Quote:
Originally Posted by atlast
In any move to another country, it is hard to live exactly as you did at home. You may find that some of your favorite things are way too expensive, and that other things that are extravagances at home are inexpensive. All you can really get is an average.
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I agree, but there is often something to compensate - lower taxes would mean that you could accept a lower base salary, the cost of living being lower menas that you don't lose purchasing power etc. Definitely I would not expect to be able to match anything but an overall average, with an untangeable "quality of life" factor based on how much you like the place. That being said, here in Montreal there are many hidden taxes, from parking meters ($1 for ten minutes in some downtown areas) to the extra 16% goods and sales taxes which you have to add on to the sticker price of everything. Municipal taxes are around $4000 on a house in a nice area such as Notre Dame des Graces, plus school taxes (up to $400), plus drivers licenses and no-fault insurance around $300 which adds to the car insurance (a Honda Civic costs around $800 to insure new).
Food shopping costs around $140 for a family of four.
I have no idea what the equivalents are in Madrid.