jurghnaut (u/jurghnaut)

jurghnaut · 8 years ago

I'll be harsh too - it seems that despite travelling to a dozen countries your experience seems to be limited.

Although on paper the earnings in developed countries may seem very high, the structural and unavoidable costs of living may make it difficult to get by.

I've experienced this myself - I moved from an Eastern European country where I had a regular comfy software engineering job to Belgium and financially-wise I'm way worse. On paper I earn than I did back home, but high rent, living costs, various fees and exorbitant taxes eat up most of what I earn. I am able to save much less that I was able to save back home (both relatively and in absolute monetary terms).

In case someone asks: I have moved to pursue a way more interesting job than I could find at home. Money was not a priority for me and I don't complain - I wrote this just to explain how sometimes you can be better off financially living in a less developed country.

Your example actually confirms that - I don't think many people anywhere in the developed world would be able to build up a lifetime of savings in just 7 years of working, even if living very frugally (which you claim not to do). Aren't you getting very well paid relative to local standards?