Job Discussion Forums

powderfinger303 · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 28

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 · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

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 · Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 248 Location: Shanghai

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 · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 509

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 · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

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 · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

[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 · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 28

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 · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

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!

Rooster · Joined: 30 May 2005 Posts: 363

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.

Complete Hogwash.

I like Nathan; perhaps it's different elsewhere. But, where I am, I had to pay 2 months rent upfront/deposit. That's all it takes.

Love & Peace

NathanRahl · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 509

Actually thats not all it takes, thats all it takes where you are, so saying thats all it takes is yuo saying your right everywhere, and I am wrong everywhere.

To the OP, go elsewhere, as you can see, no one here agrees on much of anything, and all they can do is argue over how is right, and who gets to give advice to any newcomer, mainly so they can feel important, show their knowledge, etc etc.

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

NathanRahl · Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 509

Nope, rooster said "Thats all it takes", so go attack him, not me. Your anti me bias is showing. You don't like me, whoopi, but come on man, stop saying you don't agree with "me" when the other poster said the same damn thing as I did, duh.

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

Anti-me bias too. What insults, Clark? That you run a recruiting site? If that's an insult then you can't feel too good about yourself.
I notice your link to your Buxiban site keeps sneaking back onto your posts. It wasn't there this morning! And before you go into denial, what's this wee message when I try to look into Buxiban?

"Oops, there seems to be a problem�

Thank you for your interest in the information available on our site. Unfortunately the page you have tried to access is only available to full members of our site. Full members support our site through the payment of an annual membership fee and in return they are entitled to full access to the information listed on our site and the associated database."

This wouldn't help out your bank account perchance, or are you really the ELT's friend?
Oops there seems to be a problem, indeed.

powderfinger303 · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 28

Thanks for all the rent related responses, they are all very helpful. Since this seems to be an active thread, I would like to know what people here, on average, spend on living expenses per month. Or, if that is not kosher, maybe you could tell me if you know any westerner that can get by on spending about 4-5000RMB for all expenses related to getting by in Shanghai *excluding* rent. Would this sort of spending afford me a lyfestyle that could include the odd starbucks coffee? I know that questions like these are relative because people ask me the same ones about Taiwan, but again, any experiences or opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks again