Job Discussion Forums

The Boz · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 37 Location: Here and There

If I have to provide my own housing, is 6000-6500 RMB per month still enough money for me to live comfortably and perhaps save a little at the same time? I understand that Shanghai (the location of the position) is one of the more expensive places to live in China, but I don't have an exact idea of how much would be an acceptable amount to earn each month while working there.

pc-pocket · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 218

For what I am aware of, in Shanghais and Beijing, FT (old timers) are getting between 8K and 10K. >>> housing included <<<
Fist timers will disagree, as they are satisfied with 3K........

Shenzhen is getting closer to become the most expensive town in China.

Spiderman Too · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:01 pm Post subject:

Not enough! However, given that you want only a short term contract, you are going to have to compromise on salary and conditions.

mandu · Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Posts: 794 Location: china

you could ask for a rent allowence

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

Too low for Shanghai. I'd take a pass.

The Boz · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 37 Location: Here and There

That's kinda what I thought. The offer states that the housing allowance is part of that 6500 RMB. They are offering to pay the deposit, etc., but I'm still going to try to get them to come up on the offer. Unfortunately, I think Spiderman Too might be right about comprosing though - I can only sign on until July, and I haven't seen many other short-term contracts. Any advice on finding more of these in Shanghai or on how to get the current school to come up on its offer?

DavidPBSmith · Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 23

The Boz · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 37 Location: Here and There

Louras · Joined: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 288

Pb can be as stupid as he can be smart

DavidPBSmith · Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 23

For some reason salary expectations of Foreign Teachers planning to come to Shanghai are always higher than the reality.

Someone coming to Shanghai for the first time may think pay rates here will match those offered by Schools in Japan or Korea. 6500 is about right for Shanghai. I wanted to point out that there are a lot of teachers in Shanghai who are looking for those higher paying jobs---up to 10,000 RMB a month for a private school job. SInce the competition is high, most schools won't budge on salary negotiations, especially while at the same time there are people who come to Shanhai on tourist visas looking for jobs teaching to finance their travels. Those people also keep wages low.

As for Louras, he sounds like ludwig, bertrand, Zero hero, or DAndy Soillllyways. He must recently have been released from another mental asylum or prison in HK for more incidents with school girls and is posting again.

checkmate · Joined: 22 May 2005 Posts: 55 Location: Shenzhen. China

Do you know that Shanghai is the 8th most expensive city in the world. A recent survey.

bendan · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 739 Location: North China

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

bendan · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 739 Location: North China

The whole reason for these surveys is to let western companies know how much they should compensate their staff for being posted to a certain location. Don't know about you, but I wasn't posted to China; I came here of my own free will. It would be ridiculous if I expected my employer to provide me with three western meals a day, any kids I might have with a western education, enough money to drink imported red wine as often as I did back home etc.

Do you really think Shanghai is the 8th most expensive city in the world? Even the people who produce the surveys don't think so!

I'd love to see a living cost index based on the preferences of Eastern businessmen. It could include things like a kilo of tofu, a simple bowl of noodles, pirated DVD, handjob at the barbershop and so on. Where would Shanghai be?

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

to answer the OP, it all depends.

Do you have to pay rent from that amount? if so, that means you will be left with about 3000 to 4000 after rent and that is barely enough to survive on in Shanghai. You need to try and factor in transportation, utilities, etc....

As long as you don't spend all of your free time at starbucks or some posh joint drinking martinis and eating fillet Mignon, you will be able to stay comfortable. If you need cheese, good bread, wine, scotch and any other western comfort then it might not be enough.