If you\u2019re short on reading time, we\u2019ve summarized the key information on these four countries in the table below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, we encourage you to do your own research into these potential tech hub locations, and seek on-the-ground advice if you plan to establish a team there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking for top talent fast? See how <\/em>Arc<\/a> can help you:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a1\ufe0f Find developers, designers, marketers, and more Hire top talent with Arc risk-free \u2192<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n CEE is home to a large pool of qualified STEM talent at rates that are extremely attractive for employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ukraine counts over 800 institutes of higher education. Three of the country\u2019s universities rank in the top 100 of the QS Emerging Europe & Central Asia (EECA) University Rankings 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It produces around 130,000 engineering graduates each year. This is much higher than in many other European countries, including Germany and France. In addition to this, Ukraine is home to the largest share of IT graduates of any CEE country with over 16,000 IT graduates every year. In total, there are around 200,000 IT professionals in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are more than 500 universities in Poland, with the majority of them in the private sector. However, 14 of Poland\u2019s tertiary institutions rank in the top 100 of the EECA University rankings. Impressively, three of those universities fall in the top 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each year, Poland has around 118,000 engineering graduates<\/a>. As a result, there is a generous supply of qualified local tech talent, making the country an excellent destination for hiring experienced developers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: 14 Toptal Alternatives to Hire Freelance Software Developers & More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n With a smaller population in the country, Estonia only has 24 universities. However, three of them make the top 100 list of the EECA 2020 rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Estonia has approximately 3,200 STEM graduates<\/a> per year, which is significantly lower than other CEE nations (unsurprising given its relative size). However, what the country lacks in numbers it more than makes up for with its commitment to technology. Home to four unicorn startups, Estonia leads the entire world with the most unicorns per capita.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romania has 57 total universities. Six of them are in the top 100 of the EECA University Rankings 2020, with two in the top 50. The country has a sizable market of highly-skilled talent to choose from when it comes to engineering and software development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, nearly 20% of all Romanian graduates studied engineering<\/a> at university. Not only is this a considerable percentage, but it shows Romania\u2019s dedication to the tech industry. Despite a relatively small population, Romania has two unicorns to its name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: Canada, Mexico, and Argentina: Where to Build Your Engineering Hub<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also try <\/em>Arc<\/a>, your<\/em> shortcut to the world’s best remote talent:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a1\ufe0f Access 450,000 top developers, designers, and marketers <\/a>Try Arc and hire top talent now \u2192<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a balance of multinational tech companies and local powerhouses in the CEE region. We will provide two examples, one local and one international for each country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ukraine’s growing tech talent pool of nearly 200,000 software developers, has made multinational organizations take notice. Consequently, Kyiv and Lviv have become the two main cities where companies seek to establish tech hubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent years, the Polish IT market has grown at a steady rate of 5-10%. Gdansk and Warsaw are two of the major cities that have become tech hotspots for multinational and local companies alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: Hiring In-House vs Remote Developers: Cost & Competitive Advantages<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tallinn and Tartu are the two major Estonian cities where major companies are setting up tech hubs. Concurrently, the government has made radical changes over the years to digitize the country’s systems. As a result, Estonia has become an attractive location for progressive tech enterprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bucharest and Cluj lead the way when it comes to software development in Romania. The quality of connectivity and infrastructure, concentration of affordable talent, and availability of skills make these major cities desirable destinations to establish tech hubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: How Much to Hire a Software Developer: Freelance vs Full-Time Costs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ukraine, Estonia, and Romania are all 7 hours ahead of Eastern Time (EST). Poland, on the other hand, is 6 hours ahead of EST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For tech firms operating on Pacific Standard Time (PST), Poland is 9 hours ahead. Alternatively, Ukraine, Estonia, and Romania are all 10 hours ahead of PST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This time difference enables US tech firms to reap the benefits of having an around-the-clock presence in different parts of the world and still have a few overlapping business hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: How to Work Across Time Zones as a Remote Team: Best Practices<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The EF English Proficiency Index (EPI)<\/a> is the world’s largest ranking of countries and regions by English skills. It ranks each country with a score based on their overall level of English proficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of the four countries, Ukraine has the lowest level of English proficiency, with an EF EPI score of 52.13. It ranks 49th out of 100 countries listed and 29th out of 33 European countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Poland has the highest level of English proficiency on the list, with an EF EPI score of 63.76. They rank 11th out of a possible 100 countries and 9th out of 33 European countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Estonia has a high level of English proficiency, with an EF EPI score of 58.29. It ranks 28th worldwide and 22nd in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With a high score of 61.36, Romania is second to Poland on this list. It has a high level of English proficiency, ranking 16th worldwide, and 14th in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: Freelance Developer Hiring Guide<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n All four CEE nations have a rich cultural heritage. This means there is plenty to do and see for people with vastly different interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from low living costs, Ukraine has a lot to offer for its residents. It boasts several world heritage sites, including the ancient city of Chersonesus and Saint-Sophia cathedral. Additionally, Ukraine has access to the magnificent Black Sea in the South, home to incredible wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sandwiched between six other European countries, Poland has excellent connections to most of Eastern Europe. From impressive mountain ranges to medieval architecture, there\u2019s a lot to see and do. In the North of the country, you will find spectacular views along the coastal regions that border the Baltic Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Estonia is one of the most forward-thinking countries on the planet. For example, their introduction of online voting is just one of a long list of global firsts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from the progressive environment, you won\u2019t run out of things to do in Estonia. It has 28.4 people per km, making it the least crowded country in Europe. There are also a few world heritage sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romania has a vibrant history and culture. It has one of the most extensive rail networks in the world, stretching a total of 22,298km. This makes it easy to see many sights throughout the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitors can see the wooden churches of Maramures, the impressive Voronet Monastery, the Parliament (the second largest building in the world), and Dracula’s Castle (also known as Bran Castle).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: 10+ Things to Consider BEFORE Hiring a Freelance Software Developer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Using Numbeo<\/a> (the world’s largest database of user-contributed data about cities) we can compare each of the four countries using their capital cities as a reference point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Choosing the capital city is necessary because rural areas and smaller towns in Eastern Europe may have significantly different costs of living. These are not representative of the bigger cities where companies like to set up tech hubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following figures are all in US dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kyiv has one of the lowest overall living costs of all four capital cities. On average, rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center is $605.56 per month. An average 3-bedroom apartment in the city center costs $1056.88 per month to rent. Essential utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, and waste) cost $100.93 per month on average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The average cost of a monthly public transport pass is $12.96, while gas is $1.09 per liter. Overall, rent, transport, and utilities account for 49.7% of monthly living expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Warsaw, the price of rent is on the upper end of the scale. It costs $725.81 for a 1-bedroom city center apartment and $1257.21 for a 3-bedroom city center apartment. Essential utilities are around $160.07 on average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A regular public transport pass will set you back $26.36 while gas prices come in at $1.20 per liter. Thus, rent, transport, and utilities equate to 52.2% of living expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Tallin, rent for a 1-bedroom apartment and 3-bedroom apartment costs $587.90 and $952.37, respectively, on average. Essential utility costs are around $195.88 every month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The average price of a monthly public transport pass is $26.06, and gas costs $1.48 per liter. Overall, rent, transport, and utilities amount to 43.4% of the total monthly expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bucharest has an overall low cost of living. Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city is $452.98, and the average 3-bedroom city apartment costs $781.65 per month in rent. The average price of essential utilities is around $100.73. This includes electricity, heating, cooling, water, and waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A regular public transport pass will set you back $15.71 on average, while gas costs around $1.27 per liter. This means that rent, transport, and utilities add up to 41.7% of total expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: Andela vs Toptal vs Turing vs Arc: Which is the Best Andela Alternative?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Average salary information<\/a> is crucial whether you want to find the best location to hire remote developers or establish an engineering hub. Average salary data on the four CEE nations is provided below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u26a1\ufe0f Freelance or full-time remote + fully vetted<\/em>
\u26a1\ufe0f Save up to 80% with global hires<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nUkraine vs Poland vs Estonia vs Romania \u2014 Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"cee](\"https:\/\/arc.dev\/employer-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cee-country-comparison-table-949x1024.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSTEM Talent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"CEE](\"https:\/\/arc.dev\/employer-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/CEE-engineer-talent-pool-1024x195.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nUkraine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Poland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Estonia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Romania<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u26a1\ufe0f Vetted and ready to interview<\/em>
\u26a1\ufe0f Freelance or full-time<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nExisting Tech Hubs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"CEE](\"https:\/\/arc.dev\/employer-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/CEE-engineering-tech-companies-1024x177.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nUkraine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Poland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Estonia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Romania<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Time Zones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"CEE](\"https:\/\/arc.dev\/employer-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/CEE-time-zone-comparison-1024x165.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nLevel of English<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"CEE](\"https:\/\/arc.dev\/employer-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/CEE-english-proficiency-comparison-1024x165.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nUkraine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Poland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Estonia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Romania<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lifestyle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"ukraine](\"https:\/\/arc.dev\/employer-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ukraine-poland-estonia-romania-lifestyle-1024x176.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nUkraine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Poland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Estonia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Romania<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cost Of Living<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"ukraine](\"https:\/\/arc.dev\/employer-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ukraine-poland-estonia-romania-cost-of-living-1024x413.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nUkraine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Poland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Estonia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Romania<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Developer Salaries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"cee](\"https:\/\/arc.dev\/employer-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/cee-developer-salary-1024x276.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"CEE](\"https:\/\/arc.dev\/employer-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/CEE-engineering-hub-location-factors-1024x239.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n