As an Aussie, I found it amazing to experience the most extremely modern, futuristic country (in the World) like China, that was surprisingly cheap to travel through.
Dr ANZAC Spartan, 2 outstanding items, you mentioned, China being extremely modern and futuristic in design and constructed, l'm not a Chinese and do agree with you that traveling in China is very inexpensive and efficient as well, this so called "old country" is at any time one of the most modern, contemporary nation in the world to day, especially the efficient, inexpensive high speed railway, that will make many so called modern Western nations envy and jealous. Of course, their 1st tier cities, mass transit internal neighbourhoods are another feature we cannot missed .
@@MrLee4747 The thing about China is that the Tax Payers money goes back to the Tax Payer in Civic constructions, Health, Education and Exploration. In Corporate USA most of the Tax Payers money goes into Corporations (who are supposedly suppose to trickle down to the people ... but very few droplets reach them). The Governments of both countries reflect this. In China, 70% of the Government Officials are Engineers ... ready to build, construct and repair things for their people. Alternatively, 70% of USA's Government are Lawyers who are lobbied by Corporations who have them find loopholes, cracks and century old (out of context) precedents to allow them to control Tax Payers money. In USA, they even call their Politicians ... "Law Makers". The problem with Corporatism, as shown in USA, is that 1% of the Hyper Rich own 90% of the Countries wealth (the richest Country in the World), hence you have the problem of 35 Million USA Citizens living in 3rd World Conditions, such as Street People in Kensington Philadelphia, or Tent People like in Venice Beach California, or Caravan People like in Kentucky, or Car People like in Miami. In China, no such poverty exists. While USA have migrated over 20 million citizens from Middle Class Life Styles to Poverty, China has migrated 800 Million (more than twice the population of USA) from Poverty to Middle Class Life styles. Even Tibet, an isolated province of China with Indigenous People, have a Bullet Train Network built for them, even though China's Government is losing over 2 Billion Dollars a year (USA equivalent). Now tell me, there are NO Bullet Trains in USA, and could you image a USA Corporation building a Bullet Train Network to the outer communities of Native Americans? It will never happen.
if u consider the same quality of food ，housing and raising kids ，i don't think China is cheaper than AUS. i came from China ，a city smaller than shenzhen，now live in Sydney.
I had the same feeling. I'm living in New Zealand now with my partner. I ever lived in Guangzhou, China where is quite near to Shenzhen. I'm working in IT industry. Regarding my position, in Guangzhou I was making around 70% of the salary here in NZ (after tax income). But in NZ, the rent including power/water/gas under similar condition is at least 3 times of in Guangzhou. The public transport cost in NZ per month could be over 5 times if you live in surburbs, if you drive to work, that could be even higher, because the parking fee is extremely expensive. In NZ, I won't be able to eat outside frequently in NZ, the cost is at least 4 times than in China for the similar cuisines. In China u got so many choices for food, you can even spend $2 in a restaurant to get your belly full, $2 in NZ you can definitely get a dream! Take all into account, honestly I can deposit more money in China than in NZ per month.
At first I would think NZ has plenty of sheep to eat, you won't be starving. However it seems meat are not cheap at all, even in the 1990s when I visited. It was nearly twice the price of Australia.
@@Woodland26 That's totally true. It's ridiculous to see many made in NZ products are selling higher price in NZ. You can get a cheaper one in other countries!
@@kmmmm5549 because all the good NZ products are sold overseas for a better price, seafood for example, NZ is an island we should have ton of seafood for dirt cheap prices, but the reality is we are paying a lot more the elsewhere, very soon the $2 dream will no longer be the case.
Thank you very much for making the video from a very rational perspective, and I am very sorry for the inconvenience caused to your travel life due to the epidemic. Wish you a happy journey to your next station.
@@BarrettYT You compare Shenzhen to a small town in England. if you live in the countryside in China, you will soon realize that your life without a car is hell. the comparison is really bad. Train journeys in England between major cities are even cheaper than in China. slower but cheaper. if I had to live in a studio apartment in Shenzhen like you, I would have s..t myself long ago. such shitholes! Haha. Where is all the CCP Money gone?
I am a Chinese who has lived in the UK for 25 years. My parents and brother are in SHENZHEN. The figures in your video are pretty accurate 👍. Also, the cost for services such as hair cut, nail treatments, spa treatments, childcare, house keeping, house repair or refurbishment are way cheaper in China, all of which I miss dearly 😭.
I hope you will be able to enjoy retirement in China, why would you put up with all these inflated costs and terrible 6 months winters ?! I spent the last two years watching Chinese and Korean dramas, I fell in love with the beautiful sights from China, especially all those lakes near Shanghai. I watched so much to the point that they feel more familiar to me than people in my own country. I hope China will open up to tourists one day and I'll be able to visit, it's definitely a number one destination.
Good to know! I'm thinking about starting to study in a Chinese University some time in the next years. I think it's great that the cost of living is that low compared to Germany, where I'm living atm. That makes life a whole lot easier 💸👍
@@Ibrahim86373 Yes, less than 2000 USD per year for the room; food is similar to that. 5000 USD per year will be a good life. Traveling extensively within China will add a cost of about 4000 USD per year.
Hi, I am Chinese doing a master degree in Shanghai. For me, 1200 RMB per year for room(less than 200 euros per year for chinese students, it will cost more for foreign students but larger rooms, better conditions. 2000-3000 RMB (300-400euros) per month for canteen, restaurants, clothes, entertainment (alcool, films, KTV..)(no luxury, no costly hobby).
@@JAG-1969 Barrett is already there enjoying the time of his life. Thank God people like you not going there to pollute the place with your racism and stupid mindset.
Excellent video Oli, easily one of your best thus far. Please do a cost of living video in a popular 3rd & 5th tier city so we can get an idea on those cities too.
I am currently living and working in Shenzhen, moved here last year September after the new government policy affected private schools and forced to closed down. 4 years of my life in China, and few months in Shenzhen, I live 30km away from the city center, in Songgang area, the best area in Shenzhen. It's got everything I need. Local food is too cheap, for a Chinese Halal restaurant (LanZhouLaMien), a meal of rice and beef with vegetables and soup would cost me 16rmb, simple chow mein would be 8rmb, and others between 8-20rmb. Rent of a good quality apartment is 3500rmb for 2 bedroom and living room apartment, and the stunning views of the city from my bedroom on the 28th floor (might post a UA-cam video about my apartment and local life in Songgang Shenzhen). I mostly cook at home, chicken (choice of seasonings), rice, eggs. Sometimes cooking delicious Pakistani and Arabic dishes to make myself at home while living in Shenzhen China (imported spices bought from taobao). Sometimes I go out to have coffee at shops in Nanshan and Futian. In conclusion, personally, living costs here are far more cheaper. It all depends on what you spend on and how you can save.
I think the one thing that I miss most about not being in Nanning/ China apart from family of course is the eating out be it just my wife and myself or with friends and family, that ability to not have to cook everyday and eat out when you want is great and the choices of food are amazing 😮
John O'neal, smart decision, just do the simple maths, to employ a ''good, experience chef cum house maid", will cost you and your wife's hands and feets, plus to do daily marketing for the assortment of food is another budget, beyond calculation, eating out is in fact the best, priceless method to "applied in China, especially 2nd or 3 rd tier city, it's the best arrangement to have a easy life in China.
If you want to live in China for far less, take the ferry and check out Zhuhai. It’s a way smaller city than Shenzhen but you still have everything you need.
I am a Chinese student in Germany, I don't want to say anything else, I just want to escape from Germany as soon as possible, the increasingly high prices here make me feel that life basically has no quality of life to speak of.
I,m fr northern part of europe (scand..) I can feel 🥵for you man,damn it! Very frustrated waiting for the restrictions to be lifted so that we can move back. 😭
hope China opens up soon as my wife and i are looking at buying a place in Zhuhhai for when we retire, will be great for her to return to her motherland and not be to far from both her daughters
A lot of people here in America think Chinese people have a standard of living that is 1/5th of Americans simply because the nominal GDP per capita is about 1/5th of the U.S. When I tell them that the standard of living is not that far off or that in some cases, it's better, they're in complete disbelief. Simply using currency exchange rates and nominal GDP to determine quality of life is highly flawed at best and a complete joke in all honesty. The cost of living in China has been well managed due to good supply of housing and other living necessities. In the U.S. the cost of living is out of control, especially in big cities. I'm here in the suburbs of Atlanta, GA and this place has a terrible rising inflation problem. The deep south had been known for cheaper living but the whole country is now expensive just about everywhere.
That's the fiction the western media is peddling. Furthermore, the value of the USD vis a vis almost all currencies have been prop up too long as a result of the petrodollar. The fact is, the rest of the world are catching up.
@Hayden, It's always the American way to compare their salaries to the salaries of other people from other nations to proclaim themselves as having a higher standard of living; however, a much better way to measure the standard of living is to measure your salary to the costs of living. That's the only way to know how far the money you earned from your job gets you in life because if you make 3 times more in the US than the average person in China, but your costs of living is 7 times higher then really the money that you bring home actually gets you a lot less for your everyday needs and wants than the people in China.
Interesting and informative Ollie thanks. I let out a one bedroom flat in a small town Grays in Essex, UK for £950 pm and additional £120 pm in Council tax. A friend was renting a one bedroom apartment in West London for £1600 pm plus £160 pm Council tax
Your information is extremely helpful! Thank you!! From Vancouver Canada. One bedroom is about $2,200 and cost of living: food, transportation, and etc can easily go over $2000 per month. 🤬
@@terencekwong3033 Haha, if the monthly salary in China can be about 10,000 US dollars as yours, then you can live a petty bourgeoisie life. Most ordinary people only have a monthly salary of 1,000 US dollars!
I lived in Beijing in 2018 only 10 minutes subway from the center. Total monthly costs for me (including rentin one room in a large 3 bedroom apartment) was around 5000 yuan (£600) Here near Manchester UK my monthly costs are around £1200 😭 But I think my standard of living and enjoyment is way lower in the UK 😔
@Roamin Rob why not?? But, actually with RMB 10K a month, yiu can live a decent nice quality of life in China already..., esp in second or third tier cities
We Chinese people all support the government's epidemic prevention policy. So people with ulterior motives don't need to slander China here. Fabricate rumors about China. We are safe, and we thank the government for doing its best to protect our safety. Your attack on China will only make Chinese people love China more.
It ain’t rumor that overseas Chinese can’t go home for 2+ years, if the government really wants to protect everyone’s safety, build quarantine center at each major city then, that way overseas cases won’t leak to community that easily like recent outbreaks, and flight ticket back to China won’t cost fucking $10k each anymore, it’s ridiculous. Where’s wolf warrior that’s gonna take Chinese citizen home? Stop translating foreign ministry talking points.
China can order barrels of mountain spring water or pure water, which can be delivered to home. A barrel of 19 liters costs only 0.9 pounds. One person can drink it for half a month. It is too extravagant to buy bottled water in the supermarket.
Great video and shows why ordinary people in China overwhelmingly support their government. Perhaps an informative follow up could compare salaries for comparable jobs and also taxes so viewers can understand more the end result? ie. the disposable income that is available to enjoy or save?
The cost of public facilities in China is relatively cheap. It is mainly reflected in the cost of public transport, water and electricity, Internet access, television, ordinary food, etc. But the cost of housing in China is very high compared with other living expenses. If you have children, international schools are also expensive.
Government working for the interest of the people will make the people happy and supportive of the government. Can't say the same about the financialized western countries where the government is working for the interest of the corporations.
The older generation in China, the vast majority of homes have deposits, and save a lot of young people don't like their parents, however, in China, people always be unconditional support the family, be a lot of friends to help, but in China all the things you need to have a huge range of options, no matter how much money you earn, you can always save money
Hopefully we get out of the Lockdown soon. For us, China is really cheap for the most part of the daily necessities and food. There are also many things we can even spent more money in China than people do in the west 😁
The difference when a conscientious government controls the banks and pricing on essential necessities versus the greedy 1% that controls it in the west and Europe !
In Chengzhong Village, Guangzhou and Shenzhen，there are many houses. One bedroom and one living room are only 60 pounds, and two bedrooms and one living room are only 90 pounds. My sister is only 53 pounds in Guangzhou for one bedroom and one living room. The blogger lives very close to the subway, so it is relatively expensive.
Thank you for all the information, very interesting! Sorry to hear about the locked-down life due to the epidemic, hope you don't get too bored in your apartment. Hope this inconvenient phase can pass soon!
In the US, EVERYTHING is rising. Gas, foood, goods, utilities… it’s crazy. I think it’s incompetence, not driven by the war, we have supply chain issues since Covid started and seen everything go up since before the war broke out in Eastern EU
Wow! Thanks very much for another very informative video! I wish there were this kind of comparison when I came to the UK for studying!😂 I can confirm that in Edinburgh, the cheapest petrol price increased in the past 2 weeks from 139.9p/L to 145.9p/L and now 158.9p/L. As for bills... I live by myself and never had the heating on all the time - always just during evening hours, mostly 18:00-0:00, and I used to pay £45/month, but after my deal ended last October, it was first increased to £58/month, and then £71/month this January, and now they're talking about increasing it by another 50% from 1 April... Unbelievable!🙄
In a suburb here in the U.S, $1100 for rent (water included), $60 for slow Internet (around 35Mbps), $80 for gas, $40 for electric, $50 for phone, restaurant food prices are insane ($20 per dish) unless its fast food, $150 for gas/petrol ($4-5 per gallon), $1200/year on car insurance, $600/yr for home insurance, + some streaming subscriptions. The cost of living in the west is absolutely skyrocketing.
In addition to first- and second-tier cities, China also has many prefecture-level cities and towns with lower living costs, especially in northern cities
Please make a video about how does your friend come to China, I really need it! I'm studying and working in Paris, France, I'm Chinese and my bf is Norweigan, we have been together for almost 3 years but he never met my parents because of covid. We plan to go to China in 2 years (when we both graduate from school), and his parents and siblings also wanna travel to China. I don't know when China will open up, I'm counting days and waiting... so I need suggestions.
Hi mate, if you are not living in a studio apartment, the electricity bill is less than half of the rate you are paying now. These apartments are charged with commercial rates, so you could live in a residential apartment, the cost will reduce further and environment is much nice. Cheers Barrett!
I lived in Chengdu and will go back to Chengdu next week. Chengdu is much cheaper than Shenzhen lol. Now I am in Canada, the transportation price is crazy bro... Single drive train took 5 CAD while the same distance in Chengdu task 4 RMB....
US is the same if not worse than the UK. Most people spend more than 50% of what they make on rent or mortgage. Eating out is expensive, you have to pay for the food, 8 to 10% tax in most major cities, add another 18% for tip. You can't eat out everyday. Everything has gone up except for wages. 8 out of 10 Americans live paycheck to paycheck. It's a sad reality.
My Susuki X5 Box in Xiamen was great. Cost 45,000 RMB new and very cheap to fix if anything went wrong. Once needed to replace a wheel bearing. $15USD labor and bearing. I'm on my 4th one since 2006. Driving every day on expressway to Shuitou or Chongwu to stone factories and shops. Very anxious to get back. I'm depressed stuck here in US.
Transport！The taxi took me more than 100 Euro, which is over 700 RMB, from Milan airport to downtown, I could take a bullet train from Shenzhen to Guangzhou, 10 times, with the same expense. Miss transportation in China so much, especially Didi.
I live quite far away from the cental London in zone five. Even here, I have to pay around 800 pounds a month in rent for a sigle bedroom apartment. The yearly council tax is now 1350 pounds, water/sewage treatment bill is 450 pounds, the gas and electricity bills are now going up the roof, this month I have just paid 159.75 pounds for gas and 197 pounds for electricity. My monthly food cost is about 200 pounds, public transport cost per month is about 140 pounds (because I don't have a car, I only use buses and underground). My mobile phone subscription is 35 pounds a month, and my home internet service is 40 pounds a month. So add together, the cost of living for me is roughly 2000 pounds a month here in the outskirt of London, the life pressure is very high, and one can hardly save money, and the life here is boring and dull too.😥
Andrew, you need to reassess your entire life, you are working for nothing in the end if you can't save any money. Our 3bed terrace house council tax was 1,500 until now when it went up to £2,000 and, together with all other expenses, I don't believe this country is affordable any longer. I'm looking elsewhere to live with better quality of life and better climate. If this is your expenditure as a singleton, how are you going to manage when you will have a family ? Impossible.
Been living in China for 13 years, just bought my first apartment. But while it is being decorated I can give living cost in Suzhou China. Suzhou SIP is pretty expensive as it is a very desired place to live in. Rend - 150 sm 3 bedroom, 2 bath = 5500 rmb per month. Electric with strong heat or A/C usage = 500 rmb per month, Water and Gas = 100 rmb per month. Parking = 280 rmb per month, Car insurance = 3500 rmb per year. Internet is paid by the phone plan in the company, so no clue. Food can be cheep or expensive, pending on what you want to eat. If you want cheese, and western bread and such, you pay more, if you ok with Chinese food, its cheep.
I had a brisket noodle (small size with five pieces of beef only) and four pieces of dumping in a bowl which charged me $36 USD in San Francisco last week. In Shenzhen, I think the price for the same food will be almost $36 but in RMB, its crazy in USA too. The rent, I live with my daughter who rents a two bed room and two bath apartment in the down town area for $2800 USD just beside the worst crime rate area, the Tenderloin. I can't imagine how they are living in USA.
I wouldn't mind if we had an efficient, clean and safe transport system here in the states. Car monthly payment, monthly auto insurance, maintenance(3 months oil Change), gas. $179+$223+$30/3+$160=$572 close estimate. It sucks.
Thanks for this Oli. I have been watching bunch of digital nomads UA-cam traveling in Thailand, Vietnam, Bali…and they all talk about rental and food expenses. And i needed to hear that from China…and here you are. Good to know!
I am living in Xiamen now which is very nice to live in. Very green and clean. Air quality is good. People are very friendly. I currently live in a duplex, 120 SQ meters, onlooking to a beautiful lake and subway station is just 3 minutes walk. I pay around GBP600 a month including the property management fee. Me and my wife went to see the new Batman movie in an IMAX cinema. We paid GBP5 per person.😎
Cost is one topic, but the most important factor is China is much much safe comparing to in the Western world: UK, US, Europe. It can be life and death situation!!!
What’s it like in Australia? In Melbourne? Cost of living.. Very expensive! Bills.. insane.. transport getting worse by the day. I’d happily live in China.
the cost of living in most other cities in china is significantly lower than shenzen due to shenzen proximity to hong kong which skyrocketted the prices. even just slightly out of shenzen will see a drop in cost of living especially in rental. shenzen is amongst the most expensive cities in china. if you live elsewhere, the cost of living will be noticeably lower.
Actually u can just buy a kettle to boil the water, or there are a lot of reasonable drinking fountains at the market rn, and that might save a lot of money.
I've found when I visit and travel around China how cheap it is. Petrol in the UK has gone through roof, it's already hit £2 a litre in some parts. Energy is set to rise again in the Autumn, it's already high for most households and it's going to get worse.
Hi Oli, Hong Kong is a much more expensive city than Shenzhen. The one big killer expense is rent. A one bedroom apartment around 20 sq.m starts at over £1000 per month and goes up to who knows where depending on the location. As for food, there are many inexpensive restaurants in the city but the choices in that price range are generally limited.
KFC in China has some good breakfast deals, I buy pretty much every morning. Pork & Cheese Panini with a medium Coffee is 6.6元 ($1.04). Sausage, Cheese & Egg Breakfast Panini with a medium Coffee for 10元 ($1.58). Chicken Omelette Panini with a medium Coffee is 12元 ($1.90).
KFC gives me heartburn if eaten in sufficient quantity. I find McDonald's more healthy of the two plastics food options. Burger King can be good too if bread is not too stale. Speaking from British vantage.
What about salary in China? Been to London a few times, yes, insanely expensive. I live in Toronto and things are getting alot expensive since the pandemic. Transportation here is just....let's say world class price with 3rd world systems and services.
Thanks oli for the tail for the cost of living in China, good luck to you and your dad when you guys move to England, thanks for the video cheers and hulaluia...
By the way you don’t need to buy bottled water, most of us Chinese like to drink boiled water, we rarely buy bottled water. If u want to be more secure with your water, you can install a water filtration hose and boil the water out of that!
As an Aussie, I found it amazing to experience the most extremely modern, futuristic country (in the World) like China, that was surprisingly cheap to travel through.
Dr ANZAC Spartan, 2 outstanding items, you mentioned, China being extremely modern and futuristic in design and constructed, l'm not a Chinese and do agree with you that traveling in China is very inexpensive and efficient as well, this so called "old country" is at any time one of the most modern, contemporary nation in the world to day, especially the efficient, inexpensive high speed railway, that will make many so called modern Western nations envy and jealous. Of course, their 1st tier cities, mass transit internal neighbourhoods are another feature we cannot missed .
@@MrLee4747 The thing about China is that the Tax Payers money goes back to the Tax Payer in Civic constructions, Health, Education and Exploration. In Corporate USA most of the Tax Payers money goes into Corporations (who are supposedly suppose to trickle down to the people ... but very few droplets reach them).
The Governments of both countries reflect this. In China, 70% of the Government Officials are Engineers ... ready to build, construct and repair things for their people. Alternatively, 70% of USA's Government are Lawyers who are lobbied by Corporations who have them find loopholes, cracks and century old (out of context) precedents to allow them to control Tax Payers money. In USA, they even call their Politicians ... "Law Makers".
The problem with Corporatism, as shown in USA, is that 1% of the Hyper Rich own 90% of the Countries wealth (the richest Country in the World), hence you have the problem of 35 Million USA Citizens living in 3rd World Conditions, such as Street People in Kensington Philadelphia, or Tent People like in Venice Beach California, or Caravan People like in Kentucky, or Car People like in Miami.
In China, no such poverty exists. While USA have migrated over 20 million citizens from Middle Class Life Styles to Poverty, China has migrated 800 Million (more than twice the population of USA) from Poverty to Middle Class Life styles.
Even Tibet, an isolated province of China with Indigenous People, have a Bullet Train Network built for them, even though China's Government is losing over 2 Billion Dollars a year (USA equivalent). Now tell me, there are NO Bullet Trains in USA, and could you image a USA Corporation building a Bullet Train Network to the outer communities of Native Americans? It will never happen.
Indeed
@Jesse Burgen hahahahaha lol 😂😂👍👍 yo mama is shilling
if u consider the same quality of food ，housing and raising kids ，i don't think China is cheaper than AUS. i came from China ，a city smaller than shenzhen，now live in Sydney.
I had the same feeling. I'm living in New Zealand now with my partner. I ever lived in Guangzhou, China where is quite near to Shenzhen. I'm working in IT industry. Regarding my position, in Guangzhou I was making around 70% of the salary here in NZ (after tax income). But in NZ, the rent including power/water/gas under similar condition is at least 3 times of in Guangzhou. The public transport cost in NZ per month could be over 5 times if you live in surburbs, if you drive to work, that could be even higher, because the parking fee is extremely expensive. In NZ, I won't be able to eat outside frequently in NZ, the cost is at least 4 times than in China for the similar cuisines. In China u got so many choices for food, you can even spend $2 in a restaurant to get your belly full, $2 in NZ you can definitely get a dream! Take all into account, honestly I can deposit more money in China than in NZ per month.
thank you for your sharing
Ha ha ha. What does a $2 dream taste like?? Still hungry as before? :-)
At first I would think NZ has plenty of sheep to eat, you won't be starving. However it seems meat are not cheap at all, even in the 1990s when I visited. It was nearly twice the price of Australia.
@@Woodland26 That's totally true. It's ridiculous to see many made in NZ products are selling higher price in NZ. You can get a cheaper one in other countries!
@@kmmmm5549 because all the good NZ products are sold overseas for a better price, seafood for example, NZ is an island we should have ton of seafood for dirt cheap prices, but the reality is we are paying a lot more the elsewhere, very soon the $2 dream will no longer be the case.
Really appreciate your content to share local perspective and local life in China. Helps a lot for people living elsewhere to understand
Understand how shit China is ?
Thank you very much for making the video from a very rational perspective, and I am very sorry for the inconvenience caused to your travel life due to the epidemic. Wish you a happy journey to your next station.
No worries!
@@BarrettYT You compare Shenzhen to a small town in England. if you live in the countryside in China, you will soon realize that your life without a car is hell. the comparison is really bad.
Train journeys in England between major cities are even cheaper than in China. slower but cheaper.
if I had to live in a studio apartment in Shenzhen like you, I would have s..t myself long ago. such shitholes! Haha. Where is all the CCP Money gone?
@@BarrettYT The Shenzhen government has done much better than the Shanghai government so far, so there is no need to worry too much.
I am a Chinese who has lived in the UK for 25 years. My parents and brother are in SHENZHEN. The figures in your video are pretty accurate 👍. Also, the cost for services such as hair cut, nail treatments, spa treatments, childcare, house keeping, house repair or refurbishment are way cheaper in China, all of which I miss dearly 😭.
I hope you will be able to enjoy retirement in China, why would you put up with all these inflated costs and terrible 6 months winters ?!
I spent the last two years watching Chinese and Korean dramas, I fell in love with the beautiful sights from China, especially all those lakes near Shanghai. I watched so much to the point that they feel more familiar to me than people in my own country. I hope China will open up to tourists one day and I'll be able to visit, it's definitely a number one destination.
Good to know! I'm thinking about starting to study in a Chinese University some time in the next years. I think it's great that the cost of living is that low compared to Germany, where I'm living atm. That makes life a whole lot easier 💸👍
if you get a dormatory in your Chinese university, way cheaper than you rent a house outside
@@Ibrahim86373 Yes, less than 2000 USD per year for the room; food is similar to that. 5000 USD per year will be a good life. Traveling extensively within China will add a cost of about 4000 USD per year.
Hi, I am Chinese doing a master degree in Shanghai. For me, 1200 RMB per year for room(less than 200 euros per year for chinese students, it will cost more for foreign students but larger rooms, better conditions. 2000-3000 RMB (300-400euros) per month for canteen, restaurants, clothes, entertainment (alcool, films, KTV..)(no luxury, no costly hobby).
Yeah don’t go there bro it’s one of the least free places in the world.
@@JAG-1969 Barrett is already there enjoying the time of his life. Thank God people like you not going there to pollute the place with your racism and stupid mindset.
Excellent video Oli, easily one of your best thus far. Please do a cost of living video in a popular 3rd & 5th tier city so we can get an idea on those cities too.
very cheap, 100USD can rent a good house but not many jobs there
我家乡广东江门新会区，三线城市，三房二厅租金不知道超过3000元人民币，而且城市环境漂亮。
@Peter Wang 是的
I am currently living and working in Shenzhen, moved here last year September after the new government policy affected private schools and forced to closed down. 4 years of my life in China, and few months in Shenzhen, I live 30km away from the city center, in Songgang area, the best area in Shenzhen.
It's got everything I need. Local food is too cheap, for a Chinese Halal restaurant (LanZhouLaMien), a meal of rice and beef with vegetables and soup would cost me 16rmb, simple chow mein would be 8rmb, and others between 8-20rmb. Rent of a good quality apartment is 3500rmb for 2 bedroom and living room apartment, and the stunning views of the city from my bedroom on the 28th floor (might post a UA-cam video about my apartment and local life in Songgang Shenzhen).
I mostly cook at home, chicken (choice of seasonings), rice, eggs. Sometimes cooking delicious Pakistani and Arabic dishes to make myself at home while living in Shenzhen China (imported spices bought from taobao). Sometimes I go out to have coffee at shops in Nanshan and Futian.
In conclusion, personally, living costs here are far more cheaper. It all depends on what you spend on and how you can save.
祝你在中国生活开心
whats the wages like say working in a supermarket per hour?
I live in Shajing near to Songgang...
@@MT-xy7fw local people don't need to rent houses. also Chinese people tend to live together to support each other.
@@MT-xy7fw usually simple works that do not need education and technology skills got lowest salary,usually 4000RMB per month.
Thank you Oli wish you alway healthy and happy in China
you missed out the broadband and mobile services bill which are also very cheap.
and super super fast.
Thanks! Very informative! I can never find out all the detailed comparisons! Great to know! Enjoy your time in China 🇨🇳
I think the one thing that I miss most about not being in Nanning/ China apart from family of course is the eating out be it just my wife and myself or with friends and family, that ability to not have to cook everyday and eat out when you want is great and the choices of food are amazing 😮
John O'neal, smart decision, just do the simple maths, to employ a ''good, experience chef cum house maid", will cost you and your wife's hands and feets, plus to do daily marketing for the assortment of food is another budget, beyond calculation, eating out is in fact the best, priceless method to "applied in China, especially 2nd or 3 rd tier city, it's the best arrangement to have a easy life in China.
If you want to live in China for far less, take the ferry and check out Zhuhai. It’s a way smaller city than Shenzhen but you still have everything you need.
I live in zhuhai 4 year in the past.
@天水围抽象冲浪里吧吧主 yep
I am a Chinese student in Germany, I don't want to say anything else, I just want to escape from Germany as soon as possible, the increasingly high prices here make me feel that life basically has no quality of life to speak of.
I,m fr northern part of europe (scand..) I can feel 🥵for you man,damn it! Very frustrated waiting for the restrictions to be lifted so that we can move back. 😭
hope China opens up soon as my wife and i are looking at buying a place in Zhuhhai for when we retire, will be great for her to return to her motherland and not be to far from both her daughters
question: Trevor, do you have to be a citizen of China when considering buying a house there?
I hope so too!
@@annaboyer1633 my wife is a Chinese citizen . but it is something we are looking into at the moment
@@BarrettYT 😭by the way, thanks for your video about living cost in China. Very useful source for me.
@@trevornorman7563 thanks for replying.
A lot of people here in America think Chinese people have a standard of living that is 1/5th of Americans simply because the nominal GDP per capita is about 1/5th of the U.S. When I tell them that the standard of living is not that far off or that in some cases, it's better, they're in complete disbelief. Simply using currency exchange rates and nominal GDP to determine quality of life is highly flawed at best and a complete joke in all honesty. The cost of living in China has been well managed due to good supply of housing and other living necessities. In the U.S. the cost of living is out of control, especially in big cities. I'm here in the suburbs of Atlanta, GA and this place has a terrible rising inflation problem. The deep south had been known for cheaper living but the whole country is now expensive just about everywhere.
Atlanta is one of the low cost city. Here in San Francisco, I had to pay near $3000 USD for a studio apartment in a relatively safe area.
That's the fiction the western media is peddling. Furthermore, the value of the USD vis a vis almost all currencies have been prop up too long as a result of the petrodollar. The fact is, the rest of the world are catching up.
@Hayden, It's always the American way to compare their salaries to the salaries of other people from other nations to proclaim themselves as having a higher standard of living; however, a much better way to measure the standard of living is to measure your salary to the costs of living. That's the only way to know how far the money you earned from your job gets you in life because if you make 3 times more in the US than the average person in China, but your costs of living is 7 times higher then really the money that you bring home actually gets you a lot less for your everyday needs and wants than the people in China.
Maybe soon in the UK, gas will be more expensive than rent.
looking forward to see you to take your friend to walk around shenzhen
Very soon!
Interesting and informative Ollie thanks. I let out a one bedroom flat in a small town Grays in Essex, UK for £950 pm and additional £120 pm in Council tax. A friend was renting a one bedroom apartment in West London for £1600 pm plus £160 pm Council tax
Your information is extremely helpful! Thank you!!
From Vancouver Canada. One bedroom is about $2,200 and cost of living: food, transportation, and etc can easily go over $2000 per month. 🤬
The rent in many western countries is so high...
在中国2000美元你可以过上很不错的生活了
@@elainedu8112 In China, you can rent a three-bedroom, one-bedroom house for $300, and the decoration is very good.
@@耿其 $2000/mth in Vancouver is for a
@@terencekwong3033 Haha, if the monthly salary in China can be about 10,000 US dollars as yours, then you can live a petty bourgeoisie life. Most ordinary people only have a monthly salary of 1,000 US dollars!
I lived in Beijing in 2018 only 10 minutes subway from the center. Total monthly costs for me (including rentin one room in a large 3 bedroom apartment) was around 5000 yuan (£600)
Here near Manchester UK my monthly costs are around £1200 😭
But I think my standard of living and enjoyment is way lower in the UK 😔
Roamin Rob, for Y600/- is considered reasonable, but for £1200/- you can rent a 3 rooms 3 baths huge luxurious bungalow in Thailand or Vietnam
@@MrLee4747 I know but you can't earn 25,000 yuan a month there 😉
I swear. About time the damn politicians do actual work. For the people. Not the elites.
@Roamin Rob why not?? But, actually with RMB 10K a month, yiu can live a decent nice quality of life in China already..., esp in second or third tier cities
@@elainedu8112 I think he meant that the average wage in Thailand or Vietnam is not RMB 25k per month, not Beijing.
We Chinese people all support the government's epidemic prevention policy. So people with ulterior motives don't need to slander China here. Fabricate rumors about China. We are safe, and we thank the government for doing its best to protect our safety. Your attack on China will only make Chinese people love China more.
Have you watched the video?
@@padaisy07 请问什么视频，是造谣抹黑的那种？
只看标题确实会让人误解😏
@@padaisy07 She was probably talking about someone in the comments section
It ain’t rumor that overseas Chinese can’t go home for 2+ years, if the government really wants to protect everyone’s safety, build quarantine center at each major city then, that way overseas cases won’t leak to community that easily like recent outbreaks, and flight ticket back to China won’t cost fucking $10k each anymore, it’s ridiculous. Where’s wolf warrior that’s gonna take Chinese citizen home? Stop translating foreign ministry talking points.
China can order barrels of mountain spring water or pure water, which can be delivered to home. A barrel of 19 liters costs only 0.9 pounds. One person can drink it for half a month. It is too extravagant to buy bottled water in the supermarket.
love this video
Always happy to watch your videos. Thank you
Great video and shows why ordinary people in China overwhelmingly support their government. Perhaps an informative follow up could compare salaries for comparable jobs and also taxes so viewers can understand more the end result? ie. the disposable income that is available to enjoy or save?
The cost of public facilities in China is relatively cheap. It is mainly reflected in the cost of public transport, water and electricity, Internet access, television, ordinary food, etc. But the cost of housing in China is very high compared with other living expenses. If you have children, international schools are also expensive.
Government working for the interest of the people will make the people happy and supportive of the government.
Can't say the same about the financialized western countries where the government is working for the interest of the corporations.
The older generation in China, the vast majority of homes have deposits, and save a lot of young people don't like their parents, however, in China, people always be unconditional support the family, be a lot of friends to help, but in China all the things you need to have a huge range of options, no matter how much money you earn, you can always save money
Another good thing about living in China is that there are no endless marches to protest riots
没有佩洛西老奶奶说的美丽风景线，对你们西方人来说应该不习惯
Love Olis' videos as they are always informative.
在中国无论是一线或是五线城市，吃、住、行这三项最民生的事情是绝对保障的。
感谢Oli的分享。
@Z Y.X 作为一个在全世界最一线城市中心留学工作了20年的上海人我告诉你 刚比样子 Shanghai's the best.
@Z Y.X 作為美中大城都住過的台灣人，我也告訴你，上海做的更好，住的更舒適，看來你被洗腦的很嚴重，出去看看世界吧如果你可以的話ㄏㄏ
@Z Y.X 你住在上海吗？
@Z Y.X 上海代表全中国？上海人说他们自由民主有西方的生活方式这就是恶果
Hopefully we get out of the Lockdown soon. For us, China is really cheap for the most part of the daily necessities and food. There are also many things we can even spent more money in China than people do in the west 😁
The difference when a conscientious government controls the banks and pricing on essential necessities versus the greedy 1% that controls it in the west and Europe !
Brand clothes and cosmetics.
@@gcalvin8846 of course, needless to say-that’s everywhere else in the world for unnecessary luxury items!
Thanks for the info, when things open up we want to spend more time China as well.
Here in California, the gas now cost $6.79/gallon. Everything is expensive here, way over priced.
Here in Shenzhen China. 92# $5 /gallon And 95# $5.6/gallon. And i just bought my Tesla model3.
在美國紐約生活的我，完全同意你的说法，
In Chengzhong Village, Guangzhou and Shenzhen，there are many houses. One bedroom and one living room are only 60 pounds, and two bedrooms and one living room are only 90 pounds. My sister is only 53 pounds in Guangzhou for one bedroom and one living room. The blogger lives very close to the subway, so it is relatively expensive.
Good information. Feel sorry for your friend though: running into quarantine when just arriving in China for the first time!
Nice comparison! nice video
Thank you for all the information, very interesting! Sorry to hear about the locked-down life due to the epidemic, hope you don't get too bored in your apartment. Hope this inconvenient phase can pass soon!
In the US, EVERYTHING is rising. Gas, foood, goods, utilities… it’s crazy. I think it’s incompetence, not driven by the war, we have supply chain issues since Covid started and seen everything go up since before the war broke out in Eastern EU
Wow! Thanks very much for another very informative video! I wish there were this kind of comparison when I came to the UK for studying!😂 I can confirm that in Edinburgh, the cheapest petrol price increased in the past 2 weeks from 139.9p/L to 145.9p/L and now 158.9p/L. As for bills... I live by myself and never had the heating on all the time - always just during evening hours, mostly 18:00-0:00, and I used to pay £45/month, but after my deal ended last October, it was first increased to £58/month, and then £71/month this January, and now they're talking about increasing it by another 50% from 1 April... Unbelievable!🙄
I will soon graduate from HK and work in Shenzhen. Cannot wait to go back to mainland China after years of travel restriction.
In a suburb here in the U.S, $1100 for rent (water included), $60 for slow Internet (around 35Mbps), $80 for gas, $40 for electric, $50 for phone, restaurant food prices are insane ($20 per dish) unless its fast food, $150 for gas/petrol ($4-5 per gallon), $1200/year on car insurance, $600/yr for home insurance, + some streaming subscriptions. The cost of living in the west is absolutely skyrocketing.
In addition to first- and second-tier cities, China also has many prefecture-level cities and towns with lower living costs, especially in northern cities
Please do a video about why the water in China is not drinkable.
I love watching your videos. They make me feel closer to SZ, it's been over 2 years now since I was there.
Thank you 💕
Please make a video about how does your friend come to China, I really need it! I'm studying and working in Paris, France, I'm Chinese and my bf is Norweigan, we have been together for almost 3 years but he never met my parents because of covid. We plan to go to China in 2 years (when we both graduate from school), and his parents and siblings also wanna travel to China. I don't know when China will open up, I'm counting days and waiting... so I need suggestions.
Let's hope things will be settled in 2 years' time. Good luck !
Hi mate, if you are not living in a studio apartment, the electricity bill is less than half of the rate you are paying now. These apartments are charged with commercial rates, so you could live in a residential apartment, the cost will reduce further and environment is much nice. Cheers Barrett!
I lived in Chengdu and will go back to Chengdu next week. Chengdu is much cheaper than Shenzhen lol. Now I am in Canada, the transportation price is crazy bro... Single drive train took 5 CAD while the same distance in Chengdu task 4 RMB....
Damn. The more I learn the more I want to find a way to move there.
China welcome you, ChicagoTurtle1! Learn Chinese will make it easier for you
@@anonymintheworld9781 Sure but I think it’s hard to find a job there these days.
We also need to consider income, measuring the cost of living as a percentage of income.
US is the same if not worse than the UK. Most people spend more than 50% of what they make on rent or mortgage. Eating out is expensive, you have to pay for the food, 8 to 10% tax in most major cities, add another 18% for tip. You can't eat out everyday. Everything has gone up except for wages. 8 out of 10 Americans live paycheck to paycheck. It's a sad reality.
It’s very good comparison. Thanks for sharing the living cost of 深圳。
My Susuki X5 Box in Xiamen was great. Cost 45,000 RMB new and very cheap to fix if anything went wrong. Once needed to replace a wheel bearing. $15USD labor and bearing. I'm on my 4th one since 2006. Driving every day on expressway to Shuitou or Chongwu to stone factories and shops. Very anxious to get back. I'm depressed stuck here in US.
Transport！The taxi took me more than 100 Euro, which is over 700 RMB, from Milan airport to downtown, I could take a bullet train from Shenzhen to Guangzhou, 10 times, with the same expense. Miss transportation in China so much, especially Didi.
I live quite far away from the cental London in zone five. Even here, I have to pay around 800 pounds a month in rent for a sigle bedroom apartment. The yearly council tax is now 1350 pounds, water/sewage treatment bill is 450 pounds, the gas and electricity bills are now going up the roof, this month I have just paid 159.75 pounds for gas and 197 pounds for electricity. My monthly food cost is about 200 pounds, public transport cost per month is about 140 pounds (because I don't have a car, I only use buses and underground). My mobile phone subscription is 35 pounds a month, and my home internet service is 40 pounds a month. So add together, the cost of living for me is roughly 2000 pounds a month here in the outskirt of London, the life pressure is very high, and one can hardly save money, and the life here is boring and dull too.😥
你是英国人吗
“water/sewage treatment bill is 450 pounds” 污水处理费450英镑？？？ 按汇率算大约是3750 RMB······ 顶我大半月工资了。我住这里是湖北省一个山区小县城。
Andrew, you need to reassess your entire life, you are working for nothing in the end if you can't save any money.
Our 3bed terrace house council tax was 1,500 until now when it went up to £2,000 and, together with all other expenses, I don't believe this country is affordable any longer. I'm looking elsewhere to live with better quality of life and better climate. If this is your expenditure as a singleton, how are you going to manage when you will have a family ? Impossible.
@得得得得 Just enough to pay my living costs.😥
@@Ploiesti2001 Yes, I will move back to China in two years.
数据相当准确，为作在广州的表示认同
Been living in China for 13 years, just bought my first apartment. But while it is being decorated I can give living cost in Suzhou China. Suzhou SIP is pretty expensive as it is a very desired place to live in.
Rend - 150 sm 3 bedroom, 2 bath = 5500 rmb per month. Electric with strong heat or A/C usage = 500 rmb per month, Water and Gas = 100 rmb per month. Parking = 280 rmb per month, Car insurance = 3500 rmb per year. Internet is paid by the phone plan in the company, so no clue.
Food can be cheep or expensive, pending on what you want to eat. If you want cheese, and western bread and such, you pay more, if you ok with Chinese food, its cheep.
Wow!Oli，the apartment you live is nearby me also in Niulanqian community，so fortunate to know you!
I had a brisket noodle (small size with five pieces of beef only) and four pieces of dumping in a bowl which charged me $36 USD in San Francisco last week. In Shenzhen, I think the price for the same food will be almost $36 but in RMB, its crazy in USA too. The rent, I live with my daughter who rents a two bed room and two bath apartment in the down town area for $2800 USD just beside the worst crime rate area, the Tenderloin. I can't imagine how they are living in USA.
Almost 340K subscribers now. Impressive!
终于更新了呀😌
I wouldn't mind if we had an efficient, clean and safe transport system here in the states. Car monthly payment, monthly auto insurance, maintenance(3 months oil Change), gas. $179+$223+$30/3+$160=$572 close estimate. It sucks.
Great content and wished we were there than in UK.
Really enjoy your video. Very factual.
Great show. Thnx. A lot of good info.
Thank you for your sharing, very informative .
Highly appreciated this video.
Thanks.. I learn new things in this video..
Thanks for this Oli. I have been watching bunch of digital nomads UA-cam traveling in Thailand, Vietnam, Bali…and they all talk about rental and food expenses. And i needed to hear that from China…and here you are. Good to know!
I am living in Xiamen now which is very nice to live in. Very green and clean. Air quality is good. People are very friendly. I currently live in a duplex, 120 SQ meters, onlooking to a beautiful lake and subway station is just 3 minutes walk. I pay around GBP600 a month including the property management fee. Me and my wife went to see the new Batman movie in an IMAX cinema. We paid GBP5 per person.😎
Cheap rental but high property price in Xiamen. 😁
@@huimeiske8119 What's the reason? I'm curious what might happened
@@qwkl2450 Ask Jerry Goode , a youtuber from Qingdao.
Cost is one topic, but the most important factor is China is much much safe comparing to in the Western world: UK, US, Europe. It can be life and death situation!!!
期待有你朋友的視頻~
What’s it like in Australia? In Melbourne? Cost of living.. Very expensive! Bills.. insane.. transport getting worse by the day. I’d happily live in China.
Great videos, keep up the great work!
Thanks oli share your living cost experience 😊
Good information provided
Great summary of cost of living in China.
the cost of living in most other cities in china is significantly lower than shenzen due to shenzen proximity to hong kong which skyrocketted the prices. even just slightly out of shenzen will see a drop in cost of living especially in rental. shenzen is amongst the most expensive cities in china. if you live elsewhere, the cost of living will be noticeably lower.
Welcome to my hometown Shenzhen 。i miss my hometown..
My dream country 😢 I really wanna go there 😭
Very good comparison !
希望你和你的家人一切平安順利
you mean？
why？
@@赵子龙-r8y 就是祝福而且啊
Cool !! good to view something like this at the local level.
Actually u can just buy a kettle to boil the water, or there are a lot of reasonable drinking fountains at the market rn, and that might save a lot of money.
I've found when I visit and travel around China how cheap it is. Petrol in the UK has gone through roof, it's already hit £2 a litre in some parts. Energy is set to rise again in the Autumn, it's already high for most households and it's going to get worse.
Good info.
I hope China opens up soon. I want to come live there!!
welcome to China
China looks amazing and very affordable.
Hi Oli, Hong Kong is a much more expensive city than Shenzhen. The one big killer expense is rent. A one bedroom apartment around 20 sq.m starts at over £1000 per month and goes up to who knows where depending on the location. As for food, there are many inexpensive restaurants in the city but the choices in that price range are generally limited.
I have lived in Beijing and can confirm cost of living is not high. Back in the west, survival is cut throat and suicidal.
KFC in China has some good breakfast deals, I buy pretty much every morning. Pork & Cheese Panini with a medium Coffee is 6.6元 ($1.04). Sausage, Cheese & Egg Breakfast Panini with a medium Coffee for 10元 ($1.58). Chicken Omelette Panini with a medium Coffee is 12元 ($1.90).
KFC gives me heartburn if eaten in sufficient quantity. I find McDonald's more healthy of the two plastics food options. Burger King can be good too if bread is not too stale. Speaking from British vantage.
yes， i agree
The cost of living in Yangshuo is much cheaper than Shenzhen, and the natural view there is more beautiful than Shenzhen.
yes I prefer yangshuo everyday
What about salary in China? Been to London a few times, yes, insanely expensive. I live in Toronto and things are getting alot expensive since the pandemic. Transportation here is just....let's say world class price with 3rd world systems and services.
Thanks oli for the tail for the cost of living in China, good luck to you and your dad when you guys move to England, thanks for the video cheers and hulaluia...
15年前我在深圳宝安的每个月住和吃的基本费用也就6000元，现在就不知道了。
nice footage.
By the way you don’t need to buy bottled water, most of us Chinese like to drink boiled water, we rarely buy bottled water. If u want to be more secure with your water, you can install a water filtration hose and boil the water out of that!
Welcome to China. I am also live in Shenzhen. Have a good time, my dear kind friends.
很久没有见到你爸爸了，他的身体完全恢复了吧！