Hey Everybody!

I have recently been given the opportunity to move to Shanghai for a new job. I currently live in Yorkshire in the UK.
Now I am not silly enough to think I would get a UK wage over here but the figure banded about is 10,000 RNB a month. Is this enough to live off? That is, without resorting to living in a windowless bedsit and eating out of bins. As I have never been I have no perspective. I dont expect to live like a king but I would hope it would be akin to living on a wage of £25-30K in the UK, if that makes sense.

Also should I be asking for anything else? Health care?

Cheers

Pobi

Are you single, male, young etc??

If so, be careful of the Honey traps.. You may need more money!

You absolutely need healthcare ( BUPA, Norwich Union etc), paid fully by your company, along with a housing allowance, holiday flights home etc..

10000rmb a month is more than do-able, if you have your apartment paid for and healthcare too.


We were living on £50k a year whilst there and enjoyed a relaxed good life, but still not in the same league of some multi-corporate expats.

10000Rmb per/month is usually the "English teacher/ Financial advisor" pay scale.

If you go for it, you will have a great time.

Besides you can always return to God's Own County

Will you be in Puxi, or Pudong??
Is the company position a good one??

How far do you expect to travel?
Will you use the Metro/Driver/Taxi/Walk

Do you prefer to eat out/cook at home etc?

All important for choosing where you should live..

Hmmm - just been told there is no living allowance!

also you can get flights home or health care but not both. I would choose health care although it does not include dentistry or prescriptions.

This is seeming less worth it now.

^Still workable, sticks to the basic and don't expect fancy parties..

YorkshireKing has given you solid advice.

Since you have learned more details about the compensation package the company is offereing, then it is time to decide if you want to live in Shanghai, are looking for international exposure and what you are willing to go without to make it happen.

IMHO, 10K per month, without other perks (especially housing) is going to make enjoying the city difficult.

One last point, is this company prepared (and able) to obtain the proper (Z) visa for you? A lot of companies will tell you they will assist with the business (F) visa and that is not a legal visa for living and working in Shanghai on a full-time basis. Schools and smaller companies are notorious for this and if caught, you are going to pay a fine. Additionally, the company should pay for all visa-related acquisition costs.

I second Mag's opinion that 10K will not cover much apart from very basic necessities, unless you'd be happy eating simple local food 6 nights out of 7. To enjoy Shanghai's westernised night life and restaurants, say 2-3 times a week, you'd need a monthly salary of at least RMB20k. An apartment in a central area like Jing An or Chang Ning will set you back at least RMB5K/mth.

Magnolia wrote:YorkshireKing has given you solid advice.

Awww Shucks, Mags



To the OP, What exactly is the job position??

And Seriously, You need full medical insurance at least!

Apartment wise, the moment the landlord finds out you are western, the price will double!!

Yes, I agree that it will be tight but when we look at our local staff's salaries 3,000 to 5,000rmb per month then it is doable. Many do live at home so they don't have accomodation/food expenses, travel by public transport and eat and shop in local places. I think you'll need to combine your lifestyle with local and western. For example, walk to your local supermarket and buy all your basic weekly needs. The international supermarkets with western goods are expensive so see what you can get locally first then head there for a top up and to get hard to find items and comfort food. It seems harder to bring food from home now they are cracking down on it all at airports.

Get a place that has a subway closeby that it is one the sme line as your office is. Find an apartment that has all your needs closeby, supermarkets, markets, cafes, restaurants etc. so that you don't have to rely too much on transport.

With your apartment, try to get the landlrod to include Sat TV, ADSL, as well as utility allowance like 500rmb per month. You can also ask for pots and pans, crockery, cutlery, linen and towels to start you off. Best that you get an allowance for this and buy it yourself at IKEA or Carrefour or you'll end up with bowls, chop sticks, a wok, floral sheets and the tiniest towel you've ever seen.

Utilities are quite cheap here compared to the west and gas and water bills are really low so if you don't get this included it won't break the bank. if yo do have to get your own ADSL, ask the landlord to pay for the instalation of it and you pay the usage. Same for the Sat TV too. The instalation fee is the higher part of the package. Anyway, you shouldn't have to pay for a dish and machine that he/she will no doubt use as a benefit for the next tenant. Rentals are higher for foriengers but not double. That's why, in my opinion, you shouldn't pay 35% to the agent and the landlord should cover all the commission to the agent.

Welcome to Shanghai!

Adrienne
http://www.shanghaiprops.com

10,000 RMB a month ? Oops, I must have missed a zero then.

Gosh, Yorkeshire on the dole is far more attractive.

Daahhling, do a good Google search. "Schools" now are frantic since so many expats have been given "the please leave letter".

10,000 RMB a month will cover your rent,and a very miserable time in Shanghai, before you scrimp enough to return home, despairing. Check the web for prices.

Best stay put, Shanghai is OK on 30,000 RMB a month, but 10 ? Dormities are great....but - you'll want to play. Forget it on 10 a month.

^Zak, I noticed you location in Suzhou. Would you say 10k is more do-able over there?

If there is not include rentals, healthcare ins, retirement, and transportation, 10K RMB that's really way too low. you left some mandatory disposable income to comfort yourself for the lower living standard of uncivilised world, like go to pub drinks with friends.... go ask for more...

Zak101 wrote:Gosh, Yorkeshire on the dole is far more attractive.

Oh no it isn't..

Druggies, Chavs, Crazy immigration laws, Mindless violence, Soaring fuel and living costs and...

Gordon Brown

Welcome to UK 2008, The future is grim!

^ spot on yorkshire. plenty of people survive here on a lot less. Get the best deal you can out of the company. Come, but always make sure you have a seperate bank account for you fligfht home if things don't work out.

Sorry for those with english spell checkers. f off in fligfth.

Thanks for all the advice so far everyone.

Although I am keen on the company and it seems like a good role, I think you are right, 10K is very low. I will see if there is any play on the salary, but otherwise it looks like a non starter. It would be awful to go all that way only to be miserable!

I think 10K is enough IF you have your healthcare and your flat rental shouldered by the company at the very least (i.e., if you're single). If you're up for the experience of working here, I believe you'll find a way to make ends meet, but make sure that you'll save enough money to buy your flight tickets.

You might want to consider if the 10K is post tax already.

I usually live frugally during my first couple of months, but after that, I can splurge a lot more when it comes to lifestyle (e.g., clubbing, dining out, shopping).

If you're not used to eating Chinese food (and I don't mean Chinese food in UK), your meal budget can be rather tough on your pocket. But if you don't have a sensitive stomach, I think you can easily adopt to the local food. Don't get me wrong, though. With 10K, you can manage to have a nice Western dinner at least once or twice a week.

Here's a basic LOCAL budget sample:
Meals 30 RMB/day (bfast, lunch & dinner)
Transportation 10/day (or less 2-way on metro)
Bills & Utilities 500/month

With this you'll still have around 8K RMB that you can split for clubbing, dining out, shopping, and savings. To me, 8K is more than enough.

I believe it's a matter of perspective.

[quote="Zak101"]

10,000 RMB a month will cover your rent,and a very miserable time in Shanghai.

I agree with Zak101 - I don't see how 10,000 RMB is enough, especially if you also have committments back home, mortgage, debt payments etc etc I'd tell them to take their 10k and shove it where the sun don't shine - push them for more.

10,000 RMB is not enough to live on unless you are content to live like a local.

Hi there,
well i have an important question, and i would like to have the answer quickly please....
I'm have a job opportunity in Luwan in Shanghai, but i want to know about the living costs in the City Luwan.
The apartment, food, internet, phone bills and work transportation are free.
I'm gonna get about 425 US Dollars a month ( about 3000 RMB )
So I REALLY want your quick advice about that.
Thanx alot..

@ GoldenZ

No way.

10k/month is enough, though without luxury. Normal for the start.

10k is do-able and once you're here you can look for better paid jobs and also could probably pick up some part time work to supliment your salary.

Rent - 3500
Bills - 500
Monday to Friday eating and drinking locally - 2000
Weekend eat western and have a few pints in the pub - 4000

Ok your not going to be living like a king but it isn't all that bad.

Also drinking and eating local is part of the experience....why would you want to travel half way around the world just to live like you live back home???

You could just apartment share man. Couple thousand and you be good. That is a pretty shat ass salary. UK to RMB I expect they to give you 20,000 K minimum. I say screw it unless it is a promotion that will stick once you return to the UK and get paid.

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.