Expat Package
 

Hi all,

I have been seconded to a sister company in Bangkok a couple of times and spent three weeks here in June and I am currently spending 6 more weeks here. They seemed to be happy with me and there are talks about me being offered an expat package here, based on the fact that the manager I am currently working for here is leaving the company so they would like me to fill the gap.

I do not have a clue what a good expat package is, I need to be much better off to come here from the UK and I would only come if I were able to save money for my future, as I currently do not own any property in the UK and only have savings.

I have been told they are not going to tell me what the package but I have to discuss with them what I would need to be offered to come here.

Talking to my manager he said they would accept something like the following:

Net salary after tax: 10 k US dollars per month
+
Accommodation allowance of 3 k US dollars per month (or 90 k baht)
+
1 return flight home / year

Some other small benefits would be the usual healthcare, pension scheme etc.

I work in oil and gas and will be working as a senior process engineer.

What should I be asking for? I can only afford to come if I can save whilst working here and have a better quality of life. In the UK I am on circa 13 k US dollars per month but before tax (self employee).

Any help?

THANKS!!

Re: Expat Package
 

I lived in BKK for many years although I don't any more . With a package like that you're laughing all the way to the bank. So that's 300,000 a month salary with a 90,000 a month towards a place to live . Lets say that you use all the housing money and get somewhere nice in town and that just leaves your salary .

If you spend 100,000 of that a month , let's call it 3000 a day . Well you know the price of things in BKK and you won't be going out every night because you're working so pretty much everyone could live off that really . Even spending that you will still be saving about 200,000 a month or about 4K Sterling . Which works out at about 50K a year . I think if you asked most people in the UK right now if they wanted a job where they could save that amount of cash a year they would bite your hand off. I don't know what you saved in the UK each month , only you can compare but I would go for it.

Personally when I lived in BKK we spent about 50,000 a month on average and that was for a family of four . we didn't go out much though , but we still had a comfortable life.

Good luck.

Re: Expat Package
 

nonthaburi,

Thanks for your reply, that is what I thought. I have done the maths few times and it all seems very interesting indeed.

I save in the UK but not much as costs are high there, plus I am highly taxed.

I do not go out every night, only Fridays and or Saturdays. Yes I get food here and there for lunch/dinner but I am quite happy spending 500 baht in a food court, I do not need the spending 7000 baht in a bistro restaurant night.

It sounds interesting to me because it appears I would be able to save for retirement/own property if I keep things under control, which I am sure I can.

Waiting for the paper contract as we speak...

Re: Expat Package
 

Sounds like a great deal. Have fun.

Nonthaburi mate, you need to get your location changed on here ;)

Re: Expat Package
 

I probably should do seeing how I'm in Riyadh now , but .....

Home is where the heart is !

On holiday in Thailand at the moment, it's so green.

Re: Expat Package
 

Thanks you two. Expecting the offer in paper, hopefully this week... Will probably take it.

Re: Expat Package
 

Compare the offer with your UK T&C.

You should be looking for at least a 50% upgrade all round.

There are sites where you can check up on what salary is paid.

I never worked overseas without my package being at least double, before tax, what I'd be paid in the UK.
Times may have changed these days.

Re: Expat Package
 

I do not think the offer equates to 50% higher after tax of what I get paid in the UK :(... something to think about...

Re: Expat Package
 

Don't listen to the 50% nonsense. Just go to Thailand and enjoy living there. You're on a good deal, will be able to save plenty and get to live in a great country. :thumbsup:

Re: Expat Package
 

+1

Re: Expat Package
 

That is a really poor reason to go overseas to work. The worst.
You either go for the cash or you go to enhance your CV and future career prospects.

Re: Expat Package
 

Not sure what your problem is? I spent a few years in Thailand on an ex-pat deal. It wasn't 50% more than my regular salary, more like 5% - but on a western salary you can live like a king - which I did and I regret nothing. I have a lot of good memories from my time there.

Thailand is a fun country to live in - especially if you are reasonably well off which the OP will be. It's not like going to some nasty ass crap hole in the middle east.

Re: Expat Package
 

Thanks all of you for your advice. I have enjoyed so far Bangkok, but not sure in the long term. If I do not take the job I will have the option of coming here every couple of months to help out on projects. Still thinking about it, I like the idea of a bigger house with pool all year round and that sort of life too...

Re: Expat Package
 

Personally I don't think that is true - certainly not 100 percent reason. It might have been some 20 years ago but the world has changed.

I moved abroad as life was getting so crappy and frustrating in UK and had the opportunity to move to Asia, a better life and more friends in the country I moved to (Singapore). Admittedly, low income tax had a bearing but certainly not the full picture.

If you want to do it, do it. Life is way too short. Enjoy while you can :nod:

Re: Expat Package
 

OP,

Peoples reason for moving out of the UK all differ.

Some won't move unless their are mega-bucks involved, some move for a decent wedge with a lower cost of living, some move for career advancement, some move for a better family life..

At the end of the day, you need to, firstly, look at the proposed location. If you can see yourself staying there for 3-5 years, then look at your proposed income and expenditure and do the math. Do not, under any circumstances, do it the other way around, no amount of cash will make up for miserable family life...

I am on my 3rd overseas posting, on a similar package to you. I came from Dubai, where the cost of living was far greater than it is here.

With a decent percentage increase, and lower costs, it was a no brainer..