Cost of living vs wage

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by pandayanyan

true true I am assistant manager at radioshack makes about 760 an hour with a wage increase soon to 920 an hour so around 13 - 15k USD a year i guess before taxes... by the time I get to Japan I will be in a whole nother field of work (hopefully teaching language) so Im not sure what that pays.

The teaching wage concerns would definitely be something to check in the Teaching English in the JP thread.
I seem to recall it being fixed to above 250,000/month.

Really though, I don`t think Japanese wages are all that high when compared to the cost of living. If you want to live in Tokyo, 250,000/month is going to be REALLY REALLY tight.

[pandayanyan]

i see.. hmm well the programme im looking into has some stations in tokyo but also pays a lil for your expenses too so it will be hard on the whole but depending on where i get stationed it may be easier or harder than i think.. i guess.

[Tolbarizhei]

Originally Posted by pandayanyan

true true I am assistant manager at radioshack makes about 760 an hour with a wage increase soon to 920 an hour so around 13 - 15k USD a year i guess before taxes... by the time I get to Japan I will be in a whole nother field of work (hopefully teaching language) so Im not sure what that pays.

i just had to but in for a second here.. how cheap is rent over there since you only make 760/hr? i make 9/hr as a shift leader here in mass. though rent is sky high

[Gemstoned]

Originally Posted by Uxintatei

Things are more expensive in Japan, a Big Mac costs $6 there
But the people also get paid a lot more compared to what they would if they lived in America
Especially in big cities
At least that's why my research has told me

I think you must be quoting an urban myth... A Big Mac set (with fries and a drink) costs Y580 - that's about $4.80. On its own, a Big Mac costs about $2.30.

[jasonbvr]

Wages for English teachers vary depending on experience and the type of instruction you are doing. Personally I wouldn't sign for anything less than 240,000 to 250,000 Yen a month, but I have seen a lot of positions paying less and the same number paying more.

If you are concerned about that being enough, trust me it is more than enough. English teachers fresh off the boat will complain about Japan being expensive, but honestly after the first few months you won't notice it at all. I pay out 500 USD a month for student loans, about 600 USD for rent and utilities, and the rest I have to travel and buy stuff I don't need.

That being said though, you can't really do this job for the money and I don't know anyone who does. Most teachers I know do it for the chance to travel, experience Japan, and basically to put the "get a real job" thing on hold. It is really funny when I talk to teachers on their way out and they say how terrified they are to be going home where they are going to have to work for a living.

But yeah, check the teaching thread and any questions you have, you know the drill.

[pandayanyan]

Originally Posted by Tolbarizhei

i just had to but in for a second here.. how cheap is rent over there since you only make 760/hr? i make 9/hr as a shift leader here in mass. though rent is sky high

rent is usually anywhere from 450 usd /mo for the smallest piece of crap shack to 800usd /mo for a decent place.It would be hard but after commissions and bonuses i make somewhere between 9-13 /hr on average so i can barely make it. But it is just till im outta college so I can get by ya know?

[pandayanyan]

Originally Posted by jasonbvr

Wages for English teachers vary depending on experience and the type of instruction you are doing. Personally I wouldn't sign for anything less than 240,000 to 250,000 Yen a month, but I have seen a lot of positions paying less and the same number paying more.

If you are concerned about that being enough, trust me it is more than enough. English teachers fresh off the boat will complain about Japan being expensive, but honestly after the first few months you won't notice it at all. I pay out 500 USD a month for student loans, about 600 USD for rent and utilities, and the rest I have to travel and buy stuff I don't need.

That being said though, you can't really do this job for the money and I don't know anyone who does. Most teachers I know do it for the chance to travel, experience Japan, and basically to put the "get a real job" thing on hold. It is really funny when I talk to teachers on their way out and they say how terrified they are to be going home where they are going to have to work for a living.

But yeah, check the teaching thread and any questions you have, you know the drill.

Yeah definately and that is why I want to do it too. I just want to make sure it will be enough for me and my wife to live on is all I dont spend extravegantly now just 15/mo for netflix and some extra for a cd or game here or there but nothing big.. big bills car/rent/utilities/insurance and so on...
p.s. does anyone have the link to that thread im having a hard time going there for some reason (stupid computer and stupid user lol)

[jasonbvr]

Is your wife going to be working too?

http://www.japanforum.com/forum/livi...nglish-jp.html

[pandayanyan]

yes but she doesnt know what she will be doing so i figure min wage for her as an entry level position (if she makes more that is good but just to figure i will shoot as low as possible).


p.s. thanks for the link