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ellamarie
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 18
Location: Korea
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 Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:09 pm Post subject: Start up costs and salary in Japan |
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| I plan on teaching overseas by next summer. I am planning on South Korea but I also want to have other options. I hear that start up costs in Japan are very high but I would be able to save money once I get settled in. Can anyone give me an idea of how much money I would be able to save or if I would be living paycheck to paycheck? I am a single American female, 28, with a B.A. in English and about 7 years of preschool teaching experience. Any information would be welcome. Thanks. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 11:04 pm Post subject: Re: Start up costs and salary in Japan |
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| ellamarie wrote: |
| I plan on teaching overseas by next summer. I am planning on South Korea but I also want to have other options. I hear that start up costs in Japan are very high but I would be able to save money once I get settled in. Can anyone give me an idea of how much money I would be able to save or if I would be living paycheck to paycheck? I am a single American female, 28, with a B.A. in English and about 7 years of preschool teaching experience. Any information would be welcome. Thanks. |
Ellamarie
No one can tell you with any certainty how much you will save as it depends on factors such as rent, personal lifestyle, whether you have credit card and loan debt. You also have to pay your own airfare to Japan but in Korea they pay your airfare and accomodation costs. the downside is that employers own your visa in Korea and it can feel like you are tenured to your job and 'owned' by your employer.
The 'average' salary is 250,000 yen a month but lately salaries have been as low as 220,000 yen a month. Out of this comes rent, food transportation,utilities. You may have loans to pay off as well as entertainment expenses. On an average salary expect to have 50-60,000 yen if you live a no-frills existence and dont have an extravagant social life. Going out for a few beers on the weekend can cost you 3,000 yen a night or up to 15-20,000 yen a month. To save money you either spend less or earn more- starting salaries are not high so you either supplement with private classes or cut down on unnecessary spending.
When you arrive here you will likely have some initial set up costs. If you rent your accomodation from an employer you may not have to pay key money but renting your own apartment you need to pay key money, agents fees, deposit as well as buying furnishings and a telephone. Key money etc is anything up to 4-5 months rent up front. You may be on a probation salary the first few months so its best to live frugally until you get paid your salary. Expect to take about 6 months until you break even on your set up expenses, pay off any loans or debts.
You will live mostly pay check to pay check, as its very difficult on a low salary to save enough that you can live for a long period without working. You wont starve but you wont get rich on it either and salary will slip through your fingers like water in the beginning. If you go out a lot, travel all over the countryside 8its very expensive to travel within Japan) you wont save anything
PS regarding working in South Korea: the employer owns the visa, not you so it can be very hard to change jobs and some employers will even make you leave the country if you want to quit. In Japan you own your own visa. IF they control your job, visa and accomodation it can make it very hard to leave if you are not happy with your work situation or employer.
My advice, save as much as you can before you arrive, try not to borrow money off employers (you will have to pay it back eventually and you dont want to be in debt when you arrive) and live frugally the first few months. it is possible to live cheaply if you cook at home and dont go out much. learn how to budget and know where your money is going each month.
If you live in Tokyo living costs and rents are high but salaries at NOVA etc in Tokyo reflect the higher living costs.
For more info on costs
http://www.pricechecktokyo.com/ |
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kdynamic
Joined: 05 Nov 2005
Posts: 562
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 4:06 am Post subject: |
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Try JET. Many JETs have no startup expenses, subsidized or free rent, and the pay is higher than eikaiwa. I don't even try to save and I have sent $10,000 (US) home this year, while traveling a lot, having an expensive car, eating out, expensive cellphone, no skimping on heating and airconditioning, etc, and I have savings in the bank in Japan too.
Last edited by kdynamic on Mon Jul 24, 2006 4:14 am; edited 1 time in total |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 4:23 am Post subject: |
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Jim
Its question 4 in the question heading but actually refers to question 5 in the body of the text. |
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