Cost of Living in China

"The cost of living in China generally varies depending on the location and lifestyle of the individual; however, major cities tend to be more expensive than rural areas. Generally speaking, basic necessities such as food, transportation, housing, and utilities tend to be relatively affordable compared to what one would pay in most Western countries. For those with higher wages, the cost of more luxurious items such as imported groceries, designer clothing, and high-end restaurants can be quite pricey. Overall, China is considered to be an affordable place to live in comparison to many other countries," said one expat in China.

"Even though prices have risen dramatically here according to my wife's family, they are still very cheap by American standards, the exceptions being housing (buying) and clothing. No sales tax. No income tax. No tipping-although when not embarrassing to family, I do tip our waiters," remarked one expat in Xi'an.

"A little more expensive day to day than what I expected, but my wife is "retired" she is 50 and her daughter lives with us so I am spending for 3 instead of one. On the other hand I now live in her apartment which she owns so there is no rent to pay. However her apartment is only about 600 sq ft, 2 bedrooms with a small quest room which we use for our computers, my file cabinet, bookcases and two wardrobes. I am thinking of renting a 30 to 40 sq meter apartment to use as a work area," explained one expat living in Nanning, Guangxi Provence.

"I've lived in Shenzhen for 8 years, and as with any city, location determines cost. Anyway close to the metro, in a modern residential complex, with good facilities will usually average out at about 120RMB per month per sq metre. So a good 75-90 sqm 2-3 BR apartment will set you back between 8-11k a month for an average apartment. Budget another 400-700 per month for management fees, power, water, and gas. Another 150 for Internet. Budget for up front costs of 2 months rent in advance, and 50% of a months rental for agency fee, if using an agent. Obviously, sharing with another expat will halve everything, so a good option to consider. Another option is to look at renting a spare room in an apartment that expats currently rent. You can often get these for 2-3k a month, including all utilities and wifi," explained one expat.

"The cost of housing in China varies widely depending on the city or region, however the average cost globally is generally considered to be moderately priced. Generally, the cost of renting an apartment or house in China is relatively low and prices are continuing to increase due to the influx of people and businesses moving to cities," said one person in China.

"The rental price for a nice 1 bedroom apartment in China can vary but generally starts around $400 USD per month. For a nice 2 bedroom apartment the rental price can start from around $550 USD per month," wrote an expat living in China.

"In rental properties in China, tenants can typically expect appliances such as a stove, refrigerator, and water heater to be included. In some cases, the rental property may also come with a washing machine and air conditioning unit. In addition, many rental properties offer access to communal on-site amenities such as a swimming pool, fitness center, and shared garden space," said one expat.