Job Discussion Forums

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I will point out that I live in the north of China, so produce is probably more expensive here, by and large.

But, seeing as you asked for it, here is just one flyer:

http://www.realcanadiansuperstore.ca/LCLOnline/home.jsp?_requestid=4931049&storeId=728

Some highlights....

Turkey, 96 cents a pound. (7 RMB a jin)

(rather have this than chicken anyways)

Mangoes, $5.88 for 8.8 lbs (way less than 6 RMB a jin)

Comparable to China

Pork, $2.18 a pound (14.4 RMB a jin)

Not talking select cuts, but still pork and comparable to China

Freshwater Whitefish $1.99 pound (14 RMB a jin)

Comparable to China, and I trust this fish a little better

Navel oranges 46 cents / pound (3.5 RMB a jin)

Comparable to China

Garlic, about $1.30 pound (8 RMB a jin)

Comparable to China

Ginger $1 a pound (7 RMB a jin)

Comparable to China

Onions, less than 50 cents a pound (3.5 RMB a jin)

Comparable to China

2L cola 80 cents (6 RMB 2L)

Comparable to China

1L ketchup $1.66 (11.2 RMB / L)

MUCH cheaper than China

455ml BBQ sauce $1 (7 RMB)

MUCH cheaper than China

1.75 L 100% juice $2 (14 RMB)

MUCH cheaper than China, and larger variety and better quality

So there you have it. There are a a lot of produce that is much cheaper than it is in China.

And I will also point out that the food is probably a little more safer and of higher quality, judging by the food poisoning statistics. I don't know how many of my students weekly say "stomach ache teacher!!"


(PS)

Housing:

Sure, housing is "free" here. But in Canada, we pay into a mortgage and then after 25-30 years, the house belongs to us. So in essence, not only is housing "free" in Canada as well, but you end up with a big fat amount of money when you retire if you choose to sell the house.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[Beyond1984]

"If your (sic) making 10-14K a month then that is probably the equivalent of making around $50-60,000US." -Little Tiger

LT may be over-stating salary equivalencies, but, according to a recent article, "How We Spend Money...", s/he may not be far off:

"Americans spend half our (sic) paychecks on housing and transportation [car(s)]."

Full article here:

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/03/how-we-spend-money-in-china-india-russia-egypt-brazil-and-the-us/73001/

Most foreign experts in China get free housing and are fortunate enough to live amidst world-class public transport, obliterating the necessity of buying, insuring, maintaining and feeding a motorized cockroach.

-HDT

An added benefit of life in China over the US: one pays taxes to a peace-loving nation.

A disappointment: the Chinese government dropped the ball, grievously, when it "opened up" to western-style car-based culture. Only thirty years ago the parents of our students dreamed of getting a bicycle.

Even the richest westerners can only dream of living in a bike-friendly/walkable neighborhood. There aren't many.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

I wont bother arguing prices of food any longer, I've already said what I need to say on that. But since you mentioned housing:

[JayCee86]

Buying a house makes it free?!!?

In that case everything you buy is free and the cost of living in Canada in China is exactly the same at zero RMB/dollars each.

Whatever selective prices GWoW chooses the cost of living is still lower in China than the west, and a lot of that is to do with accommodation, as well as everything I said before.

And to get back to the original question not only is that salary possible but you'll save more of it than you would earning the same back home.

[Beyond1984]

Many FT's who live in employer-supplied/paid apartments pay few if any utilities.

The information below pertains to a 93 m2 apartment I bought, while still being constructed, in May of 2008. We got the keys in May of 2009 to our "concrete shell" and began decorating. We moved in in October, 2009.

Average monthly costs:

Electricity: 70 rmb

Internet (broadband, wifi, fast): 50

Monthly maintenance: 112 (people in our building are withholding this until gas for cooking is available)

Basic cable tv: 24

Landline, including local calls: 50

Water: 12

This works out to about 320 rmb/month, or about $50 USD

In October we paid a flat fee of about 380 rmb for radiant floor heating for November-March, or about 75 rmb ($12 USD) per month.

-HDT

The cost of buying a new apartment in a second-tier Chinese city is similar to the cost of buying one in a second or third-tier US city.

I paid no fees for "mortgage origination," "title insurance" (there doesn't appear to be such a thing) "closing costs" "points," "realtor/lawyer" and all the other expenditures one encounters when buying in the West. I have no fire/flood/quake insurance (it doesn't appear to exist here).

I pay no annual property taxes, though paid a hefty tax at time of purchase.

Rents in China appear extremely cheap in comparison to rents for similar apartments in the US. But if one rents an apartment that is not new, beware: it could be occupied by the ghosts of any who had died there.

[mat chen]

Get rich with Aston English. They cover everything and you will get to experience Chinese culture. Your security is guaranteed with an insurrance policy that will cover any calamity you may encounter.

[Tigerstyleone]

[/quote]I was offered $75,000 USD to work there with only a BA,[/quote]

I'm calling BS here. No way you were offered that kind of salary with only a BA and no teacing license from your home country.

[choudoufu]

[jibbs]