A few costs to consider:
1) rent: a 450 sq ft apartment in a fairly 'local' area, $15-20K hk /mo ($2000 - 2500 usd /mo.....and yes, I said 450 sq ft!)
2) burger $10-12 usd, beer $6 usd, steak $40-50 usd, average trip to the grocery store $80-120 usd, transportation $300 usd /mo,
3) tax: 15%, but usually you don't get a bill for the first two years, then you usually don't have the money put away, then you have to get a bank loan...etc.
4) travel: CX has the worst staff travel in the industry. you won't get on the flights most likely, and when you do, you will pay $400 usd round trip to the USA.
5) entertainment: movies $20 usd per ticket, night out on town $150 usd average (meal, alcohol, transportation etc)
If you are single, you can live reasonably comfortably, but cannot expect to save anything. Most of the new SO's are sharing accomodation, which can get very old very quickly, and forget about having a girlfriend. If you are married, don't bother. Don't even think about it. You will live miserably, she will get depressed and leave you. Your life will be a mess.
CX is not interested in providing a 'rewarding career' anymore. They just want bodies in seats. They are happy to exploit you until you get fed up and leave. They will dispute that of course, but the facts support that claim. There are better countries and better jobs to be had. Don't get trapped in a dead end career on the backside of china. Run away....as fast as you can.
