Job Discussion Forums

gtidey · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 93

Ola,

I've been wondering lately how much money I'll need before I leave to Portugual. I'm planning on doing my CELTA course in Lisbon, so I will leave the UK with no job prospects for a while at least.

So, heres what I thought I'd need; about a grand for the first month when I'm doing the course. This includes rent and living yadda yadda. I think I'll also need another grand for when I qualify and have a hard time finding work. How does this sound to people? I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Also, I dont have much of an idea of what living in Lisbon costs. If anyone can rougly give me a weekly estimate of what they spend that would be great.

Finally, I have a right hand drive British car that Im considering taking with me, however the drive over and using a right hander on the lethal portuguese roads makes me look for alternatives. Do you need a car in Lisbon? I live in London and you definetly dont need one here. Any thoughts?

Cheers, hope this thread helps some others too!

Graham

Phil_b · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 239 Location: Back in London

I'm doing a CELTA at International House in Lisbon this summer.... and on their accomodation list most places are around 200-300 Euros for a month...
Most of the accomodation seems to be within 30 mins metro or bus ride, so I'm not sure you;d need a car... for convenience I guess...
Can't really help with anything else... sorry.

ChicagoCubMike · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 30 Location: Chicago, IL

I've spent weeks and weeks (as a tourist anyway) in Lisbon and environs and I can unequivocally tell you, you do not need a car in Lisbon at all. Not even for convenience. The metro, the buses, and the streetcars cover the entire city, cabs are cheap and plentiful, and there's an excellent suburban train and bus system. If you're living and working in town, or living in the burbs and working in town, you'll never use your car. Lisbon streets are narrow, parking is nonexistent, there are encroaching schemes of car-banning in central areas, and the Portuguese drive live raving lunatics on the motorways (sound like London yet?).

Bear in mind, the nicest apartments are in the suburbs (along the Estoril coast especially), but the places in town can be cheaper (since there's a higher vacancy rate in the central city). There's been the usual eruo-flation in prices, but Portugal is still on the cheap side. Food and transportation will not eat that far into your wallet.

gtidey · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 93

Bom dia,

Ok, I have to ask another question about money money money but dont think its all I care about!

I wanted to know what kind of wages to expect to get teaching out there. I'm being given figures for rent, expenses etc, but thats all useless untill I know how much I'll be making!

So, anyone who's worked there: how much do private lessons usually cost the student? how much would, say, IH pay and local schools? little kiddies and adults mostly, the less interaction with stroppy teenagers the better!