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," 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.

"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," explained one expat.

"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," 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," commented one expat living in China.