Quote:
Originally Posted by RealJames
Well first off, Osaka/Kobe can practically be considered the same area, it's a 20 minute train ride from Umeda to Sannomiya so living and working in either place is quite feasible.
I'll give you the numbers so you have an idea of what I meant, and what these other people might also have meant:
When I first arrived, I was making 250,000y at my old job working 30 hours a week. I supplemented that with 4 or 5 private students (cafes and at their house) which gave me an extra 50,000y after transportation and drink fees (at the cafe, you buy a drink each lesson, 500y ish)
So that left me with 300,000y
I lived in a small apartment, and it was cheap 50,000y a month, utilities and everything were another 15,000y or so.
(If you were in a city center, that rent would be doubled or tripled)
We're down to 235,000y.
I spent about 50,000y a week on food, but I ate out nearly every day, now a days it's more like 20,000y a week (for two people), and I cook my meals (well my gf mostly does lol).
If you eat in we're down to 155,000y.
Phone 10,000y a month.
Internet 5,000y a month for the uber fast one.
We're down to 140,000y
Transportation is a killer, easily 20,000y a month.
I was saving about 120,000y a month back then so seems about right.
Am I missing something?
I can spend less on food because I'm in Kobe, and 10 minutes away from downtown lands you in cheaper areas that have cheap shopping arcades. Rent is cheaper also.
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It's very helpful to see those numbers, thanks! I'm a bit like you in that I'm perfectly happy without a lot of "stuff". I'd just add a bicycle (or two) to that list (I love bikes).
But currently, is 250k yen to be expected? I see some say 250k-300k, and others say 200k-250k due to so much competition for fewer jobs these days.
And also there seems to be quite a range of opinions regarding how "easy" it is to obtain a job.
Lastly (for this post), from what I understand so far, the two types of jobs open to a "beginner" English teacher are going to be at an Eikaiwa and as an ALT. I assume your (James) figures and advice are for an Eikaiwa type job. Yes? Is there much difference? Are there other alternatives I don't know about?
Thanks!
Greg