Just thought I'd post an update. So we've been here 6 months now and this is our reality:
- Income, we manage to get the deal upto $143k pa ($12k pm). After tax and UK National insurance we are living on $10k pm.
- Got a 3 bed apart ($3.8k pm rent) in East Coast which we absolutely love and cycle to most local places. Buses and mrt everywhere else with a very occasional taxi ride.
- Homeschooling - we have joined a great HS community here which is mixed of expat and local families. Definitely the best education I can give to the kids at this point, having seen how local kids in our
condo who don't get to come out to play til about 6pm each day due to one enrichment class after another, and the pressure they are under. Though the
International Schools are better, not sure that would have been the best option for us even if we could afford it, but again really depends what you value, high achievement or a more holistic balance of social, emotional and academic development.
Overall, education wise, we have landed on our feet and love the freedom, the interaction with local and international families and we regularly get together to share skills and experiences. As a family we have built up relationships quickly due to this community.
- Commuting, initially we planned to live somewhere within 30mins commute, but our accommodation is more like 40-45mins by bus so a bit further than we wanted but was definitely worth the compromise to fit needs of the whole family.
- Food, our budget here is more than double what it was in the UK, but uplift in wage covers that, when we return, husband will loose the uplift so 6/half dozen. Utility bills here are also cheaper than home.
- Maid, we don't have one, didn't have one at home so.....and don't particularly have a great urge to have one either.
- Overall income vs outgoings ; I would say we live comfortably (but I guess depends what one's definition of comfortable is), we certainly are not struggling and are even managing to save a bit for holidays and trip back home. On top of which I think I have an expensive coffee habit (have to have one each day out, and not the local $1 ones either, in the UK it would be once a week), yet we still can accommodate this
Conclusion - this is a great career opportunity for my husband and great experience for our family, yes we have to be wise with our spending but probably no more than we had to be in the UK, just in slightly different way. Enjoying life here, but think will be happy to go home too.