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Ask HN: Cost of living across the world (Ramen PPP Index for hackers)

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Re: Ask HN: Cost of living across the world (Ramen PPP Index for hackers)

#171

Taiwan (amounts are in Taiwan NT): Rent: In Taipei, $16,000+; in rural areas, you can find a good place around $6,000 Food, travel: I generally spent ~$8,000, but I ate out frequently (pretty normal there.) If you stick to mostly 7-11 food and don't eat much you can bring this down to 4,000. Food is also more expensive in Taipei than in surrounding areas. Public transportation is excellent and cheap, there's little n…

Those numbers are pretty much spot on. I have lived 5 years in taiwan and most of it in Taoyuan county (jhongli/yangmei) and my living costs were in 10~14k NT$ range.

Re: Ask HN: Cost of living across the world (Ramen PPP Index for hackers)

#172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you go with Orange on the phone you can get 35CFS/mo for phone + 3G. They have a deal going for 10CFS off per month of all plans. The high end for a programmer is higher if you consult, and there is no real downside to contracting in Switzerland.

Thanks for your additional information. I've been wondering about contracting/consulting since a while, but I'm not sure how to get started here. My mail is in my profile - I'd appreciate if we could exchange a few lines.

I'd rather talk on a site that has private chat, e.g. reddit.

Re: Ask HN: Cost of living across the world (Ramen PPP Index for hackers)

#173

Zürich, Switzerland Monthly Expenses $2500+ Wages 100k+

Second that. But for 2500$ you already have a 2 room/50qm flat and a Mini Cooper. At least I do. I don't know any other place where I would earn that much money as a student.

Re: Ask HN: Cost of living across the world (Ramen PPP Index for hackers)

#174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for your additional information. I've been wondering about contracting/consulting since a while, but I'm not sure how to get started here. My mail is in my profile - I'd appreciate if we could exchange a few lines.

I'd rather talk on a site that has private chat, e.g. reddit.

Mind if I join in? I'm also living in Zurich and have been evaluating contract work. Therefore I would be very interested in anything you would like to share on that topic.

Re: Ask HN: Cost of living across the world (Ramen PPP Index for hackers)

#175
post #173

Zürich, Switzerland Monthly Expenses $2500+ Wages 100k+

Second that. But for 2500$ you already have a 2 room/50qm flat and a Mini Cooper. At least I do. I don't know any other place where I would earn that much money as a student.

yea–my basics: rent, health insurance, food, going out a few times are around $2000/month but I have shiny gadgets, adventure sports, and travel habits so end up spending more

Re: Ask HN: Cost of living across the world (Ramen PPP Index for hackers)

#176

Buenos Aires, Argentina. Living in a nice area such as Belgrano costs you around $800 (US dollars): - Apartment: $500 - Food: $200 - Public transport: $50 - Internet: $30 - Cellphone: $20 Most programmers here make between $800 and $1600. Really good ones make up to $2500.

I've been looking to work out of BA for the month of February - coming down from NYC to BA. Any advice on subletting a short term space or getting connected with other internet entrepreneurs down there? Contact: brittany at gtrot dot com or @blocks8

Re: Ask HN: Cost of living across the world (Ramen PPP Index for hackers)

#177
Calgary, Canada $11,000 CAD (close to the USD) mortgage $2600 childcare $1600 Utilities $800 Food $1200 Car stuff $1000 Budget for extras (things that break in a house, and oddly enough, we almost always use this up) $2000 Presents (family and others) $300 Medication $200 (canada covers most medical expenses, but not medication or physio or chiro or eyeglass or dental). Fun (movies, exercise fun) $300 Private school (we have a child with ADHD and this school really helps him) $800 Clothing $200 --We're self employed, and both work - programmer $100/hr, designer $75/hr. If you're employed though, the rates are about half that.

Re: Ask HN: Cost of living across the world (Ramen PPP Index for hackers)

#178
post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd rather talk on a site that has private chat, e.g. reddit.

Mind if I join in? I'm also living in Zurich and have been evaluating contract work. Therefore I would be very interested in anything you would like to share on that topic.

Ok, what do you guys want to know? The easiest way is to find the job yourself and tell them that you'll be contracting. Then you can just get payroll done via some company (e.g. Harvey Nash who charges about 500 per time sheet. There are others but your costs here will probably be more like 800) or if not you can have your pick of agencies and negotiate the rate as low as you can.

A lot of agencies will try to set their fee at 20%, but there are companies out there that will do 7% (more than payrolling but not bad).

In Switzerland even consulting agencies have to deduct vacation from your check and pay it back when you actually take a vacation, but you should be able to sign a form to wave that away (i.e. get rid of that deduction and not get paid for vacation).

Contract notice periods are usually one month. If you don't get extended and can't find another contract the normal unemployment rules apply (i.e. if you've worked for over a year you can begin drawing AHV immediately). I understand that according to swiss law you can switch contracting agencies at any time with no notice (the underlying contract has a one month notice period but who is carrying it can change during its lifetime).

Re: Ask HN: Cost of living across the world (Ramen PPP Index for hackers)

#179

Buenos Aires, Argentina. Living in a nice area such as Belgrano costs you around $800 (US dollars): - Apartment: $500 - Food: $200 - Public transport: $50 - Internet: $30 - Cellphone: $20 Most programmers here make between $800 and $1600. Really good ones make up to $2500.

I'm a jealous american. How's the surf out there? How much would it cost to go ski in chile for a week?

You can go surfing in Mar del Plata. Google brings up a couple of Argentinian surfing forums. Maybe ask there?

No idea about skiing in Chile.

Re: Ask HN: Cost of living across the world (Ramen PPP Index for hackers)

#180

Buenos Aires, Argentina. Living in a nice area such as Belgrano costs you around $800 (US dollars): - Apartment: $500 - Food: $200 - Public transport: $50 - Internet: $30 - Cellphone: $20 Most programmers here make between $800 and $1600. Really good ones make up to $2500.

I've been looking to work out of BA for the month of February - coming down from NYC to BA. Any advice on subletting a short term space or getting connected with other internet entrepreneurs down there? Contact: brittany at gtrot dot com or @blocks8

Craigslists is probably your best bet.

There are Hacker News meetups here in BA every couple of weeks. Also, there's this thing called Palermo Valley (http://palermovalley.com). Check it out.

My email is in my profile.

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