Would like some advice about going towards Japan

[ACW]

What is the tax rate in Japan?

Also, Sangetsu said that most apartments rents would be 400-700 dollars a month. Does that include utilities?

I'm trying to figure out the expences with the minimum wage of 200,000 yen per month.

[MMM]

That would not include utilities...though may include garbage pick up.

[wasabijuice]

Originally Posted by ACW

What is the tax rate in Japan?.

Income tax is quite low, if you're an eikaiwa teacher, maybe around 5% in your second year. (all taxes are based on your previous years income, so in your first year in Japan , your previous years income was 0. You start really paying the next year) But, local city taxes have been rising. In the small towns it is not bad though. You'll have to pay health insurance and social insurance though. These again will be cheap the first year, and kick in harder the second year. Consumption tax (sales tax) is 5% on everything.

While taxes are low, services are low to match, you get what you pay for. Ie: road tolls, travelling is expensive. Hospitals are adequate at best. Dingy schools and public buildings.

[Sangetsu]

Utilities are not included, but they are not that expensive either. Electricity will run about $60 per month, gas (if you are in an area which has gas service) is about $50 a month. A cell phone is about $50 a month, and internet is about $40 a month.

Transportation varies according to where you live. In some cases you'll live close enough to walk or ride a bike, in other cases you may have to commute by train for as long as 30 minutes each way. In the case of train/bus transportation, you will be reimbursed. Some schools will provide a car (you will need to get an international/Japanese drivers license) if you must work in an area where public transportation is not convenient.

"Part time" is anything but. You will "officially" be working for 29.5 hours a week, but this generally works out to 40 hours in real life. You will be required to be present at the start and end of the day (usually an 8 or 9 hour day), but you are allowed to do what you please between classes. You'll probably do things like lesson planning or school maintenance during those times, but you won't technically be getting paid for it. If you teach more than 5 or 6 classes a day, you will be eligible for extra pay, though it usually isn't much.

There are a few things which will be deducted from your pay, such as health insurance, the national pension plan, and income tax. These don't really add up to all that much. Local taxes (you will receive a bill in your mailbox every year) depend greatly on where you live. My tax for this year was about $120, my girlfriend's tax was over $7000.

Chain schools or ALT dispatch companies do not offer very much, but then most of the people who work at these places are recent graduates with little/no experience. Comparatively speaking, these companies pay quite a lot more than a typical Japanese new grad would make.

If you decide you like teaching in Japan, and become competent at it, you can go to work for a private school, or apply to one of the Boards of Education directly for a job as a teacher. Either option will pay much more than the garden-variety teaching positions that most foreigners hold.

Edit: Most companies offer housing subsidies. Some will supply an apartment, and will pay the move-in costs (though you will still pay rent), others may have an agreement with a property owner who will rent you an apartment with little or no deposit money. Still others may provide you with a loan which you can use to rent an apartment. In nearly every case, you will still receive a housing allowance which will offset some of your rent. These allowances are generally $150 to $200 per month, which can reduce the $400 to $700 cost significantly.

[ACW]

Originally Posted by MMM

That would not include utilities...though may include garbage pick up.

Alright. Well at least their kind enough to handle garbage pick up.

[ACW]

Originally Posted by wasabijuice

Income tax is quite low, if you're an eikaiwa teacher, maybe around 5% in your second year. (all taxes are based on your previous years income, so in your first year in Japan , your previous years income was 0. You start really paying the next year) But, local city taxes have been rising. In the small towns it is not bad though. You'll have to pay health insurance and social insurance though. These again will be cheap the first year, and kick in harder the second year. Consumption tax (sales tax) is 5% on everything.

While taxes are low, services are low to match, you get what you pay for. Ie: road tolls, travelling is expensive. Hospitals are adequate at best. Dingy schools and public buildings.

So the first year isn't too bad. I suppose that gives me an opportunity to save money during the first year so I can prepare for the next year.

So hospitals and schools are semi adequate? Is that true for the whole country or in certain areas?

[ACW]

Originally Posted by Sangetsu

Utilities are not included, but they are not that expensive either. Electricity will run about $60 per month, gas (if you are in an area which has gas service) is about $50 a month. A cell phone is about $50 a month, and internet is about $40 a month.

Transportation varies according to where you live. In some cases you'll live close enough to walk or ride a bike, in other cases you may have to commute by train for as long as 30 minutes each way. In the case of train/bus transportation, you will be reimbursed. Some schools will provide a car (you will need to get an international/Japanese drivers license) if you must work in an area where public transportation is not convenient.

"Part time" is anything but. You will "officially" be working for 29.5 hours a week, but this generally works out to 40 hours in real life. You will be required to be present at the start and end of the day (usually an 8 or 9 hour day), but you are allowed to do what you please between classes. You'll probably do things like lesson planning or school maintenance during those times, but you won't technically be getting paid for it. If you teach more than 5 or 6 classes a day, you will be eligible for extra pay, though it usually isn't much.

There are a few things which will be deducted from your pay, such as health insurance, the national pension plan, and income tax. These don't really add up to all that much. Local taxes (you will receive a bill in your mailbox every year) depend greatly on where you live. My tax for this year was about $120, my girlfriend's tax was over $7000.

Chain schools or ALT dispatch companies do not offer very much, but then most of the people who work at these places are recent graduates with little/no experience. Comparatively speaking, these companies pay quite a lot more than a typical Japanese new grad would make.

If you decide you like teaching in Japan, and become competent at it, you can go to work for a private school, or apply to one of the Boards of Education directly for a job as a teacher. Either option will pay much more than the garden-variety teaching positions that most foreigners hold.

Edit: Most companies offer housing subsidies. Some will supply an apartment, and will pay the move-in costs (though you will still pay rent), others may have an agreement with a property owner who will rent you an apartment with little or no deposit money. Still others may provide you with a loan which you can use to rent an apartment. In nearly every case, you will still receive a housing allowance which will offset some of your rent. These allowances are generally $150 to $200 per month, which can reduce the $400 to $700 cost significantly.

This is extremely helpful. Thank you for taking you time to explain this to me Sangetsu.

[wasabijuice]

Originally Posted by ACW

So the first year isn't too bad. I suppose that gives me an opportunity to save money during the first year so I can prepare for the next year.

So hospitals and schools are semi adequate? Is that true for the whole country or in certain areas?

It's true in the country for the most part. If you go to (big city name) University Medical Center you will get advanced care. I have had and seen some second worldly treatments in small hospitals.

While Japans technological prowess is well known. The health care field is far behind.

[Sangetsu]

Don't scoff at the pay, according to a recent Japan Times survey, earning 250.000 yen per month will put you in the top 20% of the Japanese population. Anyone who comes to Japan from America or Europe is most likely not coming for the economical opportunities.

[ACW]

Originally Posted by Sangetsu

Don't scoff at the pay, according to a recent Japan Times survey, earning 250.000 yen per month will put you in the top 20% of the Japanese population. Anyone who comes to Japan from America or Europe is most likely not coming for the economical opportunities.

The top 20%? Wow. How does 80% of the Japanese population cope below 250.000 yen per month?