How much does it cost to live in China?

By Lauren Johnson On February 28, 2009 · 55 Comments

Tweet

Feature photo by ernop. Photo above by madiko83.

A closer look at costs of living for those interested in making a move to the most populous nation on Earth.

Once termed the sleeping dragon, China has awoken from the sweet slumber of the depreciated yuan to find a world in financial despair. Though still labeled a third world country, China’s major cities– Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou– have surpassed the US in their creative architecture, enticing jobs, and innovative apartments.

They also offer amazing nightlife, a unique culture, plenty of drinking and dining options, and career opportunities.So, what does it cost to partake in this giant’s emergence?

The cost of living in China has declined in recent months thanks to the burst in the housing bubble. For renters, this is an opportunity, and many expats have renegotiated their rental agreements.

After the Chinese New Year holiday, many Chinese did not return to the urban centers, preferring to wait out the financial crisis in their home provinces. This has left city apartments empty, and landlords are nervous and ready to make deals.

The cost of living in China is dramatically lower than that in the US, Australia, and Western Europe. A nice two bedroom, one bath apartment with wooden floors and marble counters in the kitchen will run around 4,500 RMB a month (about $587.50 USD). Utilities are shockingly low, thanks to the government’s continued subsidy. In the aforementioned apartment, one could expect to pay an additional 300 RMB in utilities per month.

Photo by babasteve.

A cleaning lady visiting once a week will run you about 12 RMB an hour– less than $2 USD. Beijing is slightly cheaper than Shanghai, and Guangzhou is slightly cheaper than Beijing. Hong Kong’s apartments, on the other hand, are comparable to US prices.

The cost of food in China is also very low, should you choose to cook at home rather than dine out. A bag of seven apples, for example, is about 8 RMB, or $1 USD. The price of essential food is controlled in China, keeping this expense manageable.

Should you choose to dine at one of the Western or nicer Asian restaurants in any major city in China, you can expect to pay about $7-8 USD per plate, with another $7-10 USD for alcoholic beverages. Drinking in China is not a cheap pastime, but considering transportation, lodging, and food are cheap, one can afford to splurge on this recreational event.

Surprisingly, your cost of living will increase should you be ever so slightly picky about your body care products. Shampoo, shaving cream, and other toiletries run about $8-10 USD a bottle.

Buying local supplies is cheaper, but the quality is noticeably lacking. Expect to spend about $20 USD a month on these types of products.

Should you require a doctor or dentist in China, you have two options as an expat or traveler. First, you could attempt to negotiate your way into a local hospital, though authorities will be loath to admit you without a translator.

Second, you could head to an expat clinic, where costs are enormous and the care subpar. If you are lucky enough to get into a Chinese hospital, you will not be disappointed. Doctors are quick and efficient. Chinese cities are dotted with pharmacies where you can self-medicate cheaply.

Photo by decade_null.

Expat insurance is affordable, but used primarily for major medical concerns. In all, prepare to budget between 100-200 RMB a month for healthcare. Chinese medicine stalls throughout major cities provide vitamins and other traditional remedies. You can also visit an acupuncturist or masseuse for under $15 USD per session.

While some international companies are pulling out of China in light of the global recession, a steady stream of available positions remain available for expats in most major cities; these range from executive positions paying six figures, to English teaching, which will cover a more modest lifestyle.

Your cost of living depends upon the type of lifestyle you want to have. The above range is for a lower-middle class income of about 15000 RMB a month, or around $28,000 USD a year.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

For more about the expat experience in China, check out Moonlighting in China and A is for Attitude Adjustment: Learning How to Teach and Live in China.

About The Author

Lauren Johnson

Lauren has been living in China for over two years, making trips all over the massive countryside and neighboring countries. Next year, after she finishes exploring the dragon, she'll travel to another central country and put down temporary roots and travel from her new base. Lauren works as a writer.

Edna

"The above range is for a lower-middle class income of about 15000 RMB a month, or around $28,000 USD a year." 15000 RMB = just over 2000 USD

Getreal

IT IS NOT!!!!!!!!!!!

Prove it…show some Chinese figures (recently in 2011)
Sheeeesh!!! give it a rest…most chinese are no where near
15000…a english teacher in good school including extras
maybe lucky to get 8000-9000..and thats us….
Go and get REAL figures instead of posting 15000 as a standard
It is far from the normal, even for foreigners

soulglider

Hey Lauren, I'm sure this article will be very useful to people out there. Where are you living right now? I'm in Beijing. I'm not able to open your information. Could you PM me your email? Upfront fees are what really kill you when moving here. In some places you have to pay 2 months rent up front as deposit, and then an additional 2-3 months rent up front. Getting settled down can be expensive, especially if you are renting your own apartment. On the other hand, you can find a cheaper apartment. I'm renting one for 3500 RMB / month, but I've found some 2 bedroom apartments that are very nice for 3000. China is as cheap as you want it to be, or as expensive as you want it to be. You can spend most of your money on partying, then eat Chinese food everyday to make up for it. I actually love Chinese food and don't mind eating cheap variations everyday, so I spend about 15RMB per meal (that's what my lunch just cost). In General Lauren is right – 15000 is a pretty good income, although I'm not sure if that is "lower middle class."
ECZ

When I moved into my apartment in Dalian, a city in northeast China, my roommates and I paid 4 months' rest at a time. The place had four bedrooms, two bathrooms (one of which had an actual bathtub), hardwood floors, wireless internet, flat screen HDTV, all inclusive furniture- and rent was 5250 RMB a month. Split between four people, and adding in about 150/per person in utilities a month, I paid the equivalent of 215 USD a month. Not bad for a 19 year-old student! I agree that China is as cheap or expensive as you want it to be; I could have easily survived on less than 50 rmb a day but spent tons going out at night, and taking trips around the country at least once a month. Discipline I found was key, by the end of the year I was taking buses everywhere because even cheap spending like taxi fares really start to add up.
Sarah_Menkedick

This is a really helpful article, but 15,000 RMB is definitely not lower middle class! That is an upper middle or upper class salary in China. The average college graduate can expect to earn 1,000 RMB a month. Workers like waitresses and cooks earn at most 800 RMB per month. 15,000 RMB a month is far more than many English teachers earned, and more than most professors earned at the university where I worked. It is a very luxurious salary for China. Drinking in China is extremely cheap if you do not go to expat bars–beer, when I was there, was about $0.75 for a 600mL bottle. And you can eat at restaurants, with plenty of beer, for super-cheap if you don't mind Chinese food and navigating the Chinese menu!
Tim Patterson

There's such a huge class gap between the eastern Chinese cities and the rural west. Good thing the Chinese Communist Party is made up of capitalists, or there could be trouble. Yikes!
Sarah_Menkedick

Tim! For some reason sarcasm is shocking coming from you! I think the Chinese Communist Party does an excellent job of maintaining "communist" policies like extreme censorship and curtailed civil rights while at the same time encouraging the most unbridled and dangerous form of capitalism since the Industrial Revolution! How do they manage it?
Tim Patterson

We've got educational travel programs in China for high-school and college students at Where There Be Dragons. There's the China: internship program , the China language Intensive, a rugged program on the Silk Road and a college accredited gap year semester. For info: ” target=”_blank”>” target=”_blank”>http://wheretherebedragons.com/programs.summer.ch…
Tim Patterson

"I agree that China is as cheap or expensive as you want it to be" – Great point! There are options beyond Ghuangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai.
Tim Patterson

How do they manage it….gosh Sarah, that's a great question.
soulglider

Sarah: I think what Lauren meant was that 15000 was lower middle class when comparing to a western standard of living. However I still disagree on that part. It comes out to 26000 USD / year, but 26000 USD in China can buy you about 2x what it buys you in the US. 15000 is solid middle class by US standards.
Tim Patterson

Isn't the biggest variable in life style the question of whether you're in Shanghai or someplace in the countryside?
Lauren

Happy to read all of your thoughts on the topic. Yes, 15000 is lower-middle income IN the expat community, but definitely upper class in society as a whole here. Because of the elaborate bonus systems in Chinese companies, one can expect at least one to three months of pay as a bonus for the Chinese New Year, which is where the 28k figure comes from. For that, one can live quite comfortably, and Soulglider is right that it buys double the dongxi.
http://hbaggott.blogspot.com Heidi

I know that cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong can be quite expensive but what about cities like Dalian? Where do they rank?
Marie

I think utility bills can vary. I’m living in Shanghai and my electricty bill was really high over the winter. It averaged out at RMB600 for one month. My friends’ also had similar electricity costs as me. Hopefully, my electriciy bill won’t be so bad over the summer.
Mahad

Interesting!, a big gap is in the living cost, but for me i am planning to study in China, as a Somalian student this information will be important to my travell. But how Chinese people will treat the foriegners thats very important relating the living in China.

I love Chinese

http://matadornetwork.com mukhtaar

i like your point and iam a Somalian student how is planning to go to china for a university. so i would like to know how much in average such person has to pay in a month in including all the necessary things with out exaggeration.thanks

William

It will cost you 1 dollar! lol. You’ll only get this if you’ve been there…
http://www.spunkygirlmonologues.com SpunkyGirl

Wonderful post. I leave Canada for Asia in August and I’m tempted to spend a few months in southern China. This is a great background on apt costs etc. I was in China for a couple weeks before the 2008 Olympics and fell in love with it.
Peter

Whoa Sarah, I would not say that the average college graduate makes only 1000 rmb a month. I live in Shenzhen (3rd highest paid city in China) where the average college graduate makes over 4k/month and average construction worker makes 1200. That being said, it’s still not a lot of money.
http://HuMuch.com HuMuch

Our website HuMuch.com compares prices of the same thing across the world. You can see that cost of services are very cheap in China, luxury items are usually more expensive than in the States.
Maggie

I’m an English teacher living 4 hours outside of Beijing in Hebei Province. I can’t imagine what I would do with 15,000 RMB a month! I have a hard time spending the 4,000 I get as salary each month: I’ve taken three week-long trips within China, several weekend trips to neighboring provinces, and a month-long excursion to SE Asia during the Spring Festival holiday. I’ve also sent about $1000 back to the states to pay for the charges on my US credit card.

Granted, my housing and utilities are paid for by the school, and there aren’t as many Western-style temptations as there are in Beijing or Shanghai, but I by no means live like a pauper.
Dave

I live in Beihai China during the 3 months of summer for I am married to a Chinese lady and we will live there when I retire in 3 years. My retirement will be 14,000 RMB each month. In Beihai you can live a good life on 8,000 RMB as my brother in-law does now. He owns a brand new car, he paid cash as most do in China. Bought a new apartment and lives great on 8,000 RMB. I will live great on my 14,000 RMB for that is like making 150,000 USD. If you live in the big cities like Shanghi etc you would be middle class on 14,000 RMB, but in a place like Behia, where food is much cheaper, housing much cheaper you can live as I do and will when I retire on 14,000 RMB per month. In the USA on my retirement I would be able to do NOTHING but eat at home and sleep. But I do not want you all to beieve me for I am the lucky one. Have great friends in China and I can afford anything I want living there.

Michael Robertson

Hi Dave, My name is Michael Robertson and i am about to travel to Beihai China and i have been thinking of moving there as well. I feel i may only have about 6000RMB a mouth unless i can find a job there. Do you feel that 6000RMB a mouth is to little to live there? Thank you for your time, Michael

Dave

You can live well on 6,000 RMB in Beihai. I actually live great on 4,000 RMB and save money, but O do own my own place. If you do move there you can rent a nice place for 1,000 RMB per month,if you know locals.Ulilities and phone with cost about 500 RMB per month in summer,You can eat at home for about 500 RMB per month.Eat out every meal will cost you 2,000 RMB per month.Beer you can get at any road side place for about 75 cents USD per drink. Now night clubs are expensive but fun,once a week.If you are serious, we have a nice 2 bedroom apartment that will be for rent starting in June, Move in cost 3,300 RMB deposit and 1,100 RMB per month, all ulilities around 300 – 500 RMB depending on month of year.

homestayglobal

if you are searching for accommodation in Shanghai and you are looking for something cheaper than hotels homestay is a good option! they can provide perfect accommodation for you as a homestay，where you can get good opportunity to improve your Chinese language and know about the culture of China. You will be provided with well furnished room with internet facilities. Visit http://www.homestayglobal.com for more information
http://www.pestrepeller.info Emilia Palmer

the oil spill in Mexico would surely be one of the greatest environmental disasters for this year.:*-
Jess

I’m very interested in the salary of local people in China, as 1000 RMB per month does not sound alot.

So is 10 RMB, worth the equilivent of $10 USD to someone in China?
Bertrand

I agree with Dave. I live in Shenzhen, albeit a humbler part of town in Baoan. I make what was described as a lower middle class salary by the author, but it’s all relative, really. I pay about 1900 RMB in rent, which is less than 300 USD/mo. I spend probably about 600-1000 RMB/mo on food. Add in other cost of living expenses, and I am able to save about 7000 RMB/mo. I live well and I am happy. If you hang out in the expat places, expect to spend a lot of money to feel like you’re back in the States. If you can get a hold of your wants and needs, you’re golden.
http://www.chinatouronline.com Sandra

China is as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. I live and work in Xian, China. Xian is the third international metropolis behind Shanghai and Beijing. Compared to the highest paid cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, etc, Xian is a charming city where you don’t have to live and work under so much pressure.
http://www.chinatouronline.com Sandra Wu

The first-tier city means highest paid city in China. The cost to live is much more higher in the first-tier cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, etc. In my opinions, it’s much more better to live in the second-tier cities, such as Xian, Nanjing, Hefei, Dalian, Harbin, etc. Some of the second-tier cities are world-famous tourist cities. Visit http://www.chinatours.com/ for more information.
http://www.chinatours.com Sandra

Wonderful list for visitors to Shanghai!
Excellent list! Shanghai is home to a large number of famous commercial streets, such as Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road, Sichuan North Road, Maoming South Road, Yellow River Road, etc. Don’t miss Nanjing Road and Huaihai Roads which are famous commercial streets in China.
http://www.chinatours.com China Travel Deals

Great post!
I agree with you on your point “Your cost of living depends upon the type of lifestyle you want to have.”
But I doubt that the income of a lower-middle class is about 15000 RMB a month.
Should it be about 1500 RMB a month?
Anyway, thanks for sharing the information!
Shaik

How much RMB is required to manage in Dalian? (Excluding Accommodation charges)
David

I am married to a younger lady from Beihai. We have bought a new apartment there and plan on living there when I retire in 2 years. We paid cash for it had it completely finished and will only need to pay for food, AC,phone,computer and TV. I will be making around 10,000 RMB for my retirement pay. How well can I expect to live during my retirement there?

http://www.justinphilcox.wordpress.com Justin

David, you will live like a king. I actually doubt you will have the energy to spend 10,000RMB a month. I guess it depends on what kind of lifestyle you want. Do you want to eat out every meal or go shopping and cook at home? Cooking at home could cost as low as a few hundred RMB/month; whereas going out every meal could cost from 50RMB-200RMB/Day. If you are eating at higher class places where your waiter stands near your table it might cost you 100RMB for a feast and drinks. As for the other bills (phone, internet, utilities, max you’ll spend is 1000RMB/ month. You can go for a massage for about 25RMB-100RMB depending on the type of establishment. You will spend a lot of your time bartering with people over the cost of goods: a general rule of thumb is offer them 20% of what they are asking…they will drastically overprice what is being sold in markets because they know you don’t know any better. So, drastically under bid on nearly all goods and services (not so much in malls, or restaurants).

You could eat out at a decent restaurant once or twice a day, have an hour massage, drinks, your bills paid, travel to other places…and still have plenty of money left to save for a new car or save for trips around Asia. Enjoy the lifestyle, you will not be disappointed.

arjin

Hi Justin

me and my bf thinking to move the Ningbo for business purpose and wondering how is life over there i searched on the net but I was not satisfied with the informations i got. I would like to know what is the cost of living in the Ningbo? I got a flat already it’s 400 euro per month (not sure if it’s ok price though). Also not sure about the utilities cost (electric,water,net),mobile ph.,food and health insurance. also heard about local people behavior and little bit scared though could you give an answer please.

cheers

DesJ

If you are talking about 10,000 rmb in Beihai, you will have no problem at all living a comfortable life. Or probably you won’t have too many chances of spending, given the limited options of entertainment there. Save the money for traveling may do you better.

Pastorchrisloanhome

Hello All,

We offer the right solution to your financial needs, we stand
apart from other lenders because we believe in customer services and we
will stay with you until you get the results you want.

In general we offer home loan, Investors Loan, Debt Consolidation,
Second Mortgage, Business Loan, Personal Loan, International Loan
e.t.c, at lower interest rate of 3%. Contact us via e-mail:
pastorchrisloanhome@gmail.com

with the details below:

Your Full name
Country
State
Address
Occupation
Age
Purpose of the Loan
Phone Number
Amount Needed
Loan Duration
Sex

Regards,
Pastorchrisloanhome

Hello All,

We offer the right solution to your financial needs, we stand
apart from other lenders because we believe in customer services and we
will stay with you until you get the results you want.

In general we offer home loan, Investors Loan, Debt Consolidation,
Second Mortgage, Business Loan, Personal Loan, International Loan
e.t.c, at lower interest rate of 3%. Contact us via e-mail:
pastorchrisloanhome@gmail.com

with the details below:

Your Full name
Country
State
Address
Occupation
Age
Purpose of the Loan
Phone Number
Amount Needed
Loan Duration
Sex

Regards,

http://www.facebook.com/kingj0n Jonathan Bailey

Umm, you can go to many places and live GOOD with so much less. 15,000rmb a month is a lot. Don’t need to big crowded city, can live good and wealthy in another city, which is so much better. Living in China is CHEAP, but the BIG cities, of course, it is costly. However, you don’t need that kind of crowded living to have fun.

Data101

EXACTLY…lol
Where do you GET your figures? :O
Most of my friends here in Nanning are lucky to earn 3000rmb/month
and they dont live like kings, sure..but there apartments are not too bad
either. A good teaching job may score you 8000rmb/month so HOW THE @%$@$ did you arrive at 15000rmb/month…?? that’s almost $600AUD/week LOL!!..that’s IDIOTIC, i did not even pay that a week to PAY OFF a house loan in Australia….

It sounds like your implying living RIGHT in the CITY? Um..er…forget that!
Hated it! Living just outside on main skirts is Great, LOT CHEAPER (1500rmb/mth inc services) and 10 minute electric bike into Nanning city.
Someone above asked can he live on 10,000Rmb? If you mean a month and you dont live right in a CITY, absolutely…ask your wife what some of her colleagues are living on…end of story..take care and ENJOY it here, once your used to it you’le LOVE it…
One last thing:
It appears to me in so many posts that too many people are so well off and post in relation to what THEY are earning, surely?!!?

Why? well, in Australia the government survey data for (2011) conclude that the
average wage is around $70,000AUD/Year…HAHAHA!!..We all Wish!

So, again, i am not being disrespectful to OP at all but your figures
are very biased to right-in-the-city LIVING…if you earn at least
5000rmb/month i think that you will do well and be happy: of course that
is my opinion AND experience

cosmo

Hi,

I got a teaching position in Yantai, China. They provide accomodation and round trip fare, but pay 5000 rmb. How well can one live with that money> Please advise soon. my e-mail is: rbanova@hotmail.com. Thanks a lot.

Bowerslashells

my husband and I are thinking of retiring in China we will be making 2,500 usd or 15,885 yans a month will we be able to live well or is this not enough?

hydi

What are the two you doing in order to make 15,885?!
I just got a job in China and would make 10,000 yuan but since I do not know the language they have offered me half.

Jenni

In most cities in china foreign teachers earn arround 4500 – 5000 RMB a month including free accommodation

hydi

Also, if you know of any places to live please let me know. I’m in search and arrive in Beijing China March 1st!
Sam

For most people it will be close to impossible to spent that much money, when you have settled down, we are spending arround 2000 RMB a month + house rent, se my other post.

Good luck
Dinnally

I think that’s not enough, but you can live in somewhere except 北广上(Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou). For example, Beijing’s housing prices is 40,000RMB per square meter(Outside the Third Ring Road). I suggest that you consider live in Chengdu(5000RMB per month is the middle level).

nol

lauren what are the cost to spend on food in china
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5LQ33ROYYLE4XMH6OLSZYLOCAY cin

but now an apple at least 2RMB in China

Dinnally

No, you can buy 1kg apple just only a few RMB. Of course, some fruit are shockingly expensive. I know, Pool people want to immigrant, rich people are indifferent.

Sam

I have been living in China now for 7 years, and I love it. I have been traveling arround for some years, trying to figure out the perfect place to settle down for good, and I found it, a city called Guilin in Guangxi.

There are a huge gab between poor and rich people average salary is 2000 RMB, but most people like shop assistants, guards, hairdresses and so earn 800-1500 RMB a month. Less than 6% earns more than 10.000 RMB.

I have a chinese girfriend and we are together spending arround 2000 RMB each month + houserent. Houserent in a good location in western standard might cost 2.000-2.500 RMB. when I was single in China I might spent close to 5.000 RMB a month. of course it is possible to spent alot more if you dont know where to shop and you are going for expensive department stores.

I love the life here in China so peaceful, lovely and warm people, great climate, amazing nature and still a pretty cheap place to live, but there are snakes in the paradise even here in China, you better stay fit the hospitals are no joke.

Sam
http://www.thegreatelephant.com
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=514574862 Deon Emyr

Indeed the Chinese have lower living costs than most of the developed countries. However you have to think about the standard of living as a very important factor and what people regard as important to them. In the UK (where I am from), I believe that the “cost” of living is actually cheaper. Because everyday I am not getting people trying to con me and sell me things I dont require. Furthermore, I am not rammed pack in a subway at peak times etc.. But I guess it all depends on the person. If you are looking to go ultra cheap in China, check these homestay programs im running:

All the best,
Deon
http://china.homestaynow.org
http://www.shanghaihomestay.net
Miz

Despite the cheap cost, I would only go there for vacation purposes. Working and living there is not a good idea unless you have a college degree and extremely good Chinese language skills, and even then it might still be hard for you to get a job. Cheaper cost might also mean cheaper pay too. Same as my immigrant family, my mother’s side of the family has a nice large house but they still work as farmers. My parents have decent jobs, still getting low pay having to to rent but they still make WAY more money than our relatives back home.

How much does it cost to live in China?

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Related Posts

Lauren Johnson

Subscribe to Matador

The best travel articles each week. No spam.

Breaking stories, announcements, events, and more.

In partnership with Matador

Feature

Feature

Feature

Feature

Feature

Gallery

Feature

Feature

Feature

Feature

Feature

Feature

Feature

Matador Network © 2006-2011

About Matador

Sections

Become a Contributor

New Media School