So I will be coming soon to Shanghai for 1 year contract. My salary will be 12.000 RMB before taxation. I wonder where can I find 1br/2brs decent apartment? What is average price for it? I was searching here in Housing section, and Craigs List and to be honest I was pretty astonished seeing average 7000 MRB for 2br apartment, and approx 3000 RMB for one room...Is it really that expensive? Am I going to spend almost whole my salary for rent? Can anyone recommend valuable web page or agent? Thanks in advance. A

Those are the cheap places.
Jeez, 12,000 RMB, that's less than what my local technicians are making.

3k a month for a room in a shared apt, will be passable. You can go lower 2k, you probably wont have a living room, less than 2k it will be a room in an older 6 floor walk up.
You can take a look at the Housing section here and also http://www.smartshanghai.com/housing/

No confusion there, Apts in Shanghai are not cheap. 7000 for 2 bedrooms it's not even nice new apts in city center.
12k before tax is pretty tough. Where are you from if you don't mind me asking?
Good luck.

more confused...
post1399356.html?hilit=decent%20salary#p1399356

post1425728.html?hilit=decent%20salary#p1425728

seeing above posts I thought my 12 wouldn't be that bad. What's "decent" salary for Shanghai then?

PS. does my nationality matter, do they have discounts for european? lol

Some English teachers get a free apartment and 12000 so your wage without an apartment is quite bad. If you dont mind sharing a place than you will be able to live on your salary, but dont expect to have a nice place if you want to live alone. I say talk to your job and get a better offer.

Jeez guys... forget your damn expat salaries and hard ship allowances!

OP - 12k won't let you live like a king, but will give you a very comfortable style living. There is loads of 'local' apartments in central areas in the 2 - 4k price range (2 bed). I rent a 2 bed place on Huaihai Lu for 3000 a month... The best way to find these is to get a local friend to go to the estate agent places in the area where you want to live. All you will find on the English websites is apartments aimed at expats (with their ridiculous allowances)

12k is decent enough - i know foreigners here on half that and they still have a great time!

It's will be easy to find apt. for 3500-4000/m in good location. Do it in 3 easy steps: 1. Come to Sh and learn where you will be work. 2. Walk around and check for aviliable decent apts in this area, mind supermarkets, metro stations, parks .. etc. 3. Take off all your gold, expensive watches and diamonds rings. Now you ready to contact local agents (see small offices on first flours of you-targeted-apts. REMEMBER: you first question should be: "please let me see CHEAPEST APT". That's you strategy - avoid people's thinking about your as "European Nuvorich" - it's helps to save your money. Guda Lacka !

Alice77 wrote:does my nationality matter, do they have discounts for european? lol

Doesn't matter at all...

As others have said, you can easily find 2B apartments for 2-3k. We live in HongQiao area when we rented we paid 2k a month. We've got half an hour or so 'downtown' / to western bars etc.

I'm with Monkey, some people here can't possibly exist if they haven't got a Bund view or can eat Caviar every night... Whilst others... well, others can..

I imagine the Op is going to be a teacher here.

You can find places for 2500 maybe but it will be small and possibly one of those 'walk-ups' - six storey, no lift, old buildings. Or you could share.

I pay 3500 a month and I live in xjh. My place is in an old Chinese building. When people say 'old Chinese building' they mean a place that's about 10-15 years old, high rise, lift. All my neighbours are old school Shanghai ren. I'm the only foreigner in the entire complex. It's a big enough place. Got a big bedroom with this kind of sun room to the side of it which I use for painting my neo-expressionistic masterpieces and then there's a couple of rooms knocked into one which I use as a living room/studio/practising Marc Bolan moves area. Small kitchen and bathroom. Storage room full of junk and a teevee.

Depends where you live, but even in xjh you can get cheap-ish places. Forget CL - it's full of bogus ads to try and get you to call the agency. When you get here, find an area you want to live in and get an agent in that area. House agents are easy to spot - they wear crappy suits and have sh*t-eating grins while chain-smoking in front of their shops.

fWerrF wrote:No confusion there, Apts in Shanghai are not cheap. 7000 for 2 bedrooms it's not even nice new apts in city center.
12k before tax is pretty tough. Where are you from if you don't mind me asking?
Good luck.

If you were the OP you would pick someone up for asking irrelevant questions, Ffferfffy...

Shouldn't you be cleaning your windows?

I dont find my allowance ridiculous!

Message delivered to recipients, was read, and finally self-destructed.

PS: Caviar's stock is limited.

There's cheaper places all over the city. You just need to visit some local agents. You will not find them on English language websites.

^ Totally agree.

Get an agent and tell them very clearly what you are looking for.

These agents in Shanghai have used-car salesman techniques, they're hilarious. One told me that a house I looked at was owned by a blind man and I should take that into consideration. I did and told the agent that the decoration could only have been told by someone visually challenged.

Alice77 wrote:So I will be coming soon to Shanghai for 1 year contract. My salary will be 12.000 RMB before taxation. I wonder where can I find 1br/2brs decent apartment? What is average price for it? I was searching here in Housing section, and Craigs List and to be honest I was pretty astonished seeing average 7000 MRB for 2br apartment, and approx 3000 RMB for one room...Is it really that expensive? Am I going to spend almost whole my salary for rent? Can anyone recommend valuable web page or agent? Thanks in advance. A

I suggest you not to be scared from these bitter expats veterans here. they don't realize that the time of 50k rmb month + apartment + driver + international schools for children is gone for "normal" foreigners. The crises didn't touch them and I am sincerily happy for them
Only high level expats nowadays get that kind of salary plus benefits.
you will definitely survive with 12k month to begin with.

Agree with Monkey, vic, and caso.

Alice:
You will get a very decent place for around 4,000.but.....
I have said this 1,000 times. Do not waste your time searching the listings on websites.
They are placed by agents in disguise, are mainly fake, do not exist, or are several years old, or are dragged out of another site.
Walk the walk, check with local agents with local prices, and have a local to help you.

John.

Alice77 wrote:PS. does my nationality matter, do they have discounts for european? lol

IMHO, it matters.
If you are from some part of North America or Europe where one can earn average salary of 50k USD a year, you will have a harder time to live on 12k RMB a month, compared to a person from some part of 2nd world countries where they earn $20K a year.
Therefore, asking where you are from, in order to get an idea on your current life style, is helpful in giving you opinions/ideas that you are seeking.

Many people will tell you that 12k RMB is plenty.
They are not wrong at all.
For local Chinese, 12k a month is high salary. Most locals live on few thousands a month.
But the big question is: You are not local, do you want to live like one??

Living like local, a cheap apt, can be a building without elevator, you will need to turn on the water heating machine everytime you need hot water, no climate control, you will need a heater in the winter, washer/dryer combo is sh1t and you might need to line-dry your clothes on the balcony(if there is one), it can be pretty far from city center that you rely on public transportation that's not running 24 hrs. etc etc etc ...
Eating like local, you gonna rub elbow with locals whose personal hygiene isn't up to your western standard, you might not like the local food, you might not think it's clean or healthy to your standard, etc etc etc.
Is all that ok with you?

True, not everyone is on a big budget, live in the hip part of town, with water view, wine and dine every day.
But still, you have your own standard when it comes to live in an acceptable comfortable manner.
That's why I asked where you are from, just trying to be helpful.

monalisalee wrote:Alice:
You will get a very decent place for around 4,000.but......

That really depends on her current life style.
Isn't it?

Hence I asked, where she is from.

fwerrf, I think it's clear that you know very little about what is available at the cheaper end of the spectrum. Of course there are shitholes but there are also very decent apartments available at low prices all over the city. It just takes some effort.

Except all what was said.. i may suggest you try "virtual pre-traveling" in places where you will lives. Ask street address of the school where you will work and select your future location on this map : http://shanghai.edushi.com/ Now you can see and learn some geography.

For example: Zhong Shang Park : 中山公园 , http://shanghai.edushi.com/?cid=406266

Funny, right ? - Enjoy.

jzzzzzzz wrote:fwerrf, I think it's clear that you know very little about what is available at the cheaper end of the spectrum. Of course there are shitholes but there are also very decent apartments available at low prices all over the city. It just takes some effort.

I have been to homes of locals, some have nice huge luxury apt but it's 80rmb cab ride from the Bund, some live in great location but the building is run-down.
Are there nice apts at low prices? Yes. But can you get the *same thing* like Rich Gate for 50% off of the going price? No.

In any case, that's NOT the question here.
We are all trying to be helpful, I just think it's better for her to know what to expect, depending on her current life style.

There are clearly two levels of accommodation. The OP seems to have sensible expectations.

I have helped dozens of Expats from this site, from all over the World find reasonable rentals, with great success. They ARE available, (but not talking serviced apartments, or hotels)

Alice: Sent you a p.m.

fWerrF wrote:Hence I asked, where she is from.

Here is nothing where the people are from, Italy, US or China. Right ?

fWerrF wrote:

Alice77 wrote:PS. does my nationality matter, do they have discounts for european? lol

IMHO, it matters.
But the big question is: You are not local, do you want to live like one??

But that's not what she asked.

It's a bit rude to question how she wants to live, or what she's prepared to put up with or what she does or doesn't want. And especially to base your assumptions on what nationality she is or what side of the tracks she's from. Who gives a fig apart from you? That's not being helpful, just being nosy. Is that a Chinese thing?

Bottom line - OP is coming soon to Shanghai for 1 year contract and needs a 1br/2br decent apartment. Salary will be a paltry 12.000 RMB gross.

Simple. Can you help find her a place or not.

revolution9 wrote:

fWerrF wrote:

Alice77 wrote:PS. does my nationality matter, do they have discounts for european? lol

IMHO, it matters.
But the big question is: You are not local, do you want to live like one??

But that's not what she asked.

It's a bit rude to question how she wants to live, or what she's prepared to put up with or what she does or doesn't want. And especially to base your assumptions on what nationality she is or what side of the tracks she's from. Who gives a fig apart from you? That's not being helpful, just being nosy. Is that a Chinese thing?

Bottom line - OP is coming soon to Shanghai for 1 year contract and needs a 1br/2br decent apartment. Salary will be a paltry 12.000 RMB gross.

Simple. Can you help find her a place or not.

This is her original words:
I wonder where can I find 1br/2brs decent apartment?

She did not ask if it's possible to find apt on 12k salary.
She specifically asked for decent apt.
So how can anyone give her legit advice NOT knowing her definition of "decent"??

I never questioned how she wants to or should live.
I was only describing a typical local apt because most of new arrivals do not have a clue.
I genuinely believe I was being helpful.

This kind of discussion comes back again and again and again
There is already a good gauge in the thread : is your flat overpriced ?

Like Mona, Vic and jzzz said, the Op should first avoid look at listings online
Second, go with a chinese person and check directly with local agents
Third, check the convenience of life for YOUR lifestyle

Don't listen to people who may not have same lifestyle as you. For example, personally, I don't care the bars streets in Jingan because I dont go there every day. But I do care to have a brand new (2 years old) century supermarket 50 meters away from my apartment, because my wife or myself goes there every 3 days.

And Fwevrroumm: jzzz is right that you have a very limited knowledge of the whole housing scene in Shanghai.
I have lived in Yaojiang garden (end of Xizang nan lu), stunning view on the river (31st floor), 155 sqmt, 3 BR + office , high-class deco, electric water heater , 24/7 security + security inside the entrance hall and my rent was 4800 incl. management

When the owner decided to increase the rent, I moved to Xizang nan lu / Liyuan, slightly less high class but still marble entrance, 2 elevators, 130 sqmt 2 BR + office , huge balcony where I can have 2 gardens chairs + table + home bicycle, 24/7 security but no more inside the hall and I still pay 4800 /month
best of all, subway station is 150 meters away from home, Xizang nan lu is clean , large and brand new after expo work...

but well, you don't take the subway either...so why do I bother...

And where the Op comes from is irrelevant, because everybody has to adapt
In Taipei, I don't take the subway, because I have 3 cars...
but in Shanghai, I use subway and bus

Good morning, Alice ! How Italy is going ?

Alice, I think you first need to decide how much of your salary you want to put towards your housing. If you want to drink at expat places, eat comfort-food dinners, take taxis everywhere then I would suggest finding a 1.5k-2k room in someone else's apartment. Seems like there are some decent ones out there.

If you want your own place you'll probably need to budget 3-5k for something 'decent' - i.e., a walk-up with decent furnishings in a 'local' building. They exist, even in nice areas like Hengshan (I live in a nice 1 bedroom on Hengshan for 4.5k). If you are willing to live outside the inner ring rode (say, East Xujing on Line 2 or Xinzhuang area on Line 1) you could probably get a decent 2 bedroom for 3k if you look around. Anyway, moral of the story is don't judge Shanghai apartments from Craigslist.

Stark wrote:Anyway, moral of the story is don't judge Shanghai apartments from Craigslist.

Or by fweddedfeededdddd's limited and narrowminded experience renting places in his hometown.