Post: #1

I know this has been discussed in the forums, but I didn't find a thread focusing on this.

How do you find the perfect balance between locations that suck but pay well, and locations that are amazing but offer average incomes. And everything in between those two extremes. I'm not talking about professional jobs vs teaching English, I'm talking about similar positions in different parts of the world.

I know you are going to say... start your own business, freelance, consult. You are right, but for now, I quite enjoy my career. Side hustles are easier when you have a stable income.



A bit of context: One of the amazing things about being a good engineer and speaking English, is that I can find a job in almost any location I choose.

In my early twenties I profited by finding paid internships in locations like Bangkok, Amsterdam or Finland. You know, getting paid to travel and making your CV stand out.

My first job after graduation pays a lot (5000 USD per month after taxes and mandatory health insurance) but in a location that sucks a lot (Switzerland). Out of that I could save around 60% per month and invest it.

Now my 2 years contract is almost done and I can't wait to get the hell out of here.

So now I have an important choice in front of me. Some of the places I have interviews lined up for are:

- Prague, with a salary of 60k crowns (around 2500 USD per month)

- Costa Rica, again around 2000 per month, maybe 2500.

- Oslo, a city that doesn't interest me at all, but I expect a much higher salary (although higher taxes too).

- Hong Kong is an exception, amazing salary and the place rocks, I'm working on it but there are not so many options.

- I found many offers in shithole industrial cities in the UK, which offer anywhere from 45k to 70k pounds per month, but I instantly discarded. Same for Germany and France.



I'm leaning towards the good locations that pay 2500. That's 3 times the average Czech income. You can live very comfortably in there and still save 1500 per month, but that's nothing.

With that kind of income, forget about getting financial freedom early in your 30s, or going on vacation to Asia twice per year, or generally a high end lifestyle. I don't need to be rich, just have enough that I don't even think about money.

So yes, given the choice, what would you choose?
I tried to find a compromise, locations that are quite ok without sucking, but still have high salaries and low taxes, but didn't find anything.

Anyone had to make this choice?

Post: #2

Uncouple your income from your location! That's one way.

Other than that, yup, alot of trade-offs. Have to get very clear on what your priorities are, and then research and make a good decision. Often when an option ticks most boxes but has a couple of major downsides, there may be a way to work around those downsides and make it awesome.

Post: #3

That's basically the primary / central question here though: how to draw on the wealth of the west and the women of the east/south at the same time.

Or as I put it: /thread-9856-...pid1053496
I had one extra idea on this: /thread-49367.html

It really is a central question. Men are programmed to seek both, but getting both at the same time tends to be mutually antagonising. Where men flock to the money, they tend to push up competition for women (and reduce it behind them). Where men flock for women, tends to be lower quality countries as far as financial opportunities and conveniences go.

Getting both at the same time, seems to me certainly, and probably to most men here, the ultimate challenge of the globally-minded layman's life.

Post: #4

Quote:So yes, given the choice, what would you choose?

Personally, I'm not searching for balance yet. I'm optimizing for income in my 20s. Life's unfair (in your favor) when you're loaded.

Post: #5

Quote:- I found many offers in shithole industrial cities in the UK, which offer anywhere from 45k to 70k pounds per month, but I instantly discarded. Same for Germany and France.

I guess you mean 4.500 to 7.000 and not 45.000 to 70.000. If it's the higher number you're crazy for not taking it.

Post: #6

Thanks for the replies guys.

(09-29-2016 09:16 AM)Svoboda Wrote:  

Quote:- I found many offers in shithole industrial cities in the UK, which offer anywhere from 45k to 70k pounds per month, but I instantly discarded. Same for Germany and France.

I guess you mean 4.500 to 7.000 and not 45.000 to 70.000. If it's the higher number you're crazy for not taking it.

My bad, that was supposed to be pounds per year. Salaries in the UK are actually quite low for engineering, specially once you factor taxes in. Germany is the worst once you do the math, they take almost 50% of the income as tax.

Czech republic has lower incomes, but the taxes are also much lower so it kind of compensates... in Germany you get 5000 per month and bring 2500 home, in CZ you get 2500 and bring almost 2000 home.

Peregrine Wrote:Personally, I'm not searching for balance yet. I'm optimizing for income in my 20s. Life's unfair (in your favor) when you're loaded.

I agree, sacrifices in your twenties pay of. But you don't get your twenties back, you also have to enjoy them.

Plus you won't get truly loaded by working for a salary anyways, doesn't matter how high the salary.

Post: #7

Semi related - but did you make friends during your assignments. Having a non-female-banging social life raises your quality of life.

Lived in the Midwest for a time, and could have made coastal city money - but socially there was nothing there for me. So even though the money was decent, available chicks, okay weather - my quality of life has a social life factor.

Are there interesting strangers?
Can I get into these established cliques of people that have known each other since kindergarten?
4th of July rolls around, am I at a bar or a backyard?

I don't envy your decision.

WIA

Post: #8

Worth noting as well. Some people do make enermous amounts of cash but that's rarely by base salary. Typically its either in bonus driven industries where top salesmen, traders, etc. can make 7 figures or you get it through other incentives like equity earnouts.

Post: #9

(09-29-2016 10:35 AM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  Semi related - but did you make friends during your assignments. Having a non-female-banging social life raises your quality of life.

Lived in the Midwest for a time, and could have made coastal city money - but socially there was nothing there for me. So even though the money was decent, available chicks, okay weather - my quality of life has a social life factor.

Are there interesting strangers?
Can I get into these established cliques of people that have known each other since kindergarten?
4th of July rolls around, am I at a bar or a backyard?

I don't envy your decision.

WIA

Actually something I have noticed is that most places where it's extremely easy to build a quick social circle (with a mix of cool expats and locals) tend to be the ones that don't offer high salaries, such as latin america, parts of Asia and Eastern Europe.

In those places locals are much more down to earth, and you can find really interesting expats with an entrepreneurial mindset, redpill, and with nice stories to share. Making friends in those places is not only easier, but more stimulating.

Almost every "international location independent" guy you meet in Western countries is a SJW iPod hipster, same as most locals. You also find them in EE or SEA, but they are easy to avoid.

I guess this is another thing to factor.

Easy_C Wrote:Worth noting as well. Some people do make enermous amounts of cash but that's rarely by base salary. Typically its either in bonus driven industries where top salesmen, traders, etc. can make 7 figures or you get it through other incentives like equity earnouts.

True, nobody becomes a millionaire by having a salary, but 35k or 120k per year do make a difference.

Post: #10

I'm pondering the same question. I'm also in Switzerland and I agree: it sucks. If you want the family life, the career and being a slave with tons of money and/or a house and/or boat: then it's perfect.

If you love freedom and critical thinking: maybe not the best place. I feel they really hold you by the balls in Switzerland with the money.

My 2 cents: I'm now in CR for 1 week and I do think it's a good option considering the taxes you wrote down. I think people here are well-educated and kind, the women beautiful and food/beer great.

Otherwise, I think the other guys nailed it: the ideal is to decouple your income from your location and establish your priorities. As an engineer, maybe you could become something like a consultant remotely?

Creating a business could solve your issue. Also, I would start working top-down with how much money you need a month for living and the future and then look how you can make this amount and where you would like to live.

Otherwise, trying to optimize everything at once can become paralyzing. I hope this helps.