Job Discussion Forums

[powderfinger303]

Hello, I am considering a contract that offers 4500rmb/month for housing. I am wondering if this is enough to actually rent a place and maybe even have some left over to pay for some meals as well. The campus is either in MinHang or Xuhui. I have never been to China so I don't even know if those areas are ones that I would want to live in but I would prefer to be closer to school. I have done a little looking on the internet and have found prices to be so varied that I do not know what to expect. Any info from people actually living in Shanghai would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[wailing_imam]

RMB4500 is more than sufficient to get a place in Shanghai.

I rent a decent one bedroom flat in Changning for 3000RMB, which includes free internet. Bills over the past couple of months have been around 400RMB. I also have to pay for a fa piao in order to save on tax. This amounts to an extra 250RMB a month.

Check out asiaxpat.com

[JGC458]

pd303 you mention that you're hoping that you'd have some money left over from your housing allowance to pay for food. This stikes me as an odd thing to say coz you should be able to buy all the food you need or ever want using your PAY (which surely would be huge if you have 4500rmb/month for housing). I'm wondering if the offer might not have been 4500rmb/month salary with housing included?

If they did really ofer you 4500rmb/month for housing then I'm quite surprised coz they should know it's more than you actually need for a comfortable apartment. Btw, are they helping you find the apartment and will they loan the set up money (I've heard it can be 2 months deposit/bond plus 1 to 6 months rent up front).

[NathanRahl]

In china they always want you to sign atleast a six month rent, and pay for 6 upfront. Most people pay by the season though, every 3 months, plus 2-3 months security. You should be able to get pretty much any place with 3 months rent, 2 security, I have never ever heard of anyone paying 1 month rent and no more, thats rare. I talk to many chinese and they pay rent the same, and say it is pretty much done the same way all over chine. Plan on having to pay 5 months total upfront, atleast.

[clark.w.griswald]

Xuhui would be preferrable to Minhang on a whole but as they are adjoining districts it will depend upon where exactly your school and housing is. Xuhui is a good shopping and eating out district. There is not much in Minhang but as I say this will depend upon where exactly you are.

As to the rental I agree that RMB4,500 is enough to get you a western style two bedroom apartment.

I have not heard of the six month rent practice in Shanghai. I am sure that some landlords may prefer this but it certainly is not standard. The standard in renting places in Shanghai is two months security deposit/bond plus the first months rent (so three months in total) all paid before you move in. You then pay monthly and get your two month bond money back when you move out.

[eslstudies]

[quote="clark.w.griswald"] There is not much in Minhang but as I say this will depend upon where exactly you are.

/quote]
Not much what, exactly? I lived well there for 2.5 years.
And yes, 4,500 will see you well set up. Prices decrease as you move out of the CBD. Minhang's on the fringe, though as an administrative area it still has some 2 million inhabitants. Somewhere upmarket, maybe 2-3k. There's lots cheaper though. Since the light rail opened its become a dormitory corridor.
Good eating and shopping abound along Humin Road and its main feeders.

[powderfinger303]

Thanks for the great replies. The offer is indeed 4500rmb for housing; I am glad to hear that it will be more than sufficient. I remember seeing some ads for housing that were US4500/month but it seems that those are the 'executive' type places. I also appreciate the opinions on the areas I may be living in or around. Looking at a map does not help too much without having been there yet. I work in Taiwan and I remember thinking that I knew what it would be like before I got here. In any case, I'm sure I will have enough time to get to know the city a bit before jumping into a lease (and I will also know now to bring some extra 'up front' money).

[clark.w.griswald]

[eslstudies]

It would seem that Clark has lived in Minhang. Not. He says Xuhui has good shopping and eating. I add that so does Minhang. He riposts with "exactly my point". I try to follow his brand of logic, then give up.
ps He probably pimps for schools in both districts!