Job Discussion Forums

[cartago]

I've got an offer for a job in China, the problem is they don't offer an apartment and it's in Beijing. What do you think the cost of a decent furnished apartment in Beijing would be? Obviously standards of what is decent vary, I'm saying a place that is reasonably modern or well kept up, not way out in the middle of nowhere, no insect infestations, etc. One thing I'm already thinking about is how it would probably not have the amenities of a teacher's apartment, like washing machine, or other secondary appliances.

Also, what is a decent salary in Beijing. I was last in China about 5 years ago and I wasn't in Beijing. I did visit there and thought it wasn't so expensive but then I wasn't living there.

[Harbin]

[cartago]

They said they would assist in finding an apartment. They also provide a temporary apartment to live in beforehand. On looking at the e-mail again it mentioned assistance in finding a shared apartment.

[rogerwilco]

[choudoufu]

[Professional TEFLer]

[zactherat]

[Kysorb]

In Beijing a decent starting salary should be around 10000 + some extra money for the apartment.


Where you are living is going to change your apartment costs a lot.

I live in a brand new great apartment on the outside of the city for 3500 a month. but if your closer to the center of town you could be looking at 5000+

[weigookin74]

I think the minimum salary with no apartment included would be 16,000 RMB a month to work in Beijing or Shanghai. Making more is better. But, bare minimum.

[RiverMystic]

Just looking for updates, rather than starting a new thread. Have prices increased much in the last couple of years? I've been offered a position with 5000 for housing. Someone told me this was not enough for a decent apartment in Beijing. But I'm assuming it's still OK if you want to live away from the city centre?

[asiannationmc]

I live outside the city for 2800 but most apartments around the outskirts are 3500 and up. The problem is the distance and the multitudes of folk round these parts. Currently prices have gone up for the Subway, buses and now there are mandatory lines at some subway stops. 6k will get you a marginal apartment in the city limits but don't expect that to be the normal experience when in fact many are asking more. The smell of money is the whiff of what the landlords are tracking but the magic has gone out of the Jing, and for the most part it is just expensive and dirty now with Disney-ish buildings that were once occupied by real authentic Chinese sturctures.. Depending on what you paycheck is, the trip back and forth may as well be the death blow for beijing as 56 min commute is the average, but everyone I know .. does a two hour commute.

I would say that an extra 3K rmb should sort you out just fine.

[Sarpedon]

If you want a studio inside 2nd ring, 5k is enough. You may have to do some searching.

I used to live in Dongzhimen for 4500 a month. Not including bills of course.

It was perfect because all the food places delivered and was within walking distance of Sanlitun (20 min walk I'd say) and Dongzhimen station (10 mins.)

[creeper1]

I just got a place 30 minutes away from Guomao and the price is 2500 a month. This is the full apartment. No sharing with any tefler.

understand the start up costs. 6 months up front rent, one.month deposit and one month agent fee. And enormous amount of money.

OP - have you considered going to Korea? Rent is fully paid for by employer and start up costs are zero.

[RiverMystic]

It could be worse. In Hong Kong it was two months' rent, one month to the agent plus some other government fees. Given that the typical rent there on the NET scene is around 15 000 a month, you are looking at HK$45 000+ as an initial start up cost - close to RMB40 000. Now you know why HKers are on the street rioting, given the median household income is $HK18 000/ month.

[bograt]