You haven't said where in China you are going to work. The cost of everything can differ greatly depending on if you are going to be located in a city like Shanghai or a small provincial city. Also, most teaching positions should include accommodation as part of the package. EDIT: I have just seen that you have included this under Wuhan, to I take it that this is where you will be located. A teaching position should include the accommodation and the salary should be at least 6000 RMB a month, depending on what kind of place you are teaching. You have not said if utilities are included in the salary package. If they are, your greatest expense will probably be entertainment

Sorrel is correct. My cost of living in a 3rd or 4th tier city (still not sure what this place is) is far, far less than if you are living in Shanghai or Beijing.

Here my internet is 60RMB a month, electricity 100RMB a month, water is about 10RMB a month, gas is about 5RMB a month and I cook 85% of all my meals. Insurance is 60RMB a month.

Accommodation is free - as stated it should be part of your contract package.

Then there is your fun time - drinks, restaurants and whatever other hobbies you might acquire while in China.

As starting salary of say, 6500RMB a month, I estimate that you can save 5000RMB a month without giving up too much.

Hope that helps a bit but it depends where you end up.

Leahkot: "I'm about to move to China to teach English and I just wanted to get an idea of what the cost of living was going to be.  

cell plan - 50 rmb a month,

groceries 800 rmb a month

, metro fair - 50 rmb a month

, apartment rent and utilities 4000 rmb a month

, internet service- 50 rmb a month

, food, and entertainment.-2000 rmb a month 

You're welcome!

About 3,000 all in, maybe 4,000 if I go out once a week. 

You can save money.

Oh, the location is in the post.  It said "money and banking-Wuhan".  I thought that would be enough.  But yeah, if you didn't seen that, I'm in Wuhan, Hubei province. 

My job position does not include an apartment, so if any of you know how much apartments in Wuhan generally run, that would be useful.

As far as apartment is concern, less than 1,000 yuan per month should be sufficient.  Deposit should be around 2 months rent.  I pay about 218 yuan every two months for electricity, 13 to 18 yuan for water, gas runs about 17 yuan per month, and I have a package from China Telecom for broadband internet (4M speed), home phone and cell phone for 119 yuan per month.  In food I do not save, I probably blow about 1000 yuan every month, but I do eat good, and entertain a lot.  The apartment may have Administration fees, I pay 230 yuan monthly for that.  For entering the ebike into the complex is an extra 30 yuan per month.

I'll give you my budget for today, a typical day in Hangzhou.

Rent: 40 rmb (1200 per month with a roommate, for a decent apartment where the rest are well off Chinese, judging by their cars)

Bean drink for breakfast: 2 rmb

Plate of veggies and eggs at the mom-and-pop shop for lunch: 8 rmb

Black tea latte after work: 12 rmb

2 chicken burritos plus chilli, I really felt like some good western food today: 45 rmb

3 Tiger beers on the draft, and continuing: 30 rmb

Bus fare: 4 rmb round-trip

So without the rent, that is around 100 rmb for a reasonably nice day. If you omitted the western food and the western bar beer it would be less than 60, well-fed and enjoyable. After a few years as an expat sometimes I just enjoy a mini-escape from China, the 75 rmb for the western bar/restaurant tab is worth it. Wuhan is probably cheaper. You can save.

i live in shanghai

spend round about 3000 a mount for my gf and me. We are cooking by ourselves, but we usually go eating outside on the weekend (a meal 100-150rmb)

the 3000 only including food, drink and all we need at home. It does not include any bills because my company pays.

so i wonder how anyone can live with under 1000. If you are alone the cheapest thing i can imaging to eat would be lamien ~7 rmb. lets calculate 10 because you wanna drink too. You eat 3 times a day makes 30 rmb a day, makes 900 rmb a month. Would implie you eat every day under 10 rmb. If you have any other things it will raise over 1000 easily.

even if you cook by yourself you will have to buy oil, ingredients and pay gas/elec. If i buy a big piece of meat i usually pay 6-7 rmb already

Depends on your lifestyle. When I first came to China I was partying 5 nights a week (afternoon at the school so no worries). Since then I've settled down a little but still enjoy going out to a nice restaurant frequently and other hobbies such as visiting local attractions, often they are free but you still gotta pay for gas!

If you're frugal by nature you'll be ok, if you're a party animal then your world is about to be fulfilled either way. Whatever country you're in right now, I'm guessing you have a pretty standard lifestyle, when you come to China you will be able to live like a king! My advice though is try and save something because when you wake up one morning and realize you've been here 3+ years and have no savings it will hurt, especially when you look at how much you COULD have saved!