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Advice about salary level Unix admin in Poland [9]
@DavidGS
Yes, you are earning a pretty good salary in Mexico, one that will be difficult to match in Poland.
First of all, taxes in Poland are slightly higher than in Mexico. About 32%.
Cost of living is going to be a bit higher for you as a foreigner in Poland than as a Mexican in Mexico. Expect to spend about 50% more for the same quality of life, and possibly more depending how much you travel back to Mexico. You will lose the financial advantage of being a native Mexico in Mexico, and will not be able to live as cheaply as a native Pole in Poland. You would have to make about 20000 PLN to give you the same lifestyle that you have for 14000 PLN in Mexico.
Wages and cost of living are not the important number when considering an international job move, though. The important number is savings potential, or how much you can put aside at the end of each month. Make sure you do your calculations carefully.
As for the offer itself, three things: IBM is a notoriously stingy employer in Poland. They have a reputation for paying well below the average. And Katowice is considered the ugliest city in Poland. Frankly, it's a dump. And third, there is no shortage of offers like this in Poland. Recruiters have lots of jobs like this. So this is not a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it's not your golden ticket.
I think it's great that you want to get out there and see the world, and encourage you to do so. However. the way to do that is to take the time to conduct a proper job search, and not rely on recruiters or internet sites. The best jobs are advertised almost entirely by word of mouth, face to face in the real world. Recruiters and internet sites get the table scraps, the jobs that no one in the know wants. So take advantage of your real world contacts, especially those who have worked in richer countries. If they don't have anything, ask them if they know someone else who might. Expand and exploit your network until you find something attractive.
Poland is a great place to live if you have enough money and don't have to worry about savings. Katowice may be a dump, but there are some nice cities, like Wrocław, where I lived twelve years myself. But the same can be said for most countries. There's no reason to limit your search to Poland. It's generally not an attractive country for highly qualified expats. Wages are low, the cost of living relative to wages is rather high, and savings potential is very low.
Also, never tell a company your income expectations. Kick the ball back and tell them to make an offer first. It is very unfair of the company to make you give a number first, when they have the advantage in terms of information. Once you give in and tell them your salary expectations, you effectively lose what little negotiating advantage you have. I wouldn't want to work for a company that unfairly took advantage of me.
Last of all, there is one thing that bothers me about your post, and that is the part about marriage. If you are unable to find a suitable spouse in Mexico, that problem will not be solved by moving to another country.
Take the time to do a proper job search using your real world contacts, and ignore recruiters and internet sites. I'm sure you will find a much better job than this in a place that is much nicer than Katowice.
Good luck!
