Cost of living in China for a student

The cost of living in China varies depending on the city but generally speaking, it is relatively much cheaper than studying in Europe or North America. We will be talking about four main aspects: food, rent, transportation and basic utilities. Cities in China are classified in tiers (tier 1, tier 2, etc.), being tier 1 cities the most important ones and usually biggest ones. You should expect higher costs when living in tier 1 cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.

One of the greatest joys of visiting a new place is always trying the food. Chinese gastronomy offers a huge variety of options to choose from but you will also find international options as well as the sometimes life saving options if you have not adapted yet, like KFC and McDonalds. For students it is always recommended to try the campus canteens first as they often have many options at very cheap prices (university canteens receive State subsidies), averaging around 15 RMB/meal in tier 1 cities while eating outside will set you back for at least 30 RMB/meal.

If you ever decide and is permitted to stay off-campus (yes, some universities will request you to apply for permission before you can move out), rent should also be something to consider. Renting a dormitory in a shared room in Beijing would cost between 2500-4000 RMB/month depending on the location and the dormitory and apartment amenities. Tier 2 cities like Hangzhou can offer prices from 2000-3500 RMB/month and in smaller cities you can find as low as 1500 RMB/month. Some useful APPs you might use to find a place are ZIROOM or Wellcee. As an important note: each time you change place, always remember to register to the nearest police station within 24 hours of moving.

Transportation in China is very convenient, providing you options ranging from bus, metro, shared bikes like Mobike, taxi or Didi (similar to Uber) and intercity high speed trains. Taking a bus in Beijing can cost you no more than 2 RMB/trip; using the metro system is almost always the fastest way to get you anywhere and should cost no more than 6-7 RMB, usually 4-5 RMB on average depending on distances. Taking a taxi in tier 1 cities can start at 13 RMB while in lower tier cities it can begin as low as 5 RMB; if calling a taxi in the street is not your thing, then calling a Didi with your cellphone to pick you up is as convenient as it can get, with prices sometimes even lower than conventional taxis. A high speed train can help you cover 1200 km in about 4 hours at a cost of 500-600 RMB, this is how you can make it from Beijing to Shanghai.

Basic utilities such as water, electricity and gas are very cheap in China and should cost you around 100-200 RMB/month; this should be less if you are staying on campus accommodation because many universities already cover a basic consumption fee and you should only pay in case this is exceeded. A mobile plan can range from 30-40 RMB/month with limited data and call minutes or up to 99 RMB/month for an unlimited plan.

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