Cost of Living in China

"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," remarked one in Nanning, Guangxi Provence.

"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," said one expat 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," remarked one expat 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," remarked one expat in China.