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Moving to Shanghai - Cost of living?

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Shanghai Expat Forum Index » City Living Forums » Relocation and Moving

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ckfactor

Barker

Joined: Feb 12, 2008
Posts: 136

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 05, 2008 - 05:47 PM

I still never got this eating local, I still spend 150 - 400 rmb a meal eating Chinese food. Unless you eating the ghetto food of chow mein or ho fun that cost 4-6 rmb. Or the slightly less ghetto restaurants that cost 15 rmb - 30 rmb.

Eating local in Shanghai is like eating Dolar Shop, Hot Pot or Spicy Joint. I still minimum spend 100 rmb or more.

Even last night I spent 147 rmb on ghetto seafood outside, but I also was eating scallops and the such.

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ckfactor

Barker

Joined: Feb 12, 2008
Posts: 136

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 05, 2008 - 05:55 PM

Also you forgetting clothes and amenities. They can cost you the US equivalent. My suits still cost 1000s of rmb.

Shirts and pants if they are not ghetto 150+ rmb, nicer stuff still cost you 500 rmb or more

Gym can cost 2000 - 4000 rmb a yr.

Drinks can cost 45 rmb and up for a beer
Mixed drinks 75 rmb and up
These are at pretty good clubs

Say you want to buy electronics, and stuff. It sometimes just the same price RMB. My TV here cost 20,000 rmb Sony though

So I say 20,000 K would be doable, for a pretty good life. My gf is local and thinks that is doable for a local.

She prefer we both were making that each month.

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Humac
FooJay
FooJay

Joined: July 07, 2007
Posts: 1619

Posted: Sep 05, 2008 - 07:17 PM

ckfactor wrote:

People always recommend eating locally, unless you have traveled to developing countries for many yrs. You will get massively sick.

I recommend eating McDonalds and KFC for a while then easing your way local.

I was told I'd be sick if I ate the local food. Not true. McDonald's and KFC on the other hand...
There are plenty of cheap, local restaurants that are clean and healthy...a few are not, of course, but it should be fairly obvious which ones to avoid.

ckfactor

Barker

Joined: Feb 12, 2008
Posts: 136

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 05, 2008 - 07:26 PM

Dude KFC has congee, and many local style Chinese favored western foods. So does Maccas.

Taro Pie, Mala Burger

You don't need to go to the streets to eat local. Hell go to Pizza Hut and have a Chinese topped pizza.

Fusion goo gooo power rangers.

midnight

Reacher

Joined: Apr 27, 2008
Posts: 363
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 05, 2008 - 08:25 PM

^ WTF.... so you get the shits for a few days and then get on with life...no big deal!

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howarda

Barker

Joined: Sep 21, 2005
Posts: 160
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 05, 2008 - 09:56 PM

10,000 is definitly doable and you can have fun, I mean come on most expats are english teachers and thats what the majority get paid. You will have to watch you're money though, I mean cooking at home using local ingrediants and not hitting the expensive clubs. Also I would leave the insurance for flights but thats just me.

Its just a lot of ppl here have been here for a while and are used to having a lot more. Trust me its still a good amount of money here,you'll just have to hold back a bit on some of the western luxuries which can be very expensive.

JoJo cheng

Newbie

Joined: Dec 06, 2007
Posts: 9

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 27, 2008 - 12:57 AM

I'm JoJo.Looking for a roommate, to share apartment, girl or boy, speak fluent English. My apartment is close to Metro Line2, 3, 4, near Zhong Shan Park & High Mall, very clean & well refurbished. I'm a caterer & event planner, fun to be with, call me at 13162855212.
Mailbox is bolomama@163.com
The rental is 1500yuan per month.

LoveBoxStorage

Reacher

Joined: Sep 25, 2008
Posts: 364
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 27, 2008 - 11:54 AM

The important thing to keep in mind is that once you're here, it's much easier to trade up depending on your industry. If your job opportunity over here will entail real hands-on work, then you shouldn't have much of a problem bumping up your pay with another firm 6-12 months after you arrive. (That assumes the economy doesn't get hit too hard.)

My advice is therefore to ask yourself why you're interested in coming to Shanghai. If you see a long-term reason for doing so, then it could be worth it to bite the bullet for a little while on 10K.

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mi60610

Newbie

Joined: Oct 05, 2008
Posts: 6
Location: Chicago, IL. USA
Status: Offline

Posted: Oct 05, 2008 - 02:17 PM

Interesting string. I'm interviewing for a position to direct a staff of 40-50 working directly under the CEO. I've been in my profession for 20 years and past 10 have had my own (smaller) company. Similiar position in US might be 100-150K. I have to send money back to the US so my family can live on a portion of the salary. I'm bringing a great deal to the table here. Does anyone have recommendations for what I should be asking for in terms of salary? Thanks,

xeno

Newbie

Joined: Nov 24, 2008
Posts: 6

Status: Offline

Posted: Nov 24, 2008 - 06:07 AM

Hey, I posted a message on here earlier ( http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/MDForum-viewtopic-t-84835.phtml ).

I've been offered a typical teaching job, but I'm using that to get into Shanghai and start looking for another job afterwards. Its only 20 hours a week, for 8k/month. My girlfriend has also been offered 8k but not as a teacher.

So we'll be sharing rent etc, and estimated to having to spend 2k/month on rent. I think i need to be clear, as I have lived in China before on a salary of less than 4k and found it pretty comfortable after being a student, actually being able to afford to eat out was amazing. Whilst I've seen alot of comments above of people not being able to live off anything less than 20k/month? Are you guys mental? Smile

You must be spending all day sat in starbucks eating too many cheese cakes.

I am not aiming to live the high life. I don't drink, and I'm not interested in going to the expensive western bars.

Anyways, can WE live on a combined salary of 16k/month. Living closish to the center of town, but not in it. I like to eat the local stuff, not the golden M or KFC.

thanks for any help, don't take the above as taking the piss Smile

Theres a chance of us both being upped to 10k, but we'll see.

xeno

Newbie

Joined: Nov 24, 2008
Posts: 6

Status: Offline

Posted: Nov 24, 2008 - 06:09 AM

oh, my reasons for moving.

I'm living in london right now, graduated last year and currently earn £20k a year. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAVE MONEY IN LONDON ON THIS SALARY. So I figure I might aswell go somewhere new.

I have considered starting my own company once arriving, as I'll have lots of spare time only working 20 hours a week.

MrPuxi

Raver

Joined: Jan 30, 2008
Posts: 466

Status: Offline

Posted: Nov 24, 2008 - 09:36 AM

10k a month WITHOUT housing allowance put together with this lame trade off "homeleave vs. medical undercoverage" is not really that hot.

you will live, but seriuosly you will not roll in style by any means (or get to enjoy SHA)! this package sucks and just the benefit of "international exposure" seems a bit meaningless.

unless htere really is some light at the end of this tunnel (promotion, SIGNIFICANT raise after 6 months..), you should not try it out. you will hate it.

amitmisra

Newbie

Joined: Sep 25, 2009
Posts: 2

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 26, 2009 - 01:25 AM
Post subject: Re: Moving to Shanghai - Cost of living?

[quote="Amit

I have recently been given the opportunity to move to Shanghai for a new job. I currently live in India

kindly advice how much RMB per mnth we require to survive in Shanghai for a healthy life for a copule excluding house rent and house bills bills
and what is the system of health care there in shanghai

amitmisra

Newbie

Joined: Sep 25, 2009
Posts: 2

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 26, 2009 - 01:25 AM
Post subject: Re: Moving to Shanghai - Cost of living?

trousers

Ranter

Joined: Apr 28, 2009
Posts: 581
Location: sofa
Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 26, 2009 - 02:04 AM

Amitmisra, it all depends upon what mean by 'survive'. For us that's 10k plus, some would say that's a lot, others would say that's very little. Many locals live happily on 3k or less. I would imagine that the cost of living here is much more than in India.

Health care? An expat needs insurance or will have to pay full whack. This varies of course from the 'western' places and the 'local'.

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Ah Beng

Rocker

Joined: May 14, 2008
Posts: 771
Location: Shanghai Paradise
Status: Online!

Posted: Sep 26, 2009 - 02:17 AM
Post subject: Re: Moving to Shanghai - Cost of living?

amitmisra wrote:

I have recently been given the opportunity to move to Shanghai for a new job. I currently live in India

kindly advice how much RMB per mnth we require to survive in Shanghai for a healthy life for a copule excluding house rent and house bills bills
and what is the system of health care there in shanghai

Don't worry amitmisra, if you can survive India, it'll be a breeze here..

Minimum RMB to srvive shanghai? Can be as cheap as India or as expensive as NY...depends on your lifestyle.

Local Healthcare: First, self medicate, then local clinics for basic ailments (affordable and inexpensive)

International Healthcare: Basic GP minimum consultaion rate is est. 800rmb per visit. If you have any major illness and needs hospitalisation, the sky's the limit. It would make more sense to fly to Singapore for equally professional and much more affordable heathcare.

nmo_uk

Newbie

Joined: Sep 26, 2009
Posts: 2

Status: Offline

Posted: Sep 26, 2009 - 04:38 AM

There is nothing wrong with the local food!
I grew up in England and had never traveled beyond Europe before my trip, did not feel sick in the slightest. BBQ, street food and hot pot are much better than maccie d's and kfc. I spent a month in a clean hotel with ensuite tv and breakfast aswell as doing tourist activities and eating/drinking out, all for under 10,000.