Job Discussion Forums

leroy · Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 49

Although there are teachers who earn more than $2000 a month, they are a small minority and are very experienced people who know the market well and have served their time at the Language Links and BKCs of the world. An even smaller minority may earn more than $3000 but believe me, they slog their guts out to get it.

The highest salary I have heard of for an EFL teacher on a contract(without management responsibilities) in Russia working a 30 academic hour week is $2700 net. Rare as hens' teeth though these jobs are, they do exist and if you imagine topping that up with a few private students who pay at least $50 an hour, then potentially you are onto a good wage, even by European standards.

kazachka · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 220 Location: Moscow and Alaska

pc-pocket · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 218

adavidwatson · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 28 Location: USA

There are western exectuives in Moscow and they live a very expensive life, but it's still more for the money than they would get in New York. The Elitny live an even more expensive life.
A ESL teacher really should not expect to live that life. A teacher doesn't live that life in the States either.

Most ordinary Russians entertain in their homes. If you have a circle of Russian friends expect to spend a lot of time drinking and eating in the kitchen. I've had some really great evenings that way.

The people most likey to befriend you are going to be your fellow teachers and some of the Russians who work there. After that is probably going to be your students. I had some cool roomates too, which makes for a more pleasant life.

ESL is basically a 2nd shift job for most of us, so you won't have much of a social life on week nights unless you have a steady.

Not all Russian girls are green card hunters. I would advise you avoid the bar girls. In my time they used to hang out at "The Boar House"

Some of the English language papers like "The Exile" and "The Russia Journal" give an idea about expenses in the restraunt reviews.

You sound fairly grounded so I think you'll do ok.

adavidwatson · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 28 Location: USA

There are western exectuives in Moscow and they live a very expensive life, but it's still more for the money than they would get in New York. The Elitny live an even more expensive life.
A ESL teacher really should not expect to live that life. A teacher doesn't live that life in the States either.

Most ordinary Russians entertain in their homes. If you have a circle of Russian friends expect to spend a lot of time drinking and eating in the kitchen. I've had some really great evenings that way.

The people most likey to befriend you are going to be your fellow teachers and some of the Russians who work there. After that is probably going to be your students. I had some cool roomates too, which makes for a more pleasant life.

ESL is basically a 2nd shift job for most of us, so you won't have much of a social life on week nights unless you have a steady.

Not all Russian girls are green card hunters. I would advise you avoid the bar girls. In my time they used to hang out at "The Boar House"

Some of the English language papers like "The Exile" and "The Russia Journal" give an idea about expenses in the restraunt reviews.

You sound fairly grounded so I think you'll do ok.

adavidwatson · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 28 Location: USA

Oh one more thing to the originator of the thread. As a southerner I had a time getting used to the shoving on the metro. It's not personal.

Seeker of truth · Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 146

Shoving on the metro? You should try living in Tokyo!

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

$650 dollars a month in Moscow!!I say go,you'll have a great time....if all you want to eat are pierogi and beet soup.

canucktechie · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 343 Location: Moscow

Nonsense, I ate well for $150/month, and that includes such exotica as kiwi fruit and greenhouse lettuce.

zaneth · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:58 am Post subject:

Hi Guys, been silent a while. Escaped to just over the border (no, not Byelorus) and am enjoying a well deserved rest.

As for Moscow:

Beetroot soup is wonderfully delicious, especially with sour cream (and your women friends won't be pathologically afraid of anything containing fat).

Definitely, hang out in kitchens with friends.

That said, the late night cafe scene on summer nights is absolutely wonderful. (I was lucky enough to have some wonderful friends who were footing the bill for my sorry freeloading a**. Thanks again, you know who you are.)

Food isn't the problem but housing definitely is. Major hassle and can be a real killer price wise.

Moscow is wonderful but is also a very huge city, very crowded, and can definitely wear you down. Metro is good but spending hours on it every day can take it out of you. That screaching sound, the crowds, the heat.

I've never seen Moscow as western standard expensive, but it definitely has it's down side. Don't worry about the social life. The things that will get you are the things you don't even know about yet.

Have fun. Don't get married too quickly.

zedington · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 10

zaneth · Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 9:54 am Post subject:

oh, you know, trying to live with a Russian woman. Russian mothers in law. Russian attitudes toward child rearing. Russian subculture's attitudes towards logic, science and fatherhood. That sort of thing. Don't get married too soon.

zedington · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 10

mikejeffl · Joined: 27 May 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

It's a small quibble, but the OP's contention that Dallas is one of the most expensive cities in America is just flat out stupid.

misteradventure · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Posts: 246

While I can't speak for the cost of living in Russia or Moscow, I will say that I agree with the cost of living in Alaska. (Imagine paying $7USD for a large bottle of Minute Maid Orange Juice in a supermarket!)

Lifesytle is important as well.

My 2 kopeks.