Job Discussion Forums

elliot_spencer · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 495

Hello,

I hAve a second interview with a school in Warsaw which is offering 1300 usd a month before tax - is this a good salary for Warsaw? What are rental costs like for a small 1 bedroom apartment?

TIA

dragonpiwo · Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 1650 Location: Berlin

I hope you like eating instant noodles.

elliot_spencer · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 495

Can you give more info?

chuckMC · Joined: 15 Apr 2015 Posts: 75

Yummy instant noodles! Very Happy

1300 USD in PLN is (as of Aug 15th) ~4900. That's an average wage in Warsaw. Remember though, you will not be paid for public holidays, vacations, sick days, and some cancelled classes. How many classes do you have to teach for that amount of money? Maybe you should think about working for other schools and/or adding some private lessons to your schedule.

In addition: After tax that will be around 3500 PLN. Rent for 1 bedroom is roughly 2000 PLN. I think you have to share a flat.

Rusty77 · Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 53 Location: Toronto

Eliot: it's a "great" offer, if you're planning on teaching and living in Warsaw from Sept.1st to June 30th. If you're on a plane to a more lucrative job in the Middle East or Asia the first week of July next year, it'll be fine. Very Happy

Sadly, as MC said, it's a normal offer for Warsaw. I guess how much you enjoy the year depends on your age and on your expectations. Just don't expect to save much money or to spend too many evenings in Warsaw's restaurants or pubs. Seriously, if it's 4800 PLN per month it's do-able (you can get decent small flat for 2,000 PLN per month), but you won't be living the high life. Try to pick up some privates to get you through the (un-paid) MONTH surrounding Christmas and the up-teen long weekends (where you also lose earnings).

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

Hi Eliot,

4,900 zloty is a livable wage in Warsaw. As others have mentioned, you won't be living the high life (do teachers ever?), but I was on quite a bit less when I started teaching in Gdansk in 2006 and managed just fine. You'll be able to spend evenings in restaurants and pubs, just not the expensive ones and not every night of the week!

2,000 zloty a month will rent you a small apartment near the center of Warsaw, and it gets cheaper if you go further out. I paid 1,200 + bills to live in Praga, still only a 15 min commute from the center. It really helps if you get a Polish person to help you look for a place, or go through an agent who speaks English.

People are assuming that your salary will be less in months with holidays. If this is the case, you'll need to take this into consideration.

Good luck!

-Shake

dragonpiwo · Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 1650 Location: Berlin

Basically it's C4,000 net minus rent and bills. That is absolutely a poverty wage in a modern, European capital city.

I was in Warsaw a while back. Me and the missus had a Thai meal and it was the best part of 500. A Guiness was 16. You'll have to live like a backpacker. I can't believe anyone is a-entertaining this and b-being encouraged to do so. You'll be flat broke all of the time.

Maybe mummy will send you food parcels and pay for your flight home every year.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

It sounds like a reasonable entry level job. It takes time and local contacts and rep to build up to better paying gigs in this part of the world.

And as dragonpiwo constantly points out, if you have a need to live like Donald Trump - and to trumpet about it - this isn't the best part of the world to settle in.