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[ScruffyPete]

I did have a look around the forum for this, and I do apologise if I have missed a thread where this question has already been answered.

But, what kind of salary is needed to live comfortably? - i.e. buying all food, paying for rent and travel, etc.

Also, when jobs ask for "xx time teaching experience", would teaching in South Korea count usually, or would this have to be in Japan?

Thanks.

[Bread]

Well, since you've included 3 different standards (survive, live comfortably, travel) it's impossible to say how much money you need.

Standard entry-level salaries these days are 220,000-250,000 and you shouldn't have a problem living comfortably on that. Experience in Korea is better than nothing, but doesn't count for very much compared to experience in Japan.

[ScruffyPete]

To clarify, I mean travel to and from work, etc, not "travel" as a tourist.

But thanks.

Also, I'm from the UK, and would teaching over here count for anything, or not at all? (i.e. teaching recent migrants with little English)

[Mr_Monkey]

What qualification did you have for the ESOL work?

[seklarwia]

[Glenski]

The basic standard wage here used to be 250,000 yen/month. Times change, and many employers offer less, even down to 170,000 for full-time work.

How much does one "need"? Depends on you and your location, obviously, but here's a ballpark.

Subsistence wages (nothing left over after paying for basic necessities) is around 150,000-170,000 yen/month. Again, this depends enormously on a lot of factors like your location and rent.

Average rent could be 50,000-80,000.
Average utilities could be 10,000-15,000.
Average phone bill could be 5000.
Average food costs could be 40,000.
Insurance the first year is 2,500; thereafter around 25,000.

Beyond those things, what other items are actual necessities? Some people will cut their own hair. I suspect that most don't. Some need dry cleaning for suits (if suits are required for work); some don't.

As mentioned by seklarwia, most employers pay for commuting.

Add up those figures, and you can see what's left from a typical salary these days (220,000-250,000).

To "live comfortably" depends entirely on you. Want lots of satellite TV channels? A case of wine per month imported from London? Magazine subscriptions? Etc. I'd say that with a few added expenses to the basic necessities, the average person could easily save 50,000 yen/month.

Take on supplemental work, and you'll have more, but I wouldn't recommend it until after you feel established a while here.

[ScruffyPete]

Thanks for your very general numbers Glenski, very helpful.

Obviously its a bit difficult trying to estimate living costs but I think I have a rough idea.

[flyer]

yes, its very hard to get a definite figure as many variables have to be taken into account. For example some people get free accommodation, others pay 80,000yen per month!

and location will make air cond costs or heater costs differ wildly

but I think its safe to say that you won't get much more than 250,000yen per month unless you have either good experience, contacts and a bit of luck. You can live on this with out too much trouble if you go crazy on parties etc

[fujisan]

It really depends on your lifestyle and where you're living. Rent can be your biggest expense and that can vary from 30,000 to 120,000 or more depending on what town you're in. Also how big or new you're place is.

Rent is the biggest variable.

[PO1]

I briefly talked about this in another topic, but I'd say from the short time I was there before, that 250,000 and up would be ideal for anyone wanting to live comfortably. If you live in a big city, you'll be a little less comfortable and more tempted to spend going out and such. I lived in a relatively small city, so it was easy to save. And I went out to eat almost every night and would go out for drinks sometimes two or three times a week.

So I'd say (just guessing) that 250,000 is plenty if you live in the countryside, a little tighter living in a small or moderately sized city. I have no experience living in a big city, but one weekend in Tokyo before I left I spent close to 100,000 yen, 30,000 just spend on a sukajan jacket I really wanted!

[Benkyo]

150,000 is enough to live comfortably, based on me saving about 100,000 a month from a 250,000 salary for most of the 7 years I worked here. The only exceptions that come to mind were months when I travelled abroad or got a motorbike/license.

That's based on living in a relatively small city, paying rents of about 30,000-45,000 and not owning a car.