Job Discussion Forums

[roadwalker]

Shanghai doesn't have to be all that expensive, especially if your rent is taken care of or you get a decent stipend in addition to salary. The thing is, there are more ways to spend your money, should you choose to do so. More temptations. For some it might be expat-style nightlife or foreign restaurants. For me it would probably be access to expensive groceries that aren't widely available in China, such as real cheese or ethnic foods. Still others it might be cultural exhibitions or entertainment. There are lots of threads on Shanghai working and living, so if you really are interested, look them up to find out what to look for and what to watch out for. Good luck.

[Voyeur]

[likwid_777]

[asiannationmc]

if in' you wanna sling da Eng
while you dance and sing
an hopping from sea to sea
is where you wanna be
then take it from your propaganda minister
this side of the sea don't care if you are sinister
they just like the role you play &
if you are a yank, the way you say
Now hurry on down to the TEFL store
where you learn to strut and bore
and be sure to save your money
cause it cost plenty to have a honey
you can drink til dawn
and teach through the yawn
but the crap you will always hear
like poison in your ear
are the experts of this land
and their guanxi which is grand
but try and withstand
a posted helping hand
and try an understand
these are not the words of the high command
Just the drivel of another hired hand

[fpshangzhou]

WOW! That was a great piece to read! Very poetic, yet nailed it with finesse.


Cheers,

Aaron

[thomthom]

...

Aaanyway, bringing this back on track somewhat..

15,000rmd a month does seem about the bare minimum for living okay in Shanghai. However:

[litterascriptor]

Capt. Lugwash is an outlier given he likes his bedposts bedazzled with real cubic zirconium. He's a true 1 percenter.

[3701 W.119th]

I know teachers in Shanghai that live very well indeed on 12-14k a month. Granted they share apartments (just off Line 1), and aren't really looking to save any money, but they seem pretty happy for now.

Shanghai's as cheap or expensive as you make it.

[jm21]

If you've got housing covered and 10k rmb left over, it sounds like you should be able to save maybe $1k usd per month pretty easily as long as you don't go out too much. The first month or two you might spend more but after you settle in 3000 is plenty for food and basic living expenses. That's what I spend in Qingdao and doesn't sound like Shanghai is that different. You could survive on less but it would be too boring for me.

[Markness]

I don't know how people blow so much dough here. I spend 3k RMB per month for everything MAX (unless I buy random crap off taobao like weights or a whiteboard). Booze here comes at 3rmb - 5rmb per beer at a shop, cheap firewater costs about 5-10rmb per bottle. Buying that stuff at a bar at 4-5x the price seems a bit foolish. If you're going to go out to the bars, might as well pre-game (drink first at a buddies house), and then go! Also, try to limit eating an old fatboy burger to once a week. A lot of people I know here don't indulge in some of the arguably most delicious food I've ever eaten. I have my weaknesses like everyone else (eating pizza), but I don't know how people manage to blow so much money. Just seems nuts! Only expensive things here are non-knockoff electronics/clothes. Food/booze/smokes/misc. items from the supermarkets are super cheap.

Wawawooeeh!

[maxand]

[jm21]

[asiannationmc]

[newmansone]

[wangdaning]