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Comment by postsantum | Hacker News Reader

Nomadlist is often way off on their estimates. I'd suggest using it for inspiration only and then see prices on Numbeo

No one number can quantify a city. You can probably live for $1000 a month in Mnahattan if you are willing to live in a total dump.

But still the numbers are useful and mostly accurate within a range

This is a common misconception of nomadlist. The cost of living that it presents is factoring 2-3 month stays and you being a nomad tourist.

Off in one direction or just randomly?

In my experience of living in Shanghai, Nomadlist and Numbeo estimates are way too high. That's not to say that rich expats aren't actually paying those prices (someone must've entered them, right?) but if you're willing to shop around and learn the local language so you don't get ripped off like an ignorant foreigner, you should be able to get things much cheaper.

> but if you're willing to

Isn't this just capturing the difference between short(ish term vs long term relocation? Places like Nomadist are aimed at the first category, not "what's the cheapest you can live in city X", no?

I’m sure the numbers are skewed highly by expats who’s employers pay for them to live there. I still remember my parent’s rent when they lived in HK- 13k USD/mo.

What in the world? That's incredibly high!!

Not the poster you’re replying to, but it’s not atypical for expats being sent there by their company to live in luxury housing with staff etc. I think this is partly done to entice the expat to move his whole life and family for the company but also to hook the expat up with living way above the standard they could normally afford and so they’re more docile and less likely to quit or make waves.

Where do I send my CV to get that benefit?

I’m talking about multinationals sending people around the world, and at the manager level and up (not middle management)

If that’s your position, then I’d think any multinational sending you on a multi year stint abroad would offer that kind of package.

> so you don't get ripped off like an ignorant foreigner

Interesting framing

Too high. For example, for my home city there is a figure that would be the 90th percentile net salary

I always thought that's by design - that's the cost of a nomad living there for a short period of time

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