Job Discussion Forums

[Old Surrender]

My wife and I are thinking about teaching in Taiwan. We know that the cost of living there is pretty low but we pay about $500 USD a month in student loans. (We can get away with paying 430 a month if we had to.)

Basically, what I am asking is if we both made the average minimum salary for teachers in Taiwan (which seems to be roughly 1,900 a month USD, correct me if I am wrong) what kind of lifestyle are we looking at? We live modestly compared to our Gen Y counterparts (own one car, rarely go out to dinner, shopping isn't a hobby, we carry zero balences on our credit cards). Our hobbies are travel, reading, exercising, cooking and -- our biggest vice -- going to bars.

Thanks!

Sidenote: Gym memberships in Taiwan. How does that work? Akin to the US?

[123Loto]

Here are some numbers for the OP:

65k - 20% tax equals 52k in the hand.

Rent would be $10,000/m in Taipei county, bills at $3000, and $27000/m to live on. That will be enough to live comfortably in Taipei County: eating out once a week, drinking at a bar, DVDs, movies, books. You could save more if you tone down the lifestyle.

On this budget and with an income of 65k a month you'll save 12k a month, but more like 17k if you are sharing accomodation. If you arrive before July in the calendar year you will get a significant tax refund in the following year. Your second year will be better because of no start up costs, the tax rate dropping to 6% in the second half and you learning how to operate in Taiwan. (No more accidently telling the cab driver YangMinShan when you wanted to say HsiMen!)

Rent is cheaper down south.

Start up costs will depend on how lucky you get.

Rent start up will be $10000 first month's rent plus 2 month's rent bond equals $30000. (If you share it will be less or if you live in south Taiwan).

Second hand AC will be $4000, second hand fridge $4000, new mattress will be $2000 - possible to get a new frame for another $3000. Sofa set will be $10000 at IKEA. Desk will be $5000 at IKEA. Scooter will be $20000. Large new flat screen TV = $20,000 .

So total could be about $98000 (78000 if you don't need the TV). However, if you get into shared accommodation a lot of these costs can disappear. You don't necessarily need a scooter in Taipei County (you do down South I hear).

So as I said, the costs will depend on luck to a certain degree.

Good luck!