Hello
I am a British expat living in Barbados - I have been offered a job in Luanda - on reading the, very limited, info on Angola and Luanda that is on the net, I am starting to realise that the fairly reasonably sounding 'package' that I was offered may have been anything but - and that even my initial proposal in the salary negotiations may have been on the low side.
The deal is for housing, medical, two return flights per year and car paid (I assume fuel as well but not mentioned specifically) - plus a US$6,500/month net of tax salary with some mention of 'a 13th month' at the end of each year.
I should say that I am a surveyor with thirty years experience, ex.pat experience, plus an MBA and a lot of unusual specialist knowledge. Had no idea of the cost of living but Angola sounded like an adventure - a small drop in income into what I imagined to be a lower or similar cost location seemed a fair trade for the experience - but if the horror stories about cost that I am reading are true I do need to be pre-armed!
I should also mention the $15/day food allowance which seems to be sufficient for half a lunch so far as the info posted on the forums suggest.
The most worrying thing was mention that the housing costs US$4,500/month - he in luxurious and expensive Barbados I pay less than half that for a nice place on the beach - go seemed ok - now looking at these boards I see mention of $10-12,000/month for somewhere reasonable (apt) and houses around $24,000/mth. The company is paying but I do have concerns about exactly where they plan to have me living if they are paying rent at less than half the level I have seen mentioned as being "bottom" of the market.
Any reasurance that can be offered would be gratefully accepted!