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Q: What are some price differences that shocked you when you went home?
I'll never forget the first time I had Chuanr back in Canada....$3.00 a stick! Could you imagine paying 20 kuai for ONE chuanr?
The price of fruit, actually, nevermind -- I found that fresh fruit of all kinds is much cheaper in New York City than it is in China. I have never gotten over the fact how expensive fruit is in China.
The price of taxis in New York City compared to the price of taxis in China -- so much cheaper here.
The price of public transport in Beijing as compared to the price of public transport in New York City -- so much more expensive in New York City.
The price of dry cleaning in New York City as opposed to the price of good dry cleaning here -- incrementally much cheaper in New York City than here.
The price of a car, with all things taken into consideration -- so much more expensive here, given the level of wages.
nevermind:
Horseshit. Fruit is far cheaper in China. And you're not from New York.
In China, so many people told me that clothing was cheap, but honestly, I could find better quality more cheaply in America. That's because there are times with great sales, like now with the after Christmas sales, and I can get clothing very cheaply. I also know it will last. Decent dresses for 7.50 - 10 dollars? Yes please! I bought a skirt around that price in China and it was falling apart the first time I wore it.
Things are generally not cheap in China. Crap is cheap in China.
But it is intriguing how a dairy product can be shipped 8000km from close to my home town to China, and then be cheaper, or how you can find made in China products back home that are cheaper than they are in China. Of course taxes are at play here.
Housing costs. Sydney housing is hideously expensive by any standard, but after living cheaply in Asia, the mere thought of the price difference makes me want to cry.I have an awesome little townhouse 15 minutes commute from the centre of Sydney, but I pay about 2700CNY a week for the privilege.
Oh, and yes, Asian cuisines are much more expensive - I found a Uyghur place in Sydney with food that is actually very cheap by Sydney standards ($10 for a plate of pollo) but that still costs about five times the price it was in Xinjiang.
The only surprises are the often low quality of clothes here, seemingly without regard to price, and Starbucks is more expensive here.
I was aware of prices when I left home so nothing surprised me when I returned.
tomcatflyer:
And not just clothes, there are a lot of cheaply made crap items here and the Chinese just seem to accept it. I have found if ~I am going to bey decent quality clothing it costs about the same as in the UK.
cooter:
Amen to the Starbucks being more expensive here. I paid 85 rmb for a bag of whole bean coffee. Bought it at the local Kroger supermarket back home for 6 dollars...less than half the price.
Scandinavian:
...the Starbucks prices are even more insane if you factor in the generally lower incomes.
What surprises me very often is that so many items in the States with "Made in China" stickers on them are actually cheaper in the States than they would be here. It happens quite often.
