United States
US
Start-Up Costs For TEFL Teachers: How Much To Budget For
July 13, 2023
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- TEFL certification cost
- Documentation fees
- Travel costs
- First month living expenses
- Money matters
- Reimbursed costs
- Low start-up costs
- Begin your journey
- Summary
- Financial matters are a concern if we want to up sticks and move abroad.
- The first - and possibly most important cost - is the cost of your TEFL certification.
- A visa will cost you money.
- You’ll need money for your flights.
- Even if you land into a job, you’ll need to cover costs until your first paycheque
Ready to spread your wings and fly abroad? Awesome! Excited to travel the world teaching English? Brilliant! But wait a minute, have you checked your bank balance lately?
Unfortunately, financial matters are a concern if we want to up sticks and move abroad. But this is a big step, so let’s put our big-people pants on and be smart: What are the start-up costs for prospective TEFL teachers, and how much do we need to budget for?
Let’s find out.
TEFL certification cost
The first – and possibly most important cost – is the cost of your TEFL certification. A TEFL qualification is a must if you want to teach English abroad and online, but it can’t be just any TEFL qualification. Your TEFL course needs to be from an accredited TEFL course provider which is reputable and internationally recognised. It should be at least 120 hours long and should be a comprehensive course which covers the foundations of teaching English as a foreign language.
And yes we might be biased but a TEFL certificate from The TEFL Academy is everything you need to take you from teacher-zero to teacher-hero – and it’ll give your CV that extra little bit of oomph.
(And if you don’t believe us, just ask our alumni who are teaching all over the world!).
Documentation fees
Yes, sadly even though you would avoid paperwork if you could, it could still cost you money. A visa costs money. If you need certified copies of your degrees, that could cost you money. If you need a police clearance, that may cost you money.
Wherever you live and wherever you are going will impact what paperwork you need. Find out what exactly is required for your specific situation and budget accordingly.
Travel costs
The obvious one. You need money for your flights. If you can, book your ticket well in advance as this is usually the cheaper option. If you’re looking to save money, taking an indirect flight or flying at an inconvenient day or time will help cut costs as well. A handy trick is to clear your cache between searches. This will make sure you are shown the results for the cheapest flights.
Some employers may cover the cost of your flight but you might need to buy your ticket and you’ll be reimbursed at a later stage. Some employers will only reimburse you a percentage of your flight or only at the end of your contract. Make sure you know the exact situation you are dealing with.
Have you got a good suitcase? A decent bag for hand luggage? A laptop bag? Good. If not, you’ll need to buy these before you leave. You may also want to stock up on any essentials before you leave so you don’t have to hustle as soon as you land. Think about: toiletries, medical supplies, adapters, stationery and appropriate work clothes.
Read more: 15 Genius Teaching And Travel Hacks For TEFL Teachers
First month living expenses
Even if you land into a job, you’ll need to cover costs until your first paycheque.
Living costs to consider include:
Accommodation. If housing is not provided for you, you’ll need to look for accommodation once you arrive. Your budget for going abroad will need to include a hostel or a hotel until you find somewhere to live on a more permanent basis. Have a look on the internet at how much holiday accommodation costs where you’re going and budget for around a 10-day stay.
That will give you enough time to have a good look around to find suitable long-term accommodation. Then, when you’ve found somewhere to live you’ll probably have to pay a month’s deposit – sometimes even two! In other words, you’ll need the capital to cover a month’s rent plus a month’s deposit. Don’t forget to budget for your utilities if those are not included in your rent.
If you’re travelling with someone, these costs will be a bit more bearable as you can split costs. It might be possible to share accommodation with another teacher in your school, even if you don’t know them.
Of course, if accommodation is included in your employment contract then there is no need to worry about accommodation costs. Sometimes your school might not cover accommodation in the long term but they might put you up in a hotel until you find somewhere. Other times your school will give you a housing allowance but this will only come into effect with your first paycheque so you will still need the money upfront.
Make sure you know exactly what the situation is before you leave home.
Transport. If you don’t live within walking distance of your school, you’ll have to budget for transport costs to get you to work and back home every day. This might be in a taxi, bus, tram or on a motorbike taxi. Usually, the cheapest way to get to work is to do exactly what the locals do, so find out how the other teachers get to school and do the same. It makes sense to share taxis if you live with or close to other staff members. Alternatively, find out about any monthly public transport discounts you can get in your area.
Food. You’ll need to bring money with you for groceries from the time you arrive until you get paid. Remember that you only get paid at the end of your first month so that could mean four weeks with no pay or up to six weeks without pay if you still need to look for a job. The main costs will be groceries and cleaning supplies. Eating local food will be cheaper than looking for the food you’re used to at home. If you’re going to Thailand for instance, you’ll find that eating out at local restaurants or eating street food is very cheap – and mouth-wateringly delicious!
Do some research before you leave home to find out the cost of basic foodstuffs so that you’ll have an idea of general costs before you arrive. Bring from home what you can – for example, toiletries, work clothes, medical supplies. They won’t last forever but they will save you money initially.
Internet and phone. Communication is important so that your potential or current employer can contact you, but also for keeping in touch with your friends and family back home. Find out the best form of mobile phone package before you go. You might be able to get one that will cover international calls at a cheap rate.
If you want the internet in your apartment your budget for living abroad will need to include enough money to pay for the first month, plus any possible costs for installation. However, you might want to include internet connectivity on your list of non-negotiables when looking for a place to live.
Entertainment. If you’re a bit tight with finances, then this should not be included in your budget. Sure, socialising and getting out and about is an essential part of any adventure abroad, but if you’re short of cash it won’t hurt you to lay low for a couple of months.
If you can afford it, make sure you set aside a certain amount of money to spend on weekends and during your time off. It will be impossible for you to know what exactly you’ll want to do before you get there, so be sensible and set an amount that is available to you each weekend. If you don’t use your entire allowance one weekend then you can have more to spend on the next one.
Money matters
Remember to have some funds available in case of an emergency. It should be enough to pay for a hospital or doctor’s visit, or even a flight home, but it would be better if it was at least one month’s salary. This way you can be comfortable knowing that no matter what happens you have something to fall back on.
Don’t forget to figure out the best way for you to deal with your finances abroad. Do some research and find out if you can open a local bank account or if your bank has a particular card you can use abroad with minimal charges. And don’t forget to tell your bank of your whereabouts so your accounts don’t get blocked!
Which costs can I be reimbursed for?
There are some costs which can be reimbursed by employers. What you are reimbursed for, if anything, depends on your teaching contract.
Costs which are commonly reimbursed are:
- Flights
- Visa
- Accommodation
- Transport
Bear in mind, these costs may be paid upfront i.e. bought on your behalf, or you might be paid on arrival or at the end of your first month. Some schools pay a percentage when you arrive and the rest on completion of your contract. Employers may cover all or none of these costs, or only some of them.
Which countries have low start-up costs?
Not surprisingly, many TEFL teachers don’t have oodles of cash when they’re starting out. After all, that’s why they want to teach English abroad! But there are a handful of countries which have low start-up costs and so which make useful initial countries for new teachers.
Popular TEFL destinations which have low start-up costs include:
- Thailand
- Cambodia
- Vietnam
- Mexico
- Brazil
- Argentina
Ready to begin your TEFL journey?
Now that you know exactly what to expect from your start-up costs, isn’t it time to bite the bullet and sign up for one of The TEFL Academy’s TEFL courses? And we’ll give you a tip: if you keep an eye on our socials you might snag yourself a deal!
Meet The Author
Kirsten Colquhoun is the Content Manager for The TEFL Academy. A graduate of Cambridge University and DELTA-qualified, she first started teaching kindergarten in Thailand in 2003. A South African, she has also taught in China, the UK, Spain, Qatar and South Africa, but these days she is a teacher trainer and freelance writer and editor.Table of Contents
- Introduction
- TEFL certification cost
- Documentation fees
- Travel costs
- First month living expenses
- Money matters
- Reimbursed costs
- Low start-up costs
- Begin your journey
- Summary
- Financial matters are a concern if we want to up sticks and move abroad.
- The first - and possibly most important cost - is the cost of your TEFL certification.
- A visa will cost you money.
- You’ll need money for your flights.
- Even if you land into a job, you’ll need to cover costs until your first paycheque
Ready to spread your wings and fly abroad? Awesome! Excited to travel the world teaching English? Brilliant! But wait a minute, have you checked your bank balance lately?
Unfortunately, financial matters are a concern if we want to up sticks and move abroad. But this is a big step, so let’s put our big-people pants on and be smart: What are the start-up costs for prospective TEFL teachers, and how much do we need to budget for?
Let’s find out.
TEFL certification cost
The first – and possibly most important cost – is the cost of your TEFL certification. A TEFL qualification is a must if you want to teach English abroad and online, but it can’t be just any TEFL qualification. Your TEFL course needs to be from an accredited TEFL course provider which is reputable and internationally recognised. It should be at least 120 hours long and should be a comprehensive course which covers the foundations of teaching English as a foreign language.
And yes we might be biased but a TEFL certificate from The TEFL Academy is everything you need to take you from teacher-zero to teacher-hero – and it’ll give your CV that extra little bit of oomph.
(And if you don’t believe us, just ask our alumni who are teaching all over the world!).
Documentation fees
Yes, sadly even though you would avoid paperwork if you could, it could still cost you money. A visa costs money. If you need certified copies of your degrees, that could cost you money. If you need a police clearance, that may cost you money.
Wherever you live and wherever you are going will impact what paperwork you need. Find out what exactly is required for your specific situation and budget accordingly.
Travel costs
The obvious one. You need money for your flights. If you can, book your ticket well in advance as this is usually the cheaper option. If you’re looking to save money, taking an indirect flight or flying at an inconvenient day or time will help cut costs as well. A handy trick is to clear your cache between searches. This will make sure you are shown the results for the cheapest flights.
Some employers may cover the cost of your flight but you might need to buy your ticket and you’ll be reimbursed at a later stage. Some employers will only reimburse you a percentage of your flight or only at the end of your contract. Make sure you know the exact situation you are dealing with.
Have you got a good suitcase? A decent bag for hand luggage? A laptop bag? Good. If not, you’ll need to buy these before you leave. You may also want to stock up on any essentials before you leave so you don’t have to hustle as soon as you land. Think about: toiletries, medical supplies, adapters, stationery and appropriate work clothes.
Read more: 15 Genius Teaching And Travel Hacks For TEFL Teachers
First month living expenses
Even if you land into a job, you’ll need to cover costs until your first paycheque.
Living costs to consider include:
Accommodation. If housing is not provided for you, you’ll need to look for accommodation once you arrive. Your budget for going abroad will need to include a hostel or a hotel until you find somewhere to live on a more permanent basis. Have a look on the internet at how much holiday accommodation costs where you’re going and budget for around a 10-day stay.
That will give you enough time to have a good look around to find suitable long-term accommodation. Then, when you’ve found somewhere to live you’ll probably have to pay a month’s deposit – sometimes even two! In other words, you’ll need the capital to cover a month’s rent plus a month’s deposit. Don’t forget to budget for your utilities if those are not included in your rent.
If you’re travelling with someone, these costs will be a bit more bearable as you can split costs. It might be possible to share accommodation with another teacher in your school, even if you don’t know them.
Of course, if accommodation is included in your employment contract then there is no need to worry about accommodation costs. Sometimes your school might not cover accommodation in the long term but they might put you up in a hotel until you find somewhere. Other times your school will give you a housing allowance but this will only come into effect with your first paycheque so you will still need the money upfront.
Make sure you know exactly what the situation is before you leave home.
Transport. If you don’t live within walking distance of your school, you’ll have to budget for transport costs to get you to work and back home every day. This might be in a taxi, bus, tram or on a motorbike taxi. Usually, the cheapest way to get to work is to do exactly what the locals do, so find out how the other teachers get to school and do the same. It makes sense to share taxis if you live with or close to other staff members. Alternatively, find out about any monthly public transport discounts you can get in your area.
Food. You’ll need to bring money with you for groceries from the time you arrive until you get paid. Remember that you only get paid at the end of your first month so that could mean four weeks with no pay or up to six weeks without pay if you still need to look for a job. The main costs will be groceries and cleaning supplies. Eating local food will be cheaper than looking for the food you’re used to at home. If you’re going to Thailand for instance, you’ll find that eating out at local restaurants or eating street food is very cheap – and mouth-wateringly delicious!
Do some research before you leave home to find out the cost of basic foodstuffs so that you’ll have an idea of general costs before you arrive. Bring from home what you can – for example, toiletries, work clothes, medical supplies. They won’t last forever but they will save you money initially.
Internet and phone. Communication is important so that your potential or current employer can contact you, but also for keeping in touch with your friends and family back home. Find out the best form of mobile phone package before you go. You might be able to get one that will cover international calls at a cheap rate.
If you want the internet in your apartment your budget for living abroad will need to include enough money to pay for the first month, plus any possible costs for installation. However, you might want to include internet connectivity on your list of non-negotiables when looking for a place to live.
Entertainment. If you’re a bit tight with finances, then this should not be included in your budget. Sure, socialising and getting out and about is an essential part of any adventure abroad, but if you’re short of cash it won’t hurt you to lay low for a couple of months.
If you can afford it, make sure you set aside a certain amount of money to spend on weekends and during your time off. It will be impossible for you to know what exactly you’ll want to do before you get there, so be sensible and set an amount that is available to you each weekend. If you don’t use your entire allowance one weekend then you can have more to spend on the next one.
Money matters
Remember to have some funds available in case of an emergency. It should be enough to pay for a hospital or doctor’s visit, or even a flight home, but it would be better if it was at least one month’s salary. This way you can be comfortable knowing that no matter what happens you have something to fall back on.
Don’t forget to figure out the best way for you to deal with your finances abroad. Do some research and find out if you can open a local bank account or if your bank has a particular card you can use abroad with minimal charges. And don’t forget to tell your bank of your whereabouts so your accounts don’t get blocked!
Which costs can I be reimbursed for?
There are some costs which can be reimbursed by employers. What you are reimbursed for, if anything, depends on your teaching contract.
Costs which are commonly reimbursed are:
- Flights
- Visa
- Accommodation
- Transport
Bear in mind, these costs may be paid upfront i.e. bought on your behalf, or you might be paid on arrival or at the end of your first month. Some schools pay a percentage when you arrive and the rest on completion of your contract. Employers may cover all or none of these costs, or only some of them.
Which countries have low start-up costs?
Not surprisingly, many TEFL teachers don’t have oodles of cash when they’re starting out. After all, that’s why they want to teach English abroad! But there are a handful of countries which have low start-up costs and so which make useful initial countries for new teachers.
Popular TEFL destinations which have low start-up costs include:
- Thailand
- Cambodia
- Vietnam
- Mexico
- Brazil
- Argentina
Ready to begin your TEFL journey?
Now that you know exactly what to expect from your start-up costs, isn’t it time to bite the bullet and sign up for one of The TEFL Academy’s TEFL courses? And we’ll give you a tip: if you keep an eye on our socials you might snag yourself a deal!
Meet The Author
Kirsten Colquhoun is the Content Manager for The TEFL Academy. A graduate of Cambridge University and DELTA-qualified, she first started teaching kindergarten in Thailand in 2003. A South African, she has also taught in China, the UK, Spain, Qatar and South Africa, but these days she is a teacher trainer and freelance writer and editor.