Hi,

I will have to live in China off of 10,000 RMB a month. I need to know the areas of town that would be good to look at. I understand that I can look at this very subject online but I want to solicit your expert knowledge. I will have to commute to my job in Puxi not too far from the Bund.
I'm also asking this question because I know that real estate constantly changes and the cheaper parts of town might change.

Depends what you are looking for in Shanghai.

If you want the night life, young people, etc, you could share an apartment with others, and be paying around 1500-2000 for a room, down town.

Otherwise in Pudong - you can get a 2 bedroom apartment for around 2500-3000 RMB a month.

Like or not you will have to do your homework. Your best bet to live in a decent place is to share with other people and split the rent. Even places that local people primarily live in, will be 2500-4000 a month for something that a foreigner might accept. Plus. not too many agents will want to show these places.. they don't make any money doing this.

check http://cityspace.shanghaiexpat.com for room shares.

Find out neighborhoods close to work and walk around with someone who reads and speaks chinese and look at the neighborhood real estate postings ( every neighborhood has these little storefronts ) .

For being close to work, you should probably go north from People Square.. inexpensive places out that way.

I have just found an apartment for 2000/month sharing with 2 people, its fairly big and has everything you need... in XuJiaHui right near the metro.. there are a lot of similar things in most areas...

If you are happy to share you will get a better place for your money... I suggest checking sharing websites that eliminates the need for an agent, and that way you actually meet the people you will be living with.

the shanghaiexpat mentioned above is good, as is
www.smartshanghai.com

there is shanghai.craigslist as well, and a few others if you do a google search, but i found these 2 to be the best... Also, its worth noting that the metro is HELL in peak hour, so if you can find something close to work that is great...

good luck!

I have sent p.m. Hope you get it. Not always the case.
John.