Cost of living in Yangon & other queries

Hello Mukesh and welcome to Expat.com!

I invite you to browse through the different threads of the forum. This may help.

Harmonie.

Hi,

I like to answer your things know as close as you expect.

1) average cost of living for a husband & wife in their early 50s.
(If you stay at apartment hotels there will be about 1700 USD for the month only for accommodation plus food for two of you. If you stay at Condo it will cost around 1400 USD for two of you only for accommodation and food. If you can less expenses around 300 maximum than above estimate. )

2) Whether internet facility available? If yes, can we do internet banking thru HDFC bank, SBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda, etc? Is there any firewall or restrictions to certain web sites (not talking about porn sites)
(Internet facility is available at home to install easily. It will cost 950 USD for the first installation and monthly fee is around 70 USD per moneht depending on bites you install. But now a days it is more popular that one house installs it and give extension to other people USD 35 per month. It is something like cost together and share together internet line. Absolutely not to use internet banking. There may be you can use West Bank or HSBC on line but you need technology to use it as most of the bank sites does not accept entering their sites from proxy in Myanmar as sanction still exists. Most of the restrictive sites are released now but only thing is internet line is very slow as you never expect in your life. You do not expect to down load something since it is too slow. But sometimes it is OK. If you have very urgent things to download you need to check the line always and need to download when the connection is good.)

3. Do we have banks there to withdraw money?
(No, you cannot withdraw the money from here, Explanation see above. The best way to use money here is cash. Even cash you need to bring new ones. If it is too old or some fold mark or any marks on it the note's rate is about 3 or 4 cents less.)

4. How is the social life....is it a safe place to live?
(Social life here is good to live. People are so simple and laughing all the time even they are facing many difficulties. Seems that they are used to with the troubles. It is absolutely safe to live here.)

5. Why so much currency fluctuation in Myanmar?
(It is the same as economic views on other countries and exporting is very limited. In this year export business is very slow like no active as dollar rate is down and Myanmar currency is up. So that our products are very expensive in this year.)

6. What are the Dos & Don't s?
(Like other country there are dos and don'ts but not much restricted. It is easy to follow and easy to know and find here.)

If you have any other questions post here.

Regards,

Tin

maks62 wrote:

Hi,

We are coming to Yangon in the 2nd week of Jan 2012 on one year contract with some MNC. Would like to know so many things, such as:

1. average cost of living for a husband & wife in their early 50s.
2. Whether internet facility available? If yes, can we do internet banking thru HDFC bank, SBI, PNB, Bank of Baroda, etc? Is there any firewall or restrictions to certain web sites (not talking about porn sites)
3. Do we have banks there to withdraw money?
4. How is the social life....is it a safe place to live?
5. Why so much currency fluctuation in Myanmar?
6. What are the Dos & Don't s?
7. Can somebody, preferably an Indian residing in Yangon for quite some time, give his/her contact details so that we can discuss on phone/mail for an ease of understanding?

Many thanks in advance....

Regards,
Mukesh

There is a big Indian population in downtown Yangon.
Following from tinoolatt's post;
Internet shops are everywhere and connections are getting much better. took me only 1 minute to open this site today, a record indeed.

Things are changing very fast here, last 5 months since I've been here, it's opening up. No ATM's or credit cards yet tho. Crisp new US dollars work best. All banks now convert for best rates. It's safe, but common sense and politeness rule.

In terms of social life, depends what you are looking for. A few expat hangouts do exist.

I am contemplating a move to Yangon, Myanmar. I wish to have some latest updates ( as of April, 2015) about cost of living vis-a-vis any Metro City in India, banking system, internet safety and speed, law and order situation, cost of fully furnished 3 bed room rented premises with 100% power backup, overall power situation,medical facilties, road conditions and traffic congestions.

Any relevant feedback from some one currently residing in Yangon will be highly appreciated.