Simon
Working in Naypyidaw (the administrative capital of Myanmar)
Monthly Earnings Equivalent of 83,000 baht
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I earn $2,350 USD from my school job, about 83,000 Thai baht after tax, but my stay in an upmarket hotel (with free breakfast) is also fully covered. That cost amounts to an additional 30,000 Thai baht each month. I don't do any private tuition right now, but there is plenty of evening and weekend work available.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
I can save about $1,900 USD, about 67,000 Thai baht. I can save this much because the cost of living is very cheap (apart from accommodation costs), and also there is very little to spend money on in Naypyidaw!
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
As mentioned, accommodation costs can be high in Myanmar. So my school pays all the costs for me to stay in a hotel with gym and swimming pool and free breakfast.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
Zero cost, because I either walk or cycle to my school, which is only a couple of kilometres away.
Utility bills
The hotel pays all utility bills, such as electricity, wifi, room cleaning. My only expense is to pay my laundry bill.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
Breakfast is free at the hotel every day and I buy fruit and yogurts from the local supermarket for lunch. My evening meal is typical Shan noodles from a restaurant in the shopping centre at 44 baht a time. In total, I maybe spend no more than 3,000 baht a month on all food
Nightlife and drinking
Sorry, what nightlife?
Books, computers
I bought a new computer a few months ago in Mandalay for 12,000 baht. For books, I usually buy these in Bangkok when a do a visa run, (the visa run plane and hotel costs are paid for by the school)
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Very good, but you have to be happy with the simple life in Naypyidaw. I used to teach in Yangon, and there was a good choice of bars and nightlife. But here in Naypyidaw, there is not a lot to do, except visit the shopping centre, zoo, shopping centre, gems museum, shopping centre - did I mention the shopping centre?
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Everything but the price of accommodation. Having said that, a room in an international hotel is expensive in any country.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
Very little, especially if your accommodation costs are paid. I change $100 USD (about 3,500 baht) into local kyat currency and then just use it and use it and use it. It will last me a couple of weeks!
Phil's analysis and comment
Simon contacted us to say - "I actually teach in Myanmar, but maybe my information will help to make a comparision of the cost of living between Bangkok and Naypyidaw (the administrative capital of Myanmar), where I work at a private school, (international in name, and there are a few Japanese, Russian, Bulgarian students here whose parents are either diplomats or are working for INGOs or telecoms/energy companies"
I agree Simon, I think many teachers would be interested in these comparisons. Naypyidaw does sound a little quiet but it sounds like a terrific deal for the saver! 67,000 baht going into the bank each month from an 83,000 salary and the school paying for hotel accommodation (not to mention visa run costs) Way to go! Could this get a few more teachers interested in checking out Myanmar?
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