[Peoloom]

I just finished a graduate degree; I spent the last year in the Baltics finishing my research and writing my thesis.

I now have two jobs offers. One is in London making a respectable London salary (think £40-50k). I'd be able to live well there on it, save money, etc.

The other is in Tallinn, Estonia. By Estonian standards, it's a monster salary and I could live like a king...until I start chipping away at it with student loan payments, retirement savings, etc. Once all of those things are accounted for, I'd still live very comfortably and could easily afford a nice apartment in the center of town and would have the disposable income to go out 3-4 nights a week.

What would you do? I'm having a hard time deciding. On the one hand, I'm still enjoying the Wild East and the party lifestyle here. On the other, it'd be hard for me to save money for the future. Even though I like it here now, I know that I won't want to stay for more than 2 years, maximum (and more than likely, one). Without saving up at least $5k, it'd be hard to make a move after a year.

Also, the absolute yearly salary number is pretty pathetic. I think I might have a problem making that little money, even though it goes very far here. This is just pure vanity, but still, if it pisses me off every time I think about it, it'll affect my life.

Anyone have any thoughts? Anyone done anything similar? For reference, I'm 26.

[Roosh]

Life should be a balance between living in the present and saving for the future. I feel that in the States the balance is tilted way into the future, to save for a future that may never come. Don't get me wrong I save money, but I have to enjoy where I'm at right now, even if that means I'm saving less than I could.

If you want to save a lot of money to buy property or get married relatively soon, maybe the higher salary would be a better idea. Otherwise Eastern Europe. You're still young and probably can leverage the Tallinn job experience into a higher salary later if money becomes a more pressing issue.

[thegmanifesto]

Eric, are you American?

[Peoloom]

(07-03-2010 02:29 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Eric, are you American?

Yes

Quote:

If you want to save a lot of money to buy property or get married relatively soon, maybe the higher salary would be a better idea. Otherwise Eastern Europe. You're still young and probably can leverage the Tallinn job experience into a higher salary later if money becomes a more pressing issue.

That's kind of what I'm leaning towards at the moment. I'm not in any rush to have $X in the bank for retirement, and I'm still enjoying the travel / bohemian lifestyle.

[thegmanifesto]

The reason I asked is because, London wouldn't seem like a bad option if you are American.

I think a lot depends on your future plans. If you are going to go all-in on the playboy lifestyle for life (like I am) go Tallinn. You never know, you might make some great biz connects and end up making more money there.

[AlphaQup2nite]

My rule of thumb is to always go where there is less competition of people with your skill set. Networking becomes mad easy, and job offers just roll in. I never went job hunting in china, but there has never been a time where i dont have 4-5 offers on the table.

Plus, its an exp on a resume no one else will have. Think of it this way, you are a big multinational firm, would you rather have some guy whos only live in hot spots where the way of doing things is pretty much set in stone, or would you like someone who does a great job in less that perfect situations who has new ideas? It makes your resume stand out. Im pretty sure i can land a pretty sweet management job in my field pretty much anywhere if i was intersting.

I would say eastern Europe, no debate.

[K-man]

Let me share my experience - I think it's better to do it the other way around, not like most of the commenters suggest - i.e. first in London or another 1st world economy, then when you got some $$$ and experience, to the 2nd and 3rd world countries if you want to spice it up.
I was living in the U.S. and making around $90k, then I moved to EE and only make E18k or so. But I had some $ saved from before, so I now own a home fully paid for (two-level condo in a nice area of town), car, etc. When someone visits me from the States, they can't help but compare my lifestyle to theirs back home - most live in cramped apartments and have expensive rent, car payment, health ins payment, 401k contribution, etc. which makes their take-home pay not much larger than mine here, and the lifestyle not better.
Just my 2c.

[thegmanifesto]

K-man,

"I moved to EE"

Donde?

[oldnemesis]

(07-08-2010 02:45 AM)K-man Wrote:  

I was living in the U.S. and making around $90k, then I moved to EE and only make E18k or so.

Hmm. Even for Bucharest, Romania E18k a year is kinda low.

[K-man]

(07-08-2010 06:16 PM)oldnemesis Wrote:  

(07-08-2010 02:45 AM)K-man Wrote:  

I was living in the U.S. and making around $90k, then I moved to EE and only make E18k or so.

Hmm. Even for Bucharest, Romania E18k a year is kinda low.

It is low indeed if it's for an expat. You have to actually pay an expat more than back home in order to make them move to what may be considered a shithole country.
But I'm actually a local of Bulgaria, so I get paid by local standards.

[oldnemesis]

(07-09-2010 12:37 AM)K-man Wrote:  

It is low indeed if it's for an expat. You have to actually pay an expat more than back home in order to make them move to what may be considered a shithole country.
But I'm actually a local of Bulgaria, so I get paid by local standards.

From what I know 2K/mo is considered a good salary in Bucharest for a senior professional. Software developers can get even more. But Bulgaria seem to be poorer than Romania, so the salaries there should be lower. Cost of living should be lower too though.

I'm considering Bulgaria as well, they have Cyrillic alphabet and a lot of words are similar to Russian; I wonder how the language is close to Russian?

And, if you don't mind: while being in US, did you have Green Card/Citizenship, or you had something like H1B with a bodyshop and no I-485 in near future?

[Rocco81]

Do Estonia for a year.

Also, forgive me for my ignorance, but is 40-50k in pounds that much in London? I don't think your disposable income will be what you think it might. I know the pound is hurting now...and London is Real expensive, you won't have a car (I guess you dont need one in London) and my guess is you will have several roommates. I think if you can get 50k you will be fine (That is closer to 80k a year) but 40K in London is about 62k in US dollars in one of the most expensive cities in the world, that will be pushing it with school lones plus savings plus going out, and if you plan to travel etc.

[Brian]

40-50k aint gonna go far in London, its like Manhattan expensive. Go to Talinn, especially if you like blondes

[Peoloom]

40k in London is fine; I have friends there who live well on 30k. 30-35k is a pretty standard "new grad" salary, I probably wouldn't go any lower than 40k with a master's degree. I lived there as a student on much less.

But it's irrelevant, I decided to take the job in Eastern Europe.

[PinkElephant]

Not many jobs in Tallinn right now. Economy is horrible. Not as bad as Riga, but nobody is hiring. I mean nobody. All the expats left. Even the basketball players had to leave. Lithuania is holding up better. I highly doubt anyone would give a young American male money to work in Tallinn. The Estonian workforce is young and very educated. They speak fluent English. But hey, this is the Net. I hear it all on here.