Job Discussion Forums

[greenfox]

I have an offer for 10500RMB a month in Shanghai. This is just my salary and does not cover anything else. I estimate 4500 - 5000RMB for an apartment. I also have 2000RMB in US debt that I must pay every month.

So that leaves me 3500 - 4000RMB to live on, pay utilities, etc.

Is this feasible?

[bnej]

That's gonna be pretty tight for Shanghai...

[greenfox]

Yeah, that's what a friend told me who lives there. I just wanted to get some other views on the situation.

Thanks for a second opinion. I appreciate it.

[Susie]

20,000 per month is required.

[Zero]

[sharpe88]

20,000 is hardly a prerequisite.. the biggest factor is the OP's debt

edit: wait, i thought he said US$2000, lol

[rogerwilco]

[Zero]

Any haircuts you get will be strictly haircuts.

[struelle]

I am going to be moving to Shanghai starting in July. Already got a place lined up and it cost a fortune, 5600 RMB a month, but the company gives me 4000 RMB housing allowance so I can manage this.

Let's face it, Shanghai is going to be expensive but through a lot of hard work, research, looking around, contacts, etc. you can find good deals. For example, the apartment I got is two bedrooms, spacious (120 sqm), brand new building, with an elevator, near a subway station, and in the center of Xu Hui.

As a point of contrast, this was double the rent of what I paid for a similar type of high-quality house way out in the boonies of Songjiang last year. So I figure this in the right price range.

If you don't want such a big place, let's say you could go for 60-70 square meters, and are willing to commute a little bit, you could pay a lot less than I did. Say, for example, you pick a place in Minhang district, between the inner and outer ring roads, and venture near the Lian Hua Rd area, towards the end of Line #1 subway. Friends tell me that good houses in that range go for 2500 to 3500 RMB / month. You might even get a 2 bedroom for that. I also know of someone in the city center (Zhongshan Park) who is paying around 3500 RMB for a smaller 1 bedroom, but still very nice.

So the point is, there are ways to cut down on housing, but you really need to take the time to look and get the help of locals.

Similarly, other costs can be cut down on, and to make a long story short you can *certainly* live on that salary mentioned. The way to do it is just focus on yourself and what your needs and preferences are, and be content with your own situation, not paying attention to the standards of other people.

[Maplobats]

I'm a bit curious about where you all are living? I had a nice apartment (not huge, and only one bedroom, but still nice) for 1300 rmb a month, in Pudong, about a 5 minute walk from a line 6 subway station. Of course, I did have my Chinese girlfriend find that apartment for me, so I didn't have to pay the special foreigner price. Now I am out in Nanhui, and a very nice, large 2 bedroom apartment is about 1500rmb a month (of course Nanhui is a bit out of the way, and not close to any subway stations, etc...though it is a nice place to live)
Also curious about what you all spend your money on....my first job in Shanghai paid 8000 rmb a month, and I was able to save 3000-4000rmb every month without even trying to save anything (free apartment helped some obviously).... I still went to out to eat a lot, I still went out to bars at least once - and usually twice a week, I took other people out...I enjoyed life and saved money.
I guess what it comes down to is your lifestyle, and how you spend money.

[evolving81]

Ok what did he mean about haircuts? I don't get it...

[nickpellatt]

Really?

Some haircut shops have a tell tale pink light....in fact, you may struggle to get an actual haircut in such places!

[evolving81]

Oh, I should have explained that I've not been to China. But thanks for the info...

[Zero]

I've heard that even some more-or-less regular barber shops, without the pink light, also have a few extra services on offer sometimes.

[evolving81]

I go to a barber named Moe and he's never offered me anything other than a shave.