Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I'm considering moving back to China but need to know about cost of living. Right now I regularly spend at least what my rent costs in food. And usually more than that. food is so expensive where I am.

Can someone tell me about the cost of living in the Suzhou area?
How much are fruit and veg?
Diapers?
Milk?

Thanks!

[Dedicated]

Hi naturegirl,

Have you tried the following websites?

www.expat-blog.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=155

This seems to be a very comprehensive forum, giving lots of information about Suzhou.

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/city_result.jsp?country=China&city=Suzhou

I spent a year on the SIP (Suzhou Industrial Park) and found everything I wanted cheaply.

[naturegirl321]

Thanks so much! SIP is where I'm looking at going. I'm hoping apples will be cheaper than $1 each and milk will be less than $7 a gallon!

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Diapers can range from 1 yuan each to as much as 5 yuan each, depending on brand. Some places do not have the cheap version. Cloth diapers are cheapest, but a hassle to deal with.

[naturegirl321]

Tell me about it. Cloth are supposed to be cheaper, but when you add water and electricity I think it's a draw. Here in Korea they have these pad-like things that you can can stick inside a diaper cover, or a diaper since the covers seem to leak. Then you throw the pad out and can use the diaper. The pad things are about a third of the price as a diaper.

[relaxtischina]

Hi Naturegirl re the cost of stuff in SIP :

Milk - 7-30 rmb per litre depending on if you prefer the local supply or imported

We by our nappies (diapers ) on-line using Taobao.com ( 72 XL Huggies Gold = around 160 rmb including express

Vegis seem to be cheaper at many local markets and eating out is defiantly cheaper if you stick to local food

To rent a descent 2 bedroom apartment here is around 3,000 rmb each month although a more basic place can be as low as 1500. Utilities are cheap as well but must be paid for in advance except for the electricity account that arrives every 2 months. Our average utility cost is about 400 rmb each month

Hope this helps you

[naturegirl321]

Diapers here are about the same. All I can say is she's getting toilet trained as soon as she can walk! Seriously, use it once and throw it away, what a waste of money

Housing: I'd get $500 for a housing allowance, so I think I'm ok.

I'm honestly thinking about hiring a cook / maid. It's a good way to eat healthy and they know how to cook the local food. I don't.

My gas bill alone was about $60

I miss China, I think I'll be there soon though.

[jibbs]

One thing about milk I've found here in Suzhou at the Carrefour. The one I usually get is just called "Fresh Milk" but if they are out I will buy the "Best" brand, which costs about double and tastes almost exactly the same.

If you're not a big drinker / bar goer and don't eat at western restaurants all the time it's not that hard to live pretty cheap.

[naturegirl321]

I'm looking forward to nut milks again.

Not a big drinker. Coke is my idea of drinking. Hot cocoa and coffee too.

ON another note: what would it cost to hire a cook? Someone to come over and cook a couple times a week? I kind of think it would be worth the money. They'd buy at markets, make healthy food. Whereas I'd stare at all the green stuff at the market, buy it in hopes of being able to cook it and then either have it sit in my fridge and go bad or try to cook and end up throwing it out because it was gross.

[Babala]

I'd say about the average cost for a cook/aiyi is about 20 RMB an hour. Ask other teachers for a reference. I talked to few of the ladies that my business guy friends recommended and they were charging those guys WAY over the average cost.

[naturegirl321]

I think I'll try to find someone who will work for a flat fee, that way they don't waste time. Maybe come in three times a week or so.

[LarssonCrew]

I pay my a yi 100 rmb, or sometimes closer to 80 if that's change in my wallet.

I think she enjoys the company, and probably takes a bit more time than she would if it was a stern faced Chinese talking to her. She's normally here for about 3 or 4 hours, and cleans my dog[haha], cleans my shoes, does my laundry, and if I feel hungover or sick she'll go buy some stuff.

I pay her 100 rmb becuase a)She's here 3 hours normally, sometimes 4, sometimes 5, sometimes just 2, but I think giving 10 or 20 rmb an hour is awful when I can make that in 5 minutes. b)She's been my cleaner for 2 years now.

She doesn't cook for me, however she does cook for my friend three times a week, my friend pays her 100 per 'session', which includes 2 hours of cleaning, going to the wet market, buying produce and then cooking for dinner parties or just my friend.

So you could perhaps offer 200 a week if you wanted to be stingy, just have him/her cook 4 lunches, double the portions and keep them for dinner.

[naturegirl321]

[LarssonCrew]

Haha, I wasn't accusing you of being stingy, it was meant as a general over-view, just meaning 'stingy' might also be replaced with 'good bargainer'.

For full time you could probably get a cleaner, cook for less than 1500 a month I would think. Probably less because, for instance, they could work 11-1 and 4-7 , so if they wanted to ppo off for other work or see their kids that would be fine.

[Mister Al]

Rent 1 or 2 bedroom decent apartment 2500-3000
Our ayi comes in 3 times a week for 3-4 hours, cleans, laundry. shops and cooks 700 pm + 200 or so for the food shopping
Plenty of fresh markets and a few big supermarkets
vibrant expat community
eating out lots of choices for all tastes/budgets
great place to live overall.

Where are you going to work?