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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