[fdghsjakjhf__]

No, it's the equivalent of making ~$18,036 / month.

Do you think Mercedes makes a cheap version of an SLK for the "poor Indians"?

I make more than the OP and live in his/her part of the world. Luxury items are more expensive than they are in the US.

That bigger house you can afford? You're still paying US prices or higher for your furniture and appliances. Same goes for autos, edu, cars, wine, dining, etc.

Generally speaking, "poor countries" are only relatively cheaper in terms of labor and situationally, real estate. Your Merc will cost you, having it washed will be relatively cheap.

[outcoldman]

Went I left Russia in 2011, I was making 54,000 a year, I took my first job in the USA for about $92,000 a year. It felt like I took a huge pay cut. Like I was making several times less money.

Yes, it is easier to buy luxury things in United States, most of the things are cheaper, comparing to other countries (SLK, laptops, phones, etc). But that is not what defines the life.

If I remember everything correctly, below is break down of monthly spending Russia vs USA in that time. Based on my annual pay, my monthly salaries were $4,500 in Russia, $7,700 in USA

Let's compare (first number is spent in Russia, second in USA), everything per month. At that time I used to use the money-spent tracking software, so kind of remember pretty well most of the bills.

- Taxes: 7% (~$300) vs ~18% ($1386)

- Rent: $300 vs $1200

- Cellular: $20 vs $100 (2 people)

- Internet: $10 vs $60

- Medical: $0 vs $200 (co-pays, dentals, plus paying for spouse to keep her on the plan)

- Groceries: $300 vs $1000

- Cinema/Bars: $100 vs $300

- Commute: $20 vs $100

- Car insurance: $20 vs $100

---

- What is left: $3430 vs $3254.

At the end, comparing the Russian's salary vs USA - based on just common spent, I ended up with a little less money to keep on hands. And it always felt like those money that left way easier to spend in USA without even looking. Clothes, shoes, concerts, etc.

For me, only when I started to get more than $250,000 a year in USA, I felt that I was making a salary, that I could compare to one I had in Russia.

Few notes: I lived not in the very big city, just around 600,000 people, so rent and everything way cheaper comparing to Moscow or St Petersburg. $54,000 a year is very high salary in Russia, not very common, I used to work remotely for UK based company.

P.S. I never regretted moving to USA (especially now), yes, it did feel like I was making less, but the companies I was working for, the products, the people, are on different level. I learned a lot. Built my own company, living American dream.

[EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK]

As someone who visited both US and Russia last year:

1. Taxes in Russia are actually higher. You forgot to include 30% Social Security tax, 20% VAT tax and import taxes, that make, for example, cars, clothes and every bit of electronics 50% more expensive. Now, because of the sanctions, it's 100% more expensive.

2. Rent depends on location, prices in Moscow are closer to $1000 range. And in the US you usually get larger, cleaner apartments, with more amenities.

3. Cellular and Internet are indeed much cheaper, but it's small amounts.

4. Healthcare is cheaper while you are young and healthy. If you have cancer, your life expectation will be 1/3 of that in the USA. And overall you will live 15 years less, that is, if you don't get mobilized.

5. Groceries are basically 1:1. Some items, like bread, are cheaper in Russia, but fresh fruit and vegs are more expensive.

[outcoldman]

1. That is true, I actually wanted to mention that, but forgot. If you work for a corporation, they pay a high percent of taxes for you, that you don't see. But if you work as sole proprietorship you pay 7% (or 0%, if nobody is going to report you).

2. Sorry, I would not agree to that. If you want to compare cities, Moscow should be compared to NY or SF, where for $1,000 you will get a corner in a garage, if you are lucky. :D

3. I don't know $200 a month is a large amount of money. In some countries it is a month living. I have not been in Russia for a while, and my knowledge is based on 10 years ago, but you can get a $50 Android phone with like $3/month service, that will have some internet, an be able to make calls and texts. In USA, I believe, the cheapest would be close to $20 a month? The same about internet, you can start with $3/month in Russia for home internet, but in USA it is going to be at least $40?

4. I mean current time is different, obviously. But free health care is a free health care. Based on the relatives (mom, dad, grandfather and grandmother), they got an ok health care. My dad has serious asthma, with oxygen tanks, and he is actually running from doctors more, than he should, they are always reminding him about checking with them in the hospital. My mom has diabetes, she get all the prescriptions for free. My grandfather died of cancer, I mean he got some treatment, probably not the best, but he stayed in the hospitals for a long time. He actually lived in Crimea, when it was part of Ukraine, and at the same time this state was very corrupt (probably now as well, don't know), but he still got a treatment. To be honest, I don't have much knowledge yet about how the treatment of serious illness is going to be in USA, but my guess that they will suck all your money first, and after that get your on medicare. That is my guess.

5. That is hard to compare. In Russia there are still local markets, which aren't exactly the same as US markets. In local markets you can buy groceries (fruits, veggies) from local farmers for cheaper than in the supermarket. In USA markets are all super-organic food, that even has higher prices than in supermarkets. And the cheapest fruids/veggies you can buy are wallmart-like stores, where everything not even fresh. In Russia people do eat meat less often, but veggies and fruits can be way cheaper than in USA.

[ketzo]

Biggest expenses are food and rent. Those aren’t cheaper in India?

Your point is taken, but like, I don’t have a monthly line-item for Mercedes.

[yamtaddle]

I am entirely sure that like 90% of what my annual spending goes toward in a typical year would be a lot cheaper in India. Food, services (restaurants, childcare, cleaning, delivery, healthcare, barbers, dentists, and so on), housing.

I'm not buying tens of thousands of dollars of cars and high-end electronics per year. Or fancy clothes. I'm buying tens of thousands of dollars of services, housing, and food.

[heywhatupboys]

> Do you think Mercedes makes a cheap version of an SLK for the "poor Indians"?

they, do? Global pricing of the same product is vastly different depending on regions. If there is an Italian and a Nepalese market for a handbag, that same bag could selld for twice as much in Italy. Just look at videogame prices!

[outcoldman]

Interesting thing, that Mercedes cost more in Germany, than in USA. And a lof of the models, they actually assemble in Germany and ship to USA.

[throwaway54687]

They don't. Not cars, not electronics, not house appliances. As was said elsewhere - these are more expensive in poorer countries, not cheaper. Maybe handbags/other apparel, but I don't buy that.

As someone coming from a poorer country, I'd check if it really is the same item - usually what happens is that they produce a cheaper version out of cheaper materials and with lesser service commitment that costs almost the same price (80-95%) as the better item in a rich country.

[whymauri]

You cannot generalize every commodity and every 'poor country' like that. There are cars in Colombia that are less expensive in Colombia, and some that are more expensive in Colombia, than the U.S.

Similarly, I was shocked to find that scotch whiskey is actually cheaper in Colombia than the US, and it's the same product. The market is more competitive because discount liquor (especially rum) is decently good quality and reaaally cheap. It's also hard to sell someone a bottle that is half their monthly salary!

Of course, this doesn't hold for anything (and I frankly have no idea how supply chains work), but my point is that it's not as simple as made out above.

[throwaway54687]

No, the same car is practically never less expensive in Colombia than in the US. There are few specialty items such as liquor, tobacco products or drugs where it's different - but that's about it. Certainly not cars, electronics, home appliances or anything else like that.

[pbreit]

Yes, some car companies do in fact create less expensive vehicles specifically for certain markets.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Kwid

[dumbaccount123]

Not really applicable to premium brands so no need to be pedantic

[whymauri]

The definition of premium shifts with the market. Subaru is premium auto in Colombia and they sell the XV instead of the Crosstrek, for example.