How much money did you arrive with?

[Skyfae]

If you came to Taiwan as an English teacher, how much money did you arrive with or would you suggest to survive the first month?

Thanks!

[Buttercup]

350 000NT.

100 000? Depends whether you want to live in a dump or need to leave for a visa run.

[tommy525]

The more the better obviously. But anything less then 2000 USD probably is making things hard. Unless you have a job lined up and a place to stay I would think?

You have to keep yourself fed and housed because they pay you at the end of the first month (month by month) usually and many places you rent want a month or two months as deposit?

Ran across this blog by a young lady teaching in Taiwan for a year. Seems she pays only 1200nt for a room in an apt provided by her school . Now thats a deal. But also seems she teaches some kindy (which is illegal?).

Otherwise seems like a nice enough gig? With that kind of gig you could to to Taiwan with less then 2k and probably be ok.

http://blondeintaiwan.blogspot.com/2009 ... chive.html

[Huang Guang Chen]

I arrived as a student with a reasonable wad, but thinking about it, years later I left as an editor in debt!!!!!

HG

[tommy525]

haha that can easily happen. YOu certainly can overspend in Taiwan quite easily. And BEER is a four letter word.

[naijeru]

I came with 2000 USD. Needed every penny because that first paycheck was not going to last a month. Therefore I'd suggest 3000 to be comfortable, but it's definitely doable with 2000, maybe even 1500.

[Matchstick_man]

I arrived with 1500 US. I'd recommend bringing more as it makes it easier to leave a job if you're unhappy with it

[bob_honest]

Came with 40 000 Euro, now I have 1000 but house and SUV and gray hair.
Wait, I am no Engrish teachur. Solly

[housecat]

It's been a long time, but I think I had about a thousand US when I first arrived, but I also had a place to stay when I arrived that was free for a month, and then I paid 4000 NT per month for it.

I also had a job when I arrived, but as I recall, it was six weeks before I began to get paid. A bit unusual, but I began in the middle of the month and got a month and a half worth of pay the first pay day.

For me, that thousand was fine, but I didn't have rent, didn't have to pay a deposit, and really only paid for food. Well, also personal items and such that I hadn't brought with me, or not enough of.

But I spent way too much on food, eating almost exclusively western food. I'm a very adventurous person in a lot of ways, but I'm a picky eater, so took me some time to venture into the local fare. Anyway, at the end of the month and a half I was broke and very happy to see that pay day!

[Dragonbones]

It's been 14.5 years so I'm not sure, but I do know that after unexpectedly having to fly to Hong Kong twice due to delays getting a work visa, and an extended delay there due to idiotic red tape, I was running very short on money. SO if you can, bring twice as much as you think you'll need -- at least US$3000, anyway.