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hdeth · Joined: 20 Jan 2015 Posts: 583

I've noticed little difference in cost of living between Qingdao and Beijing. I doubt things would be that different in Shanghai.

If I lived closer to Sanlitun I could see the possibility of spending that much per day....same with a high maintenance girlfriend....but why you would want either option I'm not really sure.

I would say you can live a similar lifestyle to a teacher back in the states for something like housing+ 3,000-4,000 per month pretty much anywhere in China. I've spent somewhere around 4,000 per month so far this year but that includes 4 weeks traveling around China in the winter and 5 weeks in Vietnam during the summer.

Where do you guys go to get pints of Tsingtao for 60 kuai? The most expensive beer I've had was a local microbrew at a western restaurant in Beijing, and tht was 35 or something and a very decent APA. Maybe 35 for a 330ml glass of Chimay Red at the Belgian place I go to now and then. Are bars THAT much more expensive, and why would anyone go to them? I only go to bars now and then on vacation so haven't really been to any in China. Hard to imagine a tsingtao in China is more expensive than a cocktail on a rooftop bar in Saigon (western alcohol is expensive in Vietnam). I mean maybe at some exclusive club, but at any place normal people go to? My girlfriend would brain me if I spent that much on a beer.

Markness · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 738 Location: Chengdu

I haven't personally lived in Shanghai, but the missus' sister (and still does live there), and lots of my friends have. They say the only killer is the rent and if you like to go out, otherwise it's pretty much same-same for how much stuff costs. Blowing 20,000RMB a month is like holiday-mode all the time. That just gets to be too much after a while. I think the missus and I's food budget for the month is about 3,000RMB (which would be similar to SH, unless you go out all the damn time), and we eat like kings, and go out to western restaurants weekly. The only other things we blow money on is random crap like gadgets, but, other than that, it's big savings. Don't know how you couldn't at least save 5-10,000 of that every month.

RiverMystic · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 1986

Dan123 · Joined: 08 Jan 2014 Posts: 112

shawadywady · Joined: 13 Mar 2013 Posts: 40

3701 W.119th · Joined: 26 Feb 2014 Posts: 386 Location: Central China

Wetherspoons back in the UK has a pretty bad reputation (based on clientele, mostly), but you can still get a really decent pint for £1.80 - £2.50 (18/25RMB-ish?). And they do sell superb ales, always changing. Or a Sam Smith's pub, at £2 a pint? Crazy prices, when even a pint of Carling or Carlsberg are minimum £3+ in most pubs now (both being the definition of mediocre).

It's the lack of variation in Chinese beer that is a bit annoying, the same insipid style. Fizzy water. Very little variation in the mass-produced stuff, and so weak at around 3.5% at best.

There are 'craft' beers coming out of Beijing and other cities, but they aren't representative at all, or anything close to widely available.

TrampledKlown · Joined: 22 Sep 2012 Posts: 44

Flat Tire Beer is one of the best I've had here in a while.

If you haven't tried this, it's quite nice.

A microbrew from Sweden.

12 rmb in the supermarket.

The one made with mosaic hops is especially good.

CNexpatesl · Joined: 27 May 2015 Posts: 194

I lol'd at that guy that said he has friends dropping 50,000 a month in Shanghai.. Must have been living in the nicer expat parts of the French Concession/Huangpu/People's Square area, and buying drugs and high-priced hookers.

Most bars and clubs in SH have free entry, unless you're going to M1NT or something.

And unless you're intentionally going out of your way to order a lot of food or expensive food at the nice Western restaurants, most meals will only set you back about 250-300 RMB at those places. Like others said, if you eat local food or cook yourself, you're only spending about 50-100 RMB a day.

theoriginalprankster · Joined: 19 Mar 2012 Posts: 895

I'm flying in on Saturday night. Accommodation sorted. Easy hours on the teaching.

Kinda sweet - they gonna baby me through the first couple weeks - even though I've lived in China for many years (10)

Not many institutions go so far.

It's just the jetlag that's gonna bum me.

OnePumpChump · Joined: 19 Jun 2012 Posts: 1

[quote="Brunouno"]

hdeth · Joined: 20 Jan 2015 Posts: 583

TrampledKlown · Joined: 22 Sep 2012 Posts: 44

Nevvermind, found it. Just a lager, oh well."

If you like IPA, you'll love Flat Tire.