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Hi there I lived in Shanghai for two months, and can tell you that (excluding rent) 10k RMB will certainly be enough to get by on. Of course, this all depends on how you live your life--buying two Starbucks coffees everyday would be an expenditure of around 2,500 RMB every month. To do your own calculations, take a look at this website:



While most things in Shanghai tend to be on the pricey side, there are many ways to enjoy life in a more thrifty manner. For example, with the proper contacts, you can get into the night clubs free of charge, and enjoy free alcohol. I hope this helped

10K  it's not a lot of money to relocate. Your rent sharing a flat will be around 4-5K, you say you party that will bring you down another 2K + food and transportation 2K + travel ?k

The experience might be worth it as Shanghai is awesome, but be ready not to save a lot of money.

Honey, the mere fact that you have an employer who is willing to [1] relocate you, [2] pay for your expenses, [3] provide monthly global travel, and all of this in [4] a top tier Chinese city is fantastic.  Yet, you question it. Are you out of your mind?

Come to China, and enjoy the adventure.  Yes things will be different.  You cannot make apple to apple comparisons. So throw away your ideas that you will act and behave like you do in Europe.  It just will not happen.

Your salary is equivalent to that of well-paid manager.  And you are what? A female under 30 years old.  Do you have any idea how great you have it?



Your assumptions about the tax you will pay are wrong.  Your assumptions of your lifestyle is wrong.  Your thoughts about who you are and what you can provide is ego-inflated.

You like to go out and party, good for you.  But do not expect Western-style parties.  They drink baijiu here.  It's 53%.  It cleans grease off engine blocks and then you can use it in the automobile engine. If you think you might have some fun doing drugs...well that is not going to happen.  Drugs are terribly illegal.  You have two marijuana cigarettes and you can get arrested for distribution.  Which is a DEATH sentence. Though you would get death plus three years = three years of mandatory organ harvesting before they shoot you and bill your family for the bullet.

If you accept the job transfer, be advised that you will be expected to do your job, AND integrate into the society.  Most can't. You will arrive single, so you will not have a support network.  This might serious affect your longevity, even in a Western-influenced Chinese city. Most single Americans (I don't know about Brits) only last for two months before they high tail it home. Plan accordingly.

Are you ready to learn Chinese?  You had better.  I've been living in China for fifteen years now, and my language skills are on par with my little dogs.

So to answer your question.  You will have MORE than enough to live on, and you will be able to save as well. I would advise you frequenting Western establishments and eat local. A Burger King hamburger will run you 50 RMB, but if you eat local Chinese dim sum, noodles or dumplings, you will only pay 15 RMB. If I moved to London,  would eat fish & chips instead of going to PizzaHut every day.

OK.  Enough of the hard sell.  Let me tell you this straight.  You have an excellent opportunity.  I would advise you take it.  If you fail, or fall flat on your face, at least you can say you gave it your best.  If, on the other hand, you thrive, than that is fantastic, and you will look back and say the this was the best decision in your life.

Finally, NEVER, and I do mean NEVER make decisions only upon salary. You will hurt yourself in ways beyond your comprehension. Hon,  sincerely wish you the best.  Good luck.

yes, 10k after tax is really not lots of money in shanghai.

housing will eat a lot from 10k salary.

6000+ may be a reasonably number for your house.

2000-3000 is a basic number for everyday life.

clothes for girl is not so cheap here.

but anyway, 10k is surely ok for your to survival in shanghai.

it's not easy for young people everywhere.


think carefully about your relocate.


good luck.

VENNOX is right. In addition to that, I say that if it could be applicable for me to ask my employer to relocate me all the way back any time in the future, I would certainly decide to accept relocation abroad. To be honest, I would do that unless married.

Depends on how do you live here

    FOOD :if you mostly eat local Chinese food like steam bread , dumplins,Huntun it will cost you only 45 yuan for 3 dinner times per day.

    order Machdollds evveryday  such as doublecheese buger is about 19RMB for eachm3 times for day .it will cost you 57 yuan per day.

    ,oder some cheap chiense fast food,it will cost about 15-30 per day..

    or cook in the kicthen by yourself ,  it will cost you about 100 per day.

    if your company provide breakfast and dinner ,then you can save lots of money.

    HOUSING:
    1:and if you share a apartmen with a friend, normaly you pay about 2000-3000 per month for sharing a apartment.  it will be enough and you even can save some money per month.
    .2 if you rent an apartment like 2 bedroom with a living room . it will cost you5000- 6000RMB per month. and eat western food ,NO, defantly not enough.

    If there is someone provide your breakfast and lunch and housing you can save lots of money.

    Depends how do you live here. If you live like a Chinese  and share apartment with someone else ,yes ,its Enough.If you you want live as a forgien guy, goto bar,eat werstern food  hang out with friends have some fun.,buying  gift for girls etc No, not enough..

    I think its the best answer. cause there are people income  with 5000 to 10000y per month live  here no problem and even save money. .and also peoloe feel cannot live here with 20000 or 30000 per month.

,but if you have over 30000 here ,
It wil have quite good life and save some money .

Sorry ,My English is not good enough. but i hope you can understand .
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Watermelon eat tomato

Watermelon eat tomato wrote:

Depends on how do you live here

FOOD :if you mostly eat local Chinese food like steam bread , dumplins,Huntun it will cost you only 45 yuan for 3 dinner times per day.

order Machdollds evveryday  such as doublecheese buger is about 19RMB for eachm3 times for day .it will cost you 57 yuan per day.

,oder some cheap chiense fast food,it will cost about 15-30 per day..

or cook in the kicthen by yourself ,  it will cost you about 100 per day.

if your company provide breakfast and dinner ,then you can save lots of money.

HOUSING:
1:and if you share a apartmen with a friend, normaly you pay about 2000-3000 per month for sharing a apartment.  it will be enough and you even can save some money per month.
.2 if you rent an apartment like 2 bedroom with a living room . it will cost you5000- 6000RMB per month. and eat western food ,NO, defantly not enough.

If there is someone provide your breakfast and lunch and housing you can save lots of money.

Depends how do you live here. If you live like a Chinese  and share apartment with someone else ,yes ,its Enough.If you you want live as a forgien guy, goto bar,eat werstern food  hang out with friends have some fun.,buying  gift for girls etc No, not enough..

I think its the best answer. cause there are people income  with 5000 to 10000y per month live  here no problem and even save money. .and also peoloe feel cannot live here with 20000 or 30000 per month.

,but if you have over 30000 here ,
It wil have quite good life and save some money .

Sorry ,My English is not good enough. but i hope you can understand .

Come to China. Make it work. Soon enough you will figure out what you need and what you do not need.