Salary question before moving to Mumbai

Lia

Hi everyone,

I'd really like to move to India and my company has made an offer for a position in Mumbai, but the salary seems really low and they don't seem very willing to negotiate.
I have been working in the same company (market research) for 7 years - and have been living in Taiwan for 2 years.
I already had to adjust my salary when I moved to Taipei, and now the whole package they offer (housing allowance and everything else included) INR 75K.
I know life is cheaper in India but it just seems like a huge gap compared with what I'm making now...
Does it seem reasonable to you? would life be comfortable on this salary? Any advice would be great!
I forgot to say I'm single, no kids, would like to live close to the office (Andheri East) and enjoy eating out/ going out.
Thanks a lot for your thoughts!

IndeGuru

You may be just ok, rent would eat away major portion of your sal if you decide to stay in a decent place, i recon nothing less than 20k/month for a 1BHK in a decent place (furnished)

Travelling expenses would be next, I think you should try to play on your experience a bit more and try get more leverage on salary if you can, this is considering that the numbers you've given here are not NETT of taxes.

Fotuman

Market Research!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! spent five years (4 in Mumbai, 1 in Bangalore) there before moving into the BPO/KPO space.

MR in india sucks- no personal life and no pay either.

Is it 75K per month? if so, even if u manage to get abt 50K (after taxes, and other hidden charges), tht quite above industry stnds.

after 5 yrs in MR (that too in an MNC market research agency belonging to the WPP grp), my monthly take home was a princely 25K, and this was one and a half year back.

And god forbid, if its 75k INR per annum... thts pure exploitation.

You mentioned Andheri. is NFO used to have an office there prior to their merger with TNS. Unless ur working with levers (at their andheri centre), which in case it should be 75k a month, which is what an indian researcher with 7 yrs would get

Hope this helps...

Cheers
Ajay

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Familyonthemove

From what I've seen Lia - the living costs, including accommodation, in Mumbai will be similar to Paris and possibly more than Taipei.

Don't accept a suggestion from your employers that India is cheaper to live in than Taiwan. Mumbai is very different to the rest of India.

AvidTrekker

15k Rent in Andheri east [min][one BHK]
03k Transport [since you live nearby,m its auto rickshaw fare]
10k Food [not splurging]
05 k nights out on weekends
05 k clothes and things??

Total 38k is just the cost. If you leave out the last two items, its still 28 k INR per month.

If its 75 k INR a month, you can save 35 to 40 k INR a month.

Not bad... not good. Comme si comme sa.

Chaltaa hai.

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GoanCanuck

What about taxes?

AvidTrekker

OOps .... forgot that

deduct some 8 k for taxes.

That leaves savings of 28 to 32 k a month.

Not much if you are going back to the US/UK/Euro after saving it.

If you are going to Vietnam, a goodly sum.

The OP has not declared whether its 75k per annum ?

On second thoughts, cant be... coz even street beggars in Mumbai make 200 a day which is 6000 a month which is 72 k a year tax free ... with free food and clothes and housing.

tofu67

It must be Rs75K a month, you'll end up with around Rs44K after taxes. my guess is that you have probably been offered a post of senior project director (they value a western management style) at TNS. YOu may not be able to negotiate on the salary but you need to be clear about repatriation and shipping costs and after a how long a time of working for the company. You may also be able to get them to agree to pay for one flight a year to visit relatives. Make sure you get at least two weeks accomodation in a hotel at company expense upon your arrival whilst you find somewhere to live. Also ensure that there is a staff member from your company there to help guide you through the pitfalls you are likely to experience as a firangi in India.

Good luck!

Lia

Thanks for your replies! that's very helpful.
So... with 75K a month (sorry! forgot to say that yes, it's per month), it seems like I can manage to live, but with virtually no savings.
Tofu67, you say I would end up with 44K? waow! They sure have heavy taxes.
Another question... how many days of annual leave is the usual deal? They offer 20 days + 7 days of "casual leave" whatever that means and 12 days of sick leave.
As for relocation, they won't pay repatriation costs if I leave before 24 months.

IndeGuru

Your annual tax would be 30% on gross earnings, your Co. will deduct tax each month and in the year end give you your tax statement with details. Youre right, you'd just be 'ok' though not much of savings with this kind of money, your annual leaves are the OK, thats the norm with the pvt Co's here.

Try network as much and add value to your profile while at work, take on assingments in sectors which are booming, like Oil, metals, telecom, etc, & then if you're lucky you can shift for better.

pennylessinindia

just to add from what has been said not sure of the type of Accom you expect for rs 15 000 do you want ac etc you may be pushing it a bit to find something in that range.
Electric is expensive in comparison to other places so you need to remember that when thinking of expenses. The deposit for rental can be huge so you may want to ensure the company picks this up. Try and get as long as you can in a hotel so you do not have to rush finding somewhere and feel under pressure to move out.

All the best

romagna67

What does it means k when talking about money? I.e. 35k????????????

SteamBuff

Thousand 35k is 35,000

Shaktipalooza

Personally I'd put a blanket veto anytime a company wants to relocate me for less salary. Low-balling your employees isn't a company trend that should be encouraged.

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crvlvr

As some members have pointed out, the salary seems to be oabove market rates. It may less than what the OP is making, But then that is why jobs are moving to India.

However, there might be intangible benefits. 1. this is one great way to experience India. 2. a lot of companies abroad are now seeking candidates with India/outsourcing experience. So she (he?) could parlay this into some better when he/she moves on.