Job Discussion Forums

[FloridaTEFL]

From looking at the job postings it seems most jobs go up to around just 10,000 per month.... In U.S. dollars thats like $1,461.

In other forums people are saying to go to China if you want to earn big bucks and save money. But 10,000rmb hardly seems like a generous salary. Whats the real deal??

[Itsme]

They are messing with you. Don't come to China. Go to Korea. They are nice and treat their teachers right.

[bearcanada]

FloridaTEFL, the real deal is that a currency exchange rate is not equivalent to purchasing power parity.

If you have 100 RMB in China, you can go to a supermarket and buy some groceries, you can go to a KTV, you can go to a movie, OR you can go to a bank and buy 15 US dollars.

But to then try to equate that currency exchange rate into a standard of living is nonsense. We see this done in the newspapers all the time, by people who should know better.

The fact is that in the US, $1,400 isn't a lot of money. But in China you can live very well on 10,000 RMB. In fact, you can live very well on half that sum. Expenses in China are priced in local currency, not translated from US cost of living prices, so just ignore that.

As an example, when I first moved to Shanghai (which is a very expensive city), I spent less than 5,000 RMB a month for everything basic. I had a lovely, new, large, 2-br apartment in a high-rise complex for only 3,000 a month. And that included the 3 swimming pools, exercise room, private movie theatre, clubhouse restaurant and coffee shop, park, etc. Another 2,000 covered everything else except large purchaases.

And you can ignore the foolish advice about running off to Korea. There's a lot of foolishness posted on this board, to the point where few of the responses are useful.

[rmcdougall]

[evaforsure]

Prices have really gone up in china and in many cases not that much diffrent from the US or Canada....some friends from Aussie have informed me that the prices are along the lines of those down under..

the esl money of the past doesnt have the purchase power of the present...for example when I first come here.. 40 RMB would cover dinner for 6 and now it often only pays for one dish.....and a small side..

many of the oldtimers are finding it hared to manage now...but as always if traveling or just globe trotting, then the small amount of money and the inablility to access certain segments of the good life is temp, and you have the plan to return to the real world and create a career, the low wage is not a point of consideration, but if this is a way for you to complete the marrage vows and you depend on living in China or you trying to save money, it is now much more difficult due to inflation and the higher cost of goods and services..

[Peter Wales]

[bradley]

It also depends where you live in China. The major ciites are much more expensive. It also depends on the perks in your countractL free housing, flight subsidies, etc.

[Itsme]

Sure a beer will cost you 85 at the bar. That's because they are catering to the foreigners that are just passing by or the ones who have real jobs making 85,000 RMB per month.
I checked the site of the hostel I stayed at in Beijing and it's still 45 RMB per night.
I could teach for 2 hours and pay for 5 days housing.

[bradley]

And it also depends on privates and part-time teaching gigs as well.

And of course on lifestyle. I know two teachers here. One saves about 7,000 RMB a month and another saves almost nothing.

[bradley]

If you drink beer at a restaurant or from a store it is only 3 or 4 RMB for a bottle of beer.

[bradley]

Honestly, if I wanted I could easily spend more money here in Shenzhen than back home in Michigan.

[bradley]

For many people China is not a viable option if they have bills to pay back home.

[trika]

I was wondering how I would survive in China with only making 6000 rmb a month in Wuhan. It doesn't seem like alot converted to Canadian or US dollars, but here in Wuhan, China, 6000 rmb is approx. 6X the local salary. So I really am very comfortable with the salary, and only spend about 2000rmb a month as a foreigner. With that being said, I am able to save the other 4000rmb.
( but I am not a big partier, so I can save more. Of course alchohol is going to break you bank account, it's expensive back home, of course it's expensive here too)
Once I became comfortable with the city, I opted for buying a bicycle and taking the bus, so instead of paying 30rmb on a taxi ride, I spend 1rmb on the bus, which doesn't take too much longer, plus I feel by taking these measures I am able to truly experience the chinese culture, by immersing myself into it with the rest of the population.

[therock]

[killian]

i cannot imagine pulling down 6,000 or 8,000 a month and staying here.

no way, no how.