Interesting Topic. Cost of Living Comparisons in the States and in Croatia..... hhhmmm

In comparison:

1. I spend around $100 per month for fuel;
2. Registration comes to some $25 (once a year);
3. Basic (obbligatory) insurance for CJ is some $300 (once a year);
4. MY CJ is paid for, but $193 payment for a YJ..... sounds a little high to me seeing as you can pick up a YJ for an average for around $5K I'd guess

I heard an interesting statistic a few years ago on Average Salaries in the US and the National average was something like a shocking $12-15. I was shocked on that. But then i don't know who they were counting in that Average, if it included highschool kid Summer jobs, the Unemployed, or just those that work everyday to support themselves and their families. I couldn't imagine supporting my Wife and child on $15K annually. What's you occupation as to get an idea of what you couold possibly be making here in the States?

 

Well...

In reply to:

MY CJ is paid for, but $193 payment for a YJ..... sounds a little high

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It was a very LOW priced YJ! Some 68k miles on the odo (but I doubt seriously they're real - it's a very common play here, to lower the mileage). It costed me $7500, divided in 5 yrs with a 6% interest rate, rounds up to 193,33 euro (or US$,pretty much the same) a month. 60 rates.
Others, similar age & km, were around &8k up to $12,5k for a 1996 TJ, 30k miles on the odo. They're rare here, and there is only one mechanic that deals with US cars around here (apart from the DC dealer) - and this is the Capital of Croatia.

In reply to:

What's you occupation as to get an idea of what you couold possibly be making here in the States?

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I'm in IT in a bank. Network administrator & system development. I do everything from ASP coding, software maintenance (when something stops working), to installing new workstations, domain management, everything related to our Internet site, our intranet, printers, system administration under Win2k, AIX (IBM's Unix), printer queues maintenance, ordering of equipment, telephony... Practically, what you might call a "SUPPORT UNIT". Only I don't carry around heavy boxes. But all the rest I do. There are 750+ persons in the bank, like in 750+ PC's, monitors, some 300+ printers, 750+ telephones, etc.

Oh, I almost forgot: my father just stopped working. He was 69 at the time, working since he was 25. His last pay-cheque was som $50 lower then m< first one (ever). He was working as a professor in a highschool. My mom, still working, is a prof at the University of Architecture. Gets some $15 less (per month) then I do. That's why I'm saying I consider myself very good payed. Not that it's enough...

 

Well, everybody's situation is different, but I would guess that, on average, it is easier in the states. Your country is just coming out of a long dark period. Apparently conditions there are improving rapidly. But you are just starting on the path of capitalism, property rights, and economic and political freedom that we have been travelling for 200 years. I am quite happily surprised that you and your country are doing as well as you are. It shows that you are very smart, industrious and hard-working people. I predict that in a few years you will have money left over to save and invest for the future.

There are a lot of people here who struggle to pay the bills every month. Like you, we do it because we are confident that our situation will improve, and for almost everybody it does.

 

One thing I have leared in my not-so-many-years-on-earth is that, The more you make, the more you spend. I couldn't have dreamied of making what I make now 5 years ago, but my bills were a lot lower then. It all works out the same, unless you make a conscious effort to keep your expenses the same and make more money. But what is the point of not enjoying what you work for?

 

A little comparison to the prices in Denmark.
Not to a Jeep, but to my Renault Laguna.

1. I spend around $125 per month for fuel (price is $1 pr. litre which is $3,78 pr. gallon).
2. Registration comes to some $400 (once a year).
3. Basic (obbligatory) insurance for car is $550 (once a year), as a new driver $1400 a year is normal.
4. I have to pay $386 each month for a 5 year car loan.
5. I get payed around $3650 per month ($44k per year).

Some new car prices here in Denmark:
Jeep Wrangler 4,0 Sahara aut. $70.000
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4,7 Overland aut. $130.000
Ford Thunderbird aut. $126.000
VW Golf 2,0 $35.000
Volvo S40 1,8 $39.000

Could someone find the prices of those cars in the us?

Claus
Denmark

 

rough base MSRP's

Jeep Wrangler 4,0 Sahara aut. $23.000-25.000
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4,7 Overland aut. $30.000-$35.000
Ford Thunderbird aut. $35.000-$40,000 (guesstimate, never really priced them)
VW Golf 2,0 - $16.000-$20.000
Volvo S40 1,8 $25.000-30.000

 

Holy cow! Are you talking US dollars for those vehicles?! If so, maybe the exporting business to Denmark is a good business to look into.

 

Yes talking us dollars....

It's because of car taxes being at a crazy level here...
As I recall it, for every $1 the car costs you also have to pay $1,5 to the goverment/state in tax.

And importing cars is no better, every imported car has to pay the same kind of tax. You import a car, the tax guy compare car to similar cars in denmark and sets a price and from this price you have to pay tax.

Same show if you changes the engine in a car. If the new engine has more than 20% more horsepower you have to pay tax again.

So why am I staying here...
Can't really come up with any sane reasons.

Claus

 

In reply to:

So why am I staying here...
Can't really come up with any sane reasons.

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&

In reply to:

As I recall it, for every $1 the car costs you also have to pay $1,5 to the goverment/state in tax.

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Yeah, tell me about it