While food, rent, etc. are much cheaper here than in the U.S., there are a few things software developers need that cost the same, or even more, if you are living in India.
* Paper books are cheaper (local low-price editions).
* eBooks cost the same.
* Hardware is more expensive because of levies on imports. For example, the 15" MacBook Pro costs almost USD 1660. (In the U.S. it is $1200.)
* Software licenses purchased over the Internet cost the same. (Examples: TextMate, UltraEdit, etc.)
* Software licenses purchased through local resellers, subsidiaries, etc. are more expensive. (Examples: Delphi, and probably others).
* Web hosting (if you decide to host with a reputed service provider in a 1st-world country) costs the same.
So, even if the basic cost of living in country B is X% lower than in country A, the difference in the cost of living for a software developer will be significantly less than X%.
While food, rent, etc. are much cheaper here than in the U.S., there are a few things software developers need that cost the same, or even more, if you are living in India.
* Paper books are cheaper (local low-price editions).
* eBooks cost the same.
* Hardware is more expensive because of levies on imports. For example, the 15" MacBook Pro costs almost USD 1660. (In the U.S. it is $1200.)
* Software licenses purchased over the Internet cost the same. (Examples: TextMate, UltraEdit, etc.)
* Software licenses purchased through local resellers, subsidiaries, etc. are more expensive. (Examples: Delphi, and probably others).
* Web hosting (if you decide to host with a reputed service provider in a 1st-world country) costs the same.
So, even if the basic cost of living in country B is X% lower than in country A, the difference in the cost of living for a software developer will be significantly less than X%.