The average pay package for an expatriate in the UK has risen by over GBP 40 000 despite salaries remaining static
Overall annual cost of sending an expat middle manager to the UK is now GBP 311 240, 82% of which is to cover tax and essential costs
Swiss salaries highest in Europe, GBP 10 992 more than UK mid-level pay
The UK has overtaken Japan as the most expensive location to send expatriates, with the average expat pay package rising by GBP 44 688 to GBP 311 240 according to latest data from global mobility experts, ECA International (ECA).
ECA’s annual MyExpatriate Market Pay report surveys the cost of benefits, salaries and tax treatments in countries around the world in order to assist companies with benchmarking their expatriate packages when relocating staff. Benefits include the allowance to cover essential costs such as accommodation, international school fees, utilities or cars.
The average package for a mid-level expat worker in the UK is now GBP 311 240, up 17% from last year. Cash salaries make up less than 1% of the increase (GBP 160), as the cost of staff benefits in the UK has caused the majority of the hike.
“The value of an average pay package for an expat in the UK saw a huge increase in 2018,” said Oliver Browne, Remuneration Manager at ECA International. “The rise of GBP 44 688 was primarily down to a major jump in the cost of benefits that companies provided their overseas workers with, such as rental costs and international school fees. As the cost of expat-standard housing and rental prices increased throughout the UK, the value of benefits provided by a company to cover these costs therefore rose significantly by GBP 23 881 on average.”
Swiss salaries highest in Europe
After the UK, Switzerland is the second most expensive country in Europe for expat pay packages costing companies an average of GBP 178 260. However, a large part of this is made up of the highest average cash salary in Europe; GBP 66 940 versus GBP 55 948 in the UK.
Browne said: “Swiss salaries are consistently towards the higher end of the scale but so are everyday costs in most Swiss cities. Despite the higher prices, high salaries in the country mean locals are still well-off compared to their European counterparts. Furthermore, because of low taxes and a smaller value of benefits needing to be provided by a company, it is still comparatively cheaper to send expat workers to Switzerland compared to the UK.”
Republic of Ireland enters top 20 most expensive
Elsewhere, the Republic of Ireland saw a jump in the rankings and entered the top 20 most expensive locations to send expatriate workers.
“Similar to the trend we saw in the UK, benefits costs have increased notably due to the rise in accommodation and rental fees. Expats in Ireland are more expensive for companies despite average net salaries
for expatriates actually dropping by 2% (EUR 965) since last year. This was more than offset by an average rise of 14% (EUR 8 820) in the cost of benefit provisions that companies had to provide their overseas staff,” Browne explained.
Best salaries in the Middle East
Middle Eastern nations Saudi Arabia and UAE continue to offer the best salaries for expats, with the nations now offering an average of GBP 71 125 and GBP 69 280 to mid-level expats respectively.
Browne explained: “The Middle East has always offered extremely high salaries to overseas workers, and 2018 was no different. However, the benefits offered in these nations are not among the most costly for an employer, and the average value of benefits offered actually dropped in both locations last year, while the lack of any personal tax means that the overall package works out to be a lot lower when benefits and tax are both taken into account.”
Pay packages improve in China
The pay and benefits package of an expat living and working in China saw a significant rebound last year, after falling in 2017. The average package is now valued at CNY 1 971 894 (GBP 228 896), an increase of 3% in the local currency, pushing China up to third in the rankings after dropping in 2017.
Browne said “Expats in China have seen a rebound after a bad year in 2017 that saw the value of the average package drop in all areas. The Chinese yuan experienced a better year in 2018 and due to a stronger economy and currency, the pay package for overseas workers in Chinese locations has now improved accordingly.”
