If you were a better programmer, you could charge 1000€ per day...
No seriously, I don't know Mantia, but maybe he is famous or really especially good. It is maybe harder to become famous as a programmer, but on the other hand it is easier to make an acceptable income as an unknown programmer. But think about it, would Linus Torvalds, or dhh, or Rod Johnson (of spring framework) or some other famous developers work for 400€/day? I highly doubt it.
So just market yourself better, and hit those 1000€/day.
Oh, also another consideration: if you are consulting for telcos or whatever, you are typically hired for months, earning 400€ each day. The same telco might just commission 10 icons to Mantia, equaling 10 days of work.
No seriously, I don't know Mantia, but maybe he is famous or really especially good. It is maybe harder to become famous as a programmer, but on the other hand it is easier to make an acceptable income as an unknown programmer. But think about it, would Linus Torvalds, or dhh, or Rod Johnson (of spring framework) or some other famous developers work for 400€/day? I highly doubt it.
So just market yourself better, and hit those 1000€/day.
Oh, also another consideration: if you are consulting for telcos or whatever, you are typically hired for months, earning 400€ each day. The same telco might just commission 10 icons to Mantia, equaling 10 days of work.