Cost of Living in China

"In Xi'An $1,600 a month easy including rent, $500 2brm, 2 ba apt. Hans (Think Heineken flavor) qt. size beer here .35 made by Ting Tao. We have eaten multi-course meals here for 4 people for under $30 with beer or Chinese vodka incl. at nice restaurants. Be aware that prices change dramatically for foreigners. I've gotten in the habit of staying out of sight while my wife shops at little kiosks (they're everywhere). Major dept stores are better, prices are marked. Carry a calculator to do exchange rate bec. no matter how smart you are, one slip or momentary lapse can cost you $. Shop around as prices from one street vendor to another may vary dramatically. And even though it may seem like a good deal by American standard prices, just shop around a lil bit first. And one imp. thing, walking away from a vendor does not mean that they will call after you and lower the price as in some other countries. It does not mean the first price they gave you is the lowest and a good price. That being said, we had someone call after us and lower the pricetowhat we thoguht was a good price only to find the same item later at less than half that price. hence, know your prices," remarked one in Xi'an.

"It does not take much but unless you marry a Chinese citizen you can only stay here for one year and then you have to leave and get a new visa. In order to get a new visa you have to go back to you home country. And, there is no guarantee China will give you a new visa. No reason they won't either," explained one expat.

"Living in China can offer significant savings compared to the cost of living in the United States. The currency exchange rate can help people save money, while necessities such as food, prices of daily necessities, rent, and transportation costs tend to be much lower in China than in the U.S. Living in China can also provide access to a more varied lifestyle and more affordable entertainment options than in the U.S," said one expat in China.

"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," wrote a person living in China.

"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 living in China.

"Lower - average cost of local housing for locals is around U$150, for expat housing is around U$3,000 to U$50,000 a month," said one in Beijing.

"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," remarked one expat 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.