Job Discussion Forums

Swing59 · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 17 Location: U.S.A.

Is $500/mo a livable salary in China? This does not include rent; just food, cloths, entertainment and the odd household necessity.

Can anyone tell me which cities are expensive and which tend to be less so?

Gilka · Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 54

500 US dollars? It really isn't relevant how much the salary is in US dollars unless you are going to be spending your salary in the US.

But, ~3500RMB is enough to live on. It isn't enough to live like a business executive, or even like a teacher in the US, but you won't go hungry or naked.

In general, COL in cities is determined by the size and level of development. The East is more expensive than the West, again very much in general, though very small towns are pretty much the same everywhere.

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

I would highly recommend that unless you have past experience of living on such money (including having to pay rent on top), that you search for something else. While Chinese people can live on such, they've been doing so all their lives in their own environment. Most newcomers find themselves needing more to live on, since they neither know the city or the language, thus spending more. The people who have lived in China a while can organise things differently.

By rights I can't imagine any place offering 3500 and no place to stay. You could live on it, but it wouldn't be much of a life. Well, an enjoyable one anyway. China is cheap to live in, so its worth holding out for at least 4500 and a place to sleep in. (for a university with low hours... anywhere with more hours, should pay more)

hot_water_hillbilly · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 97

Considering the great majority of foreign language teachers make this salary and ask the same question again and again, I'd say that in general it is livable. ugggg

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

I believe the poster asked if the salary was livable exclusive of housing.

I inferred from this that the poster's housing was included in his remuneration.

Clarification from the poster might be in order.

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

Ahh ok. I get what you mean. Guess I read it wrong. If living accom was included, then quite livable on that salary.

gnodgnol · Joined: 15 Jul 2010 Posts: 9

OP,

It's at least three times what anyone "needs".

A'Moo · Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 2:08 pm Post subject:

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Yeah, I think existing on $500 (about 3500 rmb) a month in China for a year or so is probably okay for many. However, if you continue to live here year after year and expect to sock some of that money away for future return to your home country, retirement, emergency medical care, extensive traveling, etc., then my answer would be a big, fat "NO!"

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

I recorded everything I spent for two months last summer. All BASIC needs (I chain-smoke and drink lots of instant coffee, so that's included) averaged out to 23.46 yuan per day. All toiletries, laundry detergent, everything. I also usually buy a couple of kilos of fresh fruit every other day. About $100 US per month. This is in a fairly westernized city of seven million.

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

Swing59 · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 17 Location: U.S.A.

I appreciate all of the responses. I should should also apologize for a poorly worded post. The $500 or 3500/mo. isn't the salary I am hoping to earn. I was curious to see if it was livable so I would have an idea of the savings potential of various salaries at places that provide housing.

SandyG20 · Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 208

I have the same questions.

Lets say in the USA you are working 40 hours a week earning 10.00 an hour (federal minimum wage is higher than that so 10 is good in my location). That is 400 a week - so about 1600 a month (actually slightly more since a month is 4.3 weeks). So 1600 a month - but take out taxes - say 250 a month - then rent say - 500 or more - then utilities - maybe you have a car - then car insurance (many places in the USA don't have public transport). Then food prices are high. We don't have government medical insurance - maybe your job has it - but you still have to pay part or part of the bills.

The only big difference I see is the airfare money - flying from the USA to China is expensive or to fly back to visit or whatever. Most contracts don't cover the full cost of the airfare.

I just got an offer at 4500 rmb and free apartment - so I am trying to understand if it is doable or not financially.

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

Here's my take on things. I'm currently in Ireland, and unemployed. I'm fairly well qualified from a business perspective both academic and experience wise. If I move to Dublin the major city in the country for any sort of reasonable positions, there are going to be costs involved. Setting myself up will require the cost of an apartment and usually 3 months deposit. That alone is more than twice the cost of flying to China, and having enough money to live for a month there. Then the cost of living in Dublin must be considered, which has been voted one of the most expensive in Europe.

So.. the choice is to return to China and have a great standard of living but earn peanuts.... or go to Dublin (or any other western city) spend 2k-2.5k euro's setting myself up, and still having to cover a rather expensive cost of living. Even with earning decent money, I'm likely to have comparable disposable income to China when spending power is taken into account.

china wins on that front. The plane ticket isn't that much really when compared with the costs of relocating within your own country. Maybe its different in the states, but atm there's very little decent work in Ireland.