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Budgets - Myanmar

Wondering how much to budget for teaching English in Myanmar? This guide outlines pre-departure, training, and living expenses - so you can plan ahead and settle in with confidence.

Our support team will walk you through everything prior to you departing to ensure you have exactly what you need by when you need to have it.


Budget before you arrive

Our support coordinators will assist you with:

  • Booking flights.
  • Explaining and finding the best insurance required.
  • Advising you on all the document costs involved.

FLIGHTS

Flight prices vary depending on where you travel from and when you book. Prices can occasionally exceed this range. We recommend booking 2-3 months in advance or more for the best rates.

$450 - $850

INSURANCE & VACCINES

Travel insurance prices and vaccination (optional) can vary depending on things like provider, age, country of origin and duration of your stay. This range is for TravelBud's recommended policies based on stays of 6 months or 1 year. Travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for all TravelBud programs.

$350 - $1,500

DOCUMENTATION

This budget is assuming all of your current documentation is in English, you are in possession of your physical degree and that you hold a valid passport.

$211 - $420
TOTAL

$1,011 - $2,770

 

 

Budget for 1 month TEFL/TESOL course in Myanmar

  • You will also need to take over enough spending money to cover living expenses during your Myanmar TEFL/TESOL course and first month of teaching English in Myanmar.
  • Bear in mind that you will be spending at least 2 months in Myanmar before you receive your first paycheck.
  • You will therefore need to budget enough money to see you through the 1 month TEFL/TESOL course and your first month of teaching.

ACCOMMODATION DEPOSIT

For our in-country partner residence, you will need to put down a deposit, which will be returned to you at the end of the course minus utilities (water and electricity).

$250 (refundable)

DAY-TO-DAY EXPENSES

Food, transport, laundry, etc. These costs can vary depending on how tight your budget is. Eating local food and using shared public transport can dramatically reduce your spending

$140 - $200

OPTIONAL EXPENSES (NIGHTLIFE, ENTERTAINMENT,
WEEKEND TRIPS, SHOPPING)

Depending on your needs and interests, these costs can vary. Chat to us for specific advice.

$0 - $100
TOTAL $390 - $550

 

 

TRANSPORTATION TO YOUR PLACEMENT

At the end of the week, the placement team will advise you on the best way to get to your placement. They will assist you in purchasing the correct van, bus, train, or plane ticket. The bus system is the most common (and cheapest) form of transport.

Most people will take a bus to their placement and the bus tickets will cost about 17,000 MMK depending on distance.

* Note, it is unlikely you will fly to your placement, but if so, please add on an extra cost to your total of 130 USD.

$13 - $16

DAILY EXPENSES (FOOD< TRANSPORT TO SCHOOL AND AROUND TOWN, NIGHTLIFE)

This amount depends a lot depending on your placement area and spending habits. The amount given here is a safe approximation for most placements in Myanmar.

$132 - $264

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation can be tricky to newcomers as landlords may have certain practices westerners are unused to. Luckily, we have a few options for you!

  1. Though it seems odd, most landlords will ask renters to pay six months of rent up front when you rent an accommodation in Myanmar. Depending on your location, type of accommodation you choose, and if you are sharing the accommodation with others or if it is private, the rent will cost anywhere from 250,000 MMK – 400,000 MMK. You may be able to find an accommodation that you can pay the normal month to month, but they are few and far between and the rent per month may be higher than if you were to pay six months up front.
  2. You may also be able to find accommodations that will rent to you for three months at a time, but again, these can be more difficult to find.

    Depending on your electricity usage you can expect to spend approximately 50,000 MMK per month on electricity and other utilities like water and wifi. This is the cost you should budget for the most! Rent tends to cost a lot in Myanmar while everything else is very cheap. Please make sure you budget accordingly for rent. * Note, while this may be a high upfront cost it is important to point out that then you have no more monthly rent for an extended period.
  3. We may be able to have you stay at the accommodation for a few months while you search for your own accommodation, but this is dependent on available space. If you choose to stay at the accommodation, you can pay month to month. The cost of this is 250,000 MMK for a bed in the four-bed room, or 300,000 MMK for a bed in the two-bed room. This includes utilities for the month. Please remember though, how long you can stay depends on if there is space available. We may ask you to move out, with plenty of notice given, to make room for new teachers that are arriving.
  4. If there is no space available for you to stay at the accommodation, we can also suggest cheap hotels and hostels you can stay at while you look for your own accommodation

$140 - $200

  1. $990 – $1,580 (6 months total)
  2. $489 – $782 (3 months total)
  3. $163 – $195 (per month total)
  4. $137 (per month total)
TOTAL

$620 - $1,059

(Based off paying 3 months of rent at a time)

 

 

Month on TEFL/TESOL Course Total

$650 - $900

Visa Run (If applicable)

$0 - $132

First Month Teaching Total

$620 - $1,059

(based off paying 3 months of rent at a time)
APPROXIMATE TOTAL $1,270 - $2,091

 

 

We realize that moving abroad to teach English in Myanmar is expensive at first, but remember that with TravelBud your teaching job is guaranteed.

  • You can focus on enjoying your new lifestyle knowing your monthly income of $600 – $1000 USD is secured.
  • Once you start earning a salary, your living costs will be comfortably covered and you’ll start to learn how to cut down on your monthly expenses (for example, eating out less and finding the most affordable grocery store in your placement town).
  • You will be able to enjoy your time teaching and travelling in Myanmar!