By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: How much money should I bring to Shanghai?
I will be moving to Shanghai in October, just want to know how much money do you think I should bring to cover the initial cost. Thanks!
min amount 20,000rmb.
If you haven't got a apartment here yet bring around 40,000rmb.
Well your biggest expense is going to be rent and you'll have to prepay, probably 6 months to even 1 year. Check out the costs of rent in Shanghai and then you'll have a good idea.
Are you coming to work in Shanghai? Initial cost of what? Give more details, pls!
lizheng0323:
I'll be moving there. I figure it'll take me a month or 2 to find a job. So what's the initial cost in terms of living, food, and everyday stuff. Thanks!
First off we would have to know how much money you have. If you are planning to spend a couple of years here and you have 10,000 dollars or less you better bring all of it with you. Shanghai isn't a cheap place to live. WIll you be settled with a job first before you arrive? 
1 million rmb. buut you really should stay at various hostels, i'm not going to say why . 
I think Shanghai is expensive. I could have lived on $1000 a month but managed to spend about $5000 a month.
TedDBayer:
Gee, my original post gotten harmonized. LWTF, It wasn't offensive
Depends on what kind of a lifestyle you're used to. The rent you'll pay for an apartment monthly should be RMB 3000-5000? I'm based in Guangzhou and at that price range you can get a pretty nice apartment. Check the classifieds section on the site, maybe you can find an apartment with a roommate to reduce rent?
Also put money aside for your visa stuff and other paperwork and most importantly, money for health insurance. The stories I've heard about the hospitals here in China, are not pretty.
As for living expenses like food and whatnot, it can vary greatly. Are you going to cook your own food everyday? How often do you plan to buy take-out and what kind of take-out (Chinese or Western)? How much of a party animal are you (clubbing/drinking every weekend)? How much would you spend if you went shopping for clothes? Etc, etc.
first:
if you wanna rent your own apartment and don't wanna live shit plan 4000-5000 rent, if you wanna live shit or with a roommate you might pay 2000-2500
second:
food varies alot of your living style. so I live the chinese way, means i cook myself and buy in the fresh market and the cheap things in darunfa and lotus. I mostly spend 2000-2500 a month (for 2 persons) with randomly going to eat outside cheap.
I live good on that, don't listen to weirdos who say you have to spend 20000 a month.
Yes I was told shanghai is terrible expensive (wrong if you live not your western life)
If you wanna eat western food all day and everytime you pay roughly 100-150 rmb per meal, 3 times a day makes probably 13-14k
third:
you like shopping? well no limit
fourth:
like party and clubbing? I am not an expert but usually a beer is between 40-100 rmb in bars so you will spend a lot.
if you wanna keep your insurances, prepare the money.
like someone mentioned don't forget the visa cost. Sounds like you dont wanna work here so you have to get a L visa or F visa, since the latest regulations you can't stay longer than 30 days in china.... (correct me if i am wrong but my agency told me last week in hongkong when i got my working visa)
so overall if you live cheap you should prepare a minimum of 6000-7000rmb a month (yes you can live good with it if you can adapt to the lifestyle of the chinese, but up to everyone by himself)
