US states (Seattle, Austin, Miami).

What's the tech job market size in Singapore?

Medium-sized but growing rapidly:

Estimated tech workforce: 50,000+ engineers
Major companies with engineering offices: 50-75+
Annual tech job openings: ~5,000-8,000

Comparison to other cities:

• Smaller than: London (25k openings), Berlin (18k), San Francisco (30k)
• Similar to: Dublin (7k), Stockholm (5k), Munich (8k)
• Larger than: Warsaw (7k), Barcelona (6k), Amsterdam (10k in total, but more distributed)

Quality over quantity: Fewer jobs but higher concentration of top-paying companies (ByteDance, Stripe, Jane Street).

How much does it cost to live comfortably in Singapore?

Monthly breakdown (Comfortable lifestyle, single person):

Category	Cost/Month	Notes
Housing	€2,000-€2,500	1-bedroom in decent area
Food	€600-€900	Mix of hawker centers + restaurants
Transport	€100-€150	MRT pass (excellent public transport)
Utilities	€150-€200	Electricity (AC), internet, phone
Entertainment	€300-€500	Social life, activities
Miscellaneous	€200-€300	Clothes, personal care, etc.
Total	€3,350-€4,550/month	€40k-€55k/year

Can you spend less? Yes, with roommates and frugal lifestyle: €2,500-€3,000/month (€30k-€36k/year)

Can you spend more? Yes, luxury lifestyle: €5,000-€7,000/month (€60k-€84k/year)

Comparison: Similar to London, less than Zurich, more than Berlin/Barcelona.

Is Singapore good for work-life balance?

Mixed, depends on company:

Pros:

• Many international companies follow Western work practices
• Reasonable vacation time (14-21 days standard)
• Good healthcare system
• Efficient city (short commutes)

Cons:

• Asian work culture can be intense
• Long hours common at some companies (especially local ones)
• Competitive environment
• Less generous parental leave than Europe

Company matters hugely:

• US tech companies (Google, Meta, Stripe): Good work-life balance
• Trading firms (Jane Street, etc.): Intense but well-compensated
• Local companies: Often longer hours
• Startups: Variable

Compared to:

• Better than: US (more vacation, better healthcare)
• Worse than: Nordic countries, Netherlands
• Similar to: UK, Germany

Should I move to Singapore from Europe/US?

Consider Singapore if: ✅ You want Asian experience
✅ You dislike cold weather
✅ Immigration is challenging in your target market (especially India→US)
✅ You value efficiency, safety, cleanliness
✅ You work for a company with Singapore office (easy transfer)
✅ You want lower taxes than Europe
✅ You're early career exploring options

Stay in Europe/US if: ❌ Maximum savings is priority (Zurich or US cities better)
❌ You can't handle heat/humidity
❌ You need to be near family in Europe/Americas
❌ You have strong cultural ties to home location
❌ You prefer vibrant startup scene

Bottom line: Singapore is a viable alternative, not necessarily better or worse—different tradeoffs. Use CodeCapitals to compare based on your specific situation and priorities.

Can I transition to Singapore from India easier than going to US/Europe?

Yes, much easier:

From India to Singapore:

• Direct applications to Singapore companies
• Interview process: 2-4 weeks
• Job offer → Employment Pass application: 2-4 weeks
• Total timeline: 2-3 months typically
• Success rate: High if you have the skills

From India to US (H-1B):

• Apply to US companies (harder while in India)
• If hired, enter H-1B lottery (April)
• 30-40% selection chance
• If selected, start work October (6 months wait)
• Total timeline: 6-18 months, lottery-dependent
• Success rate: 30-40% per year

From India to Europe (Blue Card):

• Apply to European companies (harder while in India)
• Salary threshold requirements
• Visa processing: 2-4 months
• Total timeline: 3-6 months
• Success rate: Moderate if qualified

Singapore advantage for Indians: Fastest path to international high-paying tech job with least bureaucratic hurdles.