4000 zloty Wroclaw - what kind of life can I expect for that?

Hi,

I got an offer from Poland to work at an international company for 4300 zloty a month. I do not have too high expectations from my lifestyle, an okay flat, some food and maybe some fun every now and then (movies, bar etc.). Will I manage with 4300?

You will manage

If that's net then yes...

Hello there! I am an architectural design graduate, who lives in WRO and whom thought for sure he had a job rece3ntly promised by an Architect, who seeems to have dissapeared!!!!!

Could you tell me the name of the international company you work with please?

Well.. It is not net...So now I wont manage?!?!

Many people have to manage for far less and they have a family to consider. People earn 2,000 gross and it has to do.
What exactly do you mean by 'manage' - eat margarine/smalec and cheapest bread or going out to restaurants and paying 50zl per meal - different people have different perceptions of what it is to manage.

When you have to manage - you do.
As for an international company offering you 4,300 gross, go and ask them to reconsider (in my view it is not enough) - but again, it all depends on what the job is and who the company is.

that's not bad money.. apt. may run you around 1000... find the thread that discusses living expenses in pl

minimum 30zł per day for food.
1500zł flat pcm
400zł room pcm
40zł internet pcm
100zł dentist
50zł - 100zł doctor
80zł hairdresser (female)

to these costs you must add:
gas/electricity/phone
travelling costs
clothes/shoes
going out/cinema/pubs

Anybody can manage on the salary, but make sure you are not being 'cheated'

Well, I'dd like to think I am not, of cource. The thing is I am just graduating and have not soooo much great work experience and the job is at entry level.

For me managing means getting some food but not necessarely the most expensive cheese, going out once a week to cinema or for a beer or two, I do not need to travel outside the city that much (wont have holidays anyways), being able to buy a pair of shoes and a top on the same month etc.

Then you will survive with these money :) Just take your time and find some place to stay which isn't very expensive. Use gumtree.pl , gratka.pl in the first place.

4300 gross is about 3050 net... Housing costs (rent, bills) are the most important, in case of Wrocław total cost won't be less than 1500 even in case of a really small flat, so you either live on your own and don't spend much on expensive clothes, restaurants etc. or you find a room in a shared flat and there's still quite a lot left to waste. Anyway unless you have some really good offers at home, I think you should take this job.

omg, I pay 1400zl for renting ~25sqr meters flat (medium standard, not low, not high) in center of Warsaw (near metro station) - this include all bills.

edit: as I thought.. there are many cheaper flats in Poland.

OK so she may find something very small for 1300-1400 or some total crap for 1200 but my point is still standing.

Most Polish people get less money than that. It's not difficult to have a normal life on that. But if you don't know the language it's always more difficult to negotiate, so maybe expect to pay a little more than the average Pole for rent etc.

I lived in Krakow on between 1800-2000pln pcm. It wasn't easy but it was manageable.

Hi Selwroc,

I too am currently applying at an international company..known for computers and server so you know probably know which one I mean ;)....This one is also at an entry level and I would like to know what kind of a salary I would be able to be expecting and also what was the salary negotiations and job interviews like? I am moving to Wrolaw with my wife, she too will be looking for an international position, what would be the amount that persons who speak numerous languages with 2 years experience be expecting to make at an international company net / gross?

thank you so much for your time in considering my question!!

Do it!

I was making 4000 a month when I lived there and I had a good lifestyle.

I liked living in there it took a few months to find a job and get settled in but it was well worth it.

At the time I wasn't ready to settle down so I left for Asia.

Now I'm back in the States wondering how I ended up back here. ;)

To be honest I like the States warts and all, but the fact is all people do here is work work and more work. Most people only take 2 weeks off a year and usually it's just a few days off here and there. That's no way to live your life.

In Poland there's usually a three day weekend every month or some type of holiday. As an ESL teacher you probably have about 4 months off a year. That's the way life should be.

I'm hoping to move back there again in the next few years. When I do it all again I'm going to make it a point to drink a lot less. To many foreigners spend all their time in bars and that's no way to live your life.

International firm and 4300 PLN/month? You should negotiate probably. Of course, it depends upon your work experience and what degree(s) you have...
I won't work for less than 10000 PLN/month at least.

/Kareem

Are people really making 10,000 outside of Warsaw?

Are you talking about the British Council? I'm not British so that one is out for me.

I have over 5 years of experience teaching all levels, including business and children and all the Cambridge exams including IELTS. How much do you think I could make back in Krak?