WhereTo.Work

Tax Regime Analysis:

• Saint Petersburg uses the standard Russian employee tax (13% up to ~2.4M RUB, 15% above). Non‑resident 30% rate not applied as the analysis assumes residency.
• Chengdu applies the Chinese individual income tax brackets, converted to USD.

Tax Parameters:

• Russia: 13% on income ≤ 25,806 USD, 15% on income > 25,806 USD; no social security rate included due to lack of precise data.
• China: Progressive rates 3%‑45% with thresholds converted from CNY to USD; social security 20% capped at 41,667 USD.

Cost-of-Living Data:

• Saint Petersburg: 1‑BR rent $600, mid‑range meal $15, iPhone $800, cappuccino $3 (sources: Numbeo 2024, local retailer pricing).
• Chengdu: 1‑BR rent $500, mid‑range meal $12, iPhone $800, cappuccino $3 (sources: Numbeo 2024, Chinese e‑commerce listings).

Net Salary Calculations:

• Saint Petersburg: Gross $60,000 → Income tax $7,800 (13% on $25,806) + $5,130 (15% on $34,194) = $12,930; net ≈ $47,070.
• Chengdu: Gross $60,000 → Apply brackets → tax ≈ $9,000; social security 20% of $60,000 capped at $8,333 → $8,333; net ≈ $42,667.

Purchasing-Power Comparison:

• Total monthly cost index A = $1,418; B = $1,315.
• PPP multiplier = 1,315 / 1,418 ≈ 0.93, indicating Chengdu’s cost is about 7% lower.

Comparison Conclusion:

• Chengdu scores higher (85/100) versus Saint Petersburg (78/100) due to lower living costs and comparable net income.
• The margin is modest; both cities provide attractive salaries for tech professionals.

Confidence and Caveats:

• Data confidence is medium; tax rates are official, but social security details for Russia are omitted.
• Exchange rates used are approximate (1 USD ≈ 93 RUB, 1 USD ≈ 7.2 CNY).
• Cost figures are averages and may vary by neighborhood.