Might be a bit thin, if you're paying for your own apartment. Not as thin as what the Chinese live on, I know I know, but if you can get better (an you can), why settle?

For that wage you should be getting an apartment with internet, bed , TV, bathroom, kitchen etc etc
Also you should get travel allowance of 2200 rmb a year, plus your airticket and only be teaching 16 x 45 minute classes per week extra for teaching more. Sometimes they also give a bonus for not being sick and late for your lessons.

I don't know how you do it , I spent 39000y pocket money in two weeks, i think I could have cut that in half if I had to, but a quarter would be tough.

Tell that guy to shove that job up his rear. That is literally Chinese wages. What does he want you to do? I don't know a single English teacher who makes less than 12,000 a month. Most I know make about 15,000

First and above all, I am not familiar with cost of living in Quingdao, so I can not reply with a good answer, but to me 5,000 Rmb per month is a low salary for teaching.  Normally, you get a salary, plus a small apartment on campus with free utilities, travel money and bonuses as negotiated.

Now, where I live, in a city in southern China, in Guangxi Province.  I rent a 190 sq mt two floors apartment, 4 bedroooms and 3 baths, beautiful view, and including maintenance and water it is 3,000 Yuan per month.  Electricity runs between 200 and 300 Rmb, telephone is 88 yuan, Internet is 119 yuan (4 M), gas is around 100 yuan per month.  I do spend about 1,000 yuan per month on food, I do my own cooking but do dine at restaurants 2 or 3 times per week.  I do cook and eat a mixture of Chinese and American dishes.  I do sit at bars with other EXPATS and share beers and related BS.  I have a nice life, one I am happy and satisfy with it.  I will say my expenses are in the 5,000 to 6,000 Rmb monthly.

I do not visit expensive restaurants every day, maybe once per month as it strikes my fancy.  Otherwise in restaurants it is Chinese food, which I do like and enjoy.  At home are dishes from back home.

Hope the above information helps you decide, but from what you said, the job may be great, but the benefits are not.

What are your quals and experience as a teacher? How old are you? How many are you looking out for? What are your other habits? What does "comfortable" mean to you?

Can you live on it? Yes. Will you enjoy it? Possibly not! Also, it depends on the cost of living up there. Where I just came from, my 5200 let me save about 3000/month - but I was given an apartment, and restaurants were fairly cheap (30-40RMB per outing at the locals - 200 for 4 ppl at more expensive).

Also remember, IFF you're good, have the right quals and experience (and the contract allows you to), you should be able to double that (or better) by doing private tutoring.

5000 RMB IS ENOUGH TO LIVE ON PROVIDED YOU HAVE AN APPARTMENT PROVIDED AND ALL BILLS PAID LIKE WATER ELECTRIC HEAT ETC   AND YOU LIVE ON YOUR OWN  IF YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE ACCOMADATION  AND ALL UTILITIES  YOURSELF 12000 1 MONTH A REALISTIC AMOUNT AND A GOOD STANDARD OF LIVING

Nevermind,

Most English teachers do NOT make 15,000 RMB (after tax) a month. In fact, most do not make 12,000 a month. 5,000 -7,000 is the average English Teacher salary throughout China. Perhaps the teachers that you speak of have two jobs? Maybe they work inordinately long hours? Maybe they are Kindergarten teachers and are slowly having the life sucked out of them.
In answer to the poster's question, yes, 6,000 will provide a comfortable monthly salary, within reason, of course.

I guess it would depend on the city.  I haven't lived in Qingdao, but I have lived in Dalian which is nearby.  A decent 1 bedroom apartment goes for about 2500 per month.  Add about 2000-3000 per month for food, or perhaps less if you want to eat more local food and you won't have a lot left over after taxes & social insurance take their cut.

Better to hold out for a teaching gig that offers at least 8k and an apartment.  Those deals are very easy to find in China.

you should shop smartly, i used to live in qingdao but i never went for shopping in malls always try to find night markets and buying vegetables from road side hawkers.
i think you will also need to do one part time job on saturdays and sundays to survive in better shape.

also u could try taking plastic bags to buffets

In all of my years in China, I would say that the post by Xpat John above is probably closet to the reality.  There are numerous kindies that pay high wages, with high turnover, and the wages in Beijing and Shanghai are higher than in other cities, but to claim, as one poster above did, that the average wage is RMB 15,000 per month is something that I have just never, heard of.  Working two jobs perhaps and lots of hours or at an interational school with a mandatory 40-hours on duty with numerous, numerous activities -- yes, in that case, sure, perhaps, and I even know of a few schools like that but otherwise, I would safely venture to say that the average way is nowhere near this RMB 15,000 per month figure.  Nowhere.

Qing doa is considered a first teer city in China so thing are pretty expensive. When I worked there I was making 10,000 per month after taxes well it worked out to 10,300 and I was able to save about 3000 per month after expenses. Now that was 7 years ago so i am guessing the COL has gone up since then, so depending on how you live 5-6000 will be maybe just enough to live there.

The wages there should be higher, I know the Korean School is offer 12,000 per month and EF is paying 10,000 so I am guessing you are looking at a public school job that is goverment run.

That measn you should get an apt included in that price, if not you should negotiate for one or you will be living pay check to pay check.

Hey, I was on 4500 a couple of years ago when I first came to China, and I lived in Sichuan (a cheaper province I think than Shandong where Qingdao is) in a small town (so cheaper still) with as free apartment. I never spent my money willy-nilly but these kinds of salaries don't get you anywhere; you cannot travel on it, it will be hard to save and there are much better salaries around. Search other job websites and you will most likely be able to find a similar job in Qingdao for much better money.

Assuming that you're a native American, how is it possible that you get 5000 to 6000 RMB contract offer? This is for non-native English teachers, not for native ones. Anyway, if you can find something better, don't think twice.

Nope, not at all. This is as one of the comments mentioned a Chinese salary. I know some of them myself and they enjoy about 6000 per month. With that money you can't be happy unless you're just a self sufficient and you think you can live with very little. The most important thing is that this amount it's also for non native English teachers. I am sure who offered you this money is going to get off your talent at least 1500 extra. A native teacher in Qingdao gets at least 9000 per month, paid by a school not through an agency. How did you end up with this BS deal? Qingdao it's not cheap, so better look for a better deal, if you're still able to.