Job Discussion Forums

andrewtphelps · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 24 Location: U.S.A.

I will be moving to Sichuan Province at the end of August. I won't get paid until six weeks after I arrive. My apartment is provided and I get one free meal a day. In your opinion, how much money in USD should I bring to support me for six weeks? I would really appreciate any feedback from anyone who has lived in China or Sichuan Province. Thanks.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

100 RMB a day will get you by with a little comfort but one can say do it on 20 to 30 RMB provide you don't have commuting costs to and fro from work. Remember in general they don't provide much in the kitchen to use for home cooking. One good meal to buy out will run you from 15 RMB up.

To settle in a bit (clothes, bedding, kitchen etc) you can spend $1,000 to $2,000 with ease especially with winter coming.

4,500.00 CNY = 657.520 USD
China Yuan Renminbi United States Dollars
1 CNY = 0.146116 USD 1 USD = 6.84390 CNY

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jamesmollo · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 276 Location: jilin china

I would allow 1000rmb per week as a conservative estimate. It's really quite a difficult question to answer! It depends on your requirements. But you can get by on 50-100rmb easily a day. Don't forget to have back-up money in case of an emergency. that being said I came with $200 this time! stupid or what?

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

Also don't forget to have a open ended ticket or the money to buy a one way ticket back home. You never know what will happen.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

Um, the open ended ticket is an intelligent thing to do. I got a bacterial infection in Indonesia and had to go back to Australia for an operation. Singapore Airlines are good with open ended tickets.

Song&Dance · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 176

Is your housing truly an apartment or a room in a foreign guest house?

When I go to a new uni, if I am put up in a foreign guest house, US$500 is sufficient, even in Shanghai.

If I am given a real apartment, US$1,500 is required. Fully furnished and equipped never really is and there is plenty of small stuff to set up a comfortable living space.

Then, as others have warned, er advised, you need a cash stash backup to cover midnight runners.

andrewtphelps · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 24 Location: U.S.A.

It is an apartment supposedly. The person who hired me has not sent me any pictures of the apartment because as he said, "We don't rent the apartments until a week before the teacher arrives as we have to pay for it." He also said that it would be furnished, but I would probably want to buy things like DVD player, and linens.

The fact that I can't see the apartment worries me.

The thing that I keep thinking is that this is a highly respected school and I can't find any negative reviews on the net. I also have spoken (emailed) some of the teachers there and they have spoken well of the school. These things make me feel less uneasy.

I think I will be able to take around 800 USD.

Moon Over Parma · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 819

lf_aristotle69 · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 546 Location: HangZhou, China

The money required could depend on where you live. ChengDu? Or, elsewhere?

If it is just outside ChengDu then the natural temptation will be to do weekends in ChengDu... thus leading to hotel/hostel expenses and transport costs.

If you're not getting paid until 6 weeks after you arrive does that mean your first 1.5-2 weeks is unpaid... It's often the case in China that FTs are only considered to be working when IN CLASS... no consideration of lesson preparation time as work... because we're not real teachers... Grrr.

Is the school paying for the monthly utility costs. Tap water (non-drinkable), electricity, cooking gas, Intenet? They may also pay for local phone calls. They may give a modest lump sum that you will surely exceed, especially in peak airconditioner months.

I wouldn't be too worried about the lack of photos. It's quite possible that they will rent it just before you arrive. It will/should have 2-burner gas cooktop, fridge, washing machine and TV. It might have a microwave, it might also have a kettle.

You will probably have to buy bedding.

Anyway, besides set up and utility costs, if you avoid partying in bars, going to the 'big smoke', and other unnecessary expenses you could get away with spending as little as 30-50 rmb a day, especially if you use the bus instead of a taxi. That doesn't mean you won't have any life... just not much of one.

LFA

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

andrewtphelps · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 24 Location: U.S.A.

It is indeed Chengdu. I will be living just southwest of the second ring road near Sichuan University. The kindergarten I will be working at is near Sichuan University. The teachers I spoke with didn't seem to have rose tinted shades on. They did, however, give a pretty good opinion of the school. One of the teachers said to not expect a palace for my apartment. I am fine with that. I am a recent college graduate and I enjoy camping. I am not hard to please. I will make whatever space I recieve, my home. I am getting so excited.
23 days!!!! woohoo!

Moon Over Parma · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 819

Since you'll be living near the university; once the semester kicks in you might find some decent, affordable eats at restaurants the university students frequent. If you befriend a couple it will help you tremendously. Just be skeptical of their shopping suggestions if it relates to electronics or bikes. They tend to think in terms of "cheap," rather than "durable." I've yet to meet a university student who couldn't find bargains once you lay out what you're willing to accept when it comes to those particular items. You will have to make those friendships and acquaintanceships happen. Teaching them makes it easy, but you said you're teaching kids, so put feelers out there.

tp- · Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Hate to bump a 2 week old thread but didn't think making a thread for a simple question was needed. Having figured out how much money I need to bring, what is the best way to bring money to China? My plan was to bring my atm card and figure out how to use the atm at the Beijing airport as I will have 4 hours to waste. Also I've read in really old threads that people with 4 digit pins had problems in certain areas, is that still the case? Ill be in Wuhan using a Canadian debit card. This is just for start up money until I get paid.

Thanks

loboman · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject:

Dude, bring some cash but you can use your ATM at the Bank of China and take out about $300 at a time. Leave your money ion your bank and access only when you need it.

Once you are here and start to make some money then you figure out how much you need for your lifestyle

No need to come here with $2000 stuck in your mattress or hidden in your shoe and have to worry about it.

tp- · Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

yea for sure I wont be holding $2000 in a mattress. Was more of a question on how to bring money to china with me ie. traveler cheques, using my atm card, cash ..etc. Was going to use the atm to take out money at the air port or bank just as money to get me by till pay. Also I trust most banks ie bank of china atm machines accept foreign debit cards with 4 digit pins? I read some threads on these forums from like 3 years ago implying they did not.

Thanks