Expenses when working abroad?
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Discussion

harry8

Original Poster:

257 posts

258 months

Tuesday 13th January 2015
quotequote all
Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has any links to recommended daily expense allowances by location worldwide (particularly China). I will be working away for about a month on a daily allowance and just want to compare the rate offered against some sort of benchmark...

Cheers,
Harry

User33678888

1,147 posts

166 months

Tuesday 13th January 2015
quotequote all
Chinese average wage is around $100 a week, so you'll be able to survive on pennies. It really depends on where in China and the standard of living expected. Do you already have a hotel or something provided? I'd say somewhere between £10 and £100 a day plus a hotel, but you'd easily be able to spend more (or less).



Edited by User33678888 on Tuesday 13th January 20:02

Ynox

1,754 posts

208 months

Tuesday 13th January 2015
quotequote all
Did a month in Beijing back in 2011 - my figures will be a little out.

A serviced apartment (Fraser Residence) worked out about £50/night.

Food varied. Eat in a Western restaurant in downtown Beijing and it'd run to about £20-25 per person for dinner. Restaurant by my apartment was about £6 from what I remember.

Taxis were piss cheap.

Beers - varied. £6 or so a pint for Guinness in the Irish bar in Sanlitun (off the top of my head). 50p / bottle for Tsingtao at the 7-11 across the road from my apartment.

£30-50/day ought to easily do it. Depends on what you're likely to do - if you're out a lot then this will obviously increase. I just expensed everything when I was there, don't remember it being a massive expense bill though (think maybe even under £1k).

Mr Pointy

13,330 posts

188 months

Tuesday 13th January 2015
quotequote all
I'd agree with £30-£50, although personally £30 would be a bit low. Watch out for the cost of laundry if you are in a hotel: in Singapore it was cheaper to go & buy a new shirt/socks/pants than have them washed by the hotel.

How much have you been offered?

Pit Pony

11,216 posts

150 months

Tuesday 13th January 2015
quotequote all
Ynox said:
Did a month in Beijing back in 2011 - my figures will be a little out.

A serviced apartment (Fraser Residence) worked out about £50/night.

Food varied. Eat in a Western restaurant in downtown Beijing and it'd run to about £20-25 per person for dinner. Restaurant by my apartment was about £6 from what I remember.

Taxis were piss cheap.

Beers - varied. £6 or so a pint for Guinness in the Irish bar in Sanlitun (off the top of my head). 50p / bottle for Tsingtao at the 7-11 across the road from my apartment.

£30-50/day ought to easily do it. Depends on what you're likely to do - if you're out a lot then this will obviously increase. I just expensed everything when I was there, don't remember it being a massive expense bill though (think maybe even under £1k).
More expensive than working in Derby then. I budget £150 to £200 a week including all food for 5 days and 4 nights away

harry8

Original Poster:

257 posts

258 months

Tuesday 13th January 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the info everyone! As is fairly usual for asia there is a big range in potential costs.

I was there for a week at the end of last year so have an idea what expenses are reasonable just wanted to see what other peoples opinion / experience was.

Unfortunately you don't always feel like hunting down a bargain after work and hotels tend to be more pricey which isn't always appreciated by others who don't do this sort of thing in their roles...

Offered 240RMB at the moment but there isn't much around the hotel I will be staying at so it seems a bit light given that meals will be in the hotel or a return taxi ride away.

Mr Pointy

13,330 posts

188 months

Tuesday 13th January 2015
quotequote all
£24? They are taking the piss. Refuse & tell them you will go actuality & charge all expenses with receipts unless it's doubled.

anonymous-user

83 months

Wednesday 14th January 2015
quotequote all
My company gives hotel and food as receipted or Hotel as receipted plus 180US$ a day for food no receipt, which is exactly waht they give me if I do a trip to London, laundry as receipt to 10% of the hotel bill.
The statement of getting 'new clothes' not laundry in Asia is a good one. I did that in Thailand in the 90's negotiated a laundry allowance, I could buy new clothes with it and then went to the pay by weight 'dobi" once a week instead of the hotel.
In business hotels in Asia expect European prices and you will be about right.

GT03ROB

14,021 posts

250 months

Wednesday 14th January 2015
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We pay 55 quid a day on business trips to cover food, laundry, personal expenses & personal transport. Cost of hotel is at actuals.

bridgdav

4,805 posts

277 months

Wednesday 14th January 2015
quotequote all
Per Diem rates should be available from most government websites.

http://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp

From USA


http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/humanresources/...

From Warwick Uni, out of UK.

Plenty of official info on the Web, so that you can advise you expenses department.

Cyder

7,186 posts

249 months

Wednesday 14th January 2015
quotequote all
GT03ROB said:
We pay 55 quid a day on business trips to cover food, laundry, personal expenses & personal transport. Cost of hotel is at actuals.
That's more or less what I get on trips longer than 5 days. (less that 5 days in expensed).

I do get nearly double that at weekends though which is nice.

GT03ROB

14,021 posts

250 months

Wednesday 14th January 2015
quotequote all
Cyder said:
GT03ROB said:
We pay 55 quid a day on business trips to cover food, laundry, personal expenses & personal transport. Cost of hotel is at actuals.
That's more or less what I get on trips longer than 5 days. (less that 5 days in expensed).

I do get nearly double that at weekends though which is nice.
That was just for China though, We have a table with different rates for each country. Varies from around 30 up to 80.

harry8

Original Poster:

257 posts

258 months

Wednesday 14th January 2015
quotequote all
We also have a variable rate dependent on location however it was basically cut in half which doesn't help, hence my questions about what others expect.

As mentioned I think it is double or a credit card with reciepted expenses, will have to see how negotiations progress...

Cyder

7,186 posts

249 months

Wednesday 14th January 2015
quotequote all
GT03ROB said:
Cyder said:
GT03ROB said:
We pay 55 quid a day on business trips to cover food, laundry, personal expenses & personal transport. Cost of hotel is at actuals.
That's more or less what I get on trips longer than 5 days. (less that 5 days in expensed).

I do get nearly double that at weekends though which is nice.
That was just for China though, We have a table with different rates for each country. Varies from around 30 up to 80.
Ours changes as well depending on currencies and exchange rates (living allowance gets paid in the local currency)

HenryJM

6,315 posts

158 months

Wednesday 14th January 2015
quotequote all
Are you after this:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/scale-r...

Of course it doesn't prevent other things but it may well make them taxed.

FiF

48,674 posts

280 months

Wednesday 14th January 2015
quotequote all
I think expenses and departments have to be more flexible these days, especially in developing countries.

At one time I think our table of allowances gave 20 dollars a day in Kazakhstan for everything. Which worked well - not.

In the end hotels as receipted. Entertaining ditto.
Then an allowance per day no receipts.
You were on honour if you received a meal paid for by another to reduce the allowance claim by a set% dependent upon breakfast/lunch/dinner. Often better to not book the hotel as bed & breakfast rate but pay for the breakfast cash and make on the deal.

Some contracts were on basis no receipts no recompense, which is always difficult on certain things. Car parks with no receipt and the exit barrier keeps the ticket as just one example. Tended to look at this as swings and roundabouts. Win some lose some.

andy-xr

13,204 posts

233 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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This is probably a good starting point

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...



My company flat rate it across Europe, £20 meal allowance, £10 lunch, £5 breakfast. US is $30/$15/$10.

If it costs less, you win a bit. Travel expenses and hotel bills at whatever they cost. If the flat rate sustinence isnt enough for what's reasonable, then expense the bill of what it cost.

As long as no pisses are taken then Finance are happy. Eg it's possible to lower the cost of meals by not eating at expensive restaurants, but it's not expected you buy bread, marg and some ham to live off.

NormalWisdom

2,183 posts

188 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
quotequote all
It will depend on the city (HMRC recommend 3 rated cities)

I claimed €89 per day on top of accommodation whilst contracting in Munich

Govt Per-Diem guidelines here
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...