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| Spain | ||
| Salary (£) | Extras | |
| Quantity surveyor, 10 years’ experience | 30,000-35,000 | Allowance for accommodation, transport and flights |
| Project manager, 15 years’ experience | 35,000-40,000 | Allowance for accommodation, transport and flights |
| Engineer, five years’ experience | 25,000 | Allowance for accommodation, transport and flights |
| How does the cost of living compare with the UK? | 10% cheaper | |
| What is accommodation like? | Fairly expensive | |
| Watch out for | The siesta – don’t expect to get any business done after lunch | |
| Germany | ||
| Salary (£) | Extras | |
| Quantity surveyor, 10 years’ experience | 35,000-40,000 | Accommodation, car/allowance, six-to-12 flights a year |
| Project manager, 15 years’ experience | 40,000-45,000 | Accommodation, car/allowance, six-to-12 flights a year |
| Engineer, five years’ experience | 27,000-30,000 | Allowance to cover accommodation and transport, four to six flights a year |
| How does the cost of living compare with the UK? | 5% more expensive | |
| What is accommodation like? | Readily available and not outrageously expensive | |
| Watch out for | Hefty social security payments if paid in local currency | |
| The Netherlands | ||
| Salary (£) | Extras | |
| Quantity surveyor, 10 years’ experience | 30,000-33,000 | Allowance for accommodation, transport, monthly flights |
| Project manager, 15 years’ experience | 40,000-45,000 | Allowance for accommodation, transport, monthly flights |
| Engineer, five years’ experience | 25,000-30,000 | Allowance for accommodation, transport, monthly flights |
| How does the cost of living compare with the UK? | Slightly cheaper | |
| What is accommodation like? | As Germany | |
| Watch out for | As Germany | |
| France | ||
| Salary (£) | Extras | |
| Quantity surveyor, 10 years’ experience | 35,000-40,000 | Allowance for accommodation and transport |
| Project manager, 15 years’ experience | 40,000-45,000 | Allowance for accommodation and transport |
| Engineer, five years’ experience | 25,000-30,000 | Allowance for accommodation and transport |
| How does the cost of living compare with the UK? | 5% more expensive | |
| What is accommodation like? | Rents in Paris comparable with London; apartments rather than houses | |
| Watch out for | France’s very centralised bureaucracy | |
| Poland | ||
| Salary (£) | Extras | |
| Quantity surveyor, 10 years’ experience | 30,000-35,000 | Allowance for car and accommodation, medical cover, four-to-six flights a year |
| Project manager, 15 years’ experience | 35,000-40,000 | Allowance for car and accommodation, medical cover, six flights a year |
| Engineer, five years’ experience | 25,000-28,000 | Allowance for car and accommodation, medical cover, four-to-six flights a year |
| How does the cost of living compare with the UK? | 20-30% cheaper | |
| What is accommodation like? | Sporadic availability and surprisingly expensive | |
| Watch out for | Petty crime, especially cars and their contents | |
| Hong Kong | ||
| Salary (£) | Extras | |
| Quantity surveyor, 10 years’ experience | 60,000-65,000 | All-inclusive package |
| Project manager, 15 years’ experience | 60,000-75,000 | All-inclusive package |
| Engineer, five years’ experience | 45,000-50,000 | All-inclusive package |
| How does the cost of living compare with the UK? | 15-30% more expensive | |
| What is accommodation like? | Extremely expensive, cheaper on outlying islands than downtown | |
| Watch out for | The crowds, and don’t expect to communicate in English if you stray outside expat bars and restaurants | |
| China | ||
| Salary (£) | Extras | |
| Quantity surveyor, 10 years’ experience | 40,000-45,000 | Accommodation, living allowance, medical cover, two-to-three flights a year |
| Project manager, 15 years’ experience | 45,000 | Accommodation, living allowance, medical cover, two-to-three flights a year |
| Engineer, five years’ experience | 35,000 | Accommodation, living allowance, medical cover, two-to-three flights a year |
| How does the cost of living compare with the UK? | 5-15% more expensive | |
| What is accommodation like? | Plentiful but expensive for what you get; can be shoddy | |
| Watch out for | Pickpockets and beggars in cities, and burglary is on the increase in rich neighbourhoods. | |
| Shanghai and Beijing are very polluted | ||
| Thailand | ||
| Salary (£) | Extras | |
| Quantity surveyor, 10 years’ experience | 35,000-40,000 | Accommodation, car, medical cover and flights |
| Project manager, 15 years’ experience | 40,000-45,000 | Accommodation, car, medical cover and flights |
| Engineer, five years’ experience | 27,000-30,000 | Accommodation, car, medical cover and flights |
| How does the cost of living compare with the UK? | 20-30% cheaper | |
| What is accommodation like? | Plentiful and moderately priced | |
| Watch out for | Congestion, pollution and pickpockets | |
| Egypt | ||
| Salary (£) | Extras | |
| Quantity surveyor, 10 years’ experience | 35,000-40,000 | Accommodation, car, medical cover, four flights a year |
| Project manager, 15 years’ experience | 40,000-45,000 | Accommodation, car, medical cover, approximately four flights a year |
| Engineer, five years’ experience | 28,000-30,000 | Accommodation, car, medical cover, four flights a year |
| How does the cost of living compare with the UK? | Similar to UK | |
| What is accommodation like? | There is plenty of accommodation, even if the plumbing can be erratic | |
| Watch out for | Sexual harassment. Women tend to get hassled, especially in the souks | |