Living costs vary hugely across Asia but, by and large, this is reflected in the pay for each country. You should be able to afford a decent standard of living on a teacher’s salary wherever you’re working on this continent. Tokyo has a reputation for being one of the most expensive places to live in the world, although it’s probably fairer to say that costs are moderately high. A small one-bedroom apartment in the city costs around £850 per month, for example, compared to a monthly cost of £275 in Thailand’s Chiang Mai. However, even in Japan, your salary can go a long way, particularly if you live outside the city centre, use public transport, shop for local produce and cook your own food. In fact, if you spend carefully, you should be able to build up reasonable savings too. South Korea is another Asian country where salaries tend to outstrip living costs. While it’s not super cheap – a local beer from the market costs around £1.75, for example – accommodation is normally included in your teacher’s package, making it easier to save. Costs are lower across the rest of the region but then again, so are wages. In Thailand, you could choose to blow your whole salary and live a life of relative luxury or go for the (still scrumptious) street food and save for your next travel adventure. In countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia, your salary will enable you to live comfortably by local standards by but you’re unlikely to have much left over at the end of the month. Then again, most TEFL teachers enjoy the experience of being in this part of the world so much that saving is not a top priority!