Job In Paris?

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Millie

YES, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY PARIS, FRANCE, EUROPE AND SAVE MONEY! If that's your gross income, I agree with the answer just above, your net income will be about 1750 â‚¬ / month (you'll actually get 1950 â‚¬/month but as said above, remember to keep 200 â‚¬ /month on a savings account to pay your taxes at the end of the year). If you're careful and cook most of your meals it's possible to save a decent amount of money and you may take advantage of the good exchange rate: your euros will be worth a lot of dollars.

If you want to live in downtown Paris, there are a lot of tiny closet-sized studios for under 500 â‚¬/month: http://www.pap.fr/immobilier/?mode=recherche&produit=location&section=offre&lieu=france

Other monthly expenses include:

Phone/DSL: 30 â‚¬
Cell phone: 30 â‚¬
Heating/electric: 50 â‚¬
Monthly mÃ©tro pass: 27 â‚¬ (you won't need one if you can walk to work though but if you do, your employer will cover half of the cost which is normally 53 â‚¬)
Groceries and things for the house: 300 â‚¬

You will automatically be covered by the national health insurance and you'll be well covered. You needn't worry about health costs in France. You don't need a car in Paris so no expenses for that either.

There are also yearly expenses: the taxe d'habitation, due in the fall (probably cheap in Paris as the richer a city, the cheaper it is) + as a tenant you need a rental insurance, but that's cheap too. Between the two, I'd say about 200-300 â‚¬/year. If you rent unfurnished, furniture will cost you very little for a tiny studio anyway.

That leaves you with about 800 â‚¬ a month for leisure, clothes and savings. So it will depend on your life style but you could easily save 500 â‚¬ a month, which is $700 - $750 that you can transfer to your American account towards your loan.

Also know that France and the US have an agreement for retirement. Therefore the retirement contribution you will be paying in France will add to your social security in the US, so keep all your papers (pay slips) when you go back to America.

Do you know also that from France you can get great deals for vacation in Europe and North Africa? Check the French lastminute.com and you can easily spend a week (flight + all-inclusive hotel stay) in Tunisia for under 300 â‚¬. In the spring you'll have a lot of 3 or 4-day weekends to visit other parts of France or Europe on top of your 5 weeks' vacation. Skiing in the French Alps is much cheaper than in American resorts, accomodation is cheaper everywhere in France so think of all the opportunities you'll have to travel. Some employers offer a 13th month (it means you get the equivalent of a month's pay check as a gift as the end of the year) or a 6th week paid vacation. Maybe yours offers this kind of benefit...?

Rillifane

Probably very little.

French workers have some of the highest tax rates in the world and Paris is a fairly expensive city to live in (though cheaper than London for example). According to The Economist, Paris is 30% more expensive than New York City.

On the positive side you will have access to an excellant medical system and a government health insurance system which is, in my opinion, as well conceived as any that exists.

The French embassy in Washington has a little list of costs that you might want to look at here: http://www.ambafrance-us.org/visitingfrance/costs.asp

NB: Despite all that, if I was young again, I would not hesitate for a second to take the job in Paris.

Maybe you'll have to live in a tiny 7th floor walk up. Maybe you'll have to eat cabbage and potato soup during the week to afford to go out on the weekend. Maybe you won't be able to afford the latest CD or a closet full of new clothes.

So what?

You'll be in Paris and everyday will be an adventure. What more can one ask of life?

Level 6 Troll

Take the job and enjoy the experience, but don't expect to save any money - if you break even you'll be doing good.

Phoenix

If you make 30,000 Euro, that 's equal to 44,350.37 USD. However, living in Paris is not cheap. Obviously if you live in Paris and work in Paris, you certainly do not need a car because you can use public transportation. They have one of the world's safest and most efficient public transportation systems. Trains usually arrive on time; buses are well-appointed and clean, and commuter express ("RER") trains service the city's most important stops in record time.

Housing would be tough but if you live by yourself, you only need a one bedroom studio. You'll have a chance to travel through Europe not just in France because you have plenty of time to do so. Their requirement is 5 weeks vacation in a year. Hop in a train then you can be in Southern France, Spain, Italy etc... at no time.

My family lives in France. Medical is taking care by the government so you don't have to worry about it.

You DEFINITELY SHOULD GO. This is a chance of a life time. Don't pass it up. If you work in another country, you're more valuable for the company who hires you. Besides, learning about other culture, you would appreciate the opportunity that other people may never have. Don't think twice, just go. I would.

It's hard to save money if you live in another country specially in Europe. Don't think about saving, think about how much you learn, see, experience that's worth much, much more than saving right now.

ginger

yes definitely go. you might never get another chance. who cares how much you can save. it's Paris!!! just have fun. don't have any idea about medical insurance there. but you should go

q_bertk57

In general, you can knock off 20% for social security (health insurance) deductions, and another 10% for imcome tax (which you'll need to save since they don't do income tax deductions. So, your 30K euros is really a take home of around 1755 euros/month.

That being said, I'd go.

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