Below is a brief description of the assignment to give you the general idea of what it entails:
Accommodation
The cost of renting an apartment varies depending on the area and it is relatively high especially if you want to live in the business district of Beijing or Shanghai. For a one-bedroom apartment, the cost is approximately ¥6000-¥10000 and above. * Nevertheless, the prices are much higher in small cities and suburbs; however, one can rent a similar apartment for ¥ 2000 – ¥ 4000 a month.
The extra charges for all the utilities- electricity, water and internet are in the range of ¥500 – ¥1,000 based on the type of housing.
Food
The Chinese cuisine is quite cheap and for a whole meal, especially from the street side joints, one may spend anything between ¥10 and ¥20.
A meal in a locally-owned restaurant that offers sit-down dining is relatively cheaper and costs about ¥30 – ¥100 per person.
Foods imported like those used in Western restaurants and supermarkets will also be costly.
Most of the foods that are prepared at home or bought from local stores may sometimes be cheaper if one has to prepare his meal. Groceries: You should set aside ¥300-¥500 per week for food and snacks.
Transportation
Currently, the system of public transportation is rather well-developed in China and most cities, transportation is not a problem. The Bus, subway and light rail transport is very cheap and charges from ¥ 1 – ¥ 3 per trip. Taxis are also fairly cheap, but if one decides to use a taxi more often, the price might not be so low.
This is because owning a car is not cheap or affordable, because there are high car taxes for purchasing the car and for owning the car. And the Traffic jams that are prevalent in many large cities.
Other Expenses
Other expenses that should be expected include Electricity, water and internet which cost ¥500-¥1,000.
Mobile phone plans are usually calculated according to data usage and there is a minimum charge of ¥50 monthly. Internet connection can also be through cable TV providers at ¥200 monthly.
Another factor that can be seen is that the cost of the clothes is also low if one decides to buy the clothes from some of the local markets in China and not from the branded shops. However, if the exotic end product tempts you into going for the so-called ‘big-name brands’ originating from the Western economies, you will be charged near to what you would be charged in your home country.
Entertainment
The money spent on entertainment can be in many forms such as movies, going out, etc depending on the city and event. Therefore, the costs of entertainment are still low compared to those of the developed countries particularly those in the western part of the world.
Additional factors
Here are also some other points that should be considered to calculate the cost of living in China:
Learning Chinese
The traveller who is not fluent in Mandarin might encounter many problems and could spend more money to get even the most fundamental needs and necessities met on a trip. Especially in the countryside areas and not in the big cities.
Healthcare
Again, health care especially in China is slightly costly and could even vary depending on the kind of health care required. The lower end of the health care costs is not very expensive, but the upper end of the health care costs is considerably expensive. While it is true that the rates charged for the various health insurance policies are very expensive, it is however advised that one should get one.
Education
Another factor is the cost of schooling and this could be even more demanding for international schools, especially in China where the cost for international schools is relatively expensive, especially in the higher classes.
Take away
Thus, it might be now stated that China can indeed be rather cheap to live in as compared to some of the countries in the West. Nevertheless, prices can be different depending on the chosen city and individual preferences of a person.
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