Job Discussion Forums

ChinaPanther · Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 5

Is 8500 RMB with a free apartment enough to live off of and save in Shanghai? I'm pretty frugal. I met a guy in another city who said he lives off of 5000-7000 RMB per month. Do you think that is accurate?

JayCee86 · Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 82

You might want to check the Number Crunching In Shanghai thread in the off-topic section to see how high your spending can go.

As you are frugal and have accommodation you can certainly live off 8,500 and even save some. Just don't expect to save too much. I can easily live off 4,000 per month in Beijing excluding housing without making any major effort. This though is only for food, drink, sports, and taxis, no extras e.g. clothes shopping, travel outside the city, serious binge drinking etc.

ChinaPanther · Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 5

Thanks JC. That post was very helpful.

RBJfaraway · Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 27

Aside from housing that should be plenty. Take the bus, metro, or walk. Avoid taxis unless you need them. Eat Chinese food instead of Burger King. Buy the Chinese brand instead of the one you like from back home. It's possible to save money on 8500, but you'll really have to make it a priority. It's possible to go get drunk once a week on 100-200 kuai once a week. It's possible to really blow some money in Shanghai though, it depends on you, but I think you can do it.

YAMARI · Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 247 Location: shanghai

200 a day spending in shanghai is 6000 a month and for that you can live quite well. a cheap **** like you can probably get by on 100 a day.

It is easy to spend 30000 a month in Shanghai or easy to spend 3000. Both are fun but will be in different restaurants and bars depending on your budget. You can spend 50-100 for a drink or go to places with all you can drink for 100.

Problem is when they choose the apartment you might be in the boonies. 1 hour out of shanghai isnt really shanghai as far as I am concerned, so ask about location.

Paulusmack · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 19

I just got an offer in Shanghai for 11,000 without accommodation. The school claims I could save over $600 US per month. Does this sound right or is it just a case of Bullsgeschichte?

YAMARI · Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 247 Location: shanghai

11000 is low. wall street offers 16000. to save 600 on a salary of 11000 is possible if you eat chinese food all the time.

askiptochina · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 488 Location: Beijing

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

Infaltion here in SH is now on a more rapid climb than NYC. Food and clothing have gone thru the roof. For example, a jar of Skippy peanut butter (US) which once went for around 9 RMB is now 19. A small packaged chicken breast (Chinese) went from 5 RMB to 11 in 3 years. Taxi fares have jumped up. The Metro and buses have stayed fairly constant, tho.

flyingscotsman · Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Posts: 339 Location: Suzhou, China

For more detailed info ask on http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/ as you can get info from people who frequent Shanghai on a regular basis.

BTW WHY you want to live in Shanghai? It tends to grow old quickly.

Paulusmack · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 19

Not anymore, man...