Beijing Cost of Living Remains Comparatively Cheap for Expats in China

Charles Liu, Senior Blogger | Apr 17, 2018 8:30 am | 6 comments | 3681 reads

It has the history, the art scene, and its own antiquated charm, but the simple reason why so many expats have chosen Beijing may be because it's relatively inexpensive.

For the third year in a row, Beijing is the fifth-most expensive city in China for expats, according to a recently-released annual survey.

This year's Worldwide Cost of Living Survey ranks Hong Kong once again as China's most expensive city, placing it fourth worldwide behind Singapore, Paris and Zurich.

READ: Survey Says: High Cost-of-Living and Lots of Tourists in Beijing

Beijing's fifth place position follows its first-tier peers Shanghai and Shenzhen as well as Dalian. Beijing has maintained its constant position within China even though its international standing has fluctuated; last year, Beijing dropped 16 places to 47th position in much the same way it fell to 46th position in 2015.

The remaining first-tier city, Guangzhou, comes in at seventh place behind Taipei and before Qingdao.

Compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit for over 30 years, the survey compares over 400 individual price points across 160 products and services in 133 different cities. The list does not include housing prices and other factors that would make it relevant to local residents.

READ: Beijing Continues to Lag Behind Shanghai for Business and Expats

So although Beijing expats can enjoy living in a first-tier city without paying Shanghai-level prices, the advantage seems to come out in the wash.

As recent as 2016, Beijing was named the international city with most expensive housing rental where such costs are worth 1.2 times the average monthly salary. Meanwhile, the cost-of-living difference between Beijing and Shanghai may not be that much, estimated between 5 and 16 percent.

More stories from this author here.

E-Mail: charlesliu1 (at) qq (dot) com
Twitter: @Sinopath

Images: Carcabin

Comments

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Re: Beijing Cost of Living Remains Comparatively Cheap for...
Posted Oct 10, 2019 4:06am by Steven P Mitchell
(Reply to a previous comment)
jadarite wrote:

LOL, that's because we don't get ownership of our property. Our employers give us housing which cannot be transferred back home as income. This article is trying to make it sound like foreigners (not expats, if we truly were expats we wouldn't have to renew visas and residence permits, and use credit cards easily, as well as send money out of the country easier) can just waltz into a residential situation under the same conditions they have in their home country.

If you live in the West in an industrialized nation, the cost of housing is very high, relative to China or other emerging economies. The conditions in home countries (and some places such as NYC or San Francisco are prohibitive) are not comparable either for real estate costs because they generally are 50% of income after taxes. In NYC or San Francisco, it is almost impossible to obtain a 1 bedroom apartment if you make less than $100,000 (US dollars) per year.

Re: Beijing Cost of Living Remains Comparatively Cheap for...
Posted Apr 22, 2018 10:42am by xz576
(Reply to a previous comment)
jadarite wrote:

This article is trying to make it sound like foreigners (not expats, if we truly were expats we wouldn't have to renew visas and residence permits, and use credit cards easily, as well as send money out of the country easier)

You seem to think that expat can only mean "naturalized citizen". This is not the normal usage. Wikipedia says "In common usage, the term often refers to professionals, skilled workers, or artists taking positions outside their home country, either independently or sent abroad by their employers." This is the normal usage. Really it is just a nicer word for a migrant worker, which we are.

Re: Beijing Cost of Living Remains Comparatively Cheap for...
Posted Apr 18, 2018 2:21pm by h3rtz

This comparison doesn't make a lot of sense if housing costs aren't included.

Re: Beijing Cost of Living Remains Comparatively Cheap for...
Posted Apr 18, 2018 9:36am by Ron

“Comparatively ” is the key word.

a jianbing cost me 7 yuan this morning

10 baozi cost me 7 yuan this morning too.

10 yrs ago, it was like 6 yuan in total.

best writers in my book: Charles Liu, Kyle Mulin, sciencie, TBA

worst ones: Javajew, Mezzarr, TBA

Re: Beijing Cost of Living Remains Comparatively Cheap for...
Posted Apr 17, 2018 6:39pm by jeffwkh

of course and why not?! all expenses are fully paid by company! if you ask the locals you will get the reverse answer!

Re: Beijing Cost of Living Remains Comparatively Cheap for...
Posted Apr 17, 2018 9:55am by jadarite

LOL, that's because we don't get ownership of our property. Our employers give us housing which cannot be transferred back home as income. This article is trying to make it sound like foreigners (not expats, if we truly were expats we wouldn't have to renew visas and residence permits, and use credit cards easily, as well as send money out of the country easier) can just waltz into a residential situation under the same conditions they have in their home country.