Are you a tech startup searching for global talent to grow your team? Central Asia has become an emerging market for tech talent with a deep talent pool and low employment costs that can help U.S.-based tech companies grow and thrive — but it is not the only option for hiring tech talent. Established hiring markets like Eastern Europe and South America are a viable option for many companies, but they may not be the best fit for your tech startup.
Truss provides tech companies with an end-to-end global hiring platform and employer of record services in Central Asia and other emerging markets in the region. We have years of experience finding, recruiting, hiring, and managing tech talent in Central Asia, and we are here to help your tech startup hit the ground running. To help you better understand why hiring in Central Asia provides a distinct advantage for your growing company, we have created a quick comparison of Central Asia vs. Eastern Europe to create a better understanding of the benefits for tech startups.
READ MORE: Why Tech Startups Are Turning to Central Asia
Why Tech Startups Should Hire in Central Asia Instead of Eastern Europe?
Many tech startups have determined that hiring remote global talent is the right thing to do to grow their business — and the next question that needs to be asked is where to hire remote talent and why it is the right choice. Central Asia provides a wealth of benefits to tech startups hiring remote talent that include low overhead costs, lower employment costs, higher retention rates, employer tax incentives, and more that many Eastern European countries may not be able to match.
Here is a better look at how Central Asia sets itself apart from Eastern Europe for tech startups that hope to hire remote talent:
Tech Hubs in Central Asia and the Caucasus
- Astana and Almaty – Kazakhstan
- Tashkent – Uzbekistan
- Yerevan – Armenia
- Tbilisi – Georgia
- Baku – Azerbaijan
Tech Hubs in Eastern Europe
- Warsaw, Krakow, and Wroclaw – Poland
- Kyiv and Kharkiv – Ukraine
- Bucharest – Romania
- Sofia – Bulgaria
- Prague – Czechia
Lower Employment and Overhead Costs
A primary reason why many tech startups have started to search for talent in Central Asia — rather than more established hiring markets like Eastern Europe — are the lower employment and overhead costs. Industry data shows that the average annual tech salary in Central Asia is $30,000 – $45,000 with even lower salaries in some parts of the region. Average annual tech salaries in Eastern Europe range from $32,000 – $60,000, and many Eastern European tech markets are approaching the salary levels of Western European countries. When you add lower overhead costs in Central Asia to the equation, the region provides a number of advantages for tech startups.
| Region | Primary Tech Hubs | Junior (0–2 yrs) | Senior / Lead (5+ yrs) | Average Annual Salary Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Asia | Tashkent – Uzbekistan | $10,000 – $18,000 | $40,000 – $65,000 | $18,000 – $36,000 |
| Central Asia | Bishkek – Kyrgyzstan | $12,000 – $18,000 | $42,000 – $65,000 | $20,000 – $38,000 |
| Central Asia | Almaty & Astana – Kazakhstan | $15,000 – $22,000 | $50,000 – $80,000 | $25,000 – $48,000 |
| Eastern Europe | Kyiv & Lviv – Ukraine | $16,000 – $25,000 | $50,000 – $75,000 | $30,000 – $52,000 |
| Eastern Europe | Bucharest – Romania | $18,000 – $28,000 | $58,000 – $85,000 | $35,000 – $60,000 |
| Eastern Europe | Sofia – Bulgaria | $18,000 – $26,000 | $55,000 – $80,000 | $34,000 – $56,000 |
| Eastern Europe | Warsaw & Kraków – Poland | $24,000 – $36,000 | $68,000 – $105,000+ | $45,000 – $75,000 |
Tax Incentives and Government Tech Hubs
Employer tax incentives and government-backed tech hubs have played an important role in the growth and development of Central Asia as an emerging market. Astana Hub in Kazakhstan and IT Park in Uzbekistan are key examples of government-backed tech programs that provide valuable support and tax incentives that benefit tech startups hiring in those countries. Primary benefits of hiring in these areas include 0% corporate taxes, zero VAT taxes, and simplified labor codes for hiring companies. Digital nomad and IT visas in Central Asia make establishing a local entity simpler for tech startups when needed and make the hiring process faster than in Eastern Europe where the industry is highly-governed by European laws.
Untapped and Growing Talent Pool
Countries like Poland in Eastern Europe have a deep and established talent pool — but Central Asia may still provide an impressive list of benefits that include a growing talent pool. Central Asia possesses a young and modern population with national educational programs that emphasize STEM education and digital literacy, and this educational emphasis and younger population have made Central Asia an emerging market with a talent pool that only continues to grow and develop. Turnover and attrition rates in Central Asia are well below the 13% – 15% global average and the nature of the emerging market limits competition from global tech companies. Eastern Europe has an average turnover rate of 8% – 14% each year in the tech industry that is driven in part by the influence of global tech companies that frequently poach talented employees.
READ MORE: How an EOR Reduces Hiring Costs for Tech Startups
Find and Hire Tech Talent for Startups with Truss
When you take a closer look at Central Asia vs. Eastern Europe and understanding the benefits for tech startups — you will find both parts of the world offer powerful advantages for growing tech companies — yet Central Asia has emerged as the premier destination for high-growth tech teams. With a deep, untapped, and growing talent pool, impressive retention rates, government-backed IT tax incentives, and much more, Central Asia provides tech startups with the leverage they need to hit the ground running and drive long-term success.
Building a remote tech team in different parts of the world doesn’t require the time and costs of setting up legal entities when you partner with an employer of record. Truss is ready to serve as your dedicated employer of record in Central Asia — with established entities in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and other countries across the region. Truss has the experience and capability to handle labor compliance, employee contracts, benefits, and global payroll so you can find, recruit, hire, manage, and onboard skilled developers in days.
