COST OF LIVING IN SHANGHAI

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bleucheese
Veejay
Veejay

Joined: Aug 01, 2003
Posts: 2000
Location: this side of the tracks

Posted: Aug 07, 2003 - 06:14 PM
Post subject: COST OF LIVING IN SHANGHAI

WHAT SHOULD I ASK FOR?$?$?$?
I was wondering if anyone could help me with a rough estimate of the cost of living in shanghai. My comapny is planning on moving me there early next year. I will be the first employee to be sent there and neither they nor I know anything about the costs. Their idea is to give me large set salary and have me take care of everything (except a car and gas) out of that salary myself. I will therefore be negotiating my package blindly and I could conceivably end up saving nothing.
I will be needing a decent 1 bedroom apt/condo in a safe neighborhood. I will also need high-speed internet access. I will also need a maid maybe 3 times a week to do laundry and clean. So if I had some idea on rent + bills including maid and meals that would help. Assume I will be eating out in mediocre restaurants 4-5 nights week. I will be commuting to work though my car and gas will certainly be paid by the company. The only other thing I would need is a helath club membership, not too fancy, just weights.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

silky

Newbie

Joined: Aug 07, 2003
Posts: 2

Status: Offline

Posted: Aug 07, 2003 - 11:52 PM
Post subject: COST OF LIVING IN SHANGHAI

Hi bleucheese,

I happen to know something about it due to my work.

An expatriate\'s income usually consists of the items as base salary, cost of living abroad (COLA, which covers expenses as rental, etc.), mobility premium (which is usually something like a one-off bonus), disbursements (laundry, meal, etc. which are usually non-taxable), hardship allowance, etc. You\'d better get some detailed information about the cost of living beforehand if you could have bargaining power on it with your company and try to make the gym fee a kind of disbursement based on actual cost.

The usual rental for a decent apartment in or near downtown ranges between RMB 15,000 and 50,000, that is, USD 1,800 to 6,000, of coz with exceptions depending on the level of luxury.

As to your individual income tax, it depends on the company policy, whether it\'s a tax equalization one or tax protection one. Tax equalization is the usual case for expatriates to China.

Hope it\'s of a little help.