Job Discussion Forums

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

I am interested to in knowing what kind of money you can save in Taiwan? Also, please tell me what kind of job you have!!!

Thanks!!!

Taylor · Joined: 24 Oct 2003 Posts: 384 Location: Texas/Taiwan

Most folks earn about $66,000 per month in Taiwan dollars. It is very easy to live on half of that....thereby saving $33,000.

##Therefore, you can easily save $1000 US per month.

Taylor

matchstick_man · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 244 Location: Taiwan

It really depends on you. I find the estimated figure in terms of earnings above a little high as most people I know earn between 50,000 and 60,000. Some of course earn less and others earn more. However the savings figure is about right but don't expect to save much in the first four months. This year I've been earning less for the past few months however due to cutting expenses I save a lot more than those on higher wages.

I had an apartmentmate who lived here for eighteen months and saved nothing due to impulsiveness and I know one guy who has been here for five years and has saved nothing. (I had trouble believing this but whenever I went to a bar I saw him there for a while).

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

How much you can save depends on how you can earn as opposed to how much you spend.
Housing and nightlife are the two biggest expenses for most teachers. Transportation can also be a factor primarily in rural areas with little to no public transportation as well as Taichung and Hualien that have no real public transportation to speak of.
Income varies depending on the job and location. Anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000NT a month is the pay scale most foreign teachers fall into.
Taipei is at the top of the pay scale but has the highest cost of living as well. That can be offset somewhat by the low price and efficiency of public transportation.
A single room will run between 3,000 to 10,000NT a month including utilities. Food is really up to you but if you are on a budget 200 to 300NT a day is plausible.
Transportation varies with location. Taipei has a respectable MRT and bus system. Kaohsiung is in the process of expanding a high speed light rail. In both of those cities you can get around on public transport at less than 100NT per day.
Taichung and Hualien have no public transport to speak of. They both claim to have a functioning public bus system but the residents claim is is a farce. Estimate 3,000 to 5,000 a month for private transport plus and unknown sum for the unavoidable traffic accidents that you will have.
How much you spend on your social life is up to you but I can tell you from personal experience it is very easy to spend large sums.
Good luck,
A.

matchstick_man · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 244 Location: Taiwan

I love how the above poster seems to contradict his opening statement in his final statement.

Polina · Joined: 04 Dec 2003 Posts: 71

Aristotle and Matchstick make some good points. The average you'll be earning in a full time job as a new teacher would be about nt$55 000 per month. If you want to slave your a*** off, go permanently brain dead and take private students, you could earn quite a bit more.

In Taipei, if you want to share an apartment, the minimum would be 6000 to 8000. To rent a single pigeonhole would be nt$8000 per month up for something decent, or nt$12 000 or more if you need more room

A meal can cost anything from an nt$50 lunch box or small meal at a buffet to nt$200 or more at a decent Western restaurant, but nt$80 is "doable".

Electricity, ADSL, and telephone bills are quite low, depending on how much you use the aircon and how often someone else is around. My electricity can be nt$250 a month in the winter and some people spend nt$2000 in the summer with the aircon going a lot of the time.

Subway and bus could cost nt$500 - 700 per week for a moderate amount of travel, for example if you work in town and live in one of the cheaper residential areas.

Expensive things are decent clothing and shoes, and some toiletries such as deodorant. Having an ARC provides you with cheap medical care, at about nt$150 per visit, but perhaps nt$200 more for the drugs.

I'd say you need nt$35 000 to nt$40 000 per month just to live decently.

Also, if there are public holidays or typhoons, or you get sick, you don't get paid, so that can put a bit of a dent in your bank balance, and if you go on holiday, you don't get paid, and flights overseas start at about nt$6000. You'll need to travel to recharge your batteries while you're here.

phil82 · Joined: 25 Apr 2003 Posts: 37 Location: Taoyuan

I think if you really want to save money maybe it would be a good idea to look outside of Taipei. In a smaller place, the school often help you find an apartment (the rent will be a lot cheaper than Taipei) and it'll probably be within walking distance of your school.

Regardless, forget about saving for 3 months because of your start-up costs and maybe a visa-run to Hong Kong.

I save about $35k a month now, but I only work 25 hours and spend loads of money too. It is possible to save a lot more but you have to sacrifice some things to do this.

Girl Scout · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 525 Location: Inbetween worlds

I do a lot better then most people I have ever spoken with or are currently listed on this thread. I chose a job that came with an apartment and provided one meal a day. I also probably have one of the best paying buxiban jobs in TW. We do work a little more at 30 hours/wk, but we get a lot of perks.

My suggestion to most people coming for the first time is to take a job that comes with an apartment. This will save you a lot of hassles and a lot of money.

I manage to save $1400US/month.

Ki · Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 475

It can be very easy to spend a lot on your social life but it can also be easy to have a fairly decent nightlife fairly cheaply. If you go out to the Ministry of Sound on the weekend you can easily spend $2-3,000 for one night but there are a few places for $500 all you can drink.

I would hardly ever spend more than $150 a day on food. Lunch is usually provided by the school.

If accomodation is provided by the school then this could be a blessing or a curse. Others have argued to avoid this in case things with the school turn sour. Also, they have a key to your belongings. This asside it depends on the situation. Accomodation should be nearby the school, if not next door. This will certainly cut down on transportation costs and allow you to sleep in an extra half hour or so. However, school apartments are usually packed with four or five foreign teachers, each probably beginning work at the same time and thus wanting to use the one bathroom at the same time. Schools that offer this type of deal are usually based in small country towns.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Thanks for your help!!! Despite everyone�s advice I think that I will move to Taipei. I love the city and enjoy having a variety of things to do. Also I have some Taiwanese friends there so I can live with them while I find a job. I appreciate everyone�s advice. i will probably look for some privates or something to boast my income a little. I plan to go out once a week to the clubs or what ever with friends. I am not going to be a Scrooge just to save every last dime. I would like to save at least $1500 a month because I am looking to buy a house in the U.S.

matchstick_man · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 244 Location: Taiwan

What Ki said is right. I was living in a single room in a school in a small town for two years. It was less than ideal. However from a saving point, my only expenses were travel and food. Whenever there was editing be done guess who gets looked for and is easily accessible.

Other foreigners in the same town had apartments provided by the school and some eventually went and found their own places.

wood · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 202