Job Discussion Forums

paul2key · Joined: 23 Mar 2010 Posts: 13 Location: İzmir, Turkey

I believe that Korea is the best bet for savings while still offering freedom-unless you have hiv. Housing is usually paid, low taxes, and the won has value compared to the dollar or euro. Also, restaurants (kimbab chung-kook, etc) have $4 meals that are quite delicious and filling. The ONLY minus is air fares. Korea hasn't welcomed discount carriers (compared to nations of SE Asia). My Canadian and American colleagues who taught in Korea, learned Korean, and embraced the culture really liked it.

My friends in Japan complained about the cost-of-living.

Malaysia, Thailand and Chinese teachers all complain about value of currency compared to dollars or Euros.

Middle East - I'd rather not teach Saudi guys or be subjected to limitations of freedoms.

teacheratlarge · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 192 Location: Japan

But the Won has greatly depreciated against many currencies, not just the Yen. I'm not sure people are making great salaries in Korea, even relative to the cost of living there. Another comparison is working in Russia, where the top end is less than half of what people make in Japan, yet I don't believe that Tokyo is 2x as expensive as Moscow (Moscow on expat price comparisons actually ranks as more expensive).

As to Japan, it is relatively expensive for newcomers, though there are ways you can reduce your living expenses. Going out to bars and clubs is one way to quickly drain your bank account, and the restaurants vary greatly in price with better restaurants often being somewhat pricey for newcomers.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 11:04 am Post subject:

Teacheratalways. Just curious as to where you are getting your info re relative incomes and costs for Russia and Japan. Care to share?

teacheratlarge · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 192 Location: Japan

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/most-expensive-city_n_1281845.html#s701764&title=2_Tokyo_Japan

Surprisingly, the Economist gets part of it wrong as the Yen has appreciated against most major currencies making it cheaper for earners in Japan to travel outside of Japan. And the ruble? Some gains..

http://www.x-convert.com/chart/RUB-USD?period=10y

Here it is against the US dollar, which is actually relatively weak.

http://www.x-convert.com/chart/RUB-JPY?period=10y

And against the Yen, where we see a more striking difference.

Now Moscow seems to have dropped in price, relative to other major cities, but if you're getting paid in local currency....

http://expat.ru/forum/showthread.php?t=373014

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:56 am Post subject:

Ah Teacheratalways, the dangers of internet research. Your sources are questionable, and certainly not pertinent. Your conclusions are without basis - life difficult economically in Moscow for EFL veterans? You are simply wrong about that.

By the way, where did I say 'the cost of living in Moscow has fallen relative to Tokyo'? This may be true information, but these are not my words at all.

And I repeat my question: where are you getting your information about salaries for teachers in Moscow? You must have some definite figure in mind, if you can state that it is 50% of Tokyo salaries.

Again, I'd be very pleased if you could share this information with us.

ancient_dweller · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 415 Location: Woodland Bench

I have managed to save quite a bit in Moscow!

isabel · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 510 Location: God's green earth

I save well and love life in Vietnam. I saved well, but life wasn't so cool in the tragic kingdom.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:44 am Post subject:

Dear, oh dear. That is disappointing. No sources provided for Moscow salaries. No basis for the claim that they are 50% of Japanese salaries. Pity. I was looking forward to seeing how my income measured up.

ancient_dweller · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 415 Location: Woodland Bench

Moscow salaries are a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma!

creeper1 · Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 5:00 am Post subject: Korea

If you are talking money it has to be Korea.

Paid housing - Check
Base Salary in your hand 2.3 million won (2300 US $) - Check
Low cost of living -Check
Easy for Newbie to get job - Check
Potential to make money outside of your normal job - check

The last one is controversial but many posters on the Korea forums detail the tremendous salaries they are able to achieve. Most probably have the appropriate visa but anyway I will give some quotes from notable posters.

"It's relatively easy to make 6 million a month" - Captain Korea
"Almost unlimited earning potential" TJ

isitts · Joined: 04 Jun 2010 Posts: 193 Location: Korea