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Originally posted by tamilkuravan

Looks like some people are so far off from India that they donot know the current rents / prices in India. In my experience of 3.5 years let me state some facts. I live in a capital city of a state where the cost of living is very low and so let me say it from the experience of one of my friend who lives in Chennai.

1. US degree holder. Has 20 years experience. 25 lakhs a month in chennai, People say that it is a low offer and he should be getting like 30-35 lakhs a month.
2. Children studying in international schools for 1.2L a month.
3. Housing 20K a month. Row type villa. AC provided by owner. 4 beds. In OMR road.
4. Vegetables like 60-80 Rs a KG. Mutton Rs 500 a kg. Chicken Rs 160 a Kg.
5. Petrol is Rs 75 a litre
6. True that 20% down is needed for mortgage. Housing market is a bit cooled off. In Chennai, housing rates are all over inflated (but not rising any more now)
7. Biriyani in a good joint is like Rs 160 a plate
8. Shopping malls in plenty. Kids zone is there. You can do window shopping in AC. Rates are resonable. Nice place to hang out in the hot sun.
9. Cinema in shopping malls are like Rs 100 to Rs 120 a show.

Hope this helps.

Murali The Krishna

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Adam.
Sorry. A typo when tying around midnight (IST). It is 1.2 Lakhs a year. It is not the costliest school but a prestegious one. I have heard that in B'lore there are decent international schools that cost around Rs. 8000 a month. So this works to around 1 lakh a year.
An advantage of these international schools is the lack of teaching the local language (you still can study that) and you can take languages like french or spanish which helps children born in NA and who have to return to India due to their parents relocating.
Hope this helps.

Murali The Krishna

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Chandresh,
Though I moved to Canada in 2002, I think it was around 2004 or 2005 that found CD so I was not there at your house party / get together.
I was at one at SS house manybe in 2005 when LANA was around.

Murali The krishna

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

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Originally posted by chandresh

While the OP has most probably got out of this discussion as seems from his last post.........

I wonder........whenever I come back to CD..........why almost everyone advises a new entrant to Canada to live cheap/frugal and save money? Why no one, ever..........advises the same person to come and live a better life, specially if a person is coming for a project or short term?

In my view, the first things to be asked of a person is what kind of life he leads presently and more importantly, what he would like to lead (same or would like to make some changes), and then compare. It is no use advising someone to be frugal without understanding his/her situation (including non-monetary). In today's life, there is more to live for than just money.

If this is a person who might not get a chance again for a foreign project in forceable future, and has never been out of India, I would rather advise him to come and enjoy a different country, different culture, visit places which he otherwise would not be able to do from India and things like that. What is the use of saving some extra lacs (unless you badly need it for your family or future), at the cost of not doing something which you might enjoy but not easily get a chance.

I remember, when I came here 14 yrs ago, I was also given the same silly advice, at times unsolicited. I was one of the most unfortunate immigrants who entered Canada who entered with high hopes but did not get a job for 4 years. But I decided to live my life to the full, since I could go back to the life that I had left, but would have missed the opportunity of enjoying Canada even while living here.

In this case, the guy has, what everyone has written, a reasonably good offer and he has no children and intends to go back. So unless he is coming here with the sole purpose of making some extra savings, the advice should be to use this time to upgrade himself or arm himself with a foreign credentials, forget about saving any more than he is already doing or even less if he can afford to, and travel around, see the country when time permits, enjoy the clean air which is now rate in India (so don't live in basements), drive around (so don't talk about bus passes) and go back with an experience which would be worth much more than some extra savings.

But in the end ............can we all grow up and advise new people on how to make their lives better in this country rather than how to be stingy and penny pinchers. After all, most of us who live here do accept the fact that life here is better than in India, and that is why we choose to stay here rather than go back (even with all the glory about better jobs, servants, close to family, etc. etc. etc. back in India)

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Good explanation Sasi.
As you are not into saving money, you should come to Canada. It will give you a new perspective. However know that in Canada, you canot earn more than what is being given to you and that is a fact. So play with the mumbers.
Let us assume that your wife gets Rs. 50,000 as take home salary. You will need to include this also in your income / savings. Also your wife's seniority will get lost during the time that she is in Canada with you.
For your point 2, I feel that 1.5 K will be more than enough for you, if you donot have a car and 2.1 K if you have a car. Just two people canot spend too much money.

Murali The Krishna

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

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Thanks Chandresh for this alternate point of view. I also share some (not all) of your views.
To explain my current lifestyle :-
I own a house in my home town (which is some 500 KM from my workplace, but same state, same language) and a 2 BHK apartment in the city where I work. I drive a compact SUV (which is becoming common in India now) to office, which is some 10 KM from my apartment. I am 31, recently married.My wife is a central gov employee, so she has to take leave without salary to accompany me there.
I have been to places like Dubai and New York before. I was doing IT contract work for Dubai gov , and came back after 3 years as planned. I had so many friends who wanted to come back after certain period, then stayed there because they did not want to “miss the life style” in Dubai…
So as it is clear, I have no plans to settle anywhere else, however good it is going to be. I just want to see/know different cultures, learn, enjoy and save some money as well. So I do plan to spend reasonable rent , visit places etc, but not to be extravagant in my expenditures.
I posted this query to know –
1) What will be take home after tax if annual salary is 80K: - to which the answer I got was 4.5K per month.
2) What will be the cost of basic stuff -roti, kapda aur makan – for a 2 member family:- to which I got answer as 2.5K.
Please let me know if you feel any of these answers are not accurate, as they will have direct impact on my decision to accept/reject the offer. The rest like which car should I drive, how much should I spend on roaming around and things like that, I feel, I have the flexibility to decide once I reach there. But above 2 can be considered as sure expenses. Hope that makes sense…

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"
1) What will be take home after tax if annual salary is 80K: - to which the answer I got was 4.5K per month.
2) What will be the cost of basic stuff -roti, kapda aur makan – for a 2 member family:- to which I got answer as 2.5K.
"


Both are correct, but point 2 will be realized only after 5-6 months of initial heavy expenses. First few months there will be nothing left from salary to save plus over and above you will do additional expenses such as buying Car, 2 months rent at out set, buying basic furniture and kitchenware etc.
When your are counting your chickens, account in 6 months of gestation period.

I like your attitude and curiosity to learn and know cultures and life styles for which you are ready to uproot and travel. You will enjoy , for sure. Stay away from basements, will be my suggestion #1 plus get your international driving permit.