Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I found a good reference for comparing costs. If you go to TEFL.com they have a City Cost GUide. It's for members only, so you�ll have to sign up.

ALthough, I personally think that the prices are high, it's probably becuase it's written by expats, so they're probably charged more than locals. If you live in a country for a while, you'll konw where to shop for cheaper goods. But it's helpful comparing prices between countries and getting a basic idea on how much things cost.

[Glenski]

I agree that the prices are high, but I don't think it is because of the reasons you stated. Expats in Japan, anyway, don't get charged more than locals for everyday goods.

As for a basic idea on how much things cost, I personally feel that such inaccuracies don't give you even that.

[lozwich]

[Glenski]

[naturegirl321]

Yes, prices vary, but it's nice to have an idea of the average prices before you go. Obviously how much you spend and save varies. YOu have teachers who eat out and go to discos all the time and others who never leave their apartment. Those who go out more, will usually spend more.

[Glenski]

Average prices? Some of the grocery prices were 100% off.

[lozwich]

I just re-checked out the Bogota guide. I would love to know where the people who posted the housing prices are living, they were waaaay below what I'm paying, and some of the other prices were seriously off too, either way below or hugely over.

I guess this is a voluntary service, so people just put in what they know and leave the rest, but it certainly paints a very inaccurate picture of prices here and doesn't explain that bills and rent are highly dependent on which part of town you live in. People who live in higher strata subsidise the ones who live in lower strata areas, and this is barely mentioned. I'd much rather go for 'from the horse's mouth' advice by asking the company I'm applying to.

[MELEE]

I agree with Loz and we include cost information for new teachers in our application pack. I polled each of our teachers on how much they spent on rent, and other basics to find out how much of their salary they "have to" spend on essentials, and the rest can either be fun money or savings, or a combination as each individual sees fit. When I last looked at TEFL.com they only had info on Mexico City, not other parts of the country. I also didn't find it useful at all. Even here on Dave's Guy once started a thread where we each posted the local cost of a dozen or so things and the variety was overwealming. Better to ask the specific school where you are applying.

[Stephen Jones]

The TEFL.com figures are useless. Look at the figures for Riyadh and Jeddah. For many things the price given for Jeddah is double that for Riyadh, even though prices are more or less the same.

The problem is one person guesses the figures and publishes them. And wildly different guesses result in wildly different results as has happened with the Jeddah-Riyadh figures.

[naturegirl321]

Well, I found them useful to give ballpark figures. Maybe we could try to make one for cities and countries and get it published here on Dave's

[spiral78]

Very general information about what things cost is often useless on the ground.

Like I said, I could try to give stats for the Czech Rep - I know it well, have been around for nearly 10 years now - but I know for sure that whatever I quote might be very different from what newbies, or even long-term teachers one town up the train line might find to be their own reality.

I think in this case it's not the best use of valuable time, to try to give estimates.

Costs differ far more widely than other elements of living abroad, like what constitutes a basic entry-level cert (even that can vary, but not so broadly as costs of living). I also think we can give useful general information on legalities, since that's at least static within countries.