How much does it cost to live in Shanghai?

I will write about what it's like to spend half a semester as an exchange student in Shanghai, China.

Living in Shanghai - my story

Get a glimpse into the Chinese society and see how the Chinese people actually live - and what kind of costs you will have while living in Shanghai. What costs actually things in China? It is of course depending on the lifestyle you want to live. At my school we rent an apartment with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen and a living room for 6800 RMB.

Electricity, gas and water are extra costs that you need to pay. Electricity bill came to 750 RMB in the first month. Water and gas came was just about 200 RMB combined. A typical Chinese student would not have chosen to live as we do. Most of the Chinese students live at dormetry to save some money, and because most of the universities in China almost demand their students to live at school.


One Chinese comrade our rents an apartment with two other 1600 RMB a month. So you can stay pretty much cheaper than what we do. But then one must further away from the university and simultaneously lose standard. Part of the reason that they were hired so cheap is that when they moved in four years ago there was nothing there. No walls, no floor, the only thing that stood was a WC. They had, in other words trade in and build it yourselves. Much is still half done today.

What does food cost in Shanghai?


We choose mostly to eat out. We have not really shopped in either pots or utensils to cook something special with food at home. The cheapest places serving dishes to under 10 RMB. So one has street food like kebabs, fried rice, fried noodles and much more fun for around 5 RMB. The more expensive places we have been serving meals for around 100 RMB. On top of Jin Mao Tower gets a buffet and a view over the city for 280 RMB. When Jinmao was the tallest building in the city you have to pay 100 RMB just to take the elevator up to 75 floors. Now it costs 150 RMB to take the elevator to the Financial Center 100 floors above ground. This building is considered the world's tallest building (if you disregard antennas and stuff on top). Fruit costs strangely approximately the same as in Norway. Vegetables are very cheap however. Coffee is more expensive in China than in Norway. Te other hand can be quite cheap if not perplexed at the quality of the tea. One can actually get hold of tea up to $ 1,000 a kilo, but most manage with tea you can buy for a shopping center or at the kiosk on the street. Pasta and stuff is expensive while noodles are cheap. Wholemeal bread, spreads and milk is expensive and not always easy to obtain always.

Do you know more about night life can go on www.cityweekend.com.cn or www.smartshanghai.com. It's so much different happens that almost whatever you prefer so you will always find something to pick on. The prices in restaurants vary widely. Everything from 10 RMB for the drinks to 100 RMB for drinks. There are more and more often that clubs handing out free drinks part of the evening, sometimes almost the entire evening. People are out almost every day of the week. Many post pretty big effort to attract people in nightlife can very well say. It means a lot to get the stamp that city's hippest.

You get it so can be expected to attract clientele with Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and other expensive sports cars who like to park their cars right outside the club to show off. It's fun to watch, but the atmosphere inside is quite testy when guys should have a table in the middle of the dance floor with their exclusive guests. It's fun to go to such places like that in the beginning, but one is a little bored stiff prices and to feel like a sardine along with everyone else who does not have a table to sit at choosing one eventually go elsewhere. Otherwise, it costs about 60 RMB to get home in a taxi at night.

Those who drive these makes it really without permission and do not pay taxes. So have you guys on motorcycles that drive you for approximately the same amount and may be happy to take you a little longer than the Trike, which often runs on electricity. There are many ways to get around, but sometimes it's just as nice to walk or cycle. Traveling to different cities and places on a little day trip or similar round 100 million. Overnight at the hostel do not cost more than 50-100 RMB in most cities. To Hong Kong, one can take flights to Shenzhen for under 3-400 RMB and take the boat over. Beijing costs about 5-600 RMB, Sichuan in inner China for 6-700 RMB, Kunming in the southwest of about 1000 RMB. If you prefer not to fly, you can travel by train.

High-speed trains will take you to Beijing in about 7 hours for around 600 RMB, to give one example. The highways have also been dramatically improved as long distance buses in China can also take you to most places there are trains or airplanes. Travel in China need not be a hassle, even for foreigners without Chinese knowledge. Well do you manage to lay off his western habits and have a more Chinese consumption patterns so it can be quite cheap to stay in China also in Shanghai. Man must endure some contamination and it's not always easy to get to all sites from China. The quality of the things you can buy in China is not always guaranteed and you have to spend some time learning the bargain techniques to get the right price on things. Could fine have liked to stay forever in China, but then I would like to have an income that guarantees a lifestyle and a standard of living slightly above the I experience as a student in China. Shanghai is a fun town to be in if you're willing to spend some money.