Job Discussion Forums

[dermo]

I'm just wondering how well I could live on 4000 yuan in Chengde? Ive read that most places in the Hebei province pay less because the cost of living is much less than other places in china. Is there much truth in this? If anyone is living there or has travelled through there any and all info would be great.
Thanks in advance

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

May I ask why you would be willing to accept a position for 4000 RMB a month when there are literally thousands upon thousands of jobs for much, much more?

It is a complete fabrication that the cost of living in China is so low. Certainly, you can indeed survive on 4000 RMB a month. You won't enjoy yourself and you will in fact be ultimately embarrassed that the foreigners you meet are all making double if not more than you.

Can't really show you any external links, but I will show you some job offers posted on this very own website.


Wuhan (5000-7000)
Beijing (9000)
Shanghai (10000)
Xi'an (6000 - 8000)
Shenzhen (9000 - 10000)


Source: http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china

Recruiters and websites run by recruiters will tell you that the cost of living is so low in China. Now this may be true, but you can live pretty decently on 100 RMB a day anywhere in China. This includes Beijing and Shanghai.

Here is an example of my mate who lives and works in Beijing:

Breakfast at McDonald's (coffee, sausage mcmuffin, hashbrown): Less than 20 RMB
Subway to work 2 RMB
Lunch (Beef noodles and some dumplings) 15 RMB
Subway home 2 RMB
Cooks dinner for himself, less than 5 RMB or eats out maybe 20-30RMB
A few beers with friends in the evening at 6 RMB each

He makes 12000 RMB a month this guy, and spends on average what? Less than 100 RMB a day? So think about how much "extra money" he has. Over 9000 RMB every month. He saves half and blows half. He still saves over 4000 RMB every month.

Now, in Chengdu, truthfully you could live off of 50 RMB a day if you are frugal and decide on not having a social life. You won't enjoy your life and be bored to no end, but you could do it.

Ultimately, it's up to you. I've been in China for years now and I've said it here before: Jobs are negotiable. Shop around, don't just jump into an indentured position for a year. Negotiate the salary carefully; you can always find another job if they won't pay the salary you are looking for.

All the best of luck to you and I hope you find what you are looking for, but to answer your basic questions:

1. You wouldn't starve, but it won't be pleasant counting down the day to next payday.

2. I don't know where you read that in Hebei places pay less than 4000 RMB a month. Any Tom, Dick, and Harry can easily secure a job in Hebei for over 8000 a month. Hebei, which is near Beijing, is probably more expensive than Chengdu I would reckon.

[roadwalker]

Chengde (but not Chengdu) IS in Hebei. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengde

Otherwise, I agree with GWOW. You can live cheaply in China, in almost every circumstance. But you can often live well, and/or save money, for a little more.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[dermo]

Hey guys, sorry I didnt give much info in my original post I was in a bit of a rush. I was offered a postion in Chengde paying 4000 a month and overtime at 50yuan a class. The school provideds the usual perks like apartment, flights etc. This still seems very low do. . The school has said it will provide me with the z via and other documents which I need. Do you think this is the best I could hope for in my position, or should I hold out for something better.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[General Franco]

4000 disposable income, if that's the deal, is fine. You can have a good time.

Many of the higher salaries don't come with free accommodation or meals.

Yes, you can get more, but outside the major cities the cost of living in China is very low. Many FTs have more disposable income here than they would at home, particularly if they come from Europe.

I'm no expert, mind - I've only lived in 17 provinces plus Beijing and Shenzhen. Maybe you'd starve to death in Shanghai

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Ok I sounded a bit wishy-washy, and The Ever-changing Cleric called me out on it, so I should elaborate a bit:

Absolutely, China is cheap. But don't expect a nice lifestyle. Comfortable perhaps.

But I do have to politely disagree with General Franco's point about smaller cities being cheaper.

There are several cities that are very small that are more expensive in some cases than Beijing.

Panjin is an example. Daqing is another. Dongying yet another. All are not major cities but command high prices in everything compared to other comparable-sized cities in China.

Not high by Western standards, but by Chinese standards these are indeed high prices and the people living there everyday complain about costs.

And there are plenty of jobs that offer in excess of 8,000 RMB a month AND provide housing AND flight bonus AND need nothing more than a foreign face.

Are they hard to come by? Depends on your computer skills and negotiating skills, that's all.

I will always stand by this sentence: Anyone working for 4000 RMB a month is selling themselves short--and making someone else MUCH richer.

[Sugar & Spice]

The last time I checked, cigarettes cost the same in every city; Coca-Cola too.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[CJD]

Don't listen to the great wall of whiner. I know a lot of people who live well in Chengdu on 4,000 a month. Like someone else already said, unless you're going out to bars several nights a week, are a compulsive shopper, or eat steak several nights a week, you can live very well on 4,000 a month in Chengdu.

But if the job offer is 4,000 a month for 25 hours of work a week... no way. 4,000 for 12-16 hours of work a week is very acceptable. If you want more money, just find a second job.

[Moon Over Parma]

[Sugar & Spice]

Excuse me, I should have typed "basically" the same.

Wherever I've been in China, I can always buy a pack of cigarettes for 5 rmb and a beer for between 2.5 and 5. What I do find interesting is that a 12 oz. can of beer is more expensive than a 600 ml bottle.

[kukiv]

prices all depend on the price of real estate - which relates to the rent prices for shops and restaurants. To get around some of the high prices then make your own food - prices of cabbage tend to stay the same in a farmers market wherever you are. But then again - in places, like central Shanghai, you're more likely to find a Gucci outlet than any food market selling veggie straight off the fields!!!!!

On the subject of cheap - just eating one of the wife's fruitcakes - made to a British recipe but includes some local ingredients that make it simple and inexpensive - this includes adding bai jou from the village distillery instead of brandy (there's also a cheap local version of brandy). God knows how much a slice of fruit cake would cost in one of those fancy big-city western restaurants - but living well and cheap, regardless of where you are, also has something to do with basic intelligence and adaptability

[Mr. Ed]