Joko
Working in Yangon, Myanmar
Monthly Earnings $2,217 (the equivalent of about 75,000 baht)
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
My monthly salary is $2100, plus I get an allowance of $117/month to cover the cost of visa runs.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
I can save half of that income.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I pay $330/month for a 40-square metre flat. The rent must be paid six months or one year in advance
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
About $10 per month.
Utility bills
Electricity is $15/month, satellite TV comes to another $10 a month and phone & internet $20 / month.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
Cheap street meals can be had for as little as $1/plate. Decent meals at a restaurant $3-5/plate. Home delivery meals $7-10. I do not cook at home.
Nightlife and drinking
Nightlife is very cheap here and particularly alcohol and cigarettes
Books, computers
Not applicable.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Never any money worries. I'm saving a lot and still travelling around SE Asia extensively
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Beer. Ice cold draught mugs of good lager at restaurants are 60 cents each.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
$1,200 a month.
Phil's analysis and comment
Joko is of course a regular blogger on ajarn so it's nice to also get an insight into what he earns over there in Myanmar. I know nothing about the place but if Joko is earning double the salary needed to survive, he must be doing OK.
It sounds as though you would need to arrive in Myanmar with something of a savings buffer though if landlords are looking for at least six months rent in advance.
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