Help Needed, Ho Chi Minh City cost of living (insurance, how much)

[nabnas88]

Hi all,
Iam about to go and work in Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam, i will run a branch of a company there.
the company will cover my accomodation and transportation costs, and they will pay me a salary of US 1350...

Is this salary sufficient. and if it is, how much I can save from it?

PLEASE GUYS I NEED SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT LIVING COSTS THERE TO HELP ME.

thanks

[CMDallas]

Probably, I don't know though, this is not a light matter, better to look more. there not a lot of vietnamese here. Find the exchange rate between vietnamese currency and US currency. With the falling dollar you might want to ask for a hgih salary. IF the exchange rate is 1=1 or 1=2 then outlook not so good. even if the cost of living might be lower.

[khoiusa]

Originally Posted by CMDallas

Probably, I don't know though, this is not a light matter, better to look more. there not a lot of vietnamese here. Find the exchange rate between vietnamese currency and US currency. With the falling dollar you might want to ask for a hgih salary. IF the exchange rate is 1=1 or 1=2 then outlook not so good. even if the cost of living might be lower.

I am Vietnamese, grew up in Hanoi, have been to HCM City many times. If I made what you will be making, I'd be able to save more than 1/2 of my salary. Unless you have a family to support, it's a great compensation.

[BigBoy]

Originally Posted by nabnas88

Hi all,
Iam about to go and work in Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam, i will run a branch of a company there.
the company will cover my accomodation and transportation costs, and they will pay me a salary of US 1350...

Is this salary sufficient. and if it is, how much I can save from it?

PLEASE GUYS I NEED SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT LIVING COSTS THERE TO HELP ME.

thanks

Question is where are you moving from? If you can save $600/month and you are from papua new guinea you might be alright. If you want to move to NYC after your stay in Saigon you might need substantially more money.

I really investigated moving to HCMC from California last year for a business opportunity. I have been to VN three times and prices seem to increase every year. Decent expat housing will cost you $2,500/months. A nice house in District 2 will run $4,000/month or more.

Unless your company supplies you with a car and driver or pays your cab fare everywhere you will be stuck riding a scooter rain or shine. There is no usable public transportation in HCMC. Bangkok is about 15 years ahead of HCMC in that regard. I think I just read in the VN news that 2008 will actually break ground for a subway in HCMC.

I find a salary of $1,350/month very low for an expat managment position. My wife's cousin makes around $1,200/month in midlevel management as a local Vietnamese citizen. keep in mind that Vn is still a comunist country and they will tax the "rich" up the ying yang. You are considered rich if you make more than $400/month. YOu will pay 40% taxes to the corupt government as an expat.

[Bob The Builder]

Originally Posted by nabnas88

Hi all,
Iam about to go and work in Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam, i will run a branch of a company there.
the company will cover my accomodation and transportation costs, and they will pay me a salary of US 1350...

Is this salary sufficient. and if it is, how much I can save from it?

PLEASE GUYS I NEED SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT LIVING COSTS THERE TO HELP ME.

thanks

I just spent a month in VN last Feb/Mar. 1350USD will allow you to get by. You will not be in the lap of luxury.

[swampophelia]

i've been offered a post there as well. i go to HCMC several times a year so the price increases are not news to me. what i'm wondering about is how much should be the minimum i'd negotiate for. i was offered the same amount (US$1350) a month, plus an additional US$1000 living expenses BUT i'm bringing my family there. over here (in Manila) my husband and i earn money, but over there i would be the only one working. of course as an expat there isn't going to be any social insurance and my company doesn't really spring for medical insurance (at least from what i've seen from the other expats who have to pay for their own). my kid is too young for regular school, so toddler groups won't be covered by my company. based on my traveler experience and my standards of living of about US$20/day/person, i would need about US$1860 for my family to live on (food, transportation). this does not yet include rent, utilities and emergency funds - let alone savings. are my expectations/calculations realistic, considering i'm basing it on my business expenses (living in hotels, dining out)? is it really reasonable to have an ok standard of living at US$10/day/person?