An Expat Talks about Moving to Shanghai, China

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Shanghai

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

I would have brought more walking shoes, more over the counter medicines and more winter socks.

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With Cigna Global Health Options, you can create an international health insurance plan that's perfectly tailored for the needs of you and your family. We provide the reassurance of comprehensive core cover, and the flexibility of adding as many extra benefits as you want to ensure you have a plan perfectly suited to your needs.
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What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

Look at many places and use a checklist to make sure that everything works BEFORE signing any lease. Landlords move slowly after they have your deposit.

What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?

Apartment in Chinese apartment building that is 6 floors tall. Yes, there are many embassies in this neighborhood so there are many expats and geopats here.

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

We lived in Shanghai before and wanted to start living in a familiar place, so we picked a neighborhood that we used to go to a lot.

Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?

Higher with less quality BUT the wages are much, much higher than the same job back home. One bedroom apartments can range from 5-14, 000 rmb per month, depending on location, type of building, furnishings, etc.