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What do you need to live a good life where you are from?
China is no longer the “bargain country” that is used to be. Along with the rise of living standards, prices have also dramatically increased. Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong have become some of the most expensive cities to live in the world, with prices for top-range apartments reaching US$ 10,000 monthly rent or more. Education for your children can also become quite costly, and if you move within the “higher circles” of Chinese society, expect to pay Western prices at top-level restaurants and other places.
On the other hand, you can still live relatively cheaply if you stick to the living standards of the lower and middle class ends of the local population. Riding buses instead of taxies, eating at cheap noodle outlets and living in an old-fashioned Chinese apartment with little or no amenities will save you a lot of money. If you move out of the big cities, prices for everything drop dramatically, often by more than half.
How much money do you need in China?
The amount of money you need in China obviously depends largely on your living standards. As a rough estimate, calculate with the following budgets:
Minimum survival - around US$ 400 (per month): This is the money you need for a bare-bone existence if you don’t have to pay for housing. It reflects the average income of many locals and allows you to live on noodles and rice, buy a Western dinner every once in a while, take a taxi in case you really need it, and pay for basic health treatment at local Chinese clinics.
Average – around US$ 1000: This allows you to rent a basic apartment (in major cities a very basic one!), enjoy a bit of Chinese culture, do some travel and pay health insurance.
Luxury: If you want to live a “good life” with higher class living standards similar to those in your home country, there are no limits as to what you can spend in China. If you want a villa-style house and to send your children to an international school, these two things alone can cost you as much as US$ 100,000 per year in major cities.
What do you need to live a good life where you are from?
China is no longer the “bargain country” that is used to be. Along with the rise of living standards, prices have also dramatically increased. Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong have become some of the most expensive cities to live in the world, with prices for top-range apartments reaching US$ 10,000 monthly rent or more. Education for your children can also become quite costly, and if you move within the “higher circles” of Chinese society, expect to pay Western prices at top-level restaurants and other places.
On the other hand, you can still live relatively cheaply if you stick to the living standards of the lower and middle class ends of the local population. Riding buses instead of taxies, eating at cheap noodle outlets and living in an old-fashioned Chinese apartment with little or no amenities will save you a lot of money. If you move out of the big cities, prices for everything drop dramatically, often by more than half.
How much money do you need in China?
The amount of money you need in China obviously depends largely on your living standards. As a rough estimate, calculate with the following budgets:
Minimum survival - around US$ 400 (per month): This is the money you need for a bare-bone existence if you don’t have to pay for housing. It reflects the average income of many locals and allows you to live on noodles and rice, buy a Western dinner every once in a while, take a taxi in case you really need it, and pay for basic health treatment at local Chinese clinics.
Average – around US$ 1000: This allows you to rent a basic apartment (in major cities a very basic one!), enjoy a bit of Chinese culture, do some travel and pay health insurance.
Luxury: If you want to live a “good life” with higher class living standards similar to those in your home country, there are no limits as to what you can spend in China. If you want a villa-style house and to send your children to an international school, these two things alone can cost you as much as US$ 100,000 per year in major cities.
