Hi All,

I am looking at accepting a position in Shanghai and am finalising my package with a company. I have read through lots of the threads on the site which has helped a lot. Before signing on the dotted line however I wanted to get some feedback / thoughts from people that actually live in Shanghai if the package I will probably get will allow my wife and I (no children) to live comfortably.

What do I mean by living comfortably?
- Eating out 2 - 3 times a week (happy to eat at local places and sometimes western restaurants)
- Really get to know the city (art, history, just walk around and explore)
- Join a gym
- Travel on holidays (internally in China and once a year outside China)
- Live in a 2 bedroom flat in downtown Shanghai
- Have an Ayi a couple of times a week to clean and cook some food
- Buying food locally with a couple of small small treats from western food stores
- Try and take some language lessons
- Save a little money


My package
- 80,000 - 90,000 RMB per month
- Relocation costs paid for by my company
- Trip home once a year paid by my company
- Company paying for visa's etc
- Company will look to set up my package to be as tex effective as possible
- Health insurance for my wife and I

Any feedback I could get would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Yikes!
I think the average "local" pay is about 2,000/ month, and people DO live on that.
You could live like a king and queen and still easily save 50,000/month.
IMO.
I do not see any problem.
You can buy a money safe for 200 upwards.

Its good. You should be able to live well on 15k-20K a month,if you don't drink too many 60 RMB cocktails.. including rent, ayi, reasonable dining, and taxis.

Michael wrote:Its good. You should be able to live well on 15k-20K a month,if you don't drink too many 60 RMB cocktails.. including rent, ayi, reasonable dining, and taxis.

Yes AMO, head Michael's advice on the grog

Well, like most cities there are high, medium and low end dining, entertainment, shopping and housing options however Shanghai probably has the most varied in high and low end. As Monalisa pointed out there are millions of local Chinese here who live on 2,000rmb a month but I think it would be a very difficult task for a foreigner to replicate this lifestyle. Hats off to those who can……..I wish I could.

In answer to your specific questions I’ll do my best and am sure that others will chip in……….

Eating out 2 - 3 times a week (happy to eat at local places and sometimes western restaurants)
Local – 50-100rmb for a nice meal with a few drinks
Western – 100 to 500rmb plus drinks (these are pricey so allow abt 50rmb+/- a drink)

Really get to know the city (art, history, just walk around and explore)
Walking and exploring is free and museums and the like are around 20-30rmb

Join a gym
If you are in an expat compound and they have a gym/club it should be included in your rent but if not then allow from 3k to 10k for the year.

Travel on holidays (internally in China and once a year outside China)
Domestic travel is quite cheap and depends where you go. A return flight to Hainan Island will cost 300-500rmb and good hotels there would be around 500rmb a night. International flights are more expensive due to the Gov’t taxes but Air Asia does some great deals from China.

Live in a 2 bedroom flat in downtown Shanghai
These vary greatly but for a compound with a number of expats, English speaking serviced orientated management and reasonable quality apartments you would have to budget for above 10,000rmb. Better quality would be 20 to 30krmb per month. PM me if you need some help with housing.

Have an Ayi a couple of times a week to clean and cook some food
From 200 to 300rmb per month. Make sure you get references.

Buying food locally with a couple of small small treats from western food stores
If you cooked yourself then 400-800 RMB per person per month would be enough, depending if you use local or western foods. As far as local supermarkets are concerned, Dia is the cheapest but they have a very limited number of items and you have to pay for plastic bags. Hua Lian and Lian Hua are the next cheapest and they are everywhere. If you need more foreign items go to Carrefour in Gubei or Jinqiao (depending where you live) The other Carrefours are more local. If you need a great variety of foreign goods then visit City supermarket in either Portman Shanghai Centre, Times Square, Shan Xi Nan Rd or Hong Mei Rd. There’s also the Pines.

Try and take some language lessons
100rmb per lesson if you go for a good private tutor. Cheaper in groups.

Save a little money
After shopping and drinking……..it’s purely up to you

Hope this helps

Adrienne

Shanghai Properties –“Expat Agents Speak YOUR Language”
http://www.shanghaiprops.com

For sure you can live in Shanghai on your income........From my experience Shanghai is the most expensive city in China....Adrienne certainly knows the real estate market.....Housing varies greatly both in price and amenities. I've never lived in an Expat compound, a lot of people are very happy living in them.....
for breakfast....
I only eat out.....there are some VERY expensive restaurants and there are some very good inexpensive restaurants..I enjoy Chinese food, however I still prefer Bacon and eggs.... For Me breakfast works best in a Hotel.....after that forget hotels.......Several Malls have,
very nice medium cost restaurants....

I fly a lot of Domestic flights....They are very cheap, and you get a hot meal(they're not bad) on every flight.....Outside of Shanghai hotels are inexpensive...(unless you go to GZ during Canton Fair)

Shanghai is a great city.....China is a great country....Just Come you will do fine....and if you cwn always have your wife get a job....

AMO wrote:Hi All,

I am looking at accepting a position in Shanghai and am finalising my package with a company. I have read through lots of the threads on the site which has helped a lot. Before signing on the dotted line however I wanted to get some feedback / thoughts from people that actually live in Shanghai if the package I will probably get will allow my wife and I (no children) to live comfortably.

What do I mean by living comfortably?
- Eating out 2 - 3 times a week (happy to eat at local places and sometimes western restaurants)
- Really get to know the city (art, history, just walk around and explore)
- Join a gym
- Travel on holidays (internally in China and once a year outside China)
- Live in a 2 bedroom flat in downtown Shanghai
- Have an Ayi a couple of times a week to clean and cook some food
- Buying food locally with a couple of small small treats from western food stores
- Try and take some language lessons
- Save a little money


My package
- 80,000 - 90,000 RMB per month
- Relocation costs paid for by my company
- Trip home once a year paid by my company
- Company paying for visa's etc
- Company will look to set up my package to be as tex effective as possible
- Health insurance for my wife and I

Any feedback I could get would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Generally it is a good package. But it still depend on where is your location.
- Dining out for two is 80-300RMB/time.
- museum/park ticket free to 100/each
-movie ticket 40-120/each
-concert/show 300-1000/each
-taxi 15-100/local trip
-subway 4-8/trip for one
-2 bed room furnished apt 8000-20000/mth
-hotel 200-1000/night
-domestic air/train ticket 200-800/trip for one
-Ayi rate 15-25/hr
- 10pcs slice cheese 30-40/pack
- Spaghetti meat sauce 20-40/can
- chicken drum stick 10/500g
- flour 2-10/kg
- sliced bacon 20-30/200g
- westen spice 5-10/5-10g
- language tutor/guide 100-200/hr

What the prices i gave will make you for feel confortabale, not the cheapest ones.

So good luck and enjoy your life in shanghai. Feel free to ask me more before and after you come. You can reach me by the email as below.

SnappySammy wrote:Adrienne certainly knows the real estate market

Well, thank you very much. Flattery will get you everywhere Snappy dear........

Adrienne

Shanghai Properties –“Expat Agents Speak YOUR Language”
http://www.shanghaiprops.com

Same as all the answers above, you will live well here. This city will give you a big varity of selections of life, from inexpensive to very expensive.

Adrienne wrote:

SnappySammy wrote:Adrienne certainly knows the real estate market

Well, thank you very much. Flattery will get you everywhere Snappy dear........

Adrienne

Shanghai Properties –“Expat Agents Speak YOUR Language”
http://www.shanghaiprops.com

Yo Adrienne
Will it get me from the front room to the Bedroom.....Oops...I just slapped my own face.....

SnappySammy wrote:Yo Adrienne
Will it get me from the front room to the Bedroom.....Oops...I just slapped my own face.....

Well, that'd be easy baby. I live in a Studio apartment......

Adrienne

Shanghai Properties –“Expat Agents Speak YOUR Language”
http://www.shanghaiprops.com

Hi All,

Thanks very much for your advice and assitance it is greatly appreciated.

It has made making a final decision much easier.

cheers,

Adrienne wrote:

SnappySammy wrote:Yo Adrienne
Will it get me from the front room to the Bedroom.....Oops...I just slapped my own face.....

Well, that'd be easy baby. I live in a Studio apartment......

Adrienne

Shanghai Properties –“Expat Agents Speak YOUR Language”
http://www.shanghaiprops.com

do you think your Parents will like me....